CHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports  Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – Fans
  • BEARS
  • BULLS
  • BLACKHAWKS
  • CUBS
  • WHITE SOX
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Navigation
  • About Us
  • Chicago Sports Podcasts
  • ChiCity+
  • CHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – Fans
  • Get In Touch
  • Join Our Group
  • Newsletter
  • Our Writers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • BREAKING: Chicago Bears Coaching Staff Changes Announced For 2023
  • Great American Football Scholarships in 2023
  • Bears Insider: Pro Bowl OL Most Realistic Option In 2023 Free Agency
  • Patrick Mahomes’ father reveals pre-draft tidbit from Chicago Bears in 2017
  • BREAKING: Chicago Bears Cap Space Changes Drastically For 2023
  • 6 NBA Teams Which Have Won The Most Championships
  • How Do Bonuses Work In The Demo Version Of The Slot?
  • New report suggests Packers are ready to move on from Aaron Rodgers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Writers
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
CHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports  Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – FansCHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports  Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – Fans
  • BEARS

    BREAKING: Chicago Bears Coaching Staff Changes Announced For 2023

    February 1, 2023

    Bears Insider: Pro Bowl OL Most Realistic Option In 2023 Free Agency

    January 31, 2023

    Patrick Mahomes’ father reveals pre-draft tidbit from Chicago Bears in 2017

    January 30, 2023

    BREAKING: Chicago Bears Cap Space Changes Drastically For 2023

    January 30, 2023

    New report suggests Packers are ready to move on from Aaron Rodgers

    January 29, 2023
  • BULLS

    Chicago Bulls are on the way to the top this 2023

    January 26, 2023

    3 possible trade targets for the Chicago Bulls

    January 19, 2023

    Air Jordan 11 ‘DMP’ to get Holiday 2023 release?

    January 19, 2023

    Chicago Fans’ One Wish for Every Team in 2023

    December 31, 2022

    Zach LaVine trade rumors: 3 possible destinations

    December 30, 2022
  • BLACKHAWKS

    Comparing the Dynamic of Two Rebuilding Clubs

    January 25, 2023

    Chicago Fans’ One Wish for Every Team in 2023

    December 31, 2022

    Blackhawks’ Sam Lafferty returns to line-up vs. Jets

    December 9, 2022

    Blackhawks recall Lukas Reichel from Rockford

    December 6, 2022

    Phillip Danault: A Player Extraordinaire

    November 29, 2022
  • CUBS

    Chicago Cubs still sculpting their bullpen

    January 17, 2023

    Chicago Cubs 2023 prospect watch: Matt Mervis

    January 15, 2023

    Cubs add three shortstops through International Prospect signing day

    January 15, 2023

    Cubs and Trey Mancini agree to a two-year deal

    January 14, 2023

    Cubs hot stove: With Nick Madrigal as the odd man out, could the Cubs trade him?

    January 13, 2023
  • WHITE SOX

    Chicago White Sox 2023 prospect watch: outfielder Oscar Colas

    January 18, 2023

    Chicago Fans’ One Wish for Every Team in 2023

    December 31, 2022

    MLB analyst pitches insane White Sox Yankees trade

    December 22, 2022

    Outfielder Andrew Benintendi signs with White Sox

    December 16, 2022

    Analyst Reveals Poor Grade For White Sox Offseason So Far

    December 12, 2022
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Facebook Twitter Instagram
CHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports  Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – Fans
Home»Uncategorized»2011 Northwestern Wildcats Football Preview
Uncategorized

2011 Northwestern Wildcats Football Preview

CutsizzleBy CutsizzleAugust 3, 20114 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Pat Fitzgerald has slowly brought the Northwestern football program along since its painful and sudden loss of former coach Randy Walker. Fitzgerald has been loyal, eschewing other job opportunities, and has since led the Wildcats to three consecutive bowl appearances. Now, he returns his deepest, most experienced, and most talented team in his time in Evanston and should field a contender for the Big Ten Legends Division in 2011. Sixteen starters, nine of which are on what was a very potent offense, return. The schedule is also conducive to a conference title game run. Provided nothing catastrophic happens, it should be a big year for Northwestern.

Dan Persa is the heart and soul of the Wildcats’ offense. With him on the field, Northwestern moved the ball against even the toughest of defenses. When Persa was lost late last season to an Achilles injury, the offense sputtered. Persa is the definition of a team leader and elevates the play of everyone around him. Before the injury, Persa threw for 2,581 yards and 15 touchdowns against just four interceptions, a tribute to his decision making and accuracy. Persa is expected back full strength for the start of the season and also welcomes back his all but one of his top receiving threats. Demeterius Fields and Drake Dunsmore form a dangerous pair of receivers. The passing game should be extremely potent for Northwestern.

The Wildcats are typically a pass first offense under Fitzgerald, but they can run the ball effectively when called upon. Mike Trumpy played well as a freshman and will see an expanded role carrying the ball this year. Persa will likely carry the ball less than he did in 2010 due to the possibility of further injury, and that means Adonis Smith will likely see more carries in his place. The offensive like returns four of five starters, including three seniors. Persa’s blind side will be protected by steady senior left tackle Al Netter. With all of these pieces in place, it should be a very potent offense in Evanston in 2011.

The Wildcats hope that returning experience in the front seven will lead to better execution. At times last year they were simply manhandled by bigger and more physical teams like Illinois and Wisconsin. They remain a bit undersized, with no starters up front over 300 pounds, but defensive end Vince Brown is a very good pass rushing defensive end that recorded seven sacks in 2010. The linebacking corps returns just senior linebacker Bryce McNeal which could leave them once again susceptible to the more physical rushing teams in 2011. Still, there is depth and a rotation of seven or eight experienced defensive linemen will help mitigate that size mismatch some.

The secondary should be better than it was in 2010. Three of four starters are back, led by safety Brian Peters. Peters is a very big safety. At 6’4, 215 pounds he is essentially a very fast outside linebacker and his team leading 107 tackles reflect that. He also led the team with three interceptions. Jordan Mabin is a solid cover corner with four years of experience. David Arnold will return at the other safety spot and like Peter, is very big for his position (6’1, 220 pounds). Because of their size, Northwestern will often bring the safeties up on exotic blitzes to compensate for being smaller up front. Arnold and Peters are certainly built for it.

The schedule should allow for Northwestern to contend for the Legends Division title. Out of conference they have a legitimate opportunity to open 4-0 with wins over Boston College, Army, Eastern Illinois, and at Illinois. If they do, they’ll face a rebuilding Michigan team in Evanston before heading to Iowa City to face another rebuilding team in Iowa. If they host Penn State at 6-0, that game could be a de facto playoff game. Two weeks later the Wildcats travel to face division favorite Nebraska. A late season game against Rice provides a reprieve before hosting Minnesota and Michigan State to finish the season. It should be a big year for Fitzgerald and his Wildcats in 2011.

Source: CollegeSports-Fans.Com – Great College Information, Previews, Breakdowns, etc. 

For More Great Chicago Sports Content

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
Rex Grossman 696x419 1
Cutsizzle
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Been following Chicago sports for many years. I have ties to Rockford, Illinois however have since been displaced in North Carolina far from Illinois. I am still an avid fan despite the geographical complications in following my teams. I am known as the internet’s #1 Rex Grossman connoisseur

Related Posts

Uncategorized January 25, 2023

Commanders insider has good news about potential Chicago Bears free agent target

Uncategorized January 23, 2023

Why Is Full Spectrum CBD Gaining Popularity Among The Youth?

Chicago Bulls Rumors December 20, 2022

Report: Zach Lavine and the Bulls franchise “not seeing eye to eye”

Bears December 18, 2022

Breaking: Bears list QB, 2 WRs on inactive list against Eagles

Uncategorized November 26, 2022

Why Is Soccer Such a Popular Sport?

Around the NFL November 9, 2022

2022 NFL Playoff Picture: Which team will make a run at the Lombardi Trophy this year?

Leave A Reply

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Team Message Boards

bears TP
bulls TP
cubs TP
sox TP
hawks TP
we want you to write
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
  • Home
  • Message Board
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Writers
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
© 2023 ChiCitySports. Designed by Dope Guys Who Run ChiCitySports.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.