Last week Northwestern coach Randy Walker hinted that he might experiment with a defense that featured the team’s four experienced linebackers, specifically Napoleon Harris.
On Saturday, Walker put his tinkering to the test.
In the spring game, Harris shifted down from outside linebacker to defensive end, a position that gives him more of a chance to roam around on the field. Harris and the first-team defense held the Wildcats’ second-team offense scoreless in a 30-0 shutout.
After the game, Walker talked about Harris as if he were a mystery man on the NU defensive line. He said Harris’ new role allows him to confuse opposing offenses.
“Is he an edge player, a defensive end, an upright linebacker and outside linebacker?” Walker asked. “Our offense had a hard time telling what he was.”
Harris said the change gives him more control on the field.
“I pretty much have the freedom to do whatever,” said Harris, a second-team All-Big Ten selection last season. “Whatever is comfortable for me, they allow me the freedom to do.”
Allowing Harris to work from a two-point stance would shift the Cats into a 3-4 defense next fall with linebacker Pat Durr also on the field. Because Harris played as a normal defensive end on Saturday, the first-team defense resembled the 4-3 that the Cats used last year.
After the game, Walker said a number of new players on defense will see time next season, but said he will wait until after the summer camp in Kenosha to set the names in stone.
“I am just happy that everyone on the field is going to be suiting up in the fall,” Walker said.
Walker also mentioned a possible five-linebacker defense, but said NU currently lacked anyone physically strong enough to compete at the fifth spot.
SIMMONS PUTS ON SHOW: Circumstance and experience forced wide receiver Sam Simmons to run for both offensive squads. Five receivers sat out Saturday’s game with injuries ranging from a shoulder sprain to a fractured foot. Even backup quarterbacks Mike Griffin and Matt Danielson were forced to run routes for both squads.
Simmons and quarterback Zak Kustok said that with only a few healthy receivers on the field, the offense was forced to play at a slower tempo, especially late in the game.
But Simmons remained upbeat about the Cats’ receiving squad, especially sophomore Ronnie Foster, who Simmons said has made significant improvements from his first season. Foster sat out Saturday with a sprained knee.
“We’ll be better when we have all of our troops back,” Simmons said.
Simmons, the lone standout at the wideout position, caught 10 balls for 162 yards and two touchdowns.
The lack of experienced receivers for Saturday’s game could also have caused the rash of dropped passes that plagued both teams. Simmons, however, did not see anything to worry about in the offense’s performance.
“It’s going to be a whole new offense come fall,” Simmons said.
Walker remained as positive about the Cats’ offense after the game as he was at a pregame rally.
In the end, Saturday’s game was just another scrimmage for NU, who will come into next season as the favorite to clinch the Big Ten title. Walker may have had this in mind as he watched the Cats play, but he remained cautious in making predictions.
“The only certainty today is that NU is going to win,” Walker said before the game.
Walker also said he hoped to work on the team’s deep passing game, but Saturday’s longest completion was a 30-yard toss by second-team quarterback Tony Stauss. The Cats’ second touchdown came off a 28-yard catch by Simmons from Kustok, who completed 12 of 22 passes for 163 yards.
EXTRA POINTS: The kicking game could also be an issue for the Cats.
In the meeting with fans before the game, Walker reminisced about Tim Long, NU’s graduating kicker, who made the 46-yarder that set up NU’s overtime win against Wisconsin last September.
Competing to take Long’s place are two less experienced players, junior transfer David Wasielewski and sophomore Brian Huffman. Saturday’s game proceeded without punts or kickoffs, but Walker challenged the two by stretching the game’s extra point attempts from 20 yards to 35.
Both kickers struggled with the gusting winds. Wasielewski connected on a 36-yard attempt, but bounced his other off the upright from 32 yards out. Huffman went 3-for-4 on extra points, with his miss coming from 35 yards out.
