Game thread: Northwestern vs. UTEP

[mshelton33]

Northwestern (0-1, 0-1 Big Ten) hosts UTEP (1-1) at Ryan Field this afternoon. Based on the stadium clock, kickoff will be at 2:40 pm CT. The game will be televised on BTN.

This is the Wildcats' home opener and one of their best chances this season to snap an NCAA-leading 12-game losing streak.

 

[NUCat320]

GO CATS GO CATS GO !!!!!!

 

[mshelton33]

Always a tough game to sell with students not on campus yet, but the stands are as sparse as I've seen them in the past few years.

 

[TheC]

Boy our defense just sucks

 

[phatcat]

Rough start

 

[BFDCat]

Dear lord, this is bad.

 

[JimStarr777]

UTEP looks tough

 

[stpaulcat]

Well... NU had better have an offense.

 

[KappaKat]

Not sure Braun is even a good DC

 

[IGNORE2]

So this D is better than the JON defense…

 

[NUCat320]

Still better than JON’s first drive as a coordinator.

 

[TheC]

They didn't have a single 3rd down on that drive. This could be worse than Rutgers.

 

[NUCat320]

So this D is better than the JON defense…

Ha! Yes, JON’s first defensive drive was one Kenneth Walker run.

 

[IGNORE2]

UTEP looks tough

Early season CFP favorites…

 

[NUFan0207]

There will be fans with brown paper bags on their heads in the stands by the end of the month.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Big crowd here

 

[BosCat]

They didn't have a single 3rd down on that drive. This could be worse than Rutgers.

So, no conversions given up!

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

Brutal first drive against a flaccid defense.

 

[The Purple Knight]

Literally one of the worst defenses in the Power 5.

DL weak, LB’s terrible, DB’s so-so.

 

[Jaguar 88]

Oh S#$@, I hope we answer. We lose this one ala Rutgers, we are in deep s#@$.

 

[stpaulcat]

Waiting for it...."UTEP has a terrible defense."

Oops, The Purple Knight nailed it. A 10 out of 10 post.

 

[catfans5]

TD. Way to go Cats. All you supposed fans should be here.

 

[TheC]

That was fun!

 

[Jaguar 88]

Nice drive!!!! This looks like the real Cats' offense. Hopefully the D will regroup, they were off balance it seems at the start.

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

Nice 1st drive to respond. Defense needs to make a stop.

 

[TheC]

3rd down!

 

[IGNORE2]

Big crowd here

Where are you?

 

[TheC]

3rd down!

And now it's 1st down

 

[phatcat]

Need QB pressure

 

[NUCat320]

The offense is showing much more creativity / misdirection than previous editions of the Bajakian offense.

Using Lausch at the goal line is a welcome wrinkle, and we saw motion, including jet action, on most snaps.

 

[NUFan0207]

Best play calling from Jake since the Citrus Bowl. Well done.

I’m sure it is just a coincidence that this is the first time since that game that our offensive line overpowered a fldefense’s front seven.

 

[phatcat]

Targeting review. Merde

 

[NUCat320]

Targeting review. Merde

Many officials would have ejected him there. Helmet dropped and made first contact.

Whew! Third down defense!

 

[BFDCat]

Can't keep giving up 3rd and long, jesus.

 

[TheC]

Just have no pass rush

 

[The Purple Knight]

Targeting review. Merde

If only Gallagher would have been tossed for targeting NU defense would have improved immediately!

 

[TheC]

Why would you decline that??!

 

[NUCat320]

NU is one of the best teams in the country at drawing illegal touching penalties. Excellent deception defensively.

 

[phatcat]

Mrs Phat: "there is a lot of illegal touching at this school"

 

[Rebel II]

Boy our defense just sucks

Too quick to judge, relax.