[CTcard]

<p>Looks like Northwestern has also posted their two-deep depth chart. <br></p><p>https://twitter.com/insidenu/status/1166030763285983232/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1166030763285983232&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidenu.com%2F2019%2F8%2F26%2F20833488%2Fnorthwestern-football-week-1-two-deep-depth-chart-roster-stanford-predictions-hunter-johnson<br></p><p><br></p><p>A few notes from there and in general.</p><p><br></p><p>1. No starting QB has been named. The transfer (Hunter Johnson) and fifth year senior former walk-on (TJ Green) are listed as OR. My understanding is that coach's comments are that both are very close. <br></p><p><br></p><p>2. Trey Pugh, what they call a super-back, is not on the depth chart to the surprise of Wildcat fans. Speculation he may be injured. He didn't have a whole lot of stats during his first two years, but the Northwestern folks seem to think he is set to be the starter. <br></p><p><br></p><p>3. Three new OL and one position switch along the line. <br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Despite a good record, winning the Big Ten West last year, and having their QB drafted by the Eagles, Northwestern's 2018 offense was not very good statistically. Their running game was 12th in the Big Ten in both yds/gm and yds/att. In fact, it sort of looked like Stanford's though they averaged quite a bit less per attempt by had a lot more attempts. Their passing game was better, fifth in the Big Ten in yds/gm but only 11th in efficiency rating. All put together, Northwestern was 12th in the Big Ten in total offense per game and per play. <br></p><p><br></p><p>They seem to have quite a bit of their defense back, and as far as I can tell less drama there on the published depth chart. <br></p><p><br></p><p>Perhaps a low scoring game? <br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

[CTcard]

<p>Looks like Northwestern has also posted their two-deep depth chart. <br></p><p>https://twitter.com/insidenu/status/1166030763285983232/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1166030763285983232&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidenu.com%2F2019%2F8%2F26%2F20833488%2Fnorthwestern-football-week-1-two-deep-depth-chart-roster-stanford-predictions-hunter-johnson<br></p><p><br></p><p>A few notes from there and in general.</p><p><br></p><p>1. No starting QB has been named. The transfer (Hunter Johnson) and fifth year senior former walk-on (TJ Green) are listed as OR. My understanding is that coach's comments are that both are very close. <br></p><p><br></p><p>2. Trey Pugh, what they call a super-back, is not on the depth chart to the surprise of Wildcat fans. Speculation he may be injured. He didn't have a whole lot of stats during his first two years, but the Northwestern folks seem to think he is set to be the starter. <br></p><p><br></p><p>3. Three new OL and one position switch along the line. <br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Despite a good record, winning the Big Ten West last year, and having their QB drafted by the Eagles, Northwestern's 2018 offense was not very good statistically. Their running game was 12th in the Big Ten in both yds/gm and yds/att. In fact, it sort of looked like Stanford's though they averaged quite a bit less per attempt by had a lot more attempts. Their passing game was better, fifth in the Big Ten in yds/gm but only 11th in efficiency rating. All put together, Northwestern was 12th in the Big Ten in total offense per game and per play. <br></p><p><br></p><p>They seem to have quite a bit of their defense back, and as far as I can tell less drama there on the published depth chart. <br></p><p><br></p><p>Perhaps a low scoring game? <br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

[OutsiderFan]

Stanford is going to crush these fools.

If you don't have a starting QB decided between a former walk-on and a former 5 star QB transfer, you don't have a QB.

NU's OL is not very long. Every Stanford T and G is at least 6-6.  Only one NU T and G is 6-6 and the others are 6-3. I don't think they are going to have the athleticism needed to beat Stanford's Front Seven.

Little and Sarell should be able to engulf the NU DEs, who play a 4-3.  They won't have to contend with smaller and quicker edge guys.  

I question Stanford's interior OL, so expect NU to bottle up up the middle run game, led by MLB Paddy Fisher.

Stanford should dominate in the passing game. New QB(s) throwing to average WRs facing top end Corners with a good pass rush in a road game, does not usually work.  Costello is a seasoned starter throwing to a much better WR unit, and a Parkinson will be matched up against a 5-11 Sam LB in some cases. 

Shaw needs to act with urgency to get a lead and force NU into obvious passing situations.  None of that pound head into wall against stacked boxes for a full half nonsense from SDSU last year, please.

[OutsiderFan]

Stanford is going to crush these fools.

If you don't have a starting QB decided between a former walk-on and a former 5 star QB transfer, you don't have a QB.

NU's OL is not very long. Every Stanford T and G is at least 6-6.  Only one NU T and G is 6-6 and the others are 6-3. I don't think they are going to have the athleticism needed to beat Stanford's Front Seven.

Little and Sarell should be able to engulf the NU DEs, who play a 4-3.  They won't have to contend with smaller and quicker edge guys.  

I question Stanford's interior OL, so expect NU to bottle up up the middle run game, led by MLB Paddy Fisher.

Stanford should dominate in the passing game. New QB(s) throwing to average WRs facing top end Corners with a good pass rush in a road game, does not usually work.  Costello is a seasoned starter throwing to a much better WR unit, and a Parkinson will be matched up against a 5-11 Sam LB in some cases. 

Shaw needs to act with urgency to get a lead and force NU into obvious passing situations.  None of that pound head into wall against stacked boxes for a full half nonsense from SDSU last year, please.

[Goose]

Little and Sarell should be able to engulf the NU DEs, who play a 4-3.  They won't have to contend with smaller and quicker edge guys.  

.....

Shaw needs to act with urgency to get a lead and force NU into obvious passing situations.  None of that pound head into wall against stacked boxes for a full half nonsense from SDSU last year, please.

If the first statement is true, which I dearly hope it is, we should be able to run off tackle all day, shouldn't we?

I hope we can get the lead and then work on our offensive efficiency. This will keep the ball out of Northwestern's hands. I don't mean turtle. I mean take what the defense gives you and find out which plays you execute well and which ones you don't (yet).  If they play the safety on the LOS to stop the run, we should be able to destroy them by passing. That said, winning the damn game is job 1.

[Goose]

Little and Sarell should be able to engulf the NU DEs, who play a 4-3.  They won't have to contend with smaller and quicker edge guys.  

.....

Shaw needs to act with urgency to get a lead and force NU into obvious passing situations.  None of that pound head into wall against stacked boxes for a full half nonsense from SDSU last year, please.

If the first statement is true, which I dearly hope it is, we should be able to run off tackle all day, shouldn't we?

I hope we can get the lead and then work on our offensive efficiency. This will keep the ball out of Northwestern's hands. I don't mean turtle. I mean take what the defense gives you and find out which plays you execute well and which ones you don't (yet).  If they play the safety on the LOS to stop the run, we should be able to destroy them by passing. That said, winning the damn game is job 1.

[SamuelMcF]

Little and Sarell should be able to engulf the NU DEs, who play a 4-3.  They won't have to contend with smaller and quicker edge guys.  

.....

Shaw needs to act with urgency to get a lead and force NU into obvious passing situations.  None of that pound head into wall against stacked boxes for a full half nonsense from SDSU last year, please.

If the first statement is true, which I dearly hope it is, we should be able to run off tackle all day, shouldn't we?

I hope we can get the lead and then work on our offensive efficiency. This will keep the ball out of Northwestern's hands. I don't mean turtle. I mean take what the defense gives you and find out which plays you execute well and which ones you don't (yet).  If they play the safety on the LOS to stop the run, we should be able to destroy them by passing. That said, winning the damn game is job 1.

We did that in the Sun Bowl quite well, actually. Runs off tackle with Fisk/Harrington blocking were easily our best runs.

[SamuelMcF]

Little and Sarell should be able to engulf the NU DEs, who play a 4-3.  They won't have to contend with smaller and quicker edge guys.  

.....

Shaw needs to act with urgency to get a lead and force NU into obvious passing situations.  None of that pound head into wall against stacked boxes for a full half nonsense from SDSU last year, please.

If the first statement is true, which I dearly hope it is, we should be able to run off tackle all day, shouldn't we?

I hope we can get the lead and then work on our offensive efficiency. This will keep the ball out of Northwestern's hands. I don't mean turtle. I mean take what the defense gives you and find out which plays you execute well and which ones you don't (yet).  If they play the safety on the LOS to stop the run, we should be able to destroy them by passing. That said, winning the damn game is job 1.

We did that in the Sun Bowl quite well, actually. Runs off tackle with Fisk/Harrington blocking were easily our best runs.