Fitzgerald pleased with Wildcats’ depth

Lots of proven talent turned out Tuesday morning for Northwestern’s 13th spring practice.

Alas, Bears tight end Greg Olsen and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mike Kafka don’t play for the Wildcats.

And, because of varying injury issues, at least 10 key Wildcats for the upcoming season either didn’t dress or didn’t participate in Tuesday’s contact drills.

Throw in the fact NU graduated seven starters from last year’s TicketCity Bowl squad and there have been a lot of new faces taking a lot of reps during spring ball.

In Pat Fitzgerald’s mind, that’s a good thing.

“One thing (we’ve learned), we’ve got good depth,” Fitzgerald said. “I feel good about our depth. We’re getting a little limited in numbers and that’s why we’ve got to limit some reps and limit some things we’re doing in practice.

“But we’ve got a lot of the future guys out there practicing right now and they’re very athletic. They’re picking up on the systems on both sides very well ... we’re getting fundamentally better.”

Fundamentals were in especially short supply on Northwestern’s defense during the final three games of 2010.

The defense surrendered 156 points and 1,670 total yards in the Wildcats’ season-ending losses to Illinois, Wisconsin and Texas Tech.

With four starters having graduated and three defensive linemen (Vince Browne, Jack DiNardo and Kevin Watt) essentially out for the spring, there’s ample opportunity to earn playing time.

The competition is especially fierce at linebacker where junior David Nwabuisi, sophomores Tim Riley and Damian Proby and redshirt freshmen Collin Ellis and Chi Chi Ariguzo are fighting for two open spots.

“They’re learning a number of different positions and they’re handling it really well,” Fitzgerald said. “That’s what spring practice is all about: Kind of figuring out their strengths. We have a lot of work to do there, but I like where that group’s at.”

There’s no uncertainty at cornerback, where senior Jeravin Matthews has clinched a starting job this spring.

Matthews spent his first two years on offense before shifting to cornerback prior to the 2010 Outback Bowl.

The graduating Justan Vaughn started every game at corner last season, but now it’s Matthews’ turn to play on the side opposite fourth-year starter Jordan Mabin.

“He’s found a home,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s real physical out there. That’s definitely what we need.”

Matthews credits Guy Montecalvo, his coach at Canon-McMillan (Pa.) High School, for instilling that toughness.

“I had a very old-school coach,” Matthews said. “It was him preaching the ‘never back down” attitude. Go full steam ahead.”

That attitude didn’t work in Fitzgerald’s favor last year. He asked Matthews to redshirt to preserve two seasons as a starting cornerback, but Matthews demurred in favor of remaining the Wildcats’ best special-teams coverage guy.

“It would have been hard for me to sit on the sidelines and just watch after playing so much,” Matthews said. “I just wanted to get out there and help the team in any way I could.”