POSTGAME ANALYSIS: Defense growing up
By JOHN SAHLY
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jsahly@daily-chronicle.com
For more NIU coverage, visit HuskieWire.com
DeKALB – Alex Kube nodded as he said it, but the words themselves didn't need any reassurance in the aftermath of that performance.
"They're starting to get it," Kube said.
Kube noticed a difference in Northern Illinois' defense this week – players were more determined to put the Idaho loss behind them, the team had a little more energy after practicing without full pads from Wednesday on – but it wasn't until the morning of 38-3 victory over Western Michigan that he believed this defense was starting to grow up a little bit.
"You could tell from the pregame that we were focused," Kube said. "[The leaders] made sure of it."
As much swagger as Kube plays with at linebacker, he is one of the most introspective players on the team. Questions, answers and comparisons can often start with how he handled things when he was a younger player. It makes him a bit of an authority when it comes to analyzing players younger than him.
Kube used that point of reference to explain why some of the inexperienced players on NIU's defense came out with a swagger on Saturday, leading to a near-shutout of the Broncos.
"When I was younger I would come out and it would be like 'How are the older guys? What are they doing?' " Kube said. "Now you've got some of the younger guys and they're just being themselves. There's less questions. They're comfortable."
If "being themselves" means making one of the Mid-American Conference's most prolific quarterbacks in Tim Hiller try to avoid a rush like Chicago Mayor Richard Daley getting out of Copenhagen, then it's scary to think about what this defense can become in the next year.
The Huskies imposed their will on both sides of the ball but it was how Hiller had no room to step up in the pocket and deliver the throws we're so used to seeing from him that was the most surprising thing from this game.
Credit experienced players like Kube, D.J. Pirkle and especially Jake Coffman for that, but don't forget how often you saw Brian Lawson, Tracy Wilson, Sean Progar and Tyrone Clark making plays in there, too.
"As we all buy in, you'll see the defense get better and better and better," Kube said.
The word impressive comes to mind but the consistency isn't there yet. NIU followed up Purdue with a poor display of tackling, so I don't think it's time to call NIU's defense impressive just yet. Also some consideration should go to the fact that Hiller's banged up and ineffective offensive line has many more questions than answers right now.
At the very least, give the Huskies credit for this. The missed tackles and basic fundamentals that stayed behind in West Lafayette, Ind., after the Purdue victory found their way to Huskie Stadium against the Broncos. They found a mistake and corrected it for the next game. That's what good teams do.
Or, to put it another way, safety Mike Sobol explained it as "Last week just didn't feel like us."
Kube explained it as inexperienced players buying into the system. Believing him on this isn't that hard to do based on Saturday's performance and Kube said there are certain thresholds he's noticed that can determine has committed to what the coaches try to teach.
"They understand the defense and they do their job every time and they're disciplined in terms of the defense that is called," Kube said. "You can tell a kid has bought in when he's doing his job and not trying to be a high school player and make a play.
"He's doing his job. That's when you know a kid has bought in."
After a 1-0 start to the MAC season and clearly the most dominant performance in the conference on Saturday, a few more people around the conference have reason to buy into the idea that NIU can contend in the West division.
Kube buys that, but only to a point.
"In terms of the MAC, I think people are going to open their eyes," Kube said. "But that doesn't mean anything. It's just now we've got a target on our backs."
• John Sahly is a sports reporter for the Daily Chronicle. He can be reached at jsahly@daily-chronicle.com.
