Dec. 01--Where is this program after back-to-back 5-7 seasons? That's the question Northwestern fans will ask until Stanford visits Sept. 5, 2015. But first an examination of Saturday's brutal 47-33 loss to Illinois.
Offense
D Reliable Justin Jackson did his thing (24 rushes, 130 yards), and the line was OK. A bad early sign came when Zack Oliver missed Tony Jones on a third-and-12 pass. Oliver was the chief culprit in three of NU's five turnovers. NU's first seven drives produced 48 yards and zero points.
Defense
D Healthy vets Ibraheim Campbell and Chi Chi Ariguzo needed to play lights out. They did not. Illini tailback Josh Ferguson juked both on the same third-quarter run -- and both missed Ferguson on his victory-clinching 46-yard touchdown run.
Special teams
B Solomon Vault became NU's first player since Venric Mark to return a kickoff for a touchdown. NU's punting and punt returns remain subpar.
Coaching
D Injuries shredded the roster, especially at receiver and defensive back. But that doesn't excuse not adequately preparing quarterbacks to beat the in-state rival. Or, for that matter, the early-season losses to Cal and NIU that kept the Wildcats from a bowl.
