|
TB
Garrett Wolfe |
|
2004
Statistics
|
Coach:
Joe Novak
47-55,
9 years |
2004
Record: 9-3
|
|
at
Maryland |
LOST
20-23 |
S.
ILLINOIS |
WON
23-22 |
at
Iowa State |
LOST
41-48 |
BOWLING
GREEN |
WON
34-17 |
AKRON |
WON
49-19 |
at
UCF |
WON
30-28 |
CENT.
MICHIGAN |
WON
42-10 |
at
West. Michigan |
WON
59-38 |
at
Ball State |
WON
38-31 (OT) |
TOLEDO |
LOST
17-31 |
at
East. Michigan |
WON
34-16 |
SILICON
VALLEY CLASSIC
|
vs.
Troy |
WON
34-21 |
|
2004 Final Rankings
AP-29, Coaches-29, BCS-UR
|
2005
Outlook
|
Success
breeds success, and that's what Northern
Illinois is working on doing these days.
Head coach Joe Novak, heading into his 10th
season in DeKalb, has completely turned
around a program that went 1-21 in his first
two years. The Huskies have tied for three
Mid-American Conference titles in the last
four years (finished second in 2003). To
top it off, they beat Troy in the Silicon
Valley Classic, their first bowl appearance
in 21 years.
While
on that topic, playing in the MAC has its
spoils, for despite a 27-9 record over the
last three years, and five consecutive winning
seasons, the Huskies have been invited to
just one (minor) bowl game. That has forced
them to schedule some heavyweights, which
makes 2005 perhaps the toughest year yet
(the Huskies open at Michigan and then Northwestern).
A nationally televised date with Miami (Ohio)
leads up to the real test on Nov. 16 - again
on national TV - when the Huskies visit
Toledo, a place where they haven't won since
1972.
There
have been too many good seasons in a row
to suggest that the Huskies are a fluke.
Developments at QB, WR, and LB will tell
all, so watch these variables/dimensions
to dictate NIU's direction. A national powerhouse
they are not, but with a potent(ially powerful)
offense and an adequate defense, they will
once again be in the hunt for the MAC title
and that elusive minor bowl berth.
Projected
2005 record: 8-3
|
|
NORTHERN
ILLINOIS
*POWER RATINGS
|
Offense
|
Defense
|
QB
- 3 |
DL
- 3.5 |
RB
- 4.5 |
LB
- 2.5 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 2.5 |
OL
- 4 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS
|
Passing:
Phil Horvath, 123-72-7, 954 yds., 6 TD
Rushing: Garrett Wolfe, 256 att.,
1656 yds., 18 TD
Receiving: Sam Hurd, 27 rec., 298
yds., 3 TD
Scoring: Garrett Wolfe, 21 TD, 126
pts.
Punting: None
Kicking: Chris Nendick, 16-21 FG,
51-52 PAT, 99 pts.
Tackles: Javan Lee, 106 tot., 57
solo
Sacks: Ken West, 8 sacks
Interceptions: Adriel Hansbro, 2
for 1 yd.; Ray Smith, 2 for 83 yds., 1 TD
Kickoff returns: Garrett Wolfe, 11
ret., 21.0 avg., 0 TD
Punt returns: Dustin Utschig, 1 ret.,
16.0 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
OT
Doug Free |
|
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 8
|
----RETURNING
STARTERS----
|
DEFENSE
- 6
|
|
KEY
LOSSES
|
OFFENSE:
Dan Sheldon-WR, Matt McGhghy-OG, Jake VerStraete-OT,
Brad Cieslak-TE, Josh Haldi-QB |
DEFENSE:
Travis
Moore-DE, Kursten Strothman-DE, Jason Hawkins-SLB,
Brian Atkinson-MLB, Rob Lee-CB, Lionel Hickenbottom-FS,
Anthony Gallagher-P |
|
|
2005
OFFENSE
|
Quarterback
The Huskies are used to having a smart, fundamentally
sound "field general" of a quarterback
(Josh Haldi). Phil Horvath has the best handle
of the offense, having proved much against Bowling
Green (and others) in his three starts. He played
well when Haldi injured a foot, and came into
spring atop the depth chart. Horvath stands tall
and delivers, running adequately, but less often
and effectively than Haldi. His only knock is
his decision making - he had more INTs (seven)
than TDs (six). His completion rate is high, but
he has to settle down and keep mistakes to a minimum
for the Huskies to win. Zach Ullrich will be breathing
down his neck all season. Horvath wins the job,
but he'll be on a short leash. Watch Horvath play
well enough to hold the job tentatively, for coach
Novak won't be afraid to use Ullrich, or either
of his freshmen phenoms - Britt Davis and Dan
Nicholson - if the offense sputters.
Running
Back
There are certainly not many returning duos that
produced like this one did (2,478 yards, 22 TD).
Led by two workhorses, Garrett Wolfe and A.J.
Harris, Northern Illinois has one of the top rushing
offenses (ranked 11th). Wolfe was crafted from
the Warrick Dunn mold - he's tiny, but incredibly
quick (school's single-game rushing mark 325).
Harris, on the other hand, is the power back the
Huskies will send in for a first-down. Harris
possesses 4.39 speed and can light up a defense,
too. Harris is the compliment to Wolfe, getting
about half as many carries and being relied upon
less in the passing game (shorter routes). Together,
they'll berate opposing Ds with a balance few
teams can ever hope for in a one-back attack.
Receiver
The two main aerial weapons are gone, but the
talent pool hasn't completely dried up. Senior
Sam Hurd is an asset to the offense in every way,
with the size, speed and sure hands, and with
excellent blocking skills, to boot. Shatone Powers
will find a way to get open and will develop into
NIU's most reliable receiver. Both of them will
end up in the 40-catch neighborhood. What would
improve the unit even more is if Greg Turner (a
converted running back) and Jarret Carter, a pair
of lightly recruited players who were impressive
in the spring, will continue developing into the
fall.
Tight
End
Jake Nordin has started and can now look for the
pigskin a little more, especially early on as
the receivers adjust to their new roles. Expect
NIU to utilize the position more, for Nordin is
a worthy target at which to throw.
Offensive
Line
When three starters return - including a pair
of the MAC's best - replacing two starters doesn't
seem so tough. Center Brian Van Acker is a flat
out stud, and the top center in the conference.
Left tackle Doug Free is among NIU's most impressive
athletes (a 30-inch vertical leap with a squat
of 565 pounds), while Ben Lueck is among the MAC's
best (left) guards (should the NCAA grants him
a medical redshirt season, that is). That leaves
the right side to fill, but a pair of very capable
seniors - guard Jake Ebenhoch and tackle George
Daglas - is set to fill them. Subscribing to the
old Denver Broncos philosophy of small, athletic
linemen, NIU has just one 300-pounder (Lueck)
in the starting lineup. The results are rather
Bronco-esque, too, as the Huskies have produced
a 1,000-yard rusher for six straight seasons (only
Texas has a longer current streak, at nine), five
of them winning ones.
OFFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
Playing in the MAC, the Huskies don't see the
country's best defenses every week, but they still
respectably ranked among the top units in total
offense (14th) and points (13th). As they're replacing
a three-year starter at quarterback, it is good
that this is a run-first, run-often offense (64%),
and the run game is among the best. No question,
it's Wolfe and Harris who will make this offense
go, but Horvath has to be mistake-free enough
to keep foes honest and fearful of the pass. If
Horvath doesn't develop the balanced threat early,
the ground game will suffer.
|
|
C
Brian Van Acker
|
|
|
NORTHERN
ILLINOIS 2005 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold
|
OFFENSE
|
QB |
Phil
Horvath-Jr |
Zach
Ullrich-So |
TB |
Garrett
Wolfe-Jr |
A.J.
Harris-Sr |
WR |
Sam
Hurd-Sr |
Matt
Simon-So |
WR |
Marcus
Perez-So |
Jarret
Carter-Jr |
WR |
Shatone
Powers-Sr |
Brandon
Davis-So |
TE |
Jake
Nordin-Jr |
Pat
Raleigh-Sr |
OT |
Doug
Free-Jr |
Chris
Acevedo-So |
OG |
Ben
Lueck-Sr |
Matt
Rogers-Jr |
C |
Brian
Van Acker-Sr |
Ryan
Tuggle-Fr |
OG |
Jake
Ebenhoch-Sr |
Matt
Biondi-So |
OT |
George
Daglas-Sr |
Jon
Brost-Fr |
K |
Chris
Nendick-So |
Luke
Biondi-Jr |
|
|
2005
DEFENSE
|
Defensive
Line
With three returning starters, this would appear
to be a strength, but the unit has to improve
for such to be true. Ken West is among the top
pass-rushing ends on the MAC, while Quince Holman
has shifted from tackle to end, where he will
be freed up to make more plays. Those two, combined
with a tackle rotation that includes Adam Schroeder
and Martin Wilson, make this a solid group, but
one that needs to crank it up a notch. As the
season goes along this group will get better and
better.
Linebacker
The Huskies are on marginally shaky ground here.
Luckily, they have Javan Lee to lean on. He's
the only returning starter, and he was voted first-team
all-MAC after a stellar junior year. He needs
some help, though, and will lean on classmate
Jason Hutton to give it to him. There's nothing
spectacular about Hutton, but he is always around
the ball. The key to the group could be T.J. Griffin.
The frosh was a tailback at this time a year ago,
but he's been rather impressive at strong side
backer after the switch. Overall, this is an untested
group, but one that will use athleticism to make
plays.
Defensive
Back
The Huskies had trouble against the run and the
pass (ranked 70th), but they'll have opponents
"seeing double" now. The Hansbro twins
- Adriel and Alvah - are the starting cornerbacks.
Both are small and quick, and seem to share the
same play-making genes. Adriel has the most experience
(having started), but Alvah will step in and make
an equal impact. Strong safety Ray Smith will
hit anybody in his way, and knock down any pass
he can possibly reach. Other than those three,
there isn't much depth, so health issues would
genuinely hurt the entire defense.
DEFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
It's hard to pick on a team that finished 9-3,
but the defense has to be better, period. Too
many points (25.3 per game) and yards (376.1)
were allowed, and that can't be repeated. Depth
is a concern throughout, but the front seven will
be better, while the secondary appears to have
grown into a solid set. Still, don't expect any
drastic improvement(s). The Huskies don't have
any upper-echelon units, but with their power-packed
offense, the D's developments can improve the
entire team's outlook. There is sure to be a game
or two where the defense blows up, but for the
most part, it'll play together well enough to
keep NIU competitive.
|
|
LB
Javan Lee
|
|
|
NORTHERN
ILLINOIS 2005 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold
|
DEFENSE
|
DE |
Quince
Holman-Sr |
Erek
Benz-Fr |
DT |
Martin
Wilson-Sr |
Adam
Schroeder-So |
NT |
Eric
Pittman-Jr |
Brad
Benson-Jr |
DE |
Ken
West-Jr |
Larry
English-Fr |
SLB |
T.J.
Griffin-Fr |
Shedrick
Mossman-So |
MLB |
Jason
Hutton-Sr |
Tim
McCarthy-Fr |
WLB |
Javan
Lee-Sr |
Bob
McLearen-So |
CB |
Adriel
Hansbro-Jr |
Andre
Morris-Jr |
CB |
Alvah
Hansbro-Jr |
Vincent
Matthew-Fr |
SS |
Ray
Smith-Sr |
Saul
Ibarra-So |
FS |
Mark
Reiter-So |
Dustin
Utschig-Jr |
P |
Jason
Baez-So |
Andy
Dittbenner-Fr |
|
|
|
2005
SPECIAL TEAMS
|
Kicker
Chris Nendick was handed a lot of opportunities in his
freshman year, and he came through most of the time
(about ¾ of his tries). Coverage should continue
to be strong.
Punter
Youngsters Jason Baez and Andy Dittbenner will battle
for the punting job, with Baez holding a slight edge.
The net results were rather bad, so the new punters
should help hangtime.
Return
Game
The Huskies feel lightning-quick receiver Marcus Perez
will do well at the job. Wolfe is the top returning
kickoff man, but Perez and Harris are most likely to
do the honors.
|
|
|
|
|