Well, I finally made it to a Northwestern fall camp practice this morning. It was a picture-post card kind of day, with brilliant sunshine reflecting off the smooth glass of Lake Michigan, not a cloud in sight and BTN’s mobile studio perched in a corner. I saw plenty of good plays, noticed some new wrinkles and gained some valuable insights.
I just wish I could tell you all about them. But I can’t.
When I arrived, I had a conversation with Northwestern media relations staffers about what I could and couldn’t report. For one, no pictures or video whatsoever were allowed, so say goodbye to the brochure-worthy images. I was also told not to report who was running with the first team, who was sidelined with injuries, or what type of formation or plays they were running. Essentially, I was to be limited to reporting my impressions about who looked good – though not necessarily what they were doing while they were looking good.
So imagine my surprise when I saw Teddy Greenstein’s article today reporting a couple of those very things.
Still, I get it. Northwestern is installing their game plan for Purdue and the last thing Fitz wants to do is tip his hand about anything. This is the only week he will have a real advantage in that regard. College programs around the country seem to be getting stricter about their media accessibility, so NU’s policies are not unusual. Maybe they will loosen up after the first week or two, when film is out and the Cats are out of the bag, so to speak.
Here then are my semi-censored, quasi-redacted notes and observations from Northwestern 2.5-hour practice on the lakefront.
- First of all, Clayton Thorson looked great at quarterback. He was throwing darts – in fact, I thought his arm looked a little better than usual. His balls had plenty of zip on them, and I saw him put some nice touch on a medium-range throw, too. He also looked plenty mobile in the pocket. In fact, if it weren’t for the big white brace on his right knee, you’d never know he was recovering from an injury. I think I can get away with saying this: I didn’t see anything today that would lead me to believe that Thorson will not be the starter next Thursday. That said, I was told that the decision will be 100-percent a medical one. Coaches will get on a conference call with doctors and trainers here, and Dr. James Andrews (in Florida, I believe), and they will determine whether or not No. 18 plays in the opener. So Fitzgerald won’t be a factor in the final decision. As one source told me, “Fitz can’t overrule Dr. Andrews.”
- I got my first glimpse at Hunter Johnson today. He was running the scout team offense, and that will likely be his job this season. He looked pretty sharp, too. I saw him throw a strike on a long ball for a touchdown and he flashed some good athleticism, too. He’s big, he’s got a plus arm and I have no doubt he will be able to do all that is asked of him in this offense in terms of running.
- The defensive line is going to be a force and really caught my eye today. Joe Gaziano looks a little thicker and he made a couple very athletic plays. On the other side, Samdup Miller is a year bigger and really showed me some bend coming off the edge. He’s going to play a bigger role this season. Jordan Thompson looked explosive in the middle and will be a handful with his get-off.
- I was told by a couple observers that the following rookies have stood out in camp: long-armed OL Payne He’bert, CB Greg Newsome and WR J.J. Jefferson. I saw Newsome, Jefferson, A.J. Hampton, Jeremiah McDonald get some of what I will call “meaningful reps” (I think I can say that). McDonald is a long, lean customer, one of those athletic, rangy guys that NU likes so much. He needs to hit the weight room, but the frame is there.
- DB Coach Matt MacPherson wouldn’t give me his starting lineup or his two-deep at safety. But I think it’s safe to say that Jared McGee will be one starter. I think JR Pace is likely his running mate with the 1s, but Bryce Jackson is making a strong push and looked impressive today. Another guy to watch is Brian Bullock, who has made the transition from corner and certainly looks the part as a safety. Coach Mac wasn’t disclosing anything about the nickel back spot, either, listing several safeties and corners who are vying for the spot, including Roderick Campbell, Alonzo Mayo and Trae Williams. So we’ll just have to see.
- I will report the starting O-line because, a., Teddy already reported it, and b., there are no surprises whatsoever. From left to right tackle, the lineup will be Blake Hance, JB Butler, Jared Thomas, Tommy Doles and Rashawn Slater. I didn’t really get a good read on the second team – and probably wouldn’t report it anyway.
- We didn’t get a chance to talk to Fitz today because he had to talk to the BTN guys, along with Thorson, Bennett Skowronek, Nate Hall, Gaziano and a couple others.
- Reporting on injured players is definitely verboten, and always has been. As we already knew (and Teddy reported) James Prather is sidelined right now. But I will say this: judging just by the numbers of guys in street clothes, it has been a very successful and healthy camp. The “vet off days” are over, so there were very few guys not participating today. That’s a very good thing.
- I’ll close with this: Jeremy Larkin looked sensational. He’s primed for a breakout season – even coming off of his impressive rookie year. He’s fast, strong and deceptively deceptive. The kid has it all. What makes his performance all the more amazing is that he does it all with the most pronounced pigeon-toed walks I have ever seen on an athlete.
Feel free to ask me questions but be warned: if I answer them, we might both be dead.
I just wish I could tell you all about them. But I can’t.
When I arrived, I had a conversation with Northwestern media relations staffers about what I could and couldn’t report. For one, no pictures or video whatsoever were allowed, so say goodbye to the brochure-worthy images. I was also told not to report who was running with the first team, who was sidelined with injuries, or what type of formation or plays they were running. Essentially, I was to be limited to reporting my impressions about who looked good – though not necessarily what they were doing while they were looking good.
So imagine my surprise when I saw Teddy Greenstein’s article today reporting a couple of those very things.
Still, I get it. Northwestern is installing their game plan for Purdue and the last thing Fitz wants to do is tip his hand about anything. This is the only week he will have a real advantage in that regard. College programs around the country seem to be getting stricter about their media accessibility, so NU’s policies are not unusual. Maybe they will loosen up after the first week or two, when film is out and the Cats are out of the bag, so to speak.
Here then are my semi-censored, quasi-redacted notes and observations from Northwestern 2.5-hour practice on the lakefront.
- First of all, Clayton Thorson looked great at quarterback. He was throwing darts – in fact, I thought his arm looked a little better than usual. His balls had plenty of zip on them, and I saw him put some nice touch on a medium-range throw, too. He also looked plenty mobile in the pocket. In fact, if it weren’t for the big white brace on his right knee, you’d never know he was recovering from an injury. I think I can get away with saying this: I didn’t see anything today that would lead me to believe that Thorson will not be the starter next Thursday. That said, I was told that the decision will be 100-percent a medical one. Coaches will get on a conference call with doctors and trainers here, and Dr. James Andrews (in Florida, I believe), and they will determine whether or not No. 18 plays in the opener. So Fitzgerald won’t be a factor in the final decision. As one source told me, “Fitz can’t overrule Dr. Andrews.”
- I got my first glimpse at Hunter Johnson today. He was running the scout team offense, and that will likely be his job this season. He looked pretty sharp, too. I saw him throw a strike on a long ball for a touchdown and he flashed some good athleticism, too. He’s big, he’s got a plus arm and I have no doubt he will be able to do all that is asked of him in this offense in terms of running.
- The defensive line is going to be a force and really caught my eye today. Joe Gaziano looks a little thicker and he made a couple very athletic plays. On the other side, Samdup Miller is a year bigger and really showed me some bend coming off the edge. He’s going to play a bigger role this season. Jordan Thompson looked explosive in the middle and will be a handful with his get-off.
- I was told by a couple observers that the following rookies have stood out in camp: long-armed OL Payne He’bert, CB Greg Newsome and WR J.J. Jefferson. I saw Newsome, Jefferson, A.J. Hampton, Jeremiah McDonald get some of what I will call “meaningful reps” (I think I can say that). McDonald is a long, lean customer, one of those athletic, rangy guys that NU likes so much. He needs to hit the weight room, but the frame is there.
- DB Coach Matt MacPherson wouldn’t give me his starting lineup or his two-deep at safety. But I think it’s safe to say that Jared McGee will be one starter. I think JR Pace is likely his running mate with the 1s, but Bryce Jackson is making a strong push and looked impressive today. Another guy to watch is Brian Bullock, who has made the transition from corner and certainly looks the part as a safety. Coach Mac wasn’t disclosing anything about the nickel back spot, either, listing several safeties and corners who are vying for the spot, including Roderick Campbell, Alonzo Mayo and Trae Williams. So we’ll just have to see.
- I will report the starting O-line because, a., Teddy already reported it, and b., there are no surprises whatsoever. From left to right tackle, the lineup will be Blake Hance, JB Butler, Jared Thomas, Tommy Doles and Rashawn Slater. I didn’t really get a good read on the second team – and probably wouldn’t report it anyway.
- We didn’t get a chance to talk to Fitz today because he had to talk to the BTN guys, along with Thorson, Bennett Skowronek, Nate Hall, Gaziano and a couple others.
- Reporting on injured players is definitely verboten, and always has been. As we already knew (and Teddy reported) James Prather is sidelined right now. But I will say this: judging just by the numbers of guys in street clothes, it has been a very successful and healthy camp. The “vet off days” are over, so there were very few guys not participating today. That’s a very good thing.
- I’ll close with this: Jeremy Larkin looked sensational. He’s primed for a breakout season – even coming off of his impressive rookie year. He’s fast, strong and deceptively deceptive. The kid has it all. What makes his performance all the more amazing is that he does it all with the most pronounced pigeon-toed walks I have ever seen on an athlete.
Feel free to ask me questions but be warned: if I answer them, we might both be dead.
