Clark helping NIU prepare for triple option

DEKALB — For reasons yet to be specified, Northern Illinois announced in March that outside linebacker Tyrone Clark won’t play this season.

Considering the junior from Mehlville High School in St. Louis earned the Huskies’ Defensive MVP award last year, it’s an unwanted sabbatical that affects NIU’s bid for the MAC title.

But Clark, who never stopped practicing and working out with the Huskies, has found a way to make a difference for NIU this season.

The Huskies face two triple-option teams in the first four weeks of the season, including the Sept. 3 home opener against Army.

When NIU launched into its preparation for the Cadets on Tuesday, the 5-foot-11, 220-pound Clark served as the scout-team quarterback.

“In high school, we ran the same offense,” Clark said. “I just want to be the one to give the defense the best look they can possibly see.”

Clark played several roles, including a little bit of quarterback, in Mehlville’s triple option. He rushed for 1,533 yards and 28 touchdowns in his final two seasons, which explains why he looked so comfortable and shifty running the scout team.

Not only has Clark worn the No. 8 jersey of third-year Army starting quarterback Trent Steelman, he has pored over Steelman’s tapes in order to mimic him as closely as possible.

“He’s pretty shifty himself,” Clark said. “I feel a little more (involved) because I have another role to play. That’s why I take it so serious and do what I do.”

First-year NIU coach Dave Doeren isn’t spending every minute of this week’s practices on Army, but the Huskies are devoting a higher percentage to their first opponent than they would do normally.

“We’re still doing some good vs. good just for the speed of the game,” said Doeren, who has implemented a no-huddle offense. “But because of how unique Army is offensively and defensively, we feel like we need to get a head start.”

In that vein, Doeren hasn’t wasted time playing games with his depth chart.

While other coaches across the country might be waiting until the final minute to reveal some starters, Doeren says his starters are “pretty locked in.”

NIU’s veteran offense, which finished 12th nationally last year with 38.0 points per game, features senior starters at every position except left guard and one of the four receiver spots.

“We’re going to be aggressive, aggressive, aggressive — and smart,” Doeren said.

The defense, on the other hand, retains just two starters (defensive end Sean Progar and safety Tommy Davis) from the 40-17 Humanitarian Bowl victory over Fresno State.

Not to worry, says senior middle linebacker Pat Schiller.

“We were the question mark going into camp,” Schiller said. “We took that as motivation to step up and prove people wrong. We just kind of thought, ‘We’re going to be practicing against the best offense in the conference every single day. That’s only going to make us better.’

“I think everybody was pretty surprised at what we were able to come out and do. Maybe we lost starters, but we have a whole lot of experience coming back.”