No higher than 4th in our division, and tied for it at that.
http://preseason.stassen.com/consensus/2015.html#big-ten
http://preseason.stassen.com/consensus/2015.html#big-ten
Overview of where the pre-seaon mags see us
- Thread starter Eurocat
- Start date
In the last two seasons our record hasn't merited a better prediction. Very few of those predictions are made by people who have a great knowledge of NU football. There are a lot of higher profile teams out there that get more attention.
I wouldn't be rating us highly based on the past two seasons and a new QB at the helm. Basically a season for the Cats to put up or shut up.
Your two comments seem to be in opposition. You wouldn't rate us high while it's a season to put up or shut up?
Hmmm.
If we had an announcement that Thorsen had clearly separated himself and was going to be the starter, then the various pundits might give us some benefit of the doubt that something might be radically different. But since they have seen our other two quarterbacks and the announcements to date that there is no clear separation, that gives them no reason to put us any higher at this point.
We remember the difference in Kafka between his junior and senior year and hope for something similar. But those writers are neither as focused on nor hopeful about NU football as we are.
I don't think it's in opposition at all. After a 10-3 season a couple of years back, we've regressed. With the incredible run of injuries we've had the past couple of years, it's been possible to say this is just a temporary bump in the road to the Cats becoming a consistently good team. With the claims that have been made that we've recruited better in recent years, I think we need to start seeing some evidence of that on the field.
As long as Fitz is smart enough to keep Alviti and Thorsen mobile in the pocket (and I mean 30% rolling to each side and 40% staying in the pocket) we will win 9 games or more. You cannot,I repeat,cannot have Alviti running the ball and taking hits like Kain Colter did when he had his concussion. When Alviti/Thorsen see a gorilla linebacker, they better start sliding. If we have to play the immobile qb, we will be below 500! You heard it hear first.
Well, everyone knows I'm the Pessimist. I see a LOT of problems to overcome. First, whomever plays at QB will be completely inexperienced. Second, the OL looked pretty awful last year and I have no reason to think it will be any better this year. Finally, our receiving corps was atrocious last year.
Yuck.
Yuck.
