Northern Illinois University

Type of Offense: Spread.  Zone read running plays and nearly all passing plays from the shotgun formation.  There is rare to no use of a fullback.  Tight End is used primarily as a blocking back (extra OL).  Nearly all runs are made by the RB and QB save the occasional end around with the WR.

Type of Defense: 4-3. Fast OLBs with the WLB being stronger in pass coverage and the SLB being stouter versus the run. MLB is balanced and expected to make most of the tackles, especially versus the run game. A lot of Cover 2 with the MLB expected to get deep (15 yards) on a pass play. Corners on an island playing the edges with help over top. Gap responsibilities on the run game with DL and LB filling gaps and DE normally containing on the edge.

• Run/Pass %: 64/46
• Run/Pass Attempts: 581/329
• Points Per Game: 38.0
• Points Allowed Per Game: 18.9

Key Returning Players:
• Chandler Harnish, QB: The reigning conference MVP and first team all-conference QB had over 2500 yards passing with 21 TDs and 836 yards rushing in 2010. Should be able to put up similar numbers for a team that was the best MAC team during the regular season last year.
• Sean Progar, DE: 1st team all-MAC DE had 39 tackles, 10 TFL, and 4 sacks in 2010 leading a defense that only gave up 18.9 points per game in 2010. Has a chance to improve sack numbers and compete for conference defensive MVP in 2011.

Key Incoming Freshmen:
• Videl Nelson, LB: This 3 star LB out of Kansas City, MO is tall, slender and quick making him a perfect fit for the WLB spot on NIU’s 4-3 defense. With more growing and filling out, he could be moved to the inside before his career for the Huskies is over.
• AJ Sebastiano, WR: One of the speedy 3 star WRs that seem to come out of Florida in bunches on a yearly basis; Sebastiano has good skills and the ability to make it on the field as a freshman. Time will tell how he adapts to the college game and if he can make it work, but he has the skill and speed to do it.

Overall Assessment:
Another regular season conference championship and another bowl win in 2010 couldn’t take the bitter taste of losing the conference championship game to Miami OH in Detroit. With conference MVP Harnish and 1st team all defense Progar returning for the 2011 season, anything less than a regular season, title game, and bowl game championship would be a huge disappointment. NIU has a lot of good things going on up there and are setting themselves up to possibly be the Boise or TCU of the MAC conference. Worst case scenario is 2 or 3 conference losses and a struggle in the non-conference play resulting in a 7-5 or so record and being relegated to a relatively minor bowl in 2011. Best case scenario is pulling an upset or two and running the table with an 11-1 regular season schedule. The non-conference is somewhat light other than a trip to Wisconsin and it is entirely possible to see a one loss season.