I Interview the Huskies

Oh geez...more Iowa fallout

Let's hear it Joe (Chronicle)

“We gave up three sacks and six other big hits on the quarterback,” Novak said. “That's too much punishment.”
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Novak said what hurt the offense was the lack of yards after catches.

“We counted 50 to 60 yards after catches,” Novak said. “We have to make plays after the catch.”

Care to elaborate? (Weekly Press Conference)

"We really need to start getting more production out of our receivers after they make the catch. So many times we did the hard part of making the catch in tight areas and weren't able to get anywhere after that. I have a lot of guys that I want to get some time at the wide receiver position so nothing is set in stone. All those things add up in a big game like that.

As for our running backs, I plan to split the time between Montell [Clanton] and Justin [Anderson] a little more. Both of them made some good runs in the game but Montell got the bulk of the time on the field. I plan to give Justin a little more time than he had last Saturday.

On defense our main concern is to fill up the holes in the field." There were many holes the other day that our guys did not fill and Iowa saw how to take advantage of that."

So Joe, what exactly was wrong with Dan on Saturday? (Chronicle)

Even with sixth career starts, Nicholson already owns big-game starts in the 2005 MAC title game and the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl. Novak said Nicholson's main problem is getting too excited for big games.

“He does get a little too revved up,” Novak said. “That was a little bit of the situation on Saturday. He has to learn to think more like a quarterback, more even-keeled. He took six big hits when he wasn't getting sacked. I think he felt a little pressure and got a little happy with his feet. He's got to learn not to (do that). It's partly that, and his makeup. He thinks like a linebacker. He gets wound up.”

DAN - SETTLE THE FUCK DOWN

So, how many hits did he take? (Weekly Press Conference)

"Iowa's defensive front is solid. Dan [Nicholson] took many very hard hits during the game from their defensive line. I would have to say he took somewhere between eight or nine tough hits probably. Our team has to block better entirely not just the linemen, but the backs and the receivers as well.

Craig Rusch, nice of you to join us here today. What was up with the D-Line? (Weekly Press Conference)

One of our goals in last week's game was to stop the run or to control it and we didn't do that. An emphasis in practice this week is to work on things like our run defense. We just were not gap sound; we need to be on the same page. There were too many times where we just were not in the right position on defense. We just need to get that all straightened out."

Hey, you Northern Star writer over there, yeah you. What positives did you see from the Iowa game? Brandon Manina? OK

Despite being in NIU territory eight times, the NIU defense allowed only three scoring drives. Plus, the Hawkeyes were only 2-of-14 on third down conversions against the Huskies.

Junior defensive tackle Craig Rusch has now made a tackle for a loss in 12 straight games. His streak began during the 2005 MAC Championship game. Despite throwing three interceptions in Saturday’s loss, junior quarterback Dan Nicholson set a new career high for completions, 26, and attempts, 42.

Six of those completions were to wide receiver Britt Davis. The junior caught his 100th career pass in the first quarter of the contest.

Sophomore linebacker John Tranchitella and junior cornerback Melvin Rice tied for team-high 10 tackles each, marking career-highs for both.