Northwestern has had success running the ball inside. Tyrell Sutton busted off a 44-yard scamper on a misdirection dive play right up the gut of the Salukis defense. Southern Illinois runs a 3-4 defensive scheme, a formation vulnerable to inside runs. The Wildcats need to continue to run North-South as opposed to East-West where SIU’s linebackers, the teams strength, can run in space. Saluki linebackers Chauncey Mixon and James Cloud were both pre-season All-Americas.
While Sutton has gained 64 yards on eight carries on the ground, he’s caught three passes for 9 yards. C.J. Bacher said Sutton would be active as a receiver this week, but we haven’t seen it thus far. Offensive coordinator Mick McCall would love to get his running backs into open space.
Coorey Wooton has been on a tear. The junior defensive end may be well on his way to a breakout year. Wooton has registered 2.5 sacks thus far, the combined total of the other defensive lineman. Even if Wooton did not force a fumble on his sack, he’s been all over the place throughout the first half. On John Gill’s sack, Wooton provided backside pressure, forcing the guard to pull off his block, and opening a hole for Gill.
The SIU running attack has left NU’s defense exposed. The Salukis have rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown, mostly the work of 5-foot-5 Larry Warner. Because Warner is so low to the ground, he seems to have no problems cutting or planting on the wet playing surface. It is the first 8-gap offensive attack the Cats have been forced to defend thus far; both Syracuse and Duke ran 6-gap fronts. The Cats linebackers need to get in the backfield and be disruptive.
No comments:
Post a Comment