April 4, 2006
EVANSTON -- For Northwestern's fifth spring football practice, head coach Randy Walker simulated an intense battle between offense and defense. The two sides competed in spirited one-on-one blocking and passing drills, a seven-on-seven drill and full team drills on the Wildcats' FieldTurf practice field Tuesday afternoon.
During the full team drills, they participated in a situational competition. The offense had seven chances to gain four yards. If they reached the first down marker, they get a point, if not, the defense does.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Mike Kafka (Oak Lawn, Ill./Chicago St. Rita) ran the offense for the situational drill. Down 2-1 to the defense, Kafka kept the ball and sprung through the line for the first down. The defense eventually won 4-3, stopping sophomore Omar Conteh (Cypress, Texas/Cy-Fair) on the final play.
The offense stayed within limited bounds throughout the practice, operating out of a shotgun primarily and relying on screen passes, short out patterns, draws and the option. Of note, redshirt freshman Andrew Brewer (Tulsa, Okla./Jenks) completed a 30-yard pass to sophomore Jeff Yarbrough (Richton Park, Ill./Rich South) on a play action pass during the full team drill.
After featuring the defensive line last practice, NUsports.com takes a look at the other side of the ball.
In a year where the offense will break in a new quarterback, the offensive line suddenly finds itself out of the shadow of anonymity.
"We're going to need to run the ball better," first year offensive line coach Bret Ingalls said. "With a new quarterback we're certainly going to have to take the pressure off him."
Even with the loss of Zach Strief, this unit is loaded with experience. Seniors Joe Tripodi (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) and Ryan Keenan (Westlake, Ohio/Saint Edward) anchor the left and right guard positions, respectively. They hope it is enough experience to account for the added pressure they will be taking on this year.
"I think it's really going to help us because we know each other really well, we played together all last year and we went through a lot," Tripodi said.
Still, with the added pressure of breaking in a new quarterback and facing defenses that will be keying on Tyrell Sutton (Akron, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban), it will be a challenge with or without experience.
Tripodi says he and his teammates welcome that challenge.
"I think it's going to be a challenge but I think it's what we want," he said. "We're veterans up front and as offensive linemen you want to run the football. You want to get a chance to knock the guy off the ball in front of you."
While coming into what was one of the most productive offensive systems in the country last year might be nerve-wracking for other first year coaches, Ingalls says his focus is not on replicating last year's stat sheet.
"You don't have to gain as many yards and still have the best offense in the country," he said. "What we need to do is continue to work and just be as efficient as we can."