2020-21 Season Preview: Northwestern Wildcats
By: Dakota Isgrigg | August 4th | @dakota_isgrigg | @BoilerInTexas
We are officially on the countdown to the 2020-21 Purdue football season! [Even though there are still a lot of details to be figured out because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems as though the precautions taken in early 2020 will allow us to have college football in some form or fashion.] Even though the American public failed to heed the warnings of scientists/professionals, as of now, football is still going to happen. Even though as of July 9th the Big Ten announced that because of the resurgence in COVID-19 cases in the US, the Big Ten will have a conference game only football schedule, for now. So we here at Boiler In Texas will continue as if the season will be taking place and Purdue will be suiting up this fall, regardless of the actions of some Americans. So over the weeks leading up to the presumptive start to the season, we will be going week by week and taking a look at the season for our Boilermakers and their opponents every week.
Purdue 2020 Football Schedule:
9/5: @Nebraska
9/12: Memphis - Cancelled
9/19: Air Force - Cancelled
9/26: @Boston College - Cancelled
10/10: Rutgers
10/17: @Illinois
10/24: @Michigan
10/31: Northwestern
11/7: @Minnesota
11/14: Wisconsin
11/21: Iowa
11/28: @Indiana
Last season, Purdue finally got the Northwestern problem off their back. Before 2019, Purdue had lost to the Wildcats five straight years and were looking to finally get back to the win column in 2019. It took everything the Boilermakers had, including the first start for then walk-on Aidan O’Connel. Purdue was able to do just enough to give J.D. Dellinger a last second field goal to give Purdue the 24-22 win in Evanston. It was another game where Purdue’s freshman balled out and gave us a glimpse into the future of the program. Let’s all hope that these 2019 games pay off going into 2020.
Northwestern 2020-21 Football Schedule
9/5: @Michigan State
9/12: Tulane- Cancelled
9/19: Central Michigan - Cancelled
9/26: @Penn State
10/3: Nebraska
10/17: Maryland
10/24: @Iowa
10/31: @Purdue
11/7: Wisconsin
11/14: Morgan State - Cancelled
11/21: @Minnesota
11/28: Illinois
Northwestern has been such a hot-and-cold team over the last few years. In 2018 they finished 9-5 with a Big Ten West title and a win in the Holiday Bowl; but, 2019 was almost the opposite. In 2019 they finished 3-9 (1-8 B1G) and was surely a disappointment for the fans. The offense was mostly listless and really struggled to score outside of games against Purdue (22), UMass (45), Minnesota (22), and Illinois (29). Other than those games they were held to 10 points or less five times in their first 8 games.
Looking at their schedule (as of right now) for 2019, they lose non-conference games against Tulane, Central Michigan, and Morgan State, which take away the possibility for some easier wins. The conference slate is fairly manageable with crossovers against Penn State, Maryland, and Michigan State coupled with the typical Big Ten West slate. Toughest games of the season as it appears would be trips to Michigan State, Penn State, and Iowa as well as the home game against Wisconsin. If Pat Fitzgerald can’t get the ship righted early, this could be another tough one for Northwestern fans.
Northwestern Offense
Northwestern had an interesting year on offense last season to put it nicely. Before the Purdue game last season they averaged only 9.75 points-per-game and they only a reached double digit average after they went on a bit of a streak in their final four games, raising their average to 16.3 points-per-game. In terms of rankings, they finished 124th out of 130 FBS teams in total-offense, and 126th in passing offense. This was a team that truly struggled to move the ball last season and struggled to score points. So the real question is whether or not it will get any better in 2020?
Quarterback
The quarterback position seemed to be locked up after they received former Clemson QB Hunter Johnson from transfer in seasons past. That being said, the QB position was one full of issues and question marks last season. They have Hunter Johnson returning again hoping to resolve whatever was happening last year to live up to his expectations. The Wildcats also got another graduate transfer QB in former Indiana Hoosier Peyton Ramsey. It seems as though it will be a race between these two for the starting spot.
Running back
There seems to also be a pair of options in the backfield this year as Isaiah Bowser and Drake Anderson figure to be the top options in the offense in 2020. Bowser finished 2019 with 204 yards and a TD and Anderson with 634 yards and 3 TD’s. These two propelled the offense to 180 yards per game as a team which helped them to 44th in the country. It was the strength of the offense last year and appears that it will repeat as the strength again this year.
Receivers
Since the pass offense last season struggled so mightily, the receivers that return have a lot of ground to make up. Riley Lees returns as the top receiver finishing with 51 receptions for 430 yards and 2 TD’s. As a group, Northwestern’s receivers only caught 6 touchdown passes all season. They get some immediate help in grad transfer John Raine from Florida Atlantic, who caught 6 TD passes on his own a year ago.
The Northwestern offense has a lot of question marks as it prepares for the 2020 season. Thankfully, they return most of their offensive line which should help provide some stability as they look to build on last season. In the Purdue game, look for the Purdue defense to focus in on the run and force whoever lines up under center to beat them through the air. If Purdue can contain the run, I like Purdue’s chances in this one. I like the match-up of Purdue’s secondary on the Northwestern receivers, so if Purdue can’t contain the run it could be a tough outing.
Northwestern Defense
While Northwestern had a bit of a rough go on offense last season, the defense was actually a decent unit in 2019. They gave up 23.6 points-per-game which is more than enough to give them a chance to win games, but the offense really let them down in the end.
Linebackers
The Wildcats return a lot of experience at linebacker that should help them again in 2020. They return Paddy Fisher, a two-time all-Big Ten linebacker who finished with 89 tackles and an interception in 2019. Other guys returning are Blake Gallagher and Chris Bergin. Linebacker play is extremely important in the Big Ten and Northwestern will have some very good linebackers returning in 2020.
Secondary
They also return a lot of experience in the secondary as well. Travil Whillock and JR Pace return at safety which the coaching staff should be able to build the secondary around going forward to 2020. Greg Newsome II also returns at cornerback and figures to lead the way on the outside after battling injuries last season.
Defensive Line
The defensive line takes a big hit in production after losing one of the best defensive line players in Northwestern history in Joe Graziano. Even with the loss of Graziano there are some interesting pieces remaining. Earnest Brown IV played in only 6 games last season but still recorded a pair of sacks and will be looking to build off of last season. They also have continuity at the end with Samdup Miller returning as a three year starter at defensive end.
The Northwestern defense was the stronger side of the ball last season, and until the offense can prove otherwise, that will likely be the case in 2020 as well. Northwestern returns a solid group of players in every position group and that should pay dividends in the long run in their endeavors. That being said, if the offense does struggle again in 2020, there is only so much the defense can do. Purdue saw this a bit in 2017 as the defense was good enough to win games, but the offense wasn’t able to help them out. In this Purdue matchup, it doesn’t seem too different than the game in Evanston last season. I believe that the Purdue offense has much more talent on offense than Northwestern has on defense. We saw in the game last season that even with a 4th string QB, Purdue had enough to get the win. This season, with everyone healthy, as well as even more weapons, Purdue has the advantage in this match up.
Northwestern Special Teams
Charlie Kuhlbander returns for his fourth season at kicker after going 10-14 with a long of 44 on the season. He had a really successful season, except in the Purdue game where one of his missed field goals set up the JD Dellinger game winner. Northwestern does get a new punter in the form of grad transfer Derek Adams from Kent State. In the return duties it’s reasonable to assume Riley Lees will handle the return duties again, although he didn’t have many moments of note in the return game last season.
Game Outlook
This game being at Purdue makes me feel better about this game. Northwestern has a weird ability to bounce back and forth between having good seasons, and seasons where they struggle like last year. I believe that with the addition of Peyton Ramsey to the QB room that the QB play will be better this year than last. That being said, this is a Northwestern team that really struggled on offense last season and that can’t be attributed to the quarterback entirely. At the end of the game, you still need guys to catch passes and make plays. If Purdue can force Northwestern into a position where they need to score points, that should be in Purdue’s favor. The other key piece will be for the Purdue defense to get stops on defense and force the Wildcats offense to pass the ball. If they can do that, I like the Boilermakers’ chances in this one.
Score Prediction
At the end of the day, this is the same Northwestern team that lost to an injury riddled Boilermaker squad last year at home. With Purdue being healthy, as well as with the additions of more young playmakers, I think Purdue just has too many weapons on offense for Northwestern to be able to keep up. Purdue should try and score 50 points in every game and if they do that in this one I don’t think Northwestern can keep up.
Score Prediction: Purdue 42, Northwestern 21
Comment below on how you feel about the visit from Northwestern?
As Always, Boiler Up, Hammer Down, Hail Purdue!
