Hiller poses big challenge for Huskies

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DeKALB – There are a few names that receive universal respect around the Mid-American Conference.

Tim Hiller is one of them.

The Western Michigan quarterback leads his Broncos (2-2, 1-0 Mid-American Conference West) into Huskie Stadium at 2:30 p.m. today for a matchup against Northern Illinois (2-2) and the Huskies definitely know what kind of damage Hiller can do, even without top wide receiver Juan Nunez, who reportedly will miss the game with a knee injury.

"I think he's special, and I think he has a chance to play at the next level," NIU coach Jerry Kill said. "Without a doubt, he has a strong arm and can throw it all over the place."

Hiller, who threw for 3,725 yards last season, has 84 touchdown passes in his career, tying him with Ben Roethlisberger from Miami (Ohio) for fifth all-time in the MAC.

NIU linebacker Cory Hanson said he saw similarities between Hiller and Idaho quarterback Nathan Enderle, who completed 18 of 23 passes for 270 yards in defeating NIU, 34-31, last week in DeKalb.

"He is similar to the Idaho quarterback, with [his] accuracy," Hanson said. "He wants to sit in the pocket and throw. He's been good every year against us, and we feel that we are ready to step up to the challenge."

Kill agreed with Hanson's assessment and said his defense would need to show greater effort in the MAC opener than it did last week against the Vandals.

"Hiller is very accurate," Kill said. "They always throw a catchable ball. They handle pressure well. I think Hiller is very intelligent. Mentally, he understands the game, and you're not going to trick him. [NIU quarterback] Chandler [Harnish] is getting better and better at seeing those things. I think Hiller has great knowledge of the game."

That means that NIU will have to bring pressure on Hiller, which has been a challenge in itself this year. The Huskies have a middle-of-the-road seven sacks and only two quarterback hurries so far this season.

"Anytime you have a pocket passer you definitely want to pressure him, get him outside the pocket a little bit, get him uncomfortable, get him somewhere he doesn't have time to throw and pick us apart," Hanson said.

With this game potentially being a crucial one to decide bowl bids and possibly who will contend with Central Michigan at the top of the division, a 1-0 start the conference season is important to the Huskies.

"After last week, the defense is ready to step up and prove that we're ready for the challenge," Hanson said. "It is the opener for MAC play, so we're definitely going to come out intense. There's no way we can come out like last week."

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME:

1. Stay on track
Last week against Idaho, the Vandals took NIU out of its gameplan around the middle of the second quarter, essentially sidelining NIU's rushing attack. Running back Chad Spann had only four rushes and quarterback Chandler Harnish led the team in rushing. If NIU's success starts with the ground game, the Huskies have to get Spann and Me'co Brown going.

2. Anywhere but West
Running back Brandon West is close to eclipsing 3,000 career yards and it only seems like he got most of those yards the last time he played the Huskies. West actually ran for 175 yards on 29 carries against NIU last year and has continued to have a strong season so far with 296 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

3. Pressure Hiller
Western Michigan quarterback Tim Hiller is one of the best quarterbacks in the conference and has won his previous two contests against the Huskies. He has as many career touchdown passes as former Miami (Ohio) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. NIU needs defensive tackle D.J. Pirkle and defensive ends Brandon Bice and Jake Coffman to put pressure on Hiller and force him into mistakes.

4. Get off the field
Teams are converting third downs at a 48 percent rate against the Huskies, making for longer drives that the NIU defense has to endure and keeping the offense off the field. Idaho converted a few critical third downs last week, Western Michigan can't do the same if NIU expects to win.

5. Take advantage
The Kalamazoo Gazette reported on Thursday that Western Michigan wide receiver Juan Nunez – the Broncos' best deep threat – will miss Saturday's game with a knee injury and that safety Doug Wiggins' suspension will not be lifted before Saturday. Those are two big playmakers that will be missing for the Broncos.