By Patrick DorseyThe Daily Northwestern
To Adam Kadela, the explanation is simple.
Northwestern’s defense, by far the worst unit in the Big Ten less than a month ago, has allowed just 12 points and 291 yards per game in its last two contests.
And it all goes back to one half, when the Wildcats allowed 38 points and the biggest comeback in Division I-A history in a 41-38 home loss to Michigan State.
“We took that personally, and we had a choice,” Kadela said. “Either we can let that get to us, or we can do something about it.
“That’s been a big focus on the defensive side of the ball during practice every day – just to remember that (game), and just to get better and don’t ever let something like that happen again.”
Coach Pat Fitzgerald wouldn’t make the same admission Monday when asked about his defense’s recent rejuvenation, but he offered several other reasons why his team now sits seventh in the league in total defense and sixth in points allowed.
First is the play of the defensive line, which has clamped down on the run during the last four weeks after allowing a combined 554 yards on the ground in the team’s first two conference games.
During that same span, the Cats also have recorded eight sacks in the last four games after tallying just one in the first two.
This has been helped by several creative schemes that Fitzgerald said are designed to get “the best 11 guys on the field.”
One used in Saturday’s 21-7 win at Iowa featured redshirt freshman Corey Wootton and sophomore Kevin Mims lined up as defensive tackles, while juniors David Ngene and Mark Koehn line up on the outside – making for a line composed of four defensive ends.
“(We’re) trying to get as much speed on the field as we possibly can,” Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald also praised the play of his linebackers, several of whom have filled in for senior Nick Roach, NU’s leading tackler before his injury two weeks ago.
The secondary also has shown improvement despite losing senior cornerback Marquice Cole.
Fitzgerald credited this to better practices and increased communication among defensive backs.
“When I hear guys really talking in the secondary,” Fitzgerald said, “you know they not only know their job, (but) more importantly they know the scheme and they know the concept of what we’re trying to do.”
NU hosts Ohio State, the Big Ten’s top scoring offense, Saturday.
HONOR FOR WALKER
NU’s “Touchdown Terrace,” will be renamed “Randy Walker Terrace” at halftime on Saturday.
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