Northwestern’s head coach is looking to get his squad back on track.
Northwestern got smacked around on their home field on Saturday, falling 23-3 to Wisconsin. However, the Wildcats don’t have too much time to like their wounds, as another conference matchup against a stingy defense is on tap for this weekend. Northwestern will travel west to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes this Saturday afternoon. Here’s everything David Braun had to say about the next level in the Wildcats’ Big Ten gauntlet.
Note: These quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Opening Statement: “Frustrating performance on Saturday. Did not play our brand of football and there is a lot to work on. We have a chance to look it in the eye and improve. And at the end of the day, this Sunday provided an opportunity for us to identify areas that we need to get fixed. Did not play well on special teams. You know, anytime you’re giving up a blocked punt, that is not a recipe for success. Did not find ways to flip the field. Thought we did some good things on on punt return. But in other phases we had things that had not shown up up to this point. We gotta rebound in that area of all three phases. Found some ways to create takeaways, were not able to convert those into points. Won the turnover battle, but did not win the points off the turnovers battle that is a critical recipe to our success of the football team. At the end of the day, it’s an opportunity for us to, look it square in the eye and and get back to work and know that we need to improve as we approach going into a hostile environment against a very good Iowa team. So had a chance to review the film this morning, excited to get back this afternoon and dive into Iowa.”
On the decision to play Ezomo Oratokhai over Nick Herzog at left guard: “As we went throughout the week last week, Nick was able to practice last week. But as the week progressed, some of the issues that he’s been dealing with just continued to be nagging and lingering. And just really felt like, you know, between Mo and Cooper [Lovelace] there at left guard, that was going to be in the best interest of the group up front and Nick. So we’ll see how it plays out here the remainder of the season with Nick. But, you know, first off and foremost, got to look out for his health and not only short term health, but long term health, and that’s something that we’ll be evaluating here in the next couple days and coming weeks.” (On playing Oratokhai over Lovelace): “No injury to Cooper, just kind of letting those guys compete. Mo has been showing some really good things in practice, especially in run game, and just kind of letting those guys see how the flow of the game was going, how those guys are playing, and go with the hot hand.”
On Iowa’s offensive improvement: “A lot of the same things in terms of philosophically —establishing the run, play action. Run scheme is very similar to what we’ve seen in previous years. But I think they’re doing a good job. Very talented back. It starts with the O-line, quarterback play has been impressive. I mean, you look at the Washington game, a very good Washington defense and their ability to put up 40 points. They’re doing some good things formationally, some good things with motions. You can just tell that the identity and philosophy is still staying consistent with what we’ve known to be Iowa football, Iowa offense at its best. But you know, some new wrinkles that I think are paying dividends, and they have shown the ability to be very explosive and balanced, utilizing the passing game as well.”
On Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester: “It’s still Iowa as we know it. But I think Coach Lester has come in and done a really good job of putting his fingerprints on it — his fingerprints are certainly on it. And he’s done a really nice job of integrating into still being true to who they want to be as an offense, but finding ways to be creative and do some new things and utilize their personnel. I don’t know Coach Lester, but have known of him for a long time, and he does an exceptional job. And has really done a good job with that offense in his first year.”
On injury updates for AJ Henning and Xander Mueller: “Really encouraging news coming out of Saturday, just in terms of long term health of both. I think that was our concern with both those guys. First off and foremost is just, scary situations with both, the potential for their long term health. In terms of their return to play, we’ll know more as we get into this afternoon and into tomorrow. But both came out in terms of it being situations where there’s a pathway for those guys to return, which not only for this season, but for both their futures beyond college football, was really good news after a long day.”
On winning the special teams battle: “It’s always critical. And Iowa will absolutely challenge us in that space. It’s been part of their formula for a long time. They do a tremendous job of developing depth on their entire roster. Their demeanor of playing and effort in all three phases, especially on special teams, is exceptional. I challenged our group this morning. You know, these are things that we need to get fixed. And the challenge that we’re staring down this week, an Iowa team that plays at an extremely high level on special teams. With their effort, technique and the amount of time that they invest as a program, it will not be an easy task to bounce back, but we’re going to have to.”
On Damon Walters: “I think anyone that was tracking on Damon throughout spring ball and fall camp would tell you that this is not a surprise. And would also follow that up by saying it’s a credit to the young man’s preparation, preparing like a starter, regardless of the amount of snaps that he’s been taking on defense. He was dinged up after the Duke game for a little bit, and he just continued to stay consistent. Once he was back and available, he was back to form. I think it’s a credit to his preparation, his confidence, and the way that he’s performed these last two weeks is something that reflects what we’ve seen out of him in practice, which is really exciting.”
On improving Jack Lausch’s consistency and progress: “It’s a lot of things. An established run game always helps, staying ahead of the chains, not creating first and 15 or second and 15 situations with procedural penalties. I thought he did some great things with his feet, of creating some first downs. But part of it’s trust in the pocket, when the pocket’s there for him. Part of it there in the second half is creating more scenarios when we’re not operating out of the shadows of our own goal posts. And, you know, Jack also knows that the performance that he put on tape on Saturday wasn’t his best. He’ll be the first one to tell you that he’s hungry to get back to practicing with the group. But it comes down to a lot of things. But you know, to your point, it’s not always linear. I have full faith in Jack and everyone around him to bounce back after after a tough performance and play winning football against Iowa.”
On Lausch learning how to stay in the pocket: “At times, it’s being decisive in his decision making. And when he’s been at his best, he’s been decisive with getting the ball out on time. I think he has done a good job of being decisive to escape the pocket when he feels that that opportunity. But, you know, a guy with his athleticism can get in the mode when he feels any form of pressure, of just bringing his eyes down and taking off. And it’s just taking that next step of being able to maybe feel some pressure, but slide in the pocket, keep his eyes down field and continue on in his progression.”
On defending Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson after a poor rush defense against Wisconsin: “First off, credit to Wisconsin. They’ve done a good job running the football last few weeks. I thought we had a good plan. I thought our guys continued to battle. We did not have the best tackling game. I think that will always be a point of emphasis, but this week, more than ever, it’ll be critical that we play with good leverage, that we tackle well, that we get all 11 hats to the football. It’s going to take more than one to bring Kaleb down. And it’ll also be critical that we find ways to get out to a lead and play with the lead. There’s no better friend to a rushing defense, then having an opponent that feels like maybe they’re playing one-handed a little bit and need to become more one dimensional and throw the ball a little bit more. When you get a team like Wisconsin or Iowa in a situation where they’re up two scores or more, you’re playing right into their strength and right into their hand.”
On Northwestern’s third down struggles: “I think it really comes down to first down efficiency. If you study our first down efficiency right now, it correlates almost identically to the efficiency we’re experiencing on third down. The amount of third and seven pluses that we’ve experienced this year is not a recipe for success on third down. Some of those are things that we can be more consistent in — our quick game, our RPO and our run game — and way too many of those issues are penalty related and from going into a hostile environment. It’s the same conversation I had on special teams that I had with our group this morning about, ‘Man, we’re challenging you to fix this. We need to fix this coaching staff-wise. We need to be solutions based and figure this out as well, putting our guys in advantageous situations.’ But the things that Iowa does with some of their stemming and moving up front to induce some false starts out of the offense and being in a hostile environment, one of the loudest environments in all of Big Ten and all of college football, we’re gonna be challenged this week. And no better week to get it fixed than this one.”
On his conversations with Zach Lujan: “Just being solutions-based and continuing to trust himself. You can’t play in a state of living in the past, frustration from the past. I think we’ve put some really good plans together offensively. The O-line situation this year, with the amount of guys that we’ve played up front, is not always conducive to a consistent level play on the offensive side of the ball. But the thing that I’ll say very boldly: there will be no excuses here. There will be no explanations. We just got to find a way to get it done. And I fully trust that we’re going to do that. This team has proven the ability to bounce back after some tough performances, and we’re going to have to do that this week against traditionally, one of the best defenses in the country for a long, long time, with one of the best defensive fronts in the country. What a great opportunity to stare that challenge down and find a way to play winning football.”
On whether the offense can find consistent success this year: “We absolutely have the right people in the room. Are we seeing the the production consistently out of that group that we’d like to see? No, everyone knows that. But I am absolutely confident that we got the right people in the room. People that are gonna be solutions based. I’ve been on a lot of staffs that will sit in a post game meeting, and all we’ll talk about is, well, this guy didn’t do this, or this guy didn’t do that, or we need better this. And all that is, is just a bunch of finger pointing. Our group comes back to work and says, ‘Okay, now what do we need to do to put these guys in better situations?’ And when you got got a group of people like that, to me, that’s a recipe for sustained success, and a lot to look forward to.”
On experiencing hostile Big Ten environments as head coach for the first time, and how Tim McGarigle and Harlon Barnett have helped with that: “They’ve been a huge, huge support. Obviously Tim’s experience, not only as a player, but as a coach in this league for such a long time, has a wealth of knowledge. Coach Barnett, having done it at Michigan State for such a long time. They’re just two individuals that have been great to lean on, just in terms of what we can expect. I had a chance to coach at Iowa in my time at the University of Northern Iowa and experience that atmosphere firsthand. You know, it’s going to be a challenge. It certainly creates a great home field advantage for Iowa, but a challenge that that we’re looking forward to. And, I mean, that’s Big Ten football, that’s what you want. You want to go into a hostile environment and put together a plan where you guys can execute and find a way to play winning football.”
On establishing the run game against Iowa: “Looking back at the rushing attack against Wisconsin, and even going back to Maryland, there’s positive things showing up. There’s things that can certainly be built upon, in terms of positive momentum. At the end of the day, a critical piece in all of it is finding ways to start fast, to create leads in a game. It’s hard to stay true to a running attack when all of a sudden you’re down 21-3 in the third quarter. So all of it factors in and just continuing to evaluate schemes that are putting our O-line in a position to create extra room for guys like Cam [Porter] and Joe [Himon] and Caleb [Komolafe] to succeed. But we’re excited about the challenge that’s ahead. Hopeful to see a return out of Josh Thompson this week, which will be big. Excited about the way that Anthony Birsa competed his butt off last week. You know, there’s silver linings in all this. And one of the silver linings is, there’s been some guys that have been thrown in the fire and thrown in the arena, and haven’t backed down. So, excited for the challenge that ahead, but there’s no doubt for us to be at our best offensively, we’re gonna have to find balance and consistently run the football.”
On Luke Akers’ struggles against Wisconsin: “Yeah, the blocked punt early, which was certainly not Luke’s issue or fault, certainly didn’t set his day up for success moving forward. I think the learning opportunity for Luke is finding a way to flush that. To his credit, after a blocked punt and two missed field goals, he comes in and puts one through the uprights. I told him in front of our entire team, I’m excited for him to get back out there and have opportunities to score points for our team. He’s an absolute weapon for this team. We do have to continue to certainly track our practice habits with Luke, as many things as we’re putting on his plate. That’s something that that young man is embracing wholeheartedly, taking a lot of pride in. He took the loss really hard. I think that’s a reflection of his care for this team and how competitive he is. Excited for him to be an absolute weapon for us on Saturday.”
On the receiving depth (Frank Covey, CJ Johnson, Hayden Eligon): “They have no choice but to be ready. But they are. Hayden’s continued to progress. Frank Covey is a guy that since the day I stepped on campus — we kind of came in at the same time — has impressed me from day one. Excited for for him to really have some more opportunities moving forward. CJ Johnson, anyone that was around spring ball in the fall camp knows he was one of our most consistent, dynamic performers. So, excited for CJ, he’s done some good things for us in games this year. But excited if that role increases, if AJ is not able to go, gonna need a guy like CJ to step up, and Frank, and Hayden and Bryce Kirtz. We’re going to have to continue to spread the ball around, but those guys are up for the challenge.”
On Lausch avoiding turnovers: “Just continuing to trust himself. I mean, it’s evaluating the process, right? You know, he’s stepping up in the pocket, if he’s not doing a good job of having two hands on the ball when he does, those are things that we need to correct and get fixed. If you go back and look at the sack and fumble that they were able to create, number one, we never should have put Jack in that situation. That 100% comes back on me. But when you evaluate the process he had, he had two hands on the ball. At the end of the day, the defensive end, clean rush, gets a good hit on him, is able to force the ball out. It’s continuing to evaluate his eyes, his progression, the process that he’s going through because he’s done a great job of that, but he just needs to continue to trust himself. When he’s at his best, he’s getting the ball out of time. On deep throws, he’s getting the ball up early and trusting his wide receivers to hit a spot. And the encouraging thing is, we’ve seen those things out of Jack. And the one thing I know about that guy is he’s always going to continue to improve, and when he doesn’t have his best performance, he’s gonna be better because of it.”
On defending Iowa’s offense: “I don’t want to discredit their passing attack. I alluded to it earlier, I think it’s something that they’ve taken some huge strides and have the ability to be explosive in. But don’t let that twist my words. The defensive structure on first and second down, the top priority will be making sure that we have good angles and run fits and are able to slow this run game down. And to that point, we’re going to have to make sure that we’re very aware of where [tight end Luke Lachey] is at in the passing attack and make sure that the matchups are advantageous for the Cats.”
On Devin Turner’s potential return: “We’re very optimistic about Devin’s return. We’ll know more after Tuesday’s practice on what that looks like for Saturday, but optimistic about his return. At the end of the day, we’re gonna have to find a way to put our best 11 on the field. And we’re not sure exactly what that looks like yet. What I do know is Damon [Walters] and Devin will both be play a huge role in trying to get our best 11 out there.