Aug. 17--Northwestern opened its Camp Kenosha portion of preseason training Monday morning and coach Pat Fitzgerald directed a more physical practice session compared to this time last year.
"I was going through my practice plans for this week last year, and I went: 'Oh, my gosh,'" Fitzgerald said Monday. "That was the (limited) bodies that we had. We had to do what we had to do. This week (last year), I think we had about 59 or 60 guys going in practice. So how do you manage the guys who are practicing? You can't go at the same clip and I think it really hurt us."
By comparison, there were nearly 90 Wildcats practicing in pads Monday on the campus of Wisconsin-Parkside.
"We can cut-block and we can 'chud' (shoulder pads). We keep the live exposure to a minimum," Fitzgerald said. "And we do all of that in individual drills and in controlled settings."
All in all, Fitzgerald seemed pleased with the morning session before preparing to conduct a less-physical afternoon practice.
"I thought the pace was pretty good. I thought the offense started sloppy with their execution," Fitzgerald said. "Over the past 48 hours, we've put a lot in ... we threw a ton of situations at them. And I would give us a 'C' at best. And that's good in a weird sort of way, because I think we've really got their attention. And they are really focused."
Student/athletes: Among the excused absences for Monday's practice were fifth-year senior quarterback Zack Oliver and wide receiver Christian Jones.
"That's the great thing about the new Kellogg (MBA) program," Fitzgerald said. "It used to be multiple years that you had to go out and work before you could even apply. And with the one-year masters program ... I think we've got five or six guys in it."
For starters: Fitzgerald remains uncommitted on a starting quarterback as Oliver, Clayton Thorson and Matt Alviti vie for the job when the season opens Sept. 5 against Stanford.
"It's about 11 of us. One of us is going to play quarterback," Thorson said.
"Someone is going to play running back and the receivers and the O-line. And we all have to do our jobs separately. Once we do that, it will all come together."
Alviti showcased his running skills during Monday's practice.
"Some of it is improvised and some of it is scripted," Alviti said. "Some of it is just the read-option game."
Patience, please: Jones, who missed last season with a knee injury, will be integrated into practices gradually, Fitzgerald said.
"We're progressing him in more into what we are doing and he's champing at the bit. I think he is getting frustrated more at us because we're (breaking him in slowly)," Fitzgerald said.
For kicks: Hunter Niswander will handle punting duties, with Matt Micucci backing him up. Jack Mitchell again will handle the placekicking.
"I think Hunter is in a pretty good spot," Fitzgerald said. "Micucci is doing well, but I really like Niswander."
Mitchell is best remembered for his overtime field goals that tied and then beat Notre Dame last season.
"The reaction was pretty crazy. I got a couple hundred text messages, stuff like that," Mitchell said. "Reaching out from fans, family ... people I haven't talked to in a long time. I'm from San Diego and it is surprising how many people back home saw the game."
