Sept. 30--The maturation process for Northwestern redshirt freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson must accelerate as the unbeaten Wildcats open Big Ten competition Saturday against Minnesota.
Coach Pat Fitzgerald wants Thorson to trust the process and the detailed game plan while resisting the temptation to guess and risk turnovers.
"You can do things in high school at quarterback that you can't do at this level," Fitzgerald said of Thorson. "There's probably one other guy on the other team who's at your level, who can play up to your level. So ... (Thorson) will be fine. He has a lot of work to do, but he'll be fine."
Thorson turned the ball over three times (two interceptions and a fumble) in the first half of last Saturday's 24-19 victory over Ball State, but he rebounded in the second half to throw for three touchdowns.
"That was a pretty good snapshot of what he's capable of," Fitzgerald said.
Thorson knows the defensive intensity will pick up as the Big Ten season unfolds.
"In the first half (against Ball State) my attention to detail just wasn't there," Thorson said. "Taking care of the football ... that's something we will always stress."
Offensive coordinator Mick McCall says the Gophers (3-1) are going to "lick their chops" when they face the first-year quarterback, but "I think he's up for the challenge."
Thorson became the first Northwestern quarterback to throw three or more touchdown passes in a game since Trevor Siemian threw four against Illinois on Nov. 30, 2013. But protecting the ball remains the priority.
"Sometimes in the first half he guessed a little bit," McCall said. "I think he would probably tell you that. And sometimes as a young quarterback you get that way. You think you see some things and you say: 'I'm going to take this.' He knows the progression he needs to go through. It's just a learning experience."
fmitchell@tribpub.com
