Quarterbacks: As C.J. Bacher goes, so go the Wildcats. In NU's four wins, Bacher has 14 touchdowns and zero turnovers. In its three loses, he has zero touchdowns and 10 turnovers. But after being named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week back-to-back weeks, it looks like Bacher has started to turn the corner and become one of the better passers in the conference.
Grade: B
Running backs: After junior Tyrell Sutton was carried off the field against Nevada, Northwestern discovered a surprising new depth in the backfield. Senior Brandon Roberson and junior Omar Conteh each has more than 300 yards on the ground this season and has shown big-play potential on rushes and screen passes. No word yet whether Sutton will play tonight against Eastern Michigan, but his return could mean even more headaches for opposing defenses.
Grade: B
Receivers: NU is the only team in the Big Ten with six receivers that have notched at least 15 catches. Junior wide receivers Ross Lane (six touchdowns) and Eric Peterman (40 catches) are having career years. Senior Kim Thompson has rebounded after an injury-ridden 2006, with a team-leading 14.1 yards per catch. Don't forget the running backs, as Bacher has connected with Roberson and Conteh 25 times for 289 yards.
Grade: A-
Offensive linemen: As awful as the first five games were (16 sacks allowed), the last two games have been equally awesome (one sack allowed). The Cats still rank next-to-last in the Big Ten in that category. But the offense has flourished recently because of the line's progression. Seniors Dylan Thiry, Adam Crum and Trevor Rees have been solid on the left side, while junior Joel Belding and sophomore Kurt Mattes have improved every game. If this unit continues to play with the same gusto, look for Bacher to near 4,000 yards passing by the end of the season.
Grade: B
Defensive linemen: This group was touted as the strength of the defense. That hasn't been the case. NU's five sacks are tied for last in the conference, while only Wisconsin has fewer fumble recoveries than NU's three. Junior defensive tackle John Gill and senior defensive end Kevin Mims have been solid, while sophomore defensive end Corey Wootton has increased backfield pressure the last two games. If this unit can play the way it did against Michigan the rest of the way, expect the season finale at Illinois to be of huge proportions.
Grade: C
Linebackers: For a position that was given the biggest question mark at the beginning of the season, it has turned into a solid spot in a rickety defense. Fifth-year senior Adam Kadela ranks fourth in the conference in tackles with 70. Junior Malcolm Arrington has emerged as one of the team's biggest playmakers, with an interception, a blocked punt and 3.5 tackles for a loss this season. Eddie Simpson and Quentin Davie have also made big contributions for the Cats.
Grade: B
Secondary: The loss of junior Brendan Smith to a season-ending shoulder injury has appeared irreparable at times. Pass coverage has been porous, including four long touchdown passes at Ohio State and five straight touchdown drives against Minnesota. The Cats rank last in the Big Ten in pass defense efficiency and, despite two picks against Minnesota, NU is tied for next-to-last in the conference in interceptions (four).
Grade: D
Special teams: Sophomore punter/kicker Stefan Demos has shanked too many kickoffs and pooched too many punts, costing NU ground in the field-position game. After making his first 18 kicks of the year, junior Amado Villarreal's last two games have been forgettable - 0 for 3 on his field goals - a lapse that must be corrected if the Cats continue to play in nail-biters every week. The return game has been solid behind sophomore Sherrick McManis and a stellar surprise in redshirt freshman Stephen Simmons.
Grade: B-
Coaches: Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee and his assistants have shown flashes of brilliance in calling two solid conference games. On defense, coordinator Greg Colby will be on the hot seat if his group continues to struggle with a 49-point cushion from the offense. Besides some questionable calls against Michigan and taking points off of the board against Duke, Fitzgerald has continued to grow in helping his team from the role of competitor to finisher. His team was a handful of plays away from being 6-1 and should be no worse than 5-2.
Grade: B-
THE KEY TO 4-3: NU ranks ninth in the nation in time of possession, holding the ball almost five minutes more than their opponents per game. Torrid offense on field. Struggling defense kept rested.
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