PREGAME PRIMER
Northwestern (1-0) at Duke (1-0)
Date: September 6, 2008
Location: Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC
Game Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
On Air: 1160 AM
Line: Northwestern by 6.5
Northwestern can win if...
...the offensive line plays like it did against Syracuse last weekend, opening up holes for running back Tyrell Sutton to run through while also allowing quarterback CJ Bacher enough time to throw.
The Cats need to get wide receiver Eric Peterman more involved, as well. After only catching one pass against the Orange, Peterman was used as more of a decoy, with Sutton and the running game dominating early.
Mike Hankwitz’s defense needs to continue to blitz a majority of the time. Syracuse faced heavy pressure in the first game, and the results paid off for the Wildcats, putting eight points on the board by themselves. Safety Brendan Smith was able to return an interception for a touchdown and linebacker Quentin Davie forced an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone, good for the team’s first safety of the season.
The defense will also receive a huge boost Saturday, as star defensive tackle John Gill returns after serving his one-game suspension.
Northwestern will struggle if...
...it overlooks the Blue Devils for the second straight year. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald was more upset after the Duke loss last season than he was following the overtime defeat against Big Ten rival Michigan State.
Bacher must remember to take what the defense gives him and not force his throws. He was able to rebound from an early interception against Syracuse and resembled the offensive machine he was so often last season.
Coming off a blowout victory against James Madison under first-year head coach David Cutcliffe, the Blue Devils will try to establish their running game, which finished with 218 yards last week. Senior running back Clifford Harris had a 54-yard gain on one carry and Duke will be counting on more big plays from him. If Northwestern can’t contain Harris and the Duke no-huddle offense, it could be déjà vu all over again.
Northwestern players to watch
Wide receiver Jeremy Ebert
Lining up in the slot position, Ebert should earn his second touchdown catch in as many games.
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