Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Hold Second Spring Practice
3/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 29, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern held its second day of spring practice, outside on the Wildcats' FieldTurf practice field. It was another cool day with overcast skies and temperatures in the 40s.
NUsports.com takes a look today at the Wildcats' 2006 offense:
Quarterback
The Brett Basanez era is over. All the four-year starter did was set 30 school records, break just about every Big Ten record not held by a player named Drew Brees, become the Wildcats' winningest quarterback, lead Northwestern to a pair of bowl games and be named the Big Ten's 2005 Offensive Player of the Year. How do you replace him?
"You can't immediately replace what Brett gave our football team," says Walker. "We want our next quarterback to come in, run our offense effectively and not get us beat. With a lot of returnees on the offensive line, at running back and wide receiver, our quarterback will have a great supporting cast."
Third-year player C.J. Bachér, last year's backup, along with redshirt freshmen Andrew Brewer and Mike Kafka, will get a majority of the reps during the spring. Whether or not a starter emerges from that group by the end of the spring is unknown.
"There's no timetable to anoint Brett's successor," says Walker. "The competition could carry over into the summer and into preseason camp, and that could be good. I'm excited most about how hard our young guys are working."
As spring begins, Bachér has the edge in years of experience with the offense (two) and playing time, albeit a total of 53 snaps in five games.
Running Back
One of last year's big question marks became a huge strength in 2005, and one of the leading reasons why the Wildcats won seven games.
After a preseason injury forced Terrell Jordan to sit out the season and a season-opening injury to Brandon Roberson slowed him for much of the year, the door was left open for true freshman Tyrell Sutton, who exploded onto the national scene. Sutton rushed for 1,474 yards and 16 touchdowns, and also caught 44 passes for 396 yards and a pair of TD's. His outstanding season resulted in a Big Ten Freshman of the Year honor, a second-team All-Big Ten accolade and several national freshman of the year honors. He rushed for 84 or more yards 10 times, which included three 200-yard games as well as three other 100-yard outings.
"Tyrell had an outstanding season and gave our offense a boost," says Walker. "Like so many other running backs in our program, he can not only run the ball, but he's a great receiver out of the backfield. Despite his smaller stature, he's a physical running back who has great vision."
With a healthy set of backs this fall, Walker has hinted he might use more two-back sets, especially if Jordan is fully healed and able to play. Burdened with leg injuries much of his career, Jordan is a bigger back who adds some power and size to the backfield.
Roberson, along with Omar Conteh, are also talented runners who complement Sutton and the rest of Wildcat backs.
"We like our stable of running backs," says Walker. "It will be one of our team's strengths this year."
Northwestern has had a 1,000-yard rusher five times in the last six years.
Wide Receiver
Northwestern graduated veteran receivers Mark Philmore and Jonathan Fields, but a bevy of talented receivers return led by 2005 leading wideout Shaun Herbert. An honorable mention all-Big Ten selection, Herbert ranked 20th nationally in receptions a year ago (6.6 per game) and finished with the fourth-best receiving total in school history (79). He averaged 71.8 yards per game and closed the year with six touchdowns.
"Shaun is probably one of the most underrated receivers in our league," says Walker. "Shaun's not the flashiest guy out there, but he's extremely consistent. He has made a number of clutch catches during his career."
Joining Herbert at the wide receiver position is junior Kim Thompson (19 rec., 36.2 ypg, 1 TD), sophomore Ross Lane (24 rec., 31.5 ypg, 1 TD), Rasheed Ward (7 rec., 8.2 ypg, 1 TD), Sam Cheatham (3 rec., 4.6 ypg), Tonjua Jones (1 rec., 2.7 ypg) and Jeff Yarbrough (1 rec., 1.0 ypg). In addition, running backs Tyrell Sutton and Brandon Roberson are outstanding receivers and add a lot of versatility to the NU passing game.
"We have a number of returning players who've all had some big games or made some big plays. Now they're going to get more opportunities with the graduation of Mark and Jonathan. This position should be a definite strength for us."
Offensive Line
Last year, Northwestern became just the second team in Big Ten history to average more than 500 yards in total offense and it accomplished the feat with an offensive line that had just one returning starter on the unit -- All-America tackle Zach Strief.
Strief has departed and will likely land in an NFL camp this summer. But the good news for new offensive line coach Bret Ingalls is that he has five returning starters. How can NU have five starters back if Strief graduate? Two-year starting center Trevor Rees, who sat out the 2005 season for academic reasons, is back and will return to his position, meaning Austin Matthews, last year's primary center, can now move to tackle and replace Strief. The Wildcat staff feels the tackle spot is better suited for Matthews' 6-foot-5 frame.
"We're hoping this group can pick up where it left off last year," says Walker. "Collectively, our offensive line still has a lot of room for growth and improvement, which is exciting for the offense. Ryan (Keenan) and Trevor will be the anchors on that unit.
"In addition, our depth should be better up front this year."
Walker is touting Keenan as one of the top guards in the league, and if Rees can pick up where he left off in 2004, he should be one of the Big Ten's better centers. Tackle Dylan Thiry and guard Joe Tripodi, along with Matthews, round out the starting five.
Some of the players who will be pushing the starters are center Joel Belding, guards Adam Crum, Ramon Diaz and Alex Rucks, and tackles Kurt Mattes and Thomas Bemenderfer.
R-Back
Northwestern has veterans Erryn Cobb and Frayne Abernathy returning at the tight end/fullback position, or known in Wildcat vernacular as the R-back position.
Cobb, a solid blocker, and Abernathy, who had two of his four receptions go for TD's, could have a greater role in this year's offense. Also returning at the position is junior Chris Malleo.
On Thursday, NUsports.com will take a look at the Wildcats' defense and special teams.
Practice Notes:
• Prior to the start of Wednesday's practice, the Wildcats gathered for a team photo and cheer that will be used by one student in the school's famous Waa-Mu show in May.
• Quarterback C.J. Bachér, who missed Tuesday's first spring practice with an illness, was in attendance today, but he did not participate in any drills.
