Northwestern’s defense is FLYING around.
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Lost in the conversation about Jack Lausch, Northwestern’s defense is playing like an immovable object.
“It’s amazing how you can play really sound defense even with a lighter box just with guys that are creating knock back and getting off blocks,” coach David Braun said in his presser on Monday.
Even after losing key pieces like linebacker Bryce Gallagher and defensive backs Garnett Hollis Jr., Rod Heard II and Jaheem Joseph in the offseason — not to mention playing without Carmine Bastone and Ore Adeyi through three weeks, Northwestern’s defense hasn’t skipped a beat. With Big Ten play this weekend, Tim McGarigle’s unit has shown that while the Wildcats’ offense represents the ceiling of this team, the defense is one rock solid floor.
Powered by its front seven, Northwestern’s success has started by dominating the line of scrimmage. Specifically, it’s been stout in the run game, where the Wildcats are allowing just 57.7 rushing yards per game. The 2.3 yards per carry Northwestern is allowing is its best mark since at least 2000.
The nation’s sixth best run defense in rushing yards allowed per game, Northwestern is in good company alongside Big Ten rivals Ohio State, Iowa and Indiana — all teams that the Wildcats play this year. One of just three teams to hold multiple opponents to 40 or fewer rushing yards, Northwestern’s gritty style up front seems to be translating on a national scale.
“It’s a credit to our front seven,” Braun said. “It’s a credit to our guys in the back end. We get our DBs involved in run fits frequently. Their tackling fundamentals and technique continue to show up and that’s something that we’re going to have to continue to do a great job of.”
Now, for all the football purists out there, you’ll make the astute observation that those rushing numbers aren’t adjusted for sacks. Unlike in the NFL, teams in college lose rushing yards on the stat sheet for yards lost on sacks. Well, don’t fret because Northwestern has also gotten after the quarterback. Tied for the third most sacks in the Big Ten with nine through three weeks, the Wildcats are getting contributions from everyone.
While Iowa also has nine sacks, the Hawkeyes only have four players who have tackled the quarterback at least once behind the line of scrimmage. With seven players to record at least one sack, not to mention Kenny Soares Jr. who picked up half a sack against Miami of Ohio, Northwestern ranks fourth in the Big Ten. However, the sacks aren’t just individual effort but showcase Braun’s defense thriving.
“I think sometimes the misconception is that sacks come off of just one individual’s great pass rush ability,” Braun said. “In reality, sacks come from doing a good job in the back half of forcing the quarterback to process, having good coverage but also working as a front four to build a pocket that keeps the quarterback in the pocket so we can finish.”
Those seven pass rushers with at least one sack is also a measure of depth, something Northwestern has even without Bastone available, nor Anto Saka, the Wildcats’ best pure pass rusher who didn’t play against Eastern Illinois. Just look at defensive linemen Dylan Roberts and Michael Kilbane who each picked up their first career sacks against the Panthers.
“It’s something that I learned in my time at North Dakota State of how valuable it is to play with depth,” Braun said. “You always talk about development, but especially with the D-line position, sometimes that development can really be forced just by having an unwavering belief that we’re going to rotate guys in, keep them fresh, those game reps start to add up…. I think Dylan Roberts’ sack is a great example of just a room that just continues to improve not only individually but collectively.”
As Northwestern’s front seven has imposed its will, the back end has only continued to improve.
With interceptions in three consecutive games to start 2024, Northwestern has carried its ballhawking mentality into 2024 after closing out 2023 with interceptions in its last three games. Northwestern’s active six game interception streak is the Wildcats’ longest since the end of 2019 into the start of 2020 where the ‘Cats picked off opposing teams in seven straight contests.
After Devin Turner’s interception against Eastern Illinois extended that streak, the junior safety summed up what has this defense firing.
“Our mentality is to dominate everybody we go against, whether that’s in the run game as well as the pass game.”
As promised from last week, here’s where Northwestern ranks nationally after Week 3:
