An Inconvenient Truth: Acker our 3rd string back over Anderson?

[Turk_rivals223269]

One thing nobody talked about, that happened, is that Corey Acker saw minutes prior to Anderson mopping things up. To suggest that this unspoken thing was meaningless, does harm to justice.

I'm trying to figure out the translation and what it means.

This Acker kid has wiggle and vision and always looks good. It doesn't hurt that he runs a 4.4. He shows he is the real deal and is most likely in line for a scholarship. I'm guessing his weight kept him from being a highly recruited item.

But, do we have a Riley Lees on the team already?? With his runs in our summer scrimmage, against Eastern Illinois, and his wiggle in the bowl game, it isn't a crazy thought to move him back to wide receiver. With Jackson and Long entrenched for next year, provided they remain healthy, and with Moten coming on board, we simply have a great problem at RB. Wouldn't either Acker or Moten be more useful at WR?

Now getting back to Mr Anderson. He will be entering his 3rd year but he still has to find a way. This kid is just as talented as any RB mentioned, and could be more explosive. I certainly could imagine him tearing it up on other teams. Yet, neither him or Acker can find the field on the worst offense in the NCAA. Something is wrong, and admittedly I don't have the answer. There is no excuse for us to have Anderson, Long, Vitale, Acker, Anderson on the bench while an offense can't buy a 1st down.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

One thing nobody talked about, that happened, is that Corey Acker saw minutes prior to Anderson mopping things up. To suggest that this unspoken thing was meaningless, does harm to justice.

I'm trying to figure out the translation and what it means. I'm sure it means something to Anderson.

To Acker's defense, this kid has wiggle and vision and always looks good. Do we have a Riley Lees on the team already?? With his runs in our summer scrimmage, and his wiggle in the bowl game, it isn't a crazy thought to move him to wide receiver. With Jackson and Long entrenched for next year, and with Moten coming on board, we simply have a great problem at RB.

Now getting back to Mr Anderson. Where does this kid stand with the coaches? This kid is just as talented as any RB mentioned, and could be more explosive. I certainly could imagine him tearing it up on other teams. Yet, he can't find the field on the worst offense in the NCAA. Something is wrong, and admittedly I don't have the answer. But I'm sick and tired of the Pollyanna's suggesting that the problem is Anderson and not coaching. There is no excuse for us to have Anderson, Long, Vitale, and others on the bench while an offense can't buy a 1st down.

Just stop. Why is anyone that disagrees with you a Pollyanna. Enough already, no one is worried about who the 3rd RB is when we have all kinds of other O problems.

 

[willycat]

Just stop. Why is anyone that disagrees with you a Pollyanna. Enough already, no one is worried about who the 3rd RB is when we have all kinds of other O problems.

True, how about who's the 2nd team QB.

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

Just stop. Why is anyone that disagrees with you a Pollyanna. Enough already, no one is worried about who the 3rd RB is when we have all kinds of other O problems.

That's the point, i.e., we have all kinds of offensive problems while we have studs on the bench. Why did they move Acker back to Running back when the kid has the jets, wiggle, and can catch the ball? Fit that in the context of our wide receivers in this dreadful offense. Does no good having him on the bench. Everyone wants Riley Lees to be an instant starter at WR and become the savior, but what is McCall doing with the talent he has now? We have more talent on this team than all recorded Northwestern history. Vault, Anderson, Roberts, Acker, Shuler all run sub 4.5, yet we can't stretch the field and most of the guys mentioned ride the bench. Never mind that McCall insisted on the All Big 10 second team TE to only play like 10 plays.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Why are worried about the third-string RB??? If it is Acker, then bully for him. He might be the next Jacob Schmidt.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

One thing nobody talked about, that happened, is that Corey Acker saw minutes prior to Anderson mopping things up. To suggest that this unspoken thing was meaningless, does harm to justice.

I'm trying to figure out the translation and what it means.

This Acker kid has wiggle and vision and always looks good. It doesn't hurt that he runs a 4.4. He shows he is the real deal and is most likely in line for a scholarship. I'm guessing his weight kept him from being a highly recruited item.

But, do we have a Riley Lees on the team already?? With his runs in our summer scrimmage, against Eastern Illinois, and his wiggle in the bowl game, it isn't a crazy thought to move him back to wide receiver. With Jackson and Long entrenched for next year, provided they remain healthy, and with Moten coming on board, we simply have a great problem at RB. Wouldn't either Acker or Moten be more useful at WR?

Now getting back to Mr Anderson. He will be entering his 3rd year but he still has to find a way. This kid is just as talented as any RB mentioned, and could be more explosive. I certainly could imagine him tearing it up on other teams. Yet, neither him or Acker can find the field on the worst offense in the NCAA. Something is wrong, and admittedly I don't have the answer. There is no excuse for us to have Anderson, Long, Vitale, Acker, Anderson on the bench while an offense can't buy a 1st down.

You really have a way to make a mountain out of a mole hill, don't you?

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

You really have a way to make a mountain out of a mole hill, don't you?

I'm trying to figure out how we have all of these studs on the bench. Granted, if we had a productive offense with players making plays, then fine. But we have the worst offense. WORST.

Glades tried to make the point that McCall simply doesn't have the same athletic talent as Lane, Peterman, Stewart, Ward. Of course, you stand down to those comments, which are a joke. I pointed out that McCall has Roberts, Anderson, Acker, Shuler, Vault, Vitale which is a TON more athletic collectively than what was previous. Yet, I have to watch all of this talent on the bench while McCall only deploys one RB and a scheme that doesn't utilize our talent. And you probably will keep your blinders on and stay away from the question, "Why did Vitale only play limited plays?"

 

[Hungry Jack]

Apparently Acker has found out ways to contribute on ST and in practice:

2015: Redshirt sophomore ... Has appeared in 11 contests, primarily on special teams ... Carried the ball five times for 57 yards, including a career-long 31-yard rush, versus Eastern Illinois ... Recorded a pair of tackles on special teams at Duke ... Twice named Offensive Practice Player of the Week ... Academic All-Big Ten.

2014: Redshirt freshman ... Contributed on special teams in eight games as a redshirt freshman, primarily on kickoff return coverage ... Made three tackles on the season, with one each vs. Cal, Penn State and Wisconsin ... Named NU's Offensive Practice Player of the Week on three occasions during the season ... Academic All-Big Ten.

 

[Purple is Forever]

You really have a way to make a mountain out of a mole hill, don't you?

Turk does have a point. This Acker kid seems like a football player who can make plays. Asking why he was moved from wide receiver or why McCall can't get Long, Vitale, and others in the game for more plays is a reasonable question, given the context of our offense. It's actually a question that all of us should be asking.

Acker gives me hope for next year, and I hope he can find the field as I've been less impressed with the guys that McCall does play.

 

[DkeCat]

Turk does have a point. This Acker kid seems like a football player who can make plays. Asking why he was moved from wide receiver or why McCall can't get Long, Vitale, and others in the game for more plays is a reasonable question, given the context of our offense. It's actually a question that all of us should be asking.

Acker gives me hope for next year, and I hope he can find the field as I've been less impressed with the guys that McCall does play.

Guys - thought this would go without saying, but looking good in garbage time against a defense made up of a whole bunch of Corey Acker-types, and looking good against a FCS team, is not the same as trying to run the ball against Bosa and Washington. At 5-8, 160, that kid would get killed.

 

[beetlemania74]

Acker gives me hope for next year

It's going to be a long offseason...

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

Guys - thought this would go without saying, but looking good in garbage time against a defense made up of a whole bunch of Corey Acker-types, and looking good against a FCS team, is not the same as trying to run the ball against Bosa and Washington. At 5-8, 160, that kid would get killed.

Corey-Acker types? It appeared to me that Tennessee left most of their fist stringers in the entire game. Even with 8 seconds left, their All American took one to the house. That said, he is talented and worked his way as 3rd string running back, but given our depletion of productivity at wide receiver, the question remains. Everyone keeps saying our wide receivers lack speed and cant separate, but we had Vault, Acker, Anderson all at RB. Spreading things out by moving Vault to wide receiver made sense after the Illinois game, but not at the expense of parking Vitale on the bench. Something is wrong with McCall.

 

[Hungry Jack]

So when a walk-on of diminutive stature contributes in practice and on ST, is it a sign of roster depth, or lack of depth? I tend to think of it as the former, and a sign of good recruiting.

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

So when a walk-on of diminutive stature contributes in practice and on ST, is it a sign of roster depth, or lack of depth? I tend to think of it as the former, and a sign of good recruiting.

Of course we have had good recruiting. In fact, we have more offensive talent on this team than ever before. Our walk ons aren't bad. Green is a decent walk on for QB as well and may find himself positioned as the #2 QB next year.

 

[Hungry Jack]

"Of course we have had good recruiting. In fact, we have more offensive talent on this team than ever before"

I would disagree on that, using NFL experience as a crude measure of talent:
1995/1996: Autry, Bates, & Musso all went on to have NFL experience, as well as a few olinemen
2005: Baz, Sutton, Peterman*
2007: Katka, Ebert, Zeke*, Fields*, Dunsmore*

*went to an NFL camp

Obviously too early to tell about which of the current group goes to the NFL, but other than Vitale and perhaps JJ, it is hard to imagine any of the current players enticing NFL scouts.

 

[Jonny2TheP]

Just stop. Why is anyone that disagrees with you a Pollyanna. Enough already, no one is worried about who the 3rd RB is when we have all kinds of other O problems.

I'm about 99% sure that the only word used more on this board than "Pollyanna" is "Northwestern". I'm beginning to hate that word.

 

[DkeCat]

Corey-Acker types? It appeared to me that Tennessee left most of their fist stringers in the entire game. Even with 8 seconds left, their All American took one to the house. That said, he is talented and worked his way as 3rd string running back, but given our depletion of productivity at wide receiver, the question remains. Everyone keeps saying our wide receivers lack speed and cant separate, but we had Vault, Acker, Anderson all at RB. Spreading things out by moving Vault to wide receiver made sense after the Illinois game, but not at the expense of parking Vitale on the bench. Something is wrong with McCall.

1) Yes, an all-american...at kick returns. He's a backup safety who made 15 tackles all year. -1000.
2) Can't believe I bit and responded to this.

 

[NJCat83588]

I'm about 99% sure that the only word used more on this board than "Pollyanna" is "Northwestern". I'm beginning to hate that word.

Not me. I like "Northwestern".

 

[stpaulcat]

Just stop. Why is anyone that disagrees with you a Pollyanna. Enough already, no one is worried about who the 3rd RB is when we have all kinds of other O problems.

Gotta go with Turk on this one. However, to be a crazy thought, it has to be a thought first. Thinking outside the box doesn't seem to be our strong suit with offensive scheming. Do you remember that crazy catch Vault (almost) made for a touch down early in the year? Based on that alone, they should have been throwing long to him every other play (exaggeration). Cripes, if we have fast running backs with hands sitting on the bench, for gosh sakes, put them on the field at wide receiver (develop them). Some say recruiting hasn't been up to par, but you can't say that if you have players with good potential to produce sitting on the bench. It seems as though too often offensively, once a decision has been made (any decision), then that's it, and re-evaluation is slow.

 

[stpaulcat]

"Of course we have had good recruiting. In fact, we have more offensive talent on this team than ever before"

I would disagree on that, using NFL experience as a crude measure of talent:
1995/1996: Autry, Bates, & Musso all went on to have NFL experience, as well as a few olinemen
2005: Baz, Sutton, Peterman*
2007: Katka, Ebert, Zeke*, Fields*, Dunsmore*

*went to an NFL camp

Obviously too early to tell about which of the current group goes to the NFL, but other than Vitale and perhaps JJ, it is hard to imagine any of the current players enticing NFL scouts.

That's not necessarily recruitment, however. It may be player development.

 

[Hungry Jack]

That's not necessarily recruitment, however. It may be player development.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

 

[stpaulcat]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

no?

 

[Hungry Jack]

no?

You are not permitted to go there.

In the meantime, enjoy this Corey Acker video:

 

[60657Cat]

Maybe, just maybe it isn't much to do with physical tools, perhaps it's work ethic and mental ability? Isn't it possible that Acker earnt his minutes more than Anderson? Isn't it possible that given all the opportunities in practice that these guys get, that a guy just doesn't want it enough? That is solely down to the player, not recruiting or coaching. Being great is a choice. Harris, Iguebikwe, Walker and Watkins have all made that choice. Hance has. Jackson has. I'm sure Thorson has too, despite results on the field. Sometimes people don't make that choice and that's nothing to do with anyone but the individual.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

I'm trying to figure out how we have all of these studs on the bench. Granted, if we had a productive offense with players making plays, then fine. But we have the worst offense. WORST.

Glades tried to make the point that McCall simply doesn't have the same athletic talent as Lane, Peterman, Stewart, Ward. Of course, you stand down to those comments, which are a joke. I pointed out that McCall has Roberts, Anderson, Acker, Shuler, Vault, Vitale which is a TON more athletic collectively than what was previous. Yet, I have to watch all of this talent on the bench while McCall only deploys one RB and a scheme that doesn't utilize our talent. And you probably will keep your blinders on and stay away from the question, "Why did Vitale only play limited plays?"

1) Our wideouts this season were NOT at athletic as Peterman, Steward, Ward, Ebert, Markshausen, etc. They looked nice, but not nearly as talented athletically.

2) On the flipside, want to wager the average height of the "studs" you listed? Putting aside the fact that calling Acker a "stud" is kind of silly, Roberts, Anderson, Acker, Shuler, and Vault are probably all 5-11 on their best day and 5-9 on their worst. There has to be a middle ground of size/speed combinations.

3) Vitale's under-use in the Outback Bowl was pretty bad and one of the reasons that McCall needs to think long and hard about what he's trying to do offensively (as well as a reason it could cost him his job).

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

Turk does have a point. This Acker kid seems like a football player who can make plays. Asking why he was moved from wide receiver or why McCall can't get Long, Vitale, and others in the game for more plays is a reasonable question, given the context of our offense. It's actually a question that all of us should be asking.

Acker gives me hope for next year, and I hope he can find the field as I've been less impressed with the guys that McCall does play.

No. Turk is making things up again and you're following him around like his own personal lap dog.

 

[chicagocatfan24]

Auston Anderson is build like a fire hydrant. Name one receiver who's ever been effective at 5'9'' (maybe), 190 lbs? This even being mentioned as a possibility is mind bottling

 

[lonestarmvp]

Maybe, just maybe it isn't much to do with physical tools, perhaps it's work ethic and mental ability? Isn't it possible that Acker earnt his minutes more than Anderson? Isn't it possible that given all the opportunities in practice that these guys get, that a guy just doesn't want it enough? That is solely down to the player, not recruiting or coaching. Being great is a choice. Harris, Iguebikwe, Walker and Watkins have all made that choice. Hance has. Jackson has. I'm sure Thorson has too, despite results on the field. Sometimes people don't make that choice and that's nothing to do with anyone but the individual.

Lots to agree with here.

Not sure if I would read too much into that for now. This is not Anderson’s third year in the program, it was his first as he was injured in year one with (FAI) and a torn labrum in his hip.

This is a pretty serious injury and even more impactful for speed athletes and it takes a full year to return to normal performance levels (i.e. Tyson Gay and Percy Harvin who are still having issues).
I doubt he was fully recovered this year based on those of us who have seen him sprint in HS. This spring should tell the story for him and his health after a full year in the off-season program and whether he can find a role in the offense. He has 3 more years to figure it out.

Again, I wouldn’t read too much into this, I am sure if healthy he will be fine.

 

[60657Cat]

Lots to agree with here.

Not sure if I would read too much into that for now. This is not Anderson’s third year in the program, it was his first as he was injured in year one with (FAI) and a torn labrum in his hip.

This is a pretty serious injury and even more impactful for speed athletes and it takes a full year to return to normal performance levels (i.e. Tyson Gay and Percy Harvin who are still having issues).
I doubt he was fully recovered this year based on those of us who have seen him sprint in HS. This spring should tell the story for him and his health after a full year in the off-season program and whether he can find a role in the offense. He has 3 more years to figure it out.

Again, I wouldn’t read too much into this, I am sure if healthy he will be fine.

Couldn't agree with you more. I'm looking forward to seeing his production down the road.

 

[stpaulcat]

1) Our wideouts this season were NOT at athletic as Peterman, Steward, Ward, Ebert, Markshausen, etc. They looked nice, but not nearly as talented athletically.

2) On the flipside, want to wager the average height of the "studs" you listed? Putting aside the fact that calling Acker a "stud" is kind of silly, Roberts, Anderson, Acker, Shuler, and Vault are probably all 5-11 on their best day and 5-9 on their worst. There has to be a middle ground of size/speed combinations.

3) Vitale's under-use in the Outback Bowl was pretty bad and one of the reasons that McCall needs to think long and hard about what he's trying to do offensively (as well as a reason it could cost him his job).

Your point #3 stands out like a red letter WTF question.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Lots to agree with here.

Not sure if I would read too much into that for now. This is not Anderson’s third year in the program, it was his first as he was injured in year one with (FAI) and a torn labrum in his hip.

This is a pretty serious injury and even more impactful for speed athletes and it takes a full year to return to normal performance levels (i.e. Tyson Gay and Percy Harvin who are still having issues).
I doubt he was fully recovered this year based on those of us who have seen him sprint in HS. This spring should tell the story for him and his health after a full year in the off-season program and whether he can find a role in the offense. He has 3 more years to figure it out.

Again, I wouldn’t read too much into this, I am sure if healthy he will be fine.

Hip labrum injuries can easily be career enders.It is a very significant injury with long recovery times. I am hopeful that AA's was relatively minor, which could still account for an entire year of simply rehabbing (not playing football). This would explain a lot about his situation.

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

Auston Anderson is build like a fire hydrant. Name one receiver who's ever been effective at 5'9'' (maybe), 190 lbs? This even being mentioned as a possibility is mind bottling

Between you and GCG, I swear you guys can't read. And you should know better since you write a column. InsideNu you are not.

What I DID SAY is that we have all of this talent on the bench, so I mentioned the scheme and only having 1 RB on the field. Since you and others claim we have no talent at WR, and that we are loaded at RB, then why do I have to watch 4 second rate WR's on the field who can't get off the line of scrimmage while at the same time glancing on the sideline seeing the powerful Dickerson, Vitale, Anderson, Long, Vault all on the bench, for most of the plays in the game, figuring out why they can't see the field in the worst offense in NCAA??? Thus, although you may disagree and make a idiot out of yourself, it seems to me that we ought to have 2 RB's out there ALOT to utilize our talent. We did this on the RARE occasion this year and it was met with success.

 

[mybrotha]

Turk has a point, grammar withstanding that McCall/Fitz seem to be keeping speed on the bench. My key criticism of McCall is creativity, I'm not talking about gadget plays, but true deep thought into how to best utilize the talent on offense. Our receivers stink, but there is a wealth of talent at the RB position, so use it! Come up with more runs out of the spread that are inventive and please put an end to the jet sweep which virtually never works!

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

Between you and GCG, I swear you guys can't read. And you should know better since you write a column. InsideNu you are not.

What I DID SAY is that we have all of this talent on the bench, so I mentioned the scheme and only having 1 RB on the field. Since you and others claim we have no talent at WR, and that we are loaded at RB, then why do I have to watch 4 second rate WR's on the field who can't get off the line of scrimmage while at the same time glancing on the sideline seeing the powerful Dickerson, Vitale, Anderson, Long, Vault all on the bench, for most of the plays in the game, figuring out why they can't see the field in the worst offense in NCAA??? Thus, although you may disagree and make a idiot out of yourself, it seems to me that we ought to have 2 RB's out there ALOT to utilize our talent. We did this on the RARE occasion this year and it was met with success.

So you want to regularly roll with 22 personnel, making it even easier for a team to stack the box and stop the one thing that actually worked in our offense (the run game)?

 

[Gladeskat]

I'm trying to figure out how we have all of these studs on the bench. Granted, if we had a productive offense with players making plays, then fine. But we have the worst offense. WORST.

Glades tried to make the point that McCall simply doesn't have the same athletic talent as Lane, Peterman, Stewart, Ward. Of course, you stand down to those comments, which are a joke. I pointed out that McCall has Roberts, Anderson, Acker, Shuler, Vault, Vitale which is a TON more athletic collectively than what was previous. Yet, I have to watch all of this talent on the bench while McCall only deploys one RB and a scheme that doesn't utilize our talent. And you probably will keep your blinders on and stay away from the question, "Why did Vitale only play limited plays?"

I'll take Lane, Peterman, Ward, and Stewart over our current crop of track star WR's any day.

If guys are on the bench, they're probably there for a good reason. Edward Scissorhands runs a 4.3 40. Should we play him at WR, too?

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

I'll take Lane, Peterman, Ward, and Stewart over our current crop of track star WR's any day.

If guys are on the bench, they're probably there for a good reason. Edward Scissorhands runs a 4.3 40. Should we play him at WR, too?

We have track star WRs? If we do, I missed them this year.

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

So you want to regularly roll with 22 personnel, making it even easier for a team to stack the box and stop the one thing that actually worked in our offense (the run game)?

It showed that our running game is better. There was only one play, that I remember, when we utilized 2 RB's and it was not successful. I believe Jackson fumbled on that play [one of his rare fumbles] or dropped the pass, but I think it was a fumble on the play. Other than that, the two RB system did fine. McCall has to figure things out better. Long is a freakn LOAD. While he isn't going to unseat our bread and butter, the guy has to see the field. After the Notre Dame game last year, I thought Long would be better utilized. Then Stanford....but somewhere along the way, long simply has NOT been used. I'm saying guys like him may produce better results on offense while they are on the field, than a wide out who cant get off the los. Given in this is my opinion that Long is a freakn monster. He blocks like Hardl, catches like Herron, and runs like Wright.

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

I'll take Lane, Peterman, Ward, and Stewart over our current crop of track star WR's any day.

If guys are on the bench, they're probably there for a good reason. Edward Scissorhands runs a 4.3 40. Should we play him at WR, too?

That I can agree with. You can make a case all day that they are much better wide receivers. Toss in Kunle Patrick and Herbert as well. But you can't say they are more athletic than the guys we have. Seems as if we started recruiting tall wr's who never produced as much as these guys who are your basic 6' wr. Zeke, Ebert, Philmore, Ward, Peterman, Patrick, Herbert.....I don't remember any of them being imposing big wide outs but they always got open and caught the damn ball and knew what to do with it once they got it.

 

[Gladeskat]

That I can agree with. You can make a case all day that they are much better wide receivers. Toss in Kunle Patrick and Herbert as well. But you can't say they are more athletic than the guys we have. Seems as if we started recruiting tall wr's who never produced as much as these guys who are your basic 6' wr. Zeke, Ebert, Philmore, Ward, Peterman, Patrick, Herbert.....I don't remember any of them being imposing big wide outs but they always got open and caught the damn ball and knew what to do with it once they got it.

Turk, the game is football. In football, it is important to be able to catch the ball. If your track stars can't catch a football, then what good are they as WR's? Pump up the athleticism of our current WR's all you want. I'll take the 4.5 second guys who catch just about every ball thrown to them. Zeke, Ebert, Philmore, Ward, Peterman, Patrick and Herbert are all among the top WR's to play at NU. Your so-called athletic WR's can't catch a cold.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

It showed that our running game is better. There was only one play, that I remember, when we utilized 2 RB's and it was not successful. I believe Jackson fumbled on that play [one of his rare fumbles] or dropped the pass, but I think it was a fumble on the play. Other than that, the two RB system did fine. McCall has to figure things out better. Long is a freakn LOAD. While he isn't going to unseat our bread and butter, the guy has to see the field. After the Notre Dame game last year, I thought Long would be better utilized. Then Stanford....but somewhere along the way, long simply has NOT been used. I'm saying guys like him may produce better results on offense while they are on the field, than a wide out who cant get off the los. Given in this is my opinion that Long is a freakn monster. He blocks like Hardl, catches like Herron, and runs like Wright.

That was a whole lot of words that didn't really answer my question. At all.