The Northwestern football team is almost three weeks into spring practice and still is adjusting to coach Randy Walker’s offseason game of musical chairs.
In addition to moving running backs Chris Brown and Louis Ayeni to wideout, and tight end Mike Sherry to the fullback position, Walker made moves on the defensive side of the ball — most notably the transfer of former linebacker Conrad Emmerich to right defensive end.
Emmerich, who was sixth on the team last year with 65 tackles, said he is still getting used to the move up to the front four.
“I’m not quite there yet,” Emmerich said about the transition. “I would say I’m about 85 percent there. The first day of spring ball I was lost out here. I just really didn’t know what was going on most of the time.
“I think spring ball and the summer will really help me, and then in preseason I can really fine tune.”
Walker said from the first time he saw Emmerich play, he viewed him as a potential defensive end. And if Emmerich wants to play at the next level, Walker thinks he will have to do it in the front-line trenches.
Another reason for the move is NU’s abundance of talent at linebacker. Kevin Bentley, who made a team-leading 148 tackles last year, returns along with Napoleon Harris (110 tackles) and Billy Silva (83 tackles). All three appear to have locks on starting spots.
“It is a different role when you put your hand on the ground,” Walker said, referring to Emmerich’s move to defensive end. “But (Conrad’s) a tough kid and a bright kid. He’s a quick study. I think he could be a very good defensive end.”
Walker also said that Emmerich’s lack of speed contributed to the move.
At 270 pounds, Emmerich hasn’t displayed the quickness of Harris (235 pounds) or Bentley (233 pounds).
“We like guys like Napo, Kevin and Billy who can run,” Walker said. “Being honest, Conrad isn’t that. Our first priority is guys who can run with the flight of the football. And that really isn’t Conrad. Conrad’s a hammer.”
At first glance, it may seem like Walker’s shuffling of players would lead to nothing but confusion. But Walker said the moves he’s made on the field are ordinary.
“We’ll recruit defensive backs who will move up to linebacker,” Walker said. “And we’ll get linebackers who will move down and be good defensive ends. That’s a migration in our defense.”
The biggest difference Emmerich will encounter playing up front will be the size of some of the players he takes on.
Emmerich will be aided by another fifth-year senior on the line, Dwayne Missouri, a starter last year who knows the position as well as anyone on the team.
“I don’t know what to expect some times,” Emmerich said. “I have these big lugs on the other side of the line trying to stop me and they all have 30 pounds on me. So I really appreciate guys (like Missouri) helping me out all the time.”
Said Missouri: “I think it’s a little awkward right now for Conrad. At the defensive line position, things come a lot quicker. But, I have total confidence in him.
“I can tell he’s a great athlete from watching him the last four years. I don’t have any concerns about Conrad being ready to play.”
