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| | Saturday, September 2 Huskies nipping at heels of Toledo | |||||
| By George Porter Special to ESPN.com Northern Illinois Huskies 1999 record: 5-6 (5-3 MAC) Coach: Joe Novak Returning starters: 18 (9 offense, 9 defense) Outlook The return of 18 starters will not be enough if the Huskies don't learn how to play in the fourth quarter. Last season the Huskies scored 289 points in 11 games, the same as their opponents. But the difference was in the fourth quarter, where the Huskies were outscored 131-54. The passing game was a top priority this off-season. While the Huskies completed its share of big plays, they struggled on third downs. Junior quarterback Chris Finlen showed more consistency this spring and coaches are hoping that carries over into the fall. WR Justin McCareins is a solid receiver and should have a big season, especially considering the Huskies will likely throw the ball more with the loss of 1,000 yard rusher William Andrews to academic difficulties. Thomas Hammock or Jon Lanum must fill the void in the running game. The entire starting offensive line is returning from last year, and must undoubtedly reduce their 27 sacks from last season. The Huskies defense has experience and several talented players. Nose tackle Darian Tate is a force in the middle and the linebacker trio of Cameron Saulsby, Kevin Selover and Larry Williams is one of the best in the MAC. The secondary has some questions, but should be OK. Keep an eye on ... Chris Finlen. While the Huskies have some depth at running back, it will be up to Finlen to pick up the slack for the loss of Andrews. It's a good season if ... They can challenge for the Western division crown. The loss of Andrews hurts, but there is still enough here to make a run at Toledo. |
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