Sam Dintruff

SportsAudio.net Archives: 2001 Masters

September 2, 2016 by Sam Dintruff

Back in the late 1990s, the name Tiger Woods was only recognized by golf fanatics. On April 8, 2001, he was introduced to the entire world. Woods won his second Masters Tournament and his sixth major championship. In addition he capped off what was dubbed the “Tiger Slam,” an unofficial grand slam of the modern era. Tiger finished first with 16 under par. David Duval came in second at 14 under par. Phil Mickelson finished third with 13 under par. Meanwhile Mark Calcavecchia tied for fourth place at 10 under par.

All four golfers had gotten off to a rough start in the first round, with Mickelson being the only one mentioned above to finish in the top 10, having tied for fourth with five under 67. Chris DiMarco had led after the first round with a seven under 65. Woods had shot just two under 70, and had a six-way tie at 15th place. Vijay Singh, the defending champion never finished in the top 10.
In the second round, DiMarco once again led with a ten under 134. Meanwhile Woods and Mickelson were tied at second with an eight under 136. Duval had slipped to a five-way tie for fourth place with a seven under 137. Calcavecchia was stuck at ninth place with a six-under 138 in a three-way tie that included two time Masters champion José María Olazábal.

Tiger Woods took the lead at the end of the third and never let it go; shooting a 4 under to finish the round in first place with a 12-under 204. Mickelson ended the day in second place with his third straight round in the 60s with an 11-under 205. Calcavecchia and DiMarco each tied for third place with a 10-under 206.
Woods captured his fourth consecutive title, the first to do so since Bobby Jones in 1930. However, because it wasn’t the same calendar year, it technically does not qualify as a grand slam and there has yet to be one in the modern era. Mickelson had finished in the top 10 for the twelfth time in his career, only to fall just short and had yet to win a championship. Chris DiMarco, the leader of the first two rounds, shot a two over 74 and finished in a tie for tenth.

“If I’m going to come out on top tomorrow, I don’t really need to play any different I just need to reduce the mistakes a touch. Turn the double into a bogey, I’m going to get bad shots. I’m not perfect and I’m going to miss putts and so I will make bogeys. But if I can just reduce it, and turn the six into a five, I should be able to overcome it with a bogey or two.” -Phil Mickelson

“It was a weird feeling because you know when you’re focused so hard on each and every shot, you kind of forget everything else. When I didn’t have anymore shots to play, that’s when I started to realize what I had done. I had won the tournament and I had started getting a little emotional.” -Tiger Woods

Northwestern – Stanford Preview

August 27, 2015 by Sam Dintruff

Enjoy waiting for football season while you can, because the year will just go by quickly, and then it’s another eight months away. On September 5th, Northwestern is set to kick off their season with their first matchup against Stanford since 1994, which ended in a 41-41 tie. This is their seventh matchup overall, and the Wildcats are 1-3-2 against the cardinals with their lone victory taking place in 1958. Last year, Northwestern opened the season with a 31-24 loss against another Pac-12 team, California. There are a lot of storylines that will be interesting to follow, ranging from the Wildcat’s quarterback battle to recovery of two of their offense’s most important players. Here is our Northwestern – Stanford preview.

The Quarterback Battle

Quarterback controversies are always interesting, because it’s a battle of positions in between a battle of who’s the better team. As if last year wasn’t fun enough with the potential two quarterback system Northwestern, there’s still no guarantee who will start this year. Trevor Siemian, who started 11 games last season, was taken in the seventh round of the draft by the Broncos. For now the top two contenders are senior Zack Oliver and sophomore Matt Alviti. Oliver started Northwestern’s big game against Illinois last year, in which he completed 23 of 38 passes for 221 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions in a 47-33 loss. “They’ve all got something to give to the team. When they make themselves better, we all get better.” Christian Jones said. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald was hoping to have a decision made before training camp. Now the season opener is less than two weeks away and the Wildcats still don’t know who their starter is. Both quarterbacks have the support of their teammates, and most players are indifferent. It is worth mentioning that with his experience, Oliver is most likely going to be named the starter, although nothing is official yet.

Injury update

Last year, Northwestern suffered two huge blows to their offense. Running back Venric Mark was suspended and eventually

Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern Media Day

transferred, and wide receiver Christian Jones was lost for the season with a torn ACL. And this past summer, Mark’s replacement Justin Jackson had surgery for a knee injury. Although Jackson seemed back to full strength at practice this past week, the offense was seen running plays with four or five different running backs. And this wasn’t first-team or second-team reps, this was in between drills. “This year I’m in the training room all the time, just trying to stay healthy. Once you get those miles on you it’s hard, so I’m just trying to stay healthy.” Jackson said. Christian Jones however, was not in attendance as he had a class. “He’s really well.” Coach Pat Fitzgerald said about Jones. “He asked about my progression back on the field. I’m not going to go into every detail, it wasn’t the physical hurdle it was the mental hurdle. And that’s the last one to get over and I think he’s close to that.” This will be Jones’s first game since 2013, the year in which he led Northwestern in receiving. He expressed that he is not experiencing any pressure to get back onto the field. “I wouldn’t call it pressure, just expectations that I set on myself, and the position coaches set on me. I want myself to be great, and I want to be as good as I possibly can be.” Jones said. “It’s a lot of anxiety. It’s been a year, but as soon as I start practicing, the sooner I get out there, it all becomes routine again.”

Running back situation
When Venric Mark transferred last year, the Northwestern running game was in question. But the answer arose immediately. Freshman Justin Jackson bursted onto the scene with 1187 rushing yards and ten touchdowns. With a loaded backfield this year that includes Solomon Vault and Warren Long, Jackson has no expectations on whether he will receive more or less carries his sophomore year. “I’m expecting to go in there and do what the coaches tell me. I have no other expectations other than go out

there and do my best every single play.” Jackson commented. “We all have our own specialties. And we compliment each other really well, and it’s gonna be hard for defenses to keep tabs on us because we’re all different types of runners.” Jackson wasn’t the only one impressing his spectators, both Vault and Long were breaking through in training camp. With Treyvon Green being the only significant running back not to return this year, there is no real concern for the Wildcat’s running game.

Big Ten Media Day Recap

August 5, 2015 by Sam Dintruff

The offseason for college sports is like when a really hyped movie releases a trailer months before it’s actual release. Fans can’t wait until it comes out. But instead of full length trailers, you get lots and lots of teasers from your favorite teams. Considering the Big Ten won the first championship in the 4-team playoff format, there’s a lot to look forward to this year. And the most exciting previews come from the Big Ten media day. Urban Meyer comes off his third championship, Wisconsin moves on from their record setting running back, Michigan introduces a coach known for team turnarounds, and Penn State’s future looks bright.

Here’s a Big Ten preview culled from the recent Media Days in Chicago

Ohio State

The main story out of Ohio State these past few days has been the suspensions of four players due to academic issues. Among them is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Joey Bosa, as well as running backs Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson, and wide receiver Corey Smith. “I kind of knew about this for a little bit. It was a university — I think the department has policies that we expect and I 100 percent am fully supportive of it.” Coach Urban Meyer said in his opening statement. The comment I did make, we are playing an extremely talented team, very well-coached team on the road in a tough environment. However, we have recruited very well. So get going, move forward.” He continued. The four players will miss the season opener against Virginia Tech, the only team to beat the Buckeyes last year.

No surprise, Ohio State opens as #1 in the preseason coaches poll. The Buckeyes won their first national championship since 2002, and Urban Meyer wins his third overall after previously winning two at Florida. The one question that was asked to almost every player at each big ten school was, “How are you going to prepare for the game against Ohio State?” Nobody had a definite answer, only that they would cross that bridge when they got to it.

Michigan

After leading the San Francisco 49ers to three conference championships and a super bowl appearance, Jim Harbaugh returns as head coach for his alma mater Michigan. “I’m excited to see all our players, how they come back from the summer. The players have a chance to work on their skills, and people improve over those months and those summers, and you don’t really

know how until you get onto the field.” Michigan has struggled in recent years, finishing 2014 with a 5-7 record and no bowl appearance, which led to the firing of Brady Hoke after four seasons. Harbaugh was already an Ann Arbor fan favorite. As the Wolverines starting quarterback in 1985 and 1986, he won more than 80% of his games. As a head coach, he has a history of turning teams from worst to first. After taking over a 1-11 Stanford team in 2007, the Cardinals won the Orange Bowl in 2010. This success earned him the head coaching job with the San Francisco 49ers, who went from 6-10 to 13-3 in 2011 and ended their nine season playoff drought. It’s almost a perfect fit that Harbaugh takes over the struggling Michigan Wolverines.

Northwestern

Last off-season, Northwestern hit a bit of a rough patch. Running back Venric Mark was suspended and then announced his intentions to transfer, and wide receiver Christian Jones was out for the season with a torn ACL. Not wanting the injury to

distract him, Jones spent last season getting ready for his return. “Watching the guys play, trying to tell myself this isn’t as big of a deal as I’ll make it. Trying to keep myself from getting down.” Jones said. In 2013, he piled up 54 receptions for 668 yards and four touchdowns. Coach Pat Fitzgerald had his own thoughts on the offense this year. “We’ll be much improved, we gotta settle the quarterback battle, we have a dynamic running back crew, you look at the success we’ve had over time with our offense, I fully expect that we’ll be right back to where we’ve been.”

Nebraska

Towards the end of the 2014 season, Nebraska made the surprising decision to fire coach Bo Pelini after seven seasons, despite never amassing less than nine wins per year. The Cornhuskers hired Oregon State coach Mike Riley as his replacement last January. “The transitioning part is not easy.” Riley said. “But it’s also

exciting. I’m personally exciting about being in a new conference. In my world of coaching football and going to new places, new stadiums with a great history like there is in the big ten, it will really be a lot of fun.” He went on to say. Riley finished with a 93-80 record in twelve years with Oregon State.

Penn State

It took a few years, but things are finally looking up for Penn State following the Sandusky scandal. The NCAA reinstated their wins from 1998-2011 in January, and coach James Franklin is optimistic about the coming years. “So many positive things are falling into place now. Penn State is able to get scholarships back, having an opportunity to go to bowl games, the way recruiting is going, the way we played in the bowl, and the way the season ended.” He said. Penn State appeared in their first bowl game since 2011 after their four year bowl ban was lifted, and all scholarships restored in 2015.

Illinois

It’s not an easy start for Illinois coach Tim Beckman. Following accusations that he mistreated players, on top of not having a winning season in his three years with the team, his future remains uncertain. “You know, we’re focused right now on a 2015 football team. We took off from last year after a great end of the year. And we’ve been focused since January on becoming a better football program. The philosophy that we continue to use is what these football players believe in football.” Beckman’s record as coach has steadily improved during his tenure, from 2-10, to 4-8, to 6-7. Although he was asked more than once about receiving a contract extension, he says all he is focused on is the first football game.

Wisconsin

It’s always hard to replace a star college player after they leave for the draft. For Paul Chryst, he has no worries about Melvin Gordon’s successor. But can you really replace the guy who set the NCAA record for rushing yards in a game? Then again, Gordon replaced Montee Ball, the guy who set the record for most NCAA rushing touchdowns in a season and a career. With

Gordon going to the San Diego Chargers, Corey Clement is set to be the next big Wisconsin running back. “I finally get the chance I’ve always wanted. Melvin has only taught me the finer things of how to prepare for each game and how to come into camp ready, and I’m just anxious to get out there for the first game against Alabama.” Clement said. In his two years with Wisconsin, Clement has rushed for 1,496 yards and 16 touchdowns. “I think Corey has got a clear expectation of what it is to be the running back at Wisconsin. He knows who he is and he knows he doesn’t have to be Melvin. So I like where he’s at now.” Paul Chryst said.

Bears vs Seahawks Preview

August 20, 2014 by Sam Dintruff

Two weeks away from the regular season kickoff, the Chicago Bears still have a lot of preparation to do before they’re ready for a playoff run. And while it’s still only preseason, a lot can happen that will determine the outcome of the year. This Friday, the Bears are set to go up against the defending super bowl champion Seahawks in Seattle. Chicago will look to go 3-0 after coming off two straight victories against the Eagles and Jaguars.

The biggest headline surrounding the Bears this week has been the signing of ninth year veteran wide receiver Santonio Holmes. Holmes spent four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers; catching the game winning pass and earning MVP honors in Super Bowl XLIII. Holmes was later traded to the Jets in 2010 and spent four somewhat less exciting seasons in New York. He has caught only two touchdown passes in 15 starts the previous two seasons. After suffering a lisfranc injury in 2012, Holmes has struggled to return to form.

Quarterback Jay Cutler has already expressed some optimism about Holmes. “It’s just a matter of getting him caught up with our verbiage, and just getting a rapport. It takes time though.” He commented. “He looks really good, he’s explosive. To be honest, he looks a little bit rusty, he’s been out of football, but he’s getting in and out of cuts, he catches the ball well, extremely explosive, fast, he’s exciting, we just gotta get him caught up with everything right now. We might have to help him along in the huddle and just make sure he knows what he’s doing, but we got enough veteran guys so we can get him where he needs to be.” Offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer said that almost an hour after he signed his contract, Holmes was voluntarily out on the field running routes for Cutler.

Jay Cutler talks about Seahawks challenges, wide receivers, upcoming week

Although Holmes did practice, no decision has been made as to whether he will play Friday in Seattle. “I can’t say that right now.” Trestman responded as to whether Santonio would play. “I think we’re trying to get him to that place. I think I’ll know a little bit more after practice tomorrow. We’ll see where he’s at, we’ll talk to him, and we’ll see whether or not he’s ready to go and get some playing time.” Trestman went on to add, “He did good work today. And he worked with different groups, so he got some reps, and I thought he worked positively today. I thought there were some good things out there.”

Head Coach Marc Trestman discusses the upcoming week

Although mostly backups will play midway through the game against Seattle, it provides a good learning experience for playing against the reigning world champions. “They’re the defending champs.” Offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod commented. “It’s gonna be a test for our offense, it’s gonna be a test for each one of us individually up front, and we’ll just have to make sure that we’re ready to go.”

Running back Matt Forte as evidently gone through a few struggles this preseason. In two games, he’s rushed a total of seven times for minus seven yards. Yes, as in 7 carries for -7 yards. Despite this, Forte had expressed optimism on the future. “I’m not worried about the previous games like everybody is. I’ve had seven carries for negative seven yards and all this crap. It’s preseason, so I’m ready for the regular season. If you get four carries in a game, you’re not gonna do much so it’s hard to do a lot. The running game will come along. We’ve been working on it in practice so we’ll be good.”

Offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod discusses Seahawks, Bears offense

CenturyLink Field has always provided the Seahawks with a particular edge; disrupting the visiting team’s play calls with arguably the loudest fans in the NFL. It’s no secret that Seattle has used this technique for years, often causing confusion and miscommunication between players. “It’s probably the loudest stadium or at least one of them.” Matt Forte admitted. “I’ve played there twice I believe, and I can’t hear Jay. So we’ve been practicing in the noise with the crowd machine, so that’s what we’ve been practicing for.” During training camp last week, the Bears could be seen and heard practicing with a noise machine that emitted the sound of a large, packed stadium in preparation for the game in Seattle.

Some good news for the Bears defense, Lance Briggs returned to practice on Tuesday after missing Monday’s practice with a knee bruise. However, Jared Allen sat out of practice after suffering a shoulder contusion. Trestman commented, “It’s just a bruise.” He went on the add that Allen sitting out was “Just a precaution.”

Marc Trestman discusses Santonio Holmes, upcoming Bears vs Seahawks game

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A Nightmare for the Northwestern Offense

August 14, 2014 by Sam Dintruff

Two of the worst possible nightmares to occur for the Northwestern offense happened on the same day. A week after announcing he was going to be suspended for the first two games of the 2014 season, Northwestern running back Venric Mark announced he intends to transfer schools. And wide receiver Christian Jones is lost for the season after suffering a knee injury in practice.

Shocking to say the least. Mark’s decision came the day after saying in an interview, “I’m going to embrace this. My teammates have given me great support. I’m just doing what I can to make sure the other guys are ready.” He also commented on the upcoming season, “I fully expect us to be 2-0 before I get back.” Unfortunately for his teammates, he’s not coming back.

Venric Mark discusses suspension, role in upcoming season.

Christian Jones suffered a knee injury during practice

Mark was granted a fifth year of football eligibility by the NCAA after missing most of the 2013 season with an ankle injury. Although no definite decision has been made, Mark has stated that he intends to transfer to a school closer to his hometown of Houston.

Northwestern’s running corps has not been a major concern. Freshmen Justin Jackson and Solomon Vault have impressed during training camp and captured the attention of their coaches. “I’ve been extremely pleased with the way they’ve picked up this offense.” Said running back coach Matt MacPherson. “I like them. I like them a lot.” added Pat Fitzgerald. Last year, Treyvon Green led the team with 736 rushing yards, and was expected to be the starter during Mark’s absence. It’s possible he’ll remain the starter for the whole year.

No specific details were given on the exact condition of Christian Jones, all that is known is that he suffered a knee injury during practice. The bright side is that as a senior, he is eligible to redshirt and play for the Wildcats in 2015. Last year, Jones led Northwestern with 668 yards receiving.

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Northwestern Training Camp Recap

August 12, 2014 by Sam Dintruff

The Wildcats take the field for practice reps

A lot of questions are surrounding the Northwestern Wildcats this season. Will they rebound from a 5-7 record? How will their running game do without Venric Mark the first two games? Will that suspension affect the rest of his season? How will they adjust from a two quarterback system to just one leader? During Northwestern training camp on Tuesday, it was 58 degrees, it was windy, and it was raining. But that didn’t stop the Wildcats from putting on a show.

Venric Mark’s Suspension

Northwestern’s running game took a big hit when starter Venric Mark was suspended for the first two games of the 2014 season for violation of team policy.

“It’s shocking, but I just wanna say that I’m really disappointed.” Mark said. I was sitting out for a year and I was looking forward to coming back, but I’m gonna embrace this. My teammates have given me great support. I’m just doing what I can to make sure the other guys are ready.” Mark was granted a fifth year of eligibility playing football at Northwestern after a leg injury cut his season short last year. “We’re gonna take a hit in September, but I fully expect us to be 2-0 before I get back.” He added.

Mark is still allowed to attend training camp and practice with his teammates. He didn’t miss a step as he continued to impress during reps.

Every college player has to face the music eventually then they do something wrong. When asked if the suspension was something he could’ve avoided, Mark responded, “All mistakes can be avoided if you look at them. But right now, it wasn’t avoided. So like I said, I’m going to embrace it. Right now, there’s no point in me pouting. Does it hurt? Yeah it hurts really bad. But at the end of the day it is what it is.”

“Actions have consequences.” Said running backs coach Matt MacPherson. “No matter whether you’re the first player on the roster or the third, or fiftieth, or hundredth, actions have consequences.”

Venric Mark discusses suspension, running back corps, and role as a mentor

Stephen Buckley’s Road to Recovery

It’s never easy to see a player’s career threatened because of injury, especially when he’s only a redshirt freshman. For Running back Stephen Buckley, who injured his knee last year against Nebraska, it’s just a matter of taking it one day at a time. He did not practice again today, and when he returns is still questionable. He has not seen the field since his injury. “Initially when I got hit, I thought this could be the end.” Buckley recalled. “As soon as I got hit, my body went into shock. I reacted very frantically. I was on the field crying like a baby. Immediately after that, I knew it was something seriously wrong. But by the grace of god, he’s given me another chance to play the game again.”

Buckley was the second Northwestern running back to be taken out because of injury last year; The other being starting running back Venric Mark. With Mark suspended the first two games of the 2014 season, Buckley could see extended playing time should his knee heal up by opening day on August 30th.

“Right now I’m just rehabbing it. I’m just taking it day by day getting ready for the season.” He added. When asked if he would be ready for the opener against California, Buckley responded, “Like I said, I’m just taking it day by day. Right now, I’m just trying to take these things as they come. I’m just working on strengthening my knee right now, so I can be ready come the time I take a big hit like in Nebraska.”

“He’s had a great attitude.” Said running backs coach Matt MacPherson. “He’s been in it mentally, and he’s done a great job there.”

Stephen Buckley discusses injury, talks healing process

Pat Fitzgerald discusses position battles, expectations

Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald discusses upcoming challenges, position battles, and expectations

The Running Corps

National signing day always puts a lot of attention and pressure on high school athletes. This year, the Wildcats have two freshmen with a lot of hype surrounding them; running backs Justin Jackson and Solomon Vault. Both of them have received praise from their coaches and teammates. During camp, Jackson put on a nice performance with nice speed and quick footwork.

Venric Mark explained his role as a teacher during his suspension. “Right now Justin Jackson and Solomon Vault are actually having a really great camp. I’ve just been trying to be their mentor, talking to them, making sure they’re in the film room, making sure they’re soaking up everything from coaching, basically just telling them to play their game, and they’ve embraced that.”

Matt MacPherson had his own take on Jackson and Vault. “I’ve been extremely pleased with the way they’ve picked up this offense. We’ve asked them to do a lot of stuff in the run game, the pass game, and protection. It hasn’t always been perfect, but they have a pretty good command of what we’re trying to do.”

Pat Fitzgerald had his own short, simple view of the rookies. “I like them. I like them a lot.”

However, a majority of the carries during Venric Mark’s suspension are expected to be made by returning senior Treyvon Green. After Mark was absent most of last season, Green stepped in and lead the team with 736 rushing yards. “He’s been steady. Steady as she goes.” Matt MacPherson said. “He played some of his best football early last year when he was healthy. He had maybe the best season in Spring that he’s had since he’s been here.”

During his interview, Pat Fitzgerald said, “I don’t know if we’ll split carries, I think it’ll be more situational. But like I said, I like their depth and where they’re at so far.”

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Chicago Bears Training Camp Recap

August 12, 2014 by Sam Dintruff

In 2013, the Bears were within one 4th down stop of reaching the playoffs. Instead, they finished a disappointing 8-8, and missed the playoffs for the third straight year. However, an already dangerous offense combined with a couple of solid defensive free agent signings, makes for one potential threat to take home the NFC North title. As training camp comes to a close this Wednesday, here’s a look back at a few notable details that took place on Monday.

Martellus Bennett and Kyle Fuller

Rookie Kyle Fuller (Kneeling, center) did not see much action and remained on the sidelines most of the time. — Rookie Kyle Fuller (Kneeling, center) did not see much action and remained on the sidelines a majority of the time.

The headline for the Chicago Bears this past week was the conflict between tight end Martellus Bennett and rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller. Recently, a scuffle between the two during a routine practice resulted in Bennett slamming Fuller into the turf. Fights between teammates are usually common in almost every team’s training camp. But this time, Bennett was fined and suspended by the Bears as a result. He was reinstated this week, although one interesting thing did occur; Bennett and Fuller rarely appeared on the field and the same time. Normally, this would make sense, seeing as Bennett is the starting tight end, and Fuller is the second string cornerback. But throughout the entire practice, Bennett did not make contact with or near Fuller. While it can’t be certain whether this was part of the game plan or just a precaution in case of another incident, it does raise a few eyebrows as to what goes on with the chemistry between the two.

The Other Tight End

One Bears tight end that has gotten the public eye, other than Martellus Bennett, has been the backup veteran Zach Miller. (No, not the former Raider and Current Seahawk.) Miller was signed near the end of last season to a reserve/future contract, and he’s gained attention from Bears fans after scoring two touchdowns in the preseason opener against the Eagles. Miller spent three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars before injuries finally caught up with him, and didn’t make the Buccaneers final roster the following year. After finally getting picked up by the Bears, Miller has shown promise on the field, and continues to impress during training camp. He caught almost everything in sight before going off to the races.

Martellus Bennett also put on a show; catching his share of the passes and making plays of his own. Both continued to impress and receive applause from the stands. While it’s unclear as to if Miller will see an expanded role this season, Chicago is safe at the tight end position.

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall talks with a trainer

What can we expect from this offense?

Imagine if you’re Jay Cutler. You have Bennett and Miller as your tight ends, and they’re safe, reliable targets for short passes. Then you have Brandon Marshall, an experienced and dangerous receiver teamed up with Alshon Jeffery who had a breakout season last year. Then you have the league’s second leading rusher in the backfield. That is a scary amount of talent around you, and it showed during camp. Marshall and Jeffery were everywhere and caught almost everything in their area. While Cutler did make a few mental mistakes at times, the offensive passing game was explosive and exciting to watch.

One major need that the Bears have wanted for a long time has been a stronger offensive line. While there is still room for improvement, they are still much better off than they were in previous years. They did allow pressure on the quarterback a few times, but always made the right holes for the running game to get through. Matt Forte appeared as though he was already in mid season form, and rookie Ka’Deem Carey already seems like a reliable backup.

The backup quarterback battle has been pretty one-sided. Jordan Palmer threw an interception right into defensive end Willie Young’s arms, who returned it for a touchdown. Veteran Jimmy Clausen has continued to outperform him, and will likely be named the second string quarterback.

Defensive adjustments

Last March, the Bears made two huge upgrades in free agency. After losing Julius Peppers to the Packers, Chicago agreed they needed to revamp their defensive line; and signed defensive ends Lamarr Houston and Jared Allen. Allen was particularly important. A defensive star on the Vikings, he had terrorized the Bears twice a year since 2008. Now, he’s on their side.

“I’m not a big believer in self imposed limitations.” Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker said. “We don’t know what these guys can become, or how good we can be. The main thing is to reach our full potential, as individual players and as a whole. We’ll see where it goes and we’ll continue to work with these guys at every position.”

Tucker has also commented on the pairing of safeties between Ryan Mundy and Danny McCray. “What we’ve done with the safeties is we worked up combinations, we moved guys around, we’ll continue to do that and at the end of the day we’ll have a starting group.”

Chris Conte has had seven months to get over the embarrassing mistake he made last year when he gave up the touchdown against the Packers. “He’s been eager to get back out there and we’re gonna get him back out there.” Tucker said. “Right now it’s a matter of day to day work with what he puts on the field and in the classroom. And he’s already done that in the classroom. And now’s he’s stepped on the field. We’re gonna take it one rep at a time, I think that’s the best approach.”

Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker comments on Kyle Fuller, Chris Conte, Jeremiah Ratliff, and Mundy-McCray

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Northwestern RB Venric Mark Suspended

August 9, 2014 by Sam Dintruff

One day after talking about his rebound season at a Northwestern press conference, Wildcats running back and kick/punt returner Venric Mark was suspended for the first two games of the 2014 season for violation of team policy. Details of the actual incident are undisclosed. Mark will miss the season opener against California and the following week against Northern Illinois.

Mark is known for being one of Northwestern’s most versatile players. As a junior in 2012, he had 2,166 all-purpose yards, including 1,366 rushing yards. He was granted a fifth year of eligibility in 2014 after sitting out most of the 2013 season with an ankle injury.

Northwestern released a statement from Mark regarding his suspension:
“I made a mistake and am prepared to deal with the consequences of that. There is no one that holds me to a higher standard than the one I hold myself to, so nobody is more disappointed than I am. First and foremost, I feel like I let my teammates down, and that feels the worst.”

The Wildcats primary running back in 2013 was Treyvon Green, who will most likely be the starter during Mark’s absence. Although not a returner, Green rushed for 736 yards on the ground with a 5.4 yards per carry average, as well as scoring eight touchdowns.

Northwestern Football Media Day Report

August 8, 2014 by Sam Dintruff

2014Fitz — Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald addresses the media.

The Northwestern Wildcats football team addressed members of the media on Thursday to discuss the upcoming 2014 season. The main topic of discussion was concerning the potential obstacles up ahead and overcoming a forgettable 2013 season. After starting last year with a 4-0 record and securing the 16th rank in the nation, the Wildcats lost seven of their last eight games and failed to secure a spot in a bowl game.

The Running Back battle

One of the biggest questions facing the Wildcats’ offense this year is the running back position. Last year, starting running back Venric Mark was sidelined due to a number of nagging leg and ankle injuries. He was held to just 31 carries in three games. Mark made a statement about the healing process in the off-season

“It was tough, but I have a good support system here at Northwestern to get through it.” He added, “I’ve never been hurt like that. It sidelined me for a whole season. In high school I managed to stay healthy all four years. It took a toll on me, both mentally as well as physically, but with the help of everyone around me, I felt like I had a good support system, I was able to come back in a good fashion, I feel healthy right now and I think I’m ready to go.”

In Mark’s absence, the Wildcats running game turned to Treyvon Green, a studious running back returning for his senior year in 2014. Mark and Green are also joined by a number newly recruited Freshmen. When asked how he felt about the running back core as a whole, Mark responded, “We’ll have to piggy back off of each other this year.”

The Quarterback situation

While it’s not uncommon to use two running backs depending on the scenario, a rare instance took place in 2013 in which the Wildcats used a two quarterback system. Northwestern rotated passers with Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian, which they didn’t seem to mind. But now that Colter was signed by the Minnesota Vikings, Siemian has inherited the full time job.

“I got snaps my redshirt freshman year when Dan (Persa) was banged up a little bit.” Siemian said. “So you know my role has sort of transformed over the years. And right now I’m at kind of being the guy and embracing the role, and taking it and running with it, do the best that I can, and I’m excited. Like I said, we got too much talent around me, so I’m excited to get the ball to these guys and get out of the way.”

When asked when he would make an immediate impact, Siemian said, “Hopefully right away. I’ve been around a lot, I feel like the old guy. I’ve been doing it four and a half years. Hopefully, right away I feel comfortable, hopefully, we get it done this year, we’ve got a lot of talent, probably the most talented team I’ve been around.”

Maintaining the Lead

A major problem surrounding the Wildcats during the 2013 season was keeping a lead through the whole game. The Wildcats held a 4th quarter lead or tie in four of their seven losses. Their worst loss probably came on November 2nd. Holding a three-point lead with 1:20 to go, the Nebraska Cornhuskers started on their own 17 yard line. As time expired, Nebraska completed a 49 yard Hail Mary pass in the end zone for the game winning score. That loss extended the Wildcats losing streak to five, and left a bitter memory the players won’t forget.

“There were some close losses and a lot of people wanted to point towards the end of the game.” Trevor Siemian said. “But in the span of those games, there were a handful of critical plays, and two years ago we made those plays. Last year we didn’t. We’re really working hard to focus on that and win those critical plays that determine the outcome of the game.”

When asked how good they thought they were, Siemian responded, “I think one thing that we’ve been good at over the years is controlling the line of scrimmage and being physical in the trenches running the ball, and making it tough for defenses. That’s what we’re trying to do, and we’re trying to get back to being able to finish.”

“Like Trevor said, it’s about getting back to what we do,” co-captain and offensive lineman Brandon Vitabile said. “We gotta do a good job at the point of attack getting vertical push, controlling the line of scrimmage, and just being dominant. Some of that we’ve worked on, coach Fitz always talks about the fundamentals.”

Listen to Press conference audio from QB Trevor Siemian, RB Venrick Mark, Offensive Coordinator Mick McCall, and Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald

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