Make no mistake, Larry English and the group of seniors that left Northern Illinois after this past season are missed.
But that doesn't mean the Huskies paid any attention to the supposed free fall their defense was supposed to endure. In fact, NIU's defense, entering today's 2:30 p.m. game against Idaho (2-1), has done more than hold its own.
It's thriving and looking a lot like one of the best defenses in the Mid-American Conference again.
NIU has the No. 2 scoring defense in the MAC, is tied for first with Ohio in turnover margin, ranks third in rush defense and fourth in total defense.
What members of the NIU defense will tell you is that it's the combination of the second year of coach Jerry Kill's ? and defensive coordinator Tracy Clayes' ? system combined with an improved trust of one another that has led to this season's success.
"A lot of mistakes come from not trusting each other because then you want to get in their gap on a run or in the pass you feel like that guy's not going to do his job so you want to do more than what you're supposed to do," linebacker Alex Kube said. "As you've seen, our defense isn't doing that, really at all any more.
"I feel like I can do my job and the guy next to me is going to do his and everybody else is the same way."
When redshirt freshman defensive end Sean Progar watches film of the NIU defense now, it looks a lot cleaner, a major part he says of the trust factor.
"I remember spring ball, watching it then we were all just thinking too much, especially the young guys," said Progar, who has recovered two fumbles and has two tackles for loss. "Now, even after the Wisconsin game, it's just football. We know our jobs and now we just go play."
Kube said that trust comes from Kill making team camaraderie a big priority since his arrival.
"This is the first team I've ever been on where I can hang out with every single one of my linebackers and have a good time," Kube said. "Every single one of them. I've never been on a team like that and that has a lot to do with the trust factor."
And all that work off the field, which can be a hit-or-miss thing when it comes to translating to on-field success, is apparently helping with NIU's defense so far this season.
"People don't realize that off-the-field things are big, but off the field I'm not going to say you have to be friend, but you have to have respect for one another," Kube said. "I think that's what we have."
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FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME:
1. Run, baby, run
The Huskies already have gained 684 yards on the ground as a team, good for 19th in the country. Me'co Brown and Chad Spann have been a great 1-2 punch and that needs to continue for the MAC's highest-scoring offense.
2. Keep throwing strikes
Quarterback Chandler Harnish has remained remarkably efficient through three games. He's completed 62.5 percent of his passes and his lone interception came on a tipped ball against Purdue. Interesting note: Harnish's quarterback rating (139.28) is ahead of Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour (125.01), Western Michigan's Tim Hiller (129.49) and Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor (133.38).
3. End Enderle's efficiency
Idaho junior quarterback Nate Enderle is on pace for his best season yet and NIU coach Jerry Kill said earlier this week that Enderle is one of the more accurate quarterbacks the Huskies will face this season. NIU will need to get pressure on Enderle and force him into mistakes. Enderle has been prone to throwing interceptions in the past (35 INTs his first two seasons) so look for cornerbacks Patrick George, Kiaree Daniels and Chris Smith to try and make a play on any inaccurate pass.
4. Fix the special teams
The fake punt against Purdue aside, NIU was flat-out bad on special teams. Punt coverage wasn't great even though NIU recovered two fumbles (none were forced). And whomever punts, whether it's Josh Wilber, Mike Salerno or even Ryan Neir, will have to do better than NIU's current 39.5 yards-per-punt average.
5. No letdown
The Huskies are coming off one of their best wins in recent memory and Idaho isn't exactly known for any success on the football field. But that doesn't mean NIU can take the Vandals lightly. Kill was a little harder on his team this week than he was in recent weeks to guard against any sort of letdown.
But that doesn't mean the Huskies paid any attention to the supposed free fall their defense was supposed to endure. In fact, NIU's defense, entering today's 2:30 p.m. game against Idaho (2-1), has done more than hold its own.
It's thriving and looking a lot like one of the best defenses in the Mid-American Conference again.
NIU has the No. 2 scoring defense in the MAC, is tied for first with Ohio in turnover margin, ranks third in rush defense and fourth in total defense.
What members of the NIU defense will tell you is that it's the combination of the second year of coach Jerry Kill's ? and defensive coordinator Tracy Clayes' ? system combined with an improved trust of one another that has led to this season's success.
"A lot of mistakes come from not trusting each other because then you want to get in their gap on a run or in the pass you feel like that guy's not going to do his job so you want to do more than what you're supposed to do," linebacker Alex Kube said. "As you've seen, our defense isn't doing that, really at all any more.
"I feel like I can do my job and the guy next to me is going to do his and everybody else is the same way."
When redshirt freshman defensive end Sean Progar watches film of the NIU defense now, it looks a lot cleaner, a major part he says of the trust factor.
"I remember spring ball, watching it then we were all just thinking too much, especially the young guys," said Progar, who has recovered two fumbles and has two tackles for loss. "Now, even after the Wisconsin game, it's just football. We know our jobs and now we just go play."
Kube said that trust comes from Kill making team camaraderie a big priority since his arrival.
"This is the first team I've ever been on where I can hang out with every single one of my linebackers and have a good time," Kube said. "Every single one of them. I've never been on a team like that and that has a lot to do with the trust factor."
And all that work off the field, which can be a hit-or-miss thing when it comes to translating to on-field success, is apparently helping with NIU's defense so far this season.
"People don't realize that off-the-field things are big, but off the field I'm not going to say you have to be friend, but you have to have respect for one another," Kube said. "I think that's what we have."
----------------------
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME:
1. Run, baby, run
The Huskies already have gained 684 yards on the ground as a team, good for 19th in the country. Me'co Brown and Chad Spann have been a great 1-2 punch and that needs to continue for the MAC's highest-scoring offense.
2. Keep throwing strikes
Quarterback Chandler Harnish has remained remarkably efficient through three games. He's completed 62.5 percent of his passes and his lone interception came on a tipped ball against Purdue. Interesting note: Harnish's quarterback rating (139.28) is ahead of Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour (125.01), Western Michigan's Tim Hiller (129.49) and Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor (133.38).
3. End Enderle's efficiency
Idaho junior quarterback Nate Enderle is on pace for his best season yet and NIU coach Jerry Kill said earlier this week that Enderle is one of the more accurate quarterbacks the Huskies will face this season. NIU will need to get pressure on Enderle and force him into mistakes. Enderle has been prone to throwing interceptions in the past (35 INTs his first two seasons) so look for cornerbacks Patrick George, Kiaree Daniels and Chris Smith to try and make a play on any inaccurate pass.
4. Fix the special teams
The fake punt against Purdue aside, NIU was flat-out bad on special teams. Punt coverage wasn't great even though NIU recovered two fumbles (none were forced). And whomever punts, whether it's Josh Wilber, Mike Salerno or even Ryan Neir, will have to do better than NIU's current 39.5 yards-per-punt average.
5. No letdown
The Huskies are coming off one of their best wins in recent memory and Idaho isn't exactly known for any success on the football field. But that doesn't mean NIU can take the Vandals lightly. Kill was a little harder on his team this week than he was in recent weeks to guard against any sort of letdown.
