Northwestern University Athletics
The Skip Report: What's Going Right
10/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Another big win for Northwestern, this time over a ranked divisional opponent, resulted in another Monday press conference packed with interesting takeaways and trending topics. Skip Myslenski recaps them all below:
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A MONTH LATER: Cal's rushing defense ranks ninth in the PAC 12, surrendering an average of 150.2 yards-per-game. But back on Aug. 30, in their season opener against the Bears, the 'Cats netted just 108 yards. Northern Illinois' rushing defense is the best in the MAC even though it is surrendering an average of 107.7 yards-per-game. But on the first Saturday of September, while falling for the second time this season, the 'Cats netted just 72 against the Huskies.
Penn State's rushing defense is itself the best in the Big Ten, surrendering an average of just 60.2 yards-per-game. But two Saturdays ago, in their vanquishing of the Nittany Lions, the 'Cats ran through it for 103. Wisconsin's rushing defense entered its game last Saturday at Ryan Field surrendering an average of 86.2 yards per game. But here the 'Cats filleted it for 203, which inflated the Badgers' number to 109.6.
Some of that improvement surely starts with the evolution of true freshman running back Justin Jackson, who exhibits those instincts granted only the special ones. But some of that is also a result of, Pat Fitzgerald said Monday, "The guys up front starting to play with a little bit of an attitude. They're not there yet. But that helps. We also have depth at wide receiver now. We didn't have depth at wide out the first two games. We're able to roll those guys, and a lot of those runs on Saturday were because our wide receivers engaged blocks."
"The majority of our big runs come from us on the outside digging out safeties and us being physical with the cornerbacks," Kyle Prater, who is one of those receiver, later explained. "So that's one thing we stress in our room, taking pride in blocking. You always hear, `If you don't block, you don't catch the ball.' That's something that's been stressed from day one, when we started playing ball. But that's something we really take pride in in our room. Attacking the DBs, being physical, just dominating. That's one thing I really take a lot of pride in, springing runs and being physical on the outside."
HELPING THE FLANK: Bob Heffner is now the Northwestern superbacks coach, but along the way he played guard at Temple and tutored the offensive lines at Lafayette and Northern Illinois and Maryland. He occasionally shares the blocking expertise he accrued along the way with the Wildcats receivers, and one of those occasions was last Tuesday's practice.
"He really taught us techniques, little tricks in blocking, and it really helped. It really helped me this week (against the Badgers)," said Prater. "It helped me be more aggressive at the point of attack. He knows his stuff and I really appreciate the coaching tip he gave me this week. It really helped me."
What was the the tip?
"When it comes to blocking, you have to close out, but you don't want to get out of control," he explained. "Sometimes when you get out of control, you lose leverage on the DB and he can run right around you. The DB's job is to outside contain. So you have to come out there with a base, run your feet, then lock in and get your hands inside. Me being a big receiver, I get my hands on guys, that's it. I just go to work from there."
QUICKLY NOTED:
• When asked about Jackson, Prater said, "He wants to learn. He's very humble. I love him. He's great. I didn't realize he got that many yards in high school (6,531 in his career at Glenbard North). He's amazing when he's got the ball in his hands. I've told him, 'Don't worry about it on the outside. I've got you.' As far as blocking, I'm going to take care of my guy."
• Prater, who has spent much of his career battling and overcoming injuries, was himself fairly spectacular against Badgers, unfurling moves not seen before and ending the afternoon with a team-high five receptions for 55 yards. "I can't take all the credit," he said when asked about his recent emergence. "We've got a great team. It's a tribute to the family we have. I'm not able to make the plays without the line protecting (quarterback) Trevor (Siemian) and Trevor putting me in great places to make the plays."
• Senior safety Ibraheim Campbell, who left the Penn State game with an injury and sat out last week, will not play Saturday when the `Cats visit Minnesota. "But we'll get him back here pretty soon," said Fitzgerald.
• Redshirt freshman Godwin Igwebuike, who played in Campbell's stead, was a star against the Badgers, ending his afternoon with three interceptions and eight tackles. That earned him the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week awards.
• "Great game. Very consistent from a standpoint of making plays," Fitzgerald said of him on Monday. "Unfortunately, the same theme we had a week ago with (redshirt freshman linebacker) Anthony (Walker, who played in place of the injured Collin Ellis). A lot of areas where he's got to improve, a lot of mental issues, a couple communication gaps that were part of the problem with some of the explosive plays. A great first start. But a lot of room for improvement there."
• True freshman running back Solomon Vault was injured on the opening play of the Penn State game, and sat out the rest of it and last week as well. But, Fitzgerald said Monday, "We hope to have him back this week."
• One week after being wheeled out on Beaver Stadium on a stretcher following a collision with Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg, corner Matthew Harris not only played against the Badgers. He also showed no ill effects and matched Igwebuike's eight tackles, which were second-highest on the team behind corner Nick VanHoose's nine. "How about the way Matt played? That was pretty ridiculous. Pretty good," enthused Fitzgerald.
• Superback Dan Vitale had a big game against the Nittany Lions, ending with seven catches for 113 yards, then encored that last Saturday with a touchdown catch and a huge third-down reception late in the fourth quarter that blunted the Badgers' hopes for a comeback. "He's really starting to come into his own," Fitzgerald said of him. "I think we're using him well. We've got to continue to advance that package, continue to find ways to get good match-ups for him. He's a very talented football player."
• The students stormed Ryan Field after Saturday's win, but after saying he was all in favor of them having good, clean, American fun, Fitzgerald added this. "I'm not a big fan of people charging the field. It's not something we need. It's not safe. It's not safe for anybody."
AND FINALLY: The 'Cats unveiled the all-black 'Northwestern Gothic' uniforms they will wear Oct. 18 for their Homecoming game against Nebraska. They come replete with the Gothic lettering so familiar around campus and purple numbers outlined in old gold. Those were the school's official colors until the late 1890s, which is when the official color became purple. Not purple and white. Just purple.
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