Reviewing the 2019 Northern Illinois Huskies

The Huskies still have a strong defense, but have changed things up at quarterback.

Northern Illinois returns to Lincoln with a 1-1 record after losing to Utah 35-17 last Saturday. In the season opener, the Huskies beat 1-AA Illinois State 24-10. Cal graduate transfer Ross Bowers took over the starting quarterback job in the preseason, unseating returning starter Marcus Childers. Bowers gives Northern Illinois a better passing game; against the Utes, Bowers completed 20 of 29 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown with one interception. Against Illinois State, junior college transfer Tyrice Richie was the leading receiver with 102 yards but against Utah, senior Spencer Tears was the main weapon, catching five passes including a 74 yard touchdown pass.

The switch from the dual threat Childers to the pocket passing Bowers at quarterback has come at the expense of the Northern Illinois rushing attack. With only one threat to run, opposing defenses have been able to lock down on Tre Harbison, who only rushed for 32 yards against the Utes. The offensive line bears a lot of blame for the poor rushing game; Bowers was sacked four times by Utah and pressured even more often.

Defensively, Northern Illinois has been pretty strong against the run, holding Utah’s second-team all-Pac 12 running back Zach Moss to just 80 yards rushing last week; last season, Moss’ worst game rushing was also against the Huskies. But without Sutton Smith, the Huskies struggle to pressure the quarterback with just one sack on the season (that coming late against Illinois State). Linebackers Antonio Jones-Davis and Kyle Pugh lead the Huskies’ defense with 11 and 9 tackles respectively.