Here are the five biggest questions facing Northwestern's defense this upcoming season.
Five Questions: Defense
Five Questions: Defense
Five questions facing NU's defense going into 2015
- Thread starter lou v
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Nice analysis. Can't disagree with any of it. Could be a special NU defense but there are still plenty of questions to be answered. As always, health will be the key.
Mahoney didn't play OL and TE last season. Has he really been switched back to DL after practicing all of spring on the OL? If so, that is a tell tale sign that Kuhar and or McEviily have not recovered as hoped. That would be very bad news.
I know nothing about his situation but McEviily had foot trouble and when you are a big man like that, I would think it would be difficult to; First recover from your foot trouble and Second get into football shape. OTOH he is young.
Mahoney did take some snaps as the third SB in our "heavy" sets last season and practiced all spring at OL. Unless it's been confirmed separately, I would suspect that Mahoney is still at guard -- NU's spring rosters should always be taken more as suggestion than fact, whether it is height, weight, or even position. I don't think they bothered changing Mahoney's position even though it was publicly reported that he was practicing with the OL throughout the spring.
For what it's worth, I thought Mahoney should have been a guard throughout his collegiate career.
I ran into Thompson (and a bunch of other guys) a couple of days ago. I'm not sure Thompson has the size to play regularly at DT in the B1G at this point. It's a different animal on the inside. Whereas Washington could use his speed on the edge, Thompson would have nowhere to escape on the interior.
I wouldn't rule out a contribution from the red shirt tackles. Oxley, particularly, had a great highlight tape, literally the best of anyone in that class (including JJ) according to some of us. The guy is a beast with quickness and attitude. Maybe he'll be up to size sooner rather than later.
We definitely need some of the younger guys to step up. When healthy, Kuhar could be All Big Ten, McEvilly is above average, and Robbins and Chapman are solid. It would be good to have someone break into the rotation from among Oxley, Lancaster, Wyatt, Thompson etc.
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