NU Wildcats hope to rush to glory

Teams that average 3 yards per rush might stir up clouds of dust, but they don't stake their claim to championships or trophies that never rust.

Put another way, Northwestern had an easy time deciding where it needed the most off-season work.

After finishing 111th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in yards per carry last season - yet somehow winning eight games and sharing fourth place in the Big Ten - the Wildcats did their best to revitalize their running game.

Though they have no new running backs in the rotation and just one new starting lineman from their Outback Bowl overtime loss, they believe they'll show much better when they open the 2010 season Saturday at Vanderbilt.

"No. 1, we put an emphasis on it, so you typically achieve what you emphasize," said fifth-year NU coach Pat Fitzgerald. "No. 2, we've got very good players. We've got a good group of young men upfront that are coming together ... and it's been our focus all off-season."

As the Wildcats closed preseason camp last week, junior left tackle Al Netter mentioned how the line had more of a take-no-prisoners attitude when going against their teammates in practice.

The linemen weren't afraid to get confrontational if defensive linemen or linebackers did a little something extra at the whistle - or even if they didn't.

"We focused a lot more on being real physical, finishing our blocks," Netter said. "Focusing on the little things. The fundamentals. Making sure that all five guys are on the same page.

"I think we've made a lot of progress this offseason and through camp."

Nonetheless, Northwestern needs sophomore Arby Fields to be healthy in order for the running game to be at its best.

Fields, who led the Wildcats last year with 302 yards and 5 touchdowns, lost weight and added muscle during the off-season. Alas, he missed most of camp with a shoulder injury.

Fields took part in Monday's practice, but wore a red jersey to prevent inadvertent contact.

"I thought by the halfway point of (last) season and beyond, he put himself in position to be a very solid Big Ten tailback," Fitzgerald said. "He's had a good off-season. He's ready and he's prepared. I'm looking forward to watching him Saturday."

If the running game improves even by a half-yard per carry - and agile dual-threat quarterback Dan Persa will help there - then Northwestern has the rest of the pieces for another 8-win-plus season.

The Wildcats welcome back five full-time starters (and five more who appeared in the starting lineup at least once) from an attacking defense that finished right in the Big Ten's middle in every category.

Senior kicker Stefan Demos earned second-team all-Big Ten honors last year while redshirt freshman walk-on Brandon Williams will keep Demos' leg stronger by inheriting NU's troubled punting game.

"Brandon's really stepped up," Fitzgerald said. "He's had a great camp. He's averaged well over 40 yards in camp. We haven't seen that maybe since what, the Paul Burton era?"

Fitzgerald mostly kidded when referencing the Wildcats' punter during the mid-90s glory years, but nobody jokes about the team's primary focus.

You have to go back to the Frank Aschenbrenner era (Class of 1949) to find a punter who played for an NU team that finished its season with a bowl victory.

"That's definitely our goal, to win that bowl game," said fifth-year senior defensive tackle Corbin Bryant. "We know if we play to the best of our abilities, we'll be there in the end."

Northwestern University

Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (fifth year, 27-23).

2009 record: 8-5, 5-3 (tied for 4th); Lost to Auburn 38-35 (OT) in the Outback Bowl

Last bowl miss: 2007

All-Big Ten candidates: SLB Quentin Davie, TE Drake Dunsmore, LT Al Netter, K Stefan Demos, WR Jeremy Ebert, DT Corbin Bryant.

The Wildcats will go to a BCS bowl: If they prove to be November warriors again (they were 6-1 the last two years). Their three toughest games (at Penn State, Iowa, at Wisconsin) come after Halloween. New QB Dan Persa must be as competent as everyone says he is. The new secondary starters (S Carpenter and CB Vaughn) must be solid.

BCS finish the last five years (2009 listed first*): 35th, 33rd, 60th, 62nd, 31st.

*Ratings courtesy of Blue Ribbon Football Yearbook

Schedule

Sept. 4 at Vanderbilt 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 11 ILLINOIS STATE 11 a.m.

Sept. 18 at Rice 6 p.m.

Sept. 25 CENTRAL MICHIGAN TBA

Oct. 2 at Minnesota 11 a.m.

Oct. 9 PURDUE 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 23 MICHIGAN ST. 11 a.m.

Oct. 30 at Indiana TBA

Nov. 6 at Penn State TBA

Nov. 13 IOWA TBA

Nov. 20 *ILLINOIS 2:30 p.m.

Nov. 27 at Wisconsin TBA

*--Allstate Wrigleyville Classic

PROJECTED LINEUP

OFFENSE (spread)

QB 7 Dan Persa Jr.

TB 19 Arby Fields So.

SB 9 Drake Dunsmore Jr.

WR 5 Sidney Stewart Sr.

WR 8 Demetrius Fields Jr.

Slot 11 Jeremy Ebert Jr.

LT 75 Al Netter Jr.

LG 72 Brian Mulroe So.

C 65 Ben Burkett Jr.

RG 64 Doug Bartels Jr.

RT 70 Patrick Ward So.

DEFENSE (4-3)

DE 42 Kevin Watt Jr.

DT 98 Corbin Bryant Sr.

DT 90 Jack DiNardo Jr.

DE 94 Vince Browne Jr.

WLB 51 Bryce McNaul Jr.

MLB 44 Nate Williams Sr.

SLB 41 Quentin Davie Sr.

CB 26 Jordan Mabin Jr.

CB 28 Justan Vaughn Sr.

S 10 Brian Peters Jr.

S 27 Jared Carpenter So.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K 1 Stefan Demos Sr.

P 38 Brandon Williams r-Fr.

KO 1 Stefan Demos Jr.

KR 25 Stephen Simmons Sr.

PR 85 Venric Mark Fr.