NU 2006 Preview! Part II

Let's pick up the preview ball on the defensive side, shall we? I've never been accused of being a pessimist about the Cats, so no reason to start now. My general feeling is that the defense will improve (it almost has to) and it will be for a couple reasons.

First, while Coach Fitzgerald promises to follow Coach Walker's offensive intentions, he is cleary a defense-guy where Walk was an offense-guy.

Second, our defense will build from the backfield forward, rather than back from a strong line. Probably, this will keep us from getting killed on big plays, even if we can't stifle the run or get at the QB.

More after the jump.

Keeping with point the second, we'll work from the backfield.

3 Good Backs, and someone else: Led by seniors CB Marquice Cole and S Bryan Heinz, and supported by experienced sophomore S Brendan Smith, the secondary should be pretty solid to start the season. Now the post-spring 2-deep has Eric Peterman (WR anyone?) at the other corner, but it could obviously go to Cory Dious. As in, when Cory goes out on the field, I Dious a little inside. But either would be the weak-side corner.

You're off the Case, McGarigle: The linebacker mold at NU keeps getting well-filled, and this year we'll have senior Demetrious Eaton on the strong side, senior Nick Roach on the weak side, and junior Adam Kadela in the middle. Kadela is only a junior? Excellent. I feel great about the linebackers, as I always do. So great that I'm not bothered by Chris Malleo pencilled in as Nick's backup.

At Least they'll be Better Next Year?: No seniors on the D-Line. Mims and Ngene (soph and junior) will be on the ends. They had some moments last year, and I hope they have some more. Sophomore John Gill will probably be one tackle, and the other could be Keegan Kennedy (I'm sorry; Keegan is a 12-year-old girl's name.) or redshirt frosh Adam Hahn. Not much to say about this crew, unless Ngene or Mims really steps up. Could see a lot of 5-yard runs on 1st down.