Northwestern takes on Minnesota on Saturday, hoping last weekend’s offensive outburst was a preview of what’s to come, rather than an aberration.

NU defeated Michigan State in an overtime shootout last weekend 48-41, led by C.J. Bacher’s 520 passing yards, and, according to coach Pat Fitzgerald, improved offensive line play.

“I thought our offensive line played outstanding on Saturday, I really believe they’ve been improving each week,” Fitzgerald said. “To have the No. 2 sack leader in the country not have a sack was very encouraging to me.”

Starting center Trevor Rees believed this improvement started with a change in mindset on the part of the offensive line. “Early on a lot of us were worried about just not messing up,” Rees said.

However, over the last three weeks the offensive line has taken on a different mindset.

“I guess it’s just kind of letting go and playing with more of a reckless-abandon type attitude,” Rees said.

Another area in which the Cats improved was the turnover department. Though fourth quarter turnovers proved deadly in the loss against Michigan, NU did not turn the ball over once against Michigan State.

“We made it a pretty big emphasis in practice trying to take care of the football,” Bacher said. “If we’re not turning the ball over, then our playmakers get to make their big plays, and that’s really the biggest factor to our offensive success.”

Despite the development of the offense, the kicking game seemed to regress, as holder Kyle Daley botched a snap and kicker Amado Villarreal missed his first field goal of the season at the end of regulation.

“In the kicking game, there were some issues there that are definitely areas that we can improve and correct, and I thought that we addressed those properly today, ” said Fitzgerald in his opening statement during Monday’s press conference.

The coaching staff has already begun shifting its focus from last weekend’s memorable win to the upcoming game against Minnesota.

“If you dwell on what happened in the previous Saturday, you’ll get exactly what you deserve the next Saturday, ” Fitzgerald said. “What concerns me (about Minnesota) is obviously the playmaking ability on both sides of the ball.”

At the halfway point of the season, the Cats’ record stands at 3-3, and the coaching staff continues to emphasize the importance of finishing games.

“I think it’s (like) the way we’ve been playing football,” Rees said, evaluating the season’s first half. “It’s tied at halftime and we want to go win it in the third and fourth quarter.”

Reach Adam Fusfeld at [email protected].