Wildcat breakdown with Lake the Posts

For the best Northwestern Wildcats coverage, where else would we go, but Lake The Posts? LTP was kind enough to run the gauntlet of Penn State blogger interviews this week, stopping by our place for a few. This late in the season, every game is a big game. Here's what LTP had to say about this week's Halloween hubbub with the Nittany Lions.

ZN: Northwestern is one win away from bowl eligibility. Is this about where you saw this team at this point in the season?

LTP: Not even close. The "realistic worst case scenario" we saw entering this game was 6-2. The Syracuse loss is a noose around our neck on this season. Many of us believed 7-1 was not only potential, but likely. Like you, our non-conference schedule couldn't have been softer, yet we failed to run the table.

ZN: What's been the biggest positive surprise on this year's Northwestern team?

LTP: Mike Kafka's passing and the depth and talent of the WR corps. If you did the Coke-Pepsi challenge approach to Kafka' stat lines and had to pick "win or loss" you'd likely lose the game. Case in point - Michigan State - Kafka goes 34-47, 292 yds, 2 TDs 0 INTs - and we only muster 14 points in a 10-point loss.Zeke Markshausen, a 5th year senior who just received a scholarship has become our clutch receiver.

ZN: What's been the biggest disappointment?

LTP: The defense and injuries. Expectations were high for 2009 especially considering how well our D played in '08 and the fact most of them were returning. Talk in the preseason was the secondary would possibly be best in school history and with pre-season All-American DE Corey Wootton back, things would be great. Well, our secondary has reached as far down on the depth chart as I've ever seen a team reach (Ricky Weina spelled our injured stud CB Sherrick McManis the entire second half in the comeback in his first real minutes on D) and Wootton is a shadow of his former self. Equally disappointing has been the underperformance of our OL which some "experts" pegged as one of the best in the Big Ten heading in to this season.

ZN: What are some of the key matchups NU has a shot at winning this weekend?

LTP: I really don't think we have a legitimate shot unless we Purdue you and cripple you with oodles of takeaways on special teams. Fourth string RB Scott Concannon is getting the starting nod and gave a rare glimpse of hope for NU fans last week with the first examples of eluding tacklers all season.

ZN: What areas concern you most, going against PSU?

LTP: As mentioned, the key factor will be the long ball. Fitz has gone on record guaranteeing Penn State will go deep at least 10 times to try and exploit our green secondary. Also, your DL against our OL is cause for concern as our dink and dunk passing is the key to our success.

ZN: NU should be favored in only one more game (Illinois) this season. How much pressure does that put onto the team, for this week and coming weeks, knowing a 6-6 Northwestern has been left out of the post-season before?

LTP: If we go 6-6 we don't deserve to go to a bowl. Most NU fans don't feel as if there is a ton of pressure in this one since we're expected to lose. We seemingly play PSU tight, but you've stolen our MO against us with last second wins in '05 and '01 in Evanston, plus fending off a near epic comeback in another game. We tend to do to Iowa what they do to you - beat them quite often. I think many of us like the prospect of being spoiler against them. However, the Wisconsin one is one we believe we could win. If we're 6-5 entering the Wisconsin finale, now THAT is pressure.

Many thanks again to LTP, and good luck to the Wildcats... though, not too much luck.