Huskies look for balance
By JOHN SAHLY
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jsahly@daily-chronicle.com
For more NIU coverage, visit HuskieWire.com
DeKALB – One of the most pressing questions for Northern Illinois – aside from who plays quarterback, which won't be revealed until just before kickoff this morning – is how the NIU offense will bring a little more balance today against Akron.
Last week, with quarterback DeMarcus Grady pressed into action because of a knee injury to Chandler Harnish, the Huskies went almost exclusively to the run. NIU threw the ball just enough – 10 times out of 49 offensive plays – to keep Miami's defense honest.
"We got up 17-0 and there's no question we played a little bit conservatively," NIU coach Jerry Kill said.
Today against Akron (1-6, 0-3 Mid-American Conference East) at 11 a.m. at Huskie Stadium, the Huskies (4-3, 2-1 MAC West) want to be able to throw the ball more no matter if it's the likely starter in Grady or if Harnish makes an early return from an unspecified right knee injury.
"We want to be just like we've been all year," Kill said. "Going to Miami and just getting the win and getting out of there, I think we know more about what we need to do to prepare for this particular week knowing, going into the game [with Akron], a little bit more about DeMarcus and what he brings to the table."
Grady said after practice earlier this week that he didn't care as much about balance in the offense as he did executing the plays that were called. But if more passes were included in the gameplan, he would be for it.
"I would, but that's any quarterback," he said. "Any quarterback wants to throw a lot but the coaches do a good job of preparing us and putting the right plays in and putting us in the right situations."
The Huskies also have a chance to make some major headway in terms of bowl-eligibility and to stay in the race for the MAC West with Central Michigan. The next three teams NIU faces – Akron, Eastern Michigan and Ball State – have a combined record of 2-20 entering today.
"It's an opportunity, and one that we need to take advantage of," linebacker Alex Kube said. "I've been on the other end when we had to be away for three games in a row and that's tough. It's hard, especially in this conference, to play away. We have to take advantage of it, and I think the fans will help us out to make it a hostile environment."
FIVES KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Open it up
After last week's extremely run-heavy performance, NIU's quarterback – likely DeMarcus Grady but Chandler Harnish (knee injury) was listed as questionable this week – will have to throw a little more than 10 times to keep Akron's defense honest. NIU is just fine with running the ball 60 percent of the time, a repeat of last week's 79 percent running plays isn't going to fool anyone.
2. But stick with what works
That said, if the passing game falters, Chad Spann and Me'co Brown can carry the day. Spann is coming off a 21-carry, 156-yard performance and Brown has the talent to bust loose for a big run on any play. Miami (Ohio) coach Michael Haywood said last week that NIU ran the power run play better than anyone he's seen in the past 20 years. It should open up the pass this week.
3. Develop on the fly
With nose guard Brian Lawson likely out for the rest of the season with a hand/finger injury, the Huskies were forced to move defensive end Jake Coffman inside. Coffman played well there last week (2.5 sacks) but coaches and Coffman would prefer that he plays end. That means when players like Adam Coleman, Nabal Jefferson and Ron Newcomb get their chances on the interior defensive line, they must prove to the coaches that they belong, allowing Coffman to move back outside.
4. Figure out the secondary
The Huskies will miss safety David Bryant (knee) for the next 2-4 weeks. Jody Van Laanen and Tommy Davis will move into the rotation in the secondary and likely will get tested early by the Zips. Neither player has a lot of experience and they'll find out very quickly what it's like to play in the secondary at this level.
5. Streak starts now
This isn't so much a key to the game as it is a key to the next three games. NIU plays three of the worst teams in the conference at home in a row. It's a major opportunity that could end with the Huskies not only bowl-eligible, but still within striking distance for the MAC West crown. NIU needs to take care of business at home if if wants to meet its goals.
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