Hobbling QB Dan Persa may not play at Indiana
Northwestern is desperate to snap a five-game losing streak at Indiana on Saturday and keep its bowl hopes alive.
But once again, the Wildcats could be without quarterback Dan Persa.
In the fourth quarter of a 34-24 loss to Penn State last weekend, Persa was tripped up from behind during a 5-yard scramble and left the game favoring his right foot. Coach Pat Fitzgerald confirmed Monday that Persa is suffering from turf toe.
“Right now, we’ve got him in a (walking) boot, so I’d say he’ll be questionable for the game,” Fitzgerald said. “We’ll know more on Thursday.”
As the players left a team meeting Monday morning, Persa promised his coach he’d be ready to play against the Hoosiers. But turf toe is a painful malady that can often bother players for weeks.
“It’s one of those deals where you kind of sprain the joint in our toe,” Fitzgerald said. “We’ll see how it responds as he goes through treatment. He feels much better today than he did yesterday.”
Persa missed the first three games of the season while still recovering from last year’s torn Achilles tendon. He’s seemed to hit stride in the past two weeks, completing a combined 56 of 73 passes for 536 yards against Penn State and Iowa.
Persa threw a rush-induced interception in each game, and both resulted in long returns and touchdowns for the opposition.
If Persa can’t play Saturday, the Wildcats will once again turn to sophomore Kain Colter — and that’s not such a bad scenario. Colter has been getting snaps at quarterback and receiver the last few games. He turned in the longest running play (46 yards) Penn State has given up all season and finished with close to 100 yards of total offense on Saturday.
“We’ll expect Dan to play and adjust accordingly as the week goes along,” Fitzgerald said. “I like the role we’ve been able to put Kain into. I think it’s keeping defenses off-balance. Then obviously having a guy like Dan back there who’s put up almost career numbers the last few weeks. I’m excited about both guys.”
Defense delivers late:One hidden positive from Saturday#146;s loss to Penn State was Northwestern defense allowed just 96 yards in the second half, compared to 293 in the first half. The Nittany Lions#146; lone score after halftime was a one-play, 19-yard drive following a long interception return.#147;The first half compared to the second half is night and day,#148; defensive tackle Niko Mafuli said. #147;That#146;s where we want to keep going. That#146;s where we want to keep showing up.#148;Shortly before Saturday#146;s kickoff, NU publicly announced five changes to the starting defense. Questioned later, coach Pat Fitzgerald and the players talked about how some of those changes were based on merit, some were based on guys being less than full strength and some players moved into situational roles. The Cats typically sent several new defenders onto the field on third downs.The new starters were defensive ends Kevin Watt and Quentin Williams, linebackers Damien Proby and Chi Chi Ariguzo, along with safety David Arnold.#147;The credit goes to the players,#148; Fitzgerald said of the defensive improvement. #147;They looked at each other and took it upon themselves. They were tired of playing the way that they were and it was all attitude. Instead of waiting for something to happen, they went out and made some plays and made something happen. We need to build on that this week in practice.#148;Purple paws:Indiana coach Kevin Wilson was offensive coordinator at Northwestern from 1998-2001 after following Randy Walker from Miami of Ohio. Pat Fitzgerald joined the staff during Wilson#146;s final season at NU before he moved onto Oklahoma. ... Fitzgerald claimed the new uniforms worn by the Wildcats on Saturday were a hit. #147;I don#146;t care. That#146;s for the players,#148; he said. #147;They loved it. I had about 20 text messages and Facebook messages from recruits loving it.#148;