OUCH!: Northern Illinois has been bit by the injury bug in 2007 as nine starters (or replacement starters) have now missed at least one full game (and in most cases, multiple games) due to injury. In addition, 16 different players listed on the depth chart at some point this year have missed at least one game due to injury, with all but three of those likely to result in multiple games missed.
Many of them are season-ending injuries:
Five players - NG Adam Schroeder (shoulder surgery), TB Montell Clanton, DT Craig Rusch and DE Anthony Antonacci (all rt. knees) and DE Jake Coffman (foot) - have been lost for the season. In addition, LB Tim McCarthy (rt. knee) will miss significant time and possibly the season.
We are getting some guys back though:
DT Mike Krause, FS Spencer Williamson and DT Zach Holycross each returned from injury to play in the Central Michigan game.
The D-Line has been hurt the worst:
Seven players listed on the NIU depth chart at the start of the season (Rusch, Antonacci, Schroeder, Holycross, Krause, Coffman and Brandon Bice) have missed at least one game with Rusch, Antonacci, Schroeder and Coffman done for the season.
How we are countering the D-Line injuries:
To compensate, Huskie coaches have moved Dan Keller from offensive to defensive line and Phil Brown to defensive end from linebacker. Four freshmen have played on the defensive line this year, including first-year players John Hopkins and D.J. Pirkle, who saw their first collegiate action at Idaho. Ed Jackson, a redshirt freshmen, made his first career start at Idaho and Krause started for the first time at Central Michigan.
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