The All-Turk Pre Kenosha "Top 22" Players

[Turk]

5 Star: Game Changer. Coordinator game plans around this player
4 Star: Impact Player
3 Star: Solid
2 Star: Needs Work
1 Star: See Gladeskat

First the 5 stars

1: Nick Van Hoose: 5 star
Look for defensive coordinators to continue avoiding his side of the field, unless Jerry Brown matches him up against a particular wide out. Is he better than Sherick "Praying" McManus? You are damn straight he is.
Because of this, I suspect his numbers will go down. The only knock is that if he isn't looking back, he has a hard time picking up the ball in flight as far as getting INT"s. He is excellent and will get numerous pass breakups but his pass breakups aren't real tough ones, but easy ones because he is almost always where he is suppose to be. If he converted some more of those to INT's he also has a chance to take them to the house. He definitely knows how to head upfield with a ball in his hands.

2. Justin Jackson: 5 Star
As a freshman, he picked up where he left off at in High School. Played better than Sutton when Sutton was a freshman and had almost as many all purpose yards if not more. Unlike Sutton, he ran behind an awful OL.
And with such studs as Long, Vault, Anderson, we have the ability to keep him fresh all season and try to keep his rushing carries around 20 a game. He has 3 different speeds and can shift on a dime. Great receiver. Phenomenal.

4 stars posted over the weekend.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

5 Star: Game Changer. Coordinator game plans around this player
4 Star: Impact Player
3 Star: Solid
2 Star: Needs Work
1 Star: See Gladeskat

First the 5 stars

1: Nick Van Hoose: 5 star
Look for defensive coordinators to continue avoiding his side of the field, unless Jerry Brown matches him up against a particular wide out. Is he better than Sherick "Praying" McManus? You are damn straight he is.
Because of this, I suspect his numbers will go down. The only knock is that if he isn't looking back, he has a hard time picking up the ball in flight as far as getting INT"s. He is excellent and will get numerous pass breakups but his pass breakups aren't real tough ones, but easy ones because he is almost always where he is suppose to be. If he converted some more of those to INT's he also has a chance to take them to the house. He definitely knows how to head upfield with a ball in his hands.

2. Justin Jackson: 5 Star
As a freshman, he picked up where he left off at in High School. Played better than Sutton when Sutton was a freshman and had almost as many all purpose yards if not more. Unlike Sutton, he ran behind an awful OL.
And with such studs as Long, Vault, Anderson, we have the ability to keep him fresh all season and try to keep his rushing carries around 20 a game. He has 3 different speeds and can shift on a dime. Great receiver. Phenomenal.

4 stars posted over the weekend.

Harris is better than VanHoose.

 

[MRCat95]

Harris is better than VanHoose.

No slight to VanHoose who is a good player, but I agree.

 

[NJCat83588]

2. Justin Jackson: 5 Star
As a freshman, he picked up where he left off at in High School. Played better than Sutton when Sutton was a freshman and had almost as many all purpose yards if not more.

Please.

The Akron Hoban star had a MUCH better freshman year:
1,474 yards (3rd highest single season in NU history), 5.9 ypc average
16 TDs (5th most in NU history)
244 yards vs. Wisconsin (6th best in NU history)
4 TDs vs NIU
6th best all purpose yards in NU history (1,474 rushing and 396 receiving)

Jackson:
1,187 yards, 4.8 ypc, a full yard per carry less than Tyrell
11 TDs
1,388 total yards, only 201 receiving, only half of what Tyrell got

Don't get me wrong, JJ is the star on offense. But Tyrell had a better freshman season.

 

[Gladeskat]

Harris is better than VanHoose.

VanHoose is very good, but I agree Harris is the better cover corner. Neither one has yet to come close to Sherrick in playmaking ability. Sherrick's pick at the end of the Illinois game in 2009 was incredible, the best of many great interceptions he made.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

The best guy on our team is on defense,hits like a ton of bricks,but is not Van Hoose!

 

[mybrotha]

No slight to VanHoose who is a good player, but I agree.

+1 I like Harris too. He's faster than VanHoose and I'm not positive but I don't think he's ever been beaten deep. The other thing with Harris is that by far he is the BEST returner we have. I'm sure Fitz doesn't use him simply because he's so valuable to the defensive side of the ball that to get him hurt returning a kick isn't worth it. Regardless we have been lucky to have both Nick and Matt. The other point is how good are those guys considering we offer nearly any pass rush? Get pressure on the QB and those guys are lock down studs!

 

[mybrotha]

Please.

The Akron Hoban star had a MUCH better freshman year:
1,474 yards (3rd highest single season in NU history), 5.9 ypc average
16 TDs (5th most in NU history)
244 yards vs. Wisconsin (6th best in NU history)
4 TDs vs NIU
6th best all purpose yards in NU history (1,474 rushing and 396 receiving)

Jackson:
1,187 yards, 4.8 ypc, a full yard per carry less than Tyrell
11 TDs
1,388 total yards, only 201 receiving, only half of what Tyrell got

Don't get me wrong, JJ is the star on offense. But Tyrell had a better freshman season.

My only counter to that is that JJ with a poor offensive line. I would argue that and I may be wrong but did Terrell break tackles like JJ? JJ has an absolutely uncanny knack of also always leaning forward to get an extra yard on literally every tackle that is made on him. I betcha is yards after contact is insane. He's a great player. Tough to tell whether he will be as good as Terrell was a receiver though.

 

[chicagocatfan24]

I know Joe Ganz and went out with him in Chicago before they played NU last year, and he told me their offense planned on attacking Van Hoose and avoiding Harris. What do ya know, Turk is wrong again.

 

[Deeringfish]

No slight to VanHoose who is a good player, but I agree.

The thing I like about Van Hoose is he has so many starts and so much experience. I just feel confident with him in the game.

 

[NJCat83588]

+1 I like Harris too. He's faster than VanHoose and I'm not positive but I don't think he's ever been beaten deep.

I think he got beat deep in his first game against Cal, and that was probably the last time

 

[Gladeskat]

My only counter to that is that JJ with a poor offensive line. I would argue that and I may be wrong but did Terrell break tackles like JJ? JJ has an absolutely uncanny knack of also always leaning forward to get an extra yard on literally every tackle that is made on him. I betcha is yards after contact is insane. He's a great player. Tough to tell whether he will be as good as Terrell was a receiver though.

Did you ever see Tyrell Sutton run? Maybe you should watch the 2005 Wisconsin game and see how many tackles he breaks and how many extra yards he got after contact. JJ is a great runner for the reasons you list, but Sutton was also a great runner. Sutton's running style is somewhat comparable to that of Walter Payton. He was a quick, elusive, and very tough, physical runner who bounced off tacklers like Payton did. Sutton was nasty. That was his running style. JJ is not as physical a runner (that's not his style...he likes to slip through creases rather than hammer tacklers and bounce off them), but he may end up being the better runner when his career is over, assuming he adds the needed muscle and stays healthy. I think he has good potential to improve as a runner. JJ is also a bit faster in the open field. TS was a 4.65s 40 RB; JJ is probably a 4.50-4.55s 40 RB.

 

[Gladeskat]

5 Star: Game Changer. Coordinator game plans around this player
4 Star: Impact Player
3 Star: Solid
2 Star: Needs Work
1 Star: See Gladeskat
.

You should have added:

1 Star: See Gladeskat. Coordinator game plans around this player.

It adds more truth and symmetry to your table.

 

[Cat In The Cradle]

5 Star: Game Changer. Coordinator game plans around this player
4 Star: Impact Player
3 Star: Solid
2 Star: Needs Work
1 Star: See Gladeskat

First the 5 stars

1: Nick Van Hoose: 5 star
Look for defensive coordinators to continue avoiding his side of the field, unless Jerry Brown matches him up against a particular wide out. Is he better than Sherick "Praying" McManus? You are damn straight he is.
Because of this, I suspect his numbers will go down. The only knock is that if he isn't looking back, he has a hard time picking up the ball in flight as far as getting INT"s. He is excellent and will get numerous pass breakups but his pass breakups aren't real tough ones, but easy ones because he is almost always where he is suppose to be. If he converted some more of those to INT's he also has a chance to take them to the house. He definitely knows how to head upfield with a ball in his hands.

2. Justin Jackson: 5 Star
As a freshman, he picked up where he left off at in High School. Played better than Sutton when Sutton was a freshman and had almost as many all purpose yards if not more. Unlike Sutton, he ran behind an awful OL.
And with such studs as Long, Vault, Anderson, we have the ability to keep him fresh all season and try to keep his rushing carries around 20 a game. He has 3 different speeds and can shift on a dime. Great receiver. Phenomenal.

4 stars posted over the weekend.

I'm guessing Lou V will let this get down to three stars before pulling the plug. Some posters may profess heightened sensitive even at that level; being average seems to offend some people. You should have started this last week or else inflated your star rankings: excellent=9 stars, some b.s. code word for "poor" =5 stars such as "emerging player." Everything below five stars is average to worst with no one earning those marks.

 

[Deeringfish]

I'm guessing Lou V will let this get down to three stars before pulling the plug. Some posters may profess heightened sensitive even at that level; being average seems to offend some people. You should have started this last week or else inflated your star rankings: excellent=9 stars, some b.s. code word for "poor" =5 stars such as "emerging player." Everything below five stars is average to worst with no one earning those marks.

Lou is gone and we are running with scissors.

 

[DaCat]

The best guy on our team is on defense,hits like a ton of bricks,but is not Van Hoose!

Ben Johnson !!

 

[Turk]

Please.

The Akron Hoban star had a MUCH better freshman year:
1,474 yards (3rd highest single season in NU history), 5.9 ypc average
16 TDs (5th most in NU history)
244 yards vs. Wisconsin (6th best in NU history)
4 TDs vs NIU
6th best all purpose yards in NU history (1,474 rushing and 396 receiving)

Jackson:
1,187 yards, 4.8 ypc, a full yard per carry less than Tyrell
11 TDs
1,388 total yards, only 201 receiving, only half of what Tyrell got

Don't get me wrong, JJ is the star on offense. But Tyrell had a better freshman season.

It's a matter of perspective of who had the better freshman season. Both were great, but Sutton ran behind 4 NFL Offensive Lineman, two of which were longtime NFL starters. I doubt any of our OL that Jackson ran behind will even be drafted. That said, Sutton was a NFL player, but I think Jackson is still better and has more potential.

 

[Gladeskat]

It's a matter of perspective of who had the better freshman season. Both were great, but Sutton ran behind 4 NFL Offensive Lineman, two of which were longtime NFL starters. I doubt any of our OL that Jackson ran behind will even be drafted. That said, Sutton was a NFL player, but I think Jackson is still better and has more potential.

Besides Zach Strief, could you kindly tell us the other player who was a long time NFL starter off of the OL he ran behind?

Sutton only ran behind ONE NFL offensive lineman. Zach Strief. Period!

If you need NU football history lessons, please email me at: dimbulbswhoneedtobekickedintheassfortheirignorance.com

 

[willycat]

It's a matter of perspective of who had the better freshman season. Both were great, but Sutton ran behind 4 NFL Offensive Lineman, two of which were longtime NFL starters. I doubt any of our OL that Jackson ran behind will even be drafted. That said, Sutton was a NFL player, but I think Jackson is still better and has more potential.

Agree that JJ can be something special but wonder how he is recovering with the injury that kept him out of spring practice. Will he be full go for Kenosha?

 

[gocatsgo2003]

Agree that JJ can be something special but wonder how he is recovering with the injury that kept him out of spring practice. Will he be full go for Kenosha?

Yes.

 

[catcrazy]

Trai essex

 

[Turk]

Besides Zach Strief, could you kindly tell us the other player who was a long time NFL starter off of the OL he ran behind?

Sutton only ran behind ONE NFL offensive lineman. Zach Strief. Period!

If you need NU football history lessons, please email me at: dimbulbswhoneedtobekickedintheassfortheirignorance.com

I thought he ran behind Essex and Ike but I guess those two graduated one year prior to Strief. That said, Strief was the best of the bunch and toss in a seasoned QB as well that could spread the field. Al Netter was the 4th NFL lineman that I thought blocked during Sutton's career, I'll have to check to see but I think you are wrong about that. Al played several seasons at San Fran and still might be playing.

 

[Turk]

Please.

The Akron Hoban star had a MUCH better freshman year:
1,474 yards (3rd highest single season in NU history), 5.9 ypc average
16 TDs (5th most in NU history)
244 yards vs. Wisconsin (6th best in NU history)
4 TDs vs NIU
6th best all purpose yards in NU history (1,474 rushing and 396 receiving)

Jackson:
1,187 yards, 4.8 ypc, a full yard per carry less than Tyrell
11 TDs
1,388 total yards, only 201 receiving, only half of what Tyrell got

Don't get me wrong, JJ is the star on offense. But Tyrell had a better freshman season.

A matter of perspective. Like I said in my post, Tyrell had a much better OL. Also, I gave points to Justin for touching the ball about 300 times with only one fumble. Sutton often killed drives with multiple fumbles. Not busting on Sutton but his weakness or kink in his armor was that a lot of his extra yards he coughed up the ball. Jackson's extra yards hasn't come with that discounted price tag of fumbles. In fact, Jackson's lone fumble against Notre Dame was the ONLY fumble our RB's had last year. That is phenomenal.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

I thought he ran behind Essex and Ike but I guess those two graduated one year prior to Strief. That said, Strief was the best of the bunch and toss in a seasoned QB as well that could spread the field. Al Netter was the 4th NFL lineman that I thought blocked during Sutton's career, I'll have to check to see but I think you are wrong about that. Al played several seasons at San Fran and still might be playing.

Netter is no longer playing. Is a GA for Harbaugh at Michigan.

You know you can google this stuff in about 5 seconds without looking like an idiot, right?

 

[Turk]

Harris is better than VanHoose.

I would still argue that Van Hoose is the better pass defender but part of the reason why I like Van Hoose better [And Harris is also fantastic] is that his run support has been more consistent. Harris also has good run support but I'd classify Van Hoose's as awesome. He plays and hits like a safety out there. If I'm being critical, Harris had a few missed tackles that went for big gains.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

I would still argue that Van Hoose is the better pass defender but part of the reason why I like Van Hoose better [And Harris is also fantastic] is that his run support has been more consistent. Harris also has good run support but I'd classify Van Hoose's as awesome. He plays and hits like a safety out there. If I'm being critical, Harris had a few missed tackles that went for big gains.

Harris is better in run support than VanHoose. He took a few bad angles last year, but overall is the better run support/force corner.

 

[Gladeskat]

Harris is better in run support than VanHoose. He took a few bad angles last year, but overall is the better run support/force corner.

We already know that.

And now we also know that Turk misrepresents so-called 'hot' male flight attendants!

 

[Turk]

YOU ARE WRONG! AGAIN!

How am I wrong? It's a subjective thing. I respect those who say Harris is better, but I happen to think that the totality of the position has Van Hoose being better. You disagreeing doesn't make you right or wrong either.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

I know Joe Ganz and went out with him in Chicago before they played NU last year, and he told me their offense planned on attacking Van Hoose and avoiding Harris. What do ya know, Turk is wrong again.

If "player opposing coordinators game plan around" is the top rung qualification, Lowry should be on the list. Go back to the Wisconsin game, where the Badgers were blatantly avoiding running to his side (including flipping plays via audible at the line of scrimmage).

I know I get accused of being a Lowry "fanboy" around here, but I have no idea why he's so undervalued by fans on these boards.

 

[Gladeskat]

How am I wrong? It's a subjective thing. I respect those who say Harris is better, but I happen to think that the totality of the position has Van Hoose being better. You disagreeing doesn't make you right or wrong either.

And I suppose Hitler disagreeing that Jews should live doesn't make it right or wrong, either?

You're wrong, Turk! Hitler was wrong, too! Two peas in a pod!

 

[Turk]

And I suppose Hitler disagreeing that Jews should live doesn't make it right or wrong, either?

You're wrong, Turk! Hitler was wrong, too! Two peas in a pod!

Cripes, tying in Football with the Holocaust and Hitler is really disrespectful and poor choice of comparison, don't you think?

Well, at any rate, I rated Van Hoose higher than Harris. Take your social issues to another board and jewish hate to the other board.

 

[NJCat83588]

Cripes, tying in Football with the Holocaust and Hitler is really disrespectful and poor choice of comparison, don't you think?

Well, at any rate, I rated Van Hoose higher than Harris. Take your social issues to another board and jewish hate to the other board.

Right on. Once again, you are the "voice of reason" on this board. These are just subjective opinions and there isn't a "right" or "wrong" opinion, just different views.

 

[benoitdenizetl]

Though I actually tend to agree that Harris is the better corner, let's not all act like Turk is crazy for liking VanHoose better. Turk can be considered crazy for other reasons, perhaps, but the Big Ten coaches apparently thought VanHoose was better, too, because they voted him to the All Big Ten 2nd team.

 

[Turk]

Though I actually tend to agree that Harris is the better corner, let's not all act like Turk is crazy for liking VanHoose better. Turk can be considered crazy for other reasons, perhaps, but the Big Ten coaches apparently thought VanHoose was better, too, because they voted him to the All Big Ten 2nd team.

Although I completely realize that Gocatsgo, Gladeskat, and others have a right to their opinion, never mind that Harris is a heckuva player, I think the coaches know a lot more about these things than we do. In this case, I wasn't surprised that The Great and Powerful Turk's position is almost always lined up with those who know them best. lol

That said, I fully realize I am crazy and I can't claim it's because of the purple blood.

As an aside, we have at least two other really good corners, i.e., McShephard and Westphall. I haven't seen Westfall [sorry if misspelled but I figured I'd spell it differently twice and maybe I get one right] but McShephard is freakn solid and you can bet even though he is on the two defense, he still will be in Turk's "All Turk Top 22"

Go Cats!

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

I'm looking forward to having a couple of lockdown corners in 2015 - Van Hoose and Harris have the potential to be the most dynamic set of corners at NU since the days of Ray & Martin. Arguing over who is better is like arguing over the most beautiful Kardashia...or not.

 

[Turk]

I'm looking forward to having a couple of lockdown corners in 2015 - Van Hoose and Harris have the potential to be the most dynamic set of corners at NU since the days of Ray & Martin. Arguing over who is better is like arguing over the most beautiful Kardashia...or not.

Never mind that there may not be much of a drip off from Campbell to Henry or Godwin. The most unknowable thing this year will be at QB, however, whoever is the starter will have a well established defense to lean on and wont' be asked to do some of the things that Brewfka were asked to do as redshirt freshmen.

And the two deep defense is about as deep as I've seen. This has bode well for improved special team play since the days of Coach Walker.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

Although I completely realize that Gocatsgo, Gladeskat, and others have a right to their opinion, never mind that Harris is a heckuva player, I think the coaches know a lot more about these things than we do. In this case, I wasn't surprised that The Great and Powerful Turk's position is almost always lined up with those who know them best. lol

That said, I fully realize I am crazy and I can't claim it's because of the purple blood.

As an aside, we have at least two other really good corners, i.e., McShephard and Westphall. I haven't seen Westfall [sorry if misspelled but I figured I'd spell it differently twice and maybe I get one right] but McShephard is freakn solid and you can bet even though he is on the two defense, he still will be in Turk's "All Turk Top 22"

Go Cats!

Didn't spell either of those correctly.

And Watkins is probably ahead of Westphal on the depth chart anyway.

 

[No Chores]

Didn't spell either of those correctly.

And Watkins is probably ahead of Westphal on the depth chart anyway.

gocats,

Give it up - you're acting like an arrogant know-it-all jerk!

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Ben Johnson !!

Ben Johnson graduated last year! I think Walker beat him out at linebacker last year.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Henry is a hammer! Absolutely, the hardest hitter I have ever seen at NU! Best player besides JJ!