NIU says its receivers' line work needs to improve against Vanderbilt
DEKALB - Spencer Tears admitted in hindsight that the releases off the line of scrimmage and effort from the Northern Illinois wide receivers weren't where they needed to be in the Huskies' 44-8 loss at Nebraska.
A couple of narrow misses on big plays added to the bitter taste.
"It's always frustrating when you leave a couple plays out there that you know you should have had," Tears said this week. "Leave it in the back of your head when you're in practice, and never dwell on it. Go to practice and do an even better job so (missing a play) can't happen the next game. That's what we're looking forward to."
Tears and Cole Tucker were more locked in with quarterback Ross Bowers in the second half of the loss at Nebraska. Tears had 1 reception for 17 yards in the first half and caught 2 more passes, and Tucker had 5 second-half receptions for 50 yards. Daniel Crawford and Mitchell Brinkman continued the trend of tight end production, combining for 8 receptions for 96 yards.
Bowers finished with 25 completions in 44 attempts for 248 yards. He threw 1 interception.
Another area NIU struggled was receptions in the secondary as the Huskers broke up 10 passes.
"I would say (we have to work on) timing and working more releases at the line of scrimmage," Tears said. "I feel like the plays that we did leave out there we were a little lackadaisical with our routes and just coming off the line, taking their corners for granted.
"We've been working on that all week in practice, even the off week, and I guarantee you'll see a much better game against Vandy."
NIU travels to meet Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Commodores (0-3) surrendered 38 points in the first half at home Saturday in a 66-38 loss to No. 4 Louisiana State.
"They have a very big (defensive linemen) group up front," Tears said. "Overall, they're a pretty good team."
The Huskies have shown flashes of aerial success at times, the second half of the Illinois State game and first half of the Utah game standing out as examples.
"I know a couple games earlier, certain things weren't going our way," Tears said, "but as far as now, we're coming together, everything's meshing. "Me and Ross, our chemistry is getting better. I expect great things to happen for the rest of the season."
Injury report
Linebacker Kyle Pugh is out the rest of the season after suffering a shoulder injury in the loss to Utah. Coach Thomas Hammock also said freshman cornerback Mark Aitken also is out for the season after getting injured at Utah.
Pugh missed the 2017 season after tearing his biceps and had surgery on his shoulder after the 2018 season.
The Huskies already were without defensive starters at several spots, including defensive end Quintin Wynne and defensive tackle Ben LeRoy, for the Nebraska game.
Safety and special-teams player Marshé Terry was walking to the locker room in a boot and on crutches after the Nebraska game but was listed second on the depth chart for Saturday's game at Vanderbilt.
Outside linebacker Lance Deveaux also is out with an undisclosed injury.