2008 OUTLOOK: Northwestern retains all but one of its premier skill-position players from 2007, which is a good sign since the Wildcats were the Big Ten's No. 2 team in total offense. Alas, they were just 10th in scoring offense (25.8 ppg), so new offensive coordinator Mick McCall is trying to kickstart their productivity by introducing the no-huddle. He's also tweaking the spread offense to give his playmakers more 1-on-1 matchups in space. Northwestern hasn't been a good defensive team in years, which explains why Greg Colby was dismissed as defensive coordinator and Mike Hankwitz brought in. Hankwitz, who's making his 11th coaching stop, has introduced an attack-based defense that figures to force more mistakes.

Overall, Northwestern figures to have more than enough firepower to earn its first bowl berth in three seasons. If the defense, which has several redshirt freshmen champing at the bit to contribute, comes along faster than anticipated, it's not crazy to think the Wildcats could be in the Big Ten hunt when November hits.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
C.J. Bacher led the Big Ten in passing last year (304.7 ypg) and threw for 19 touchdowns, but he also shared the Big Ten lead with 19 interceptions. That's way too many picks for anybody, but especially someone who runs Northwestern's relatively risk-averse spread. New offensive coordinator Mick McCall wants Bacher, who has started NU's last 17 games, to make the easy throw and let his receivers do the work. Bacher should find lots of receivers open if senior running backs Tyrell Sutton and Omar Conteh stay healthy. Sutton missed 5 games last year, but he still owns 2,996 career rushing yards and 25 career scores and he'll an all-Big Ten caliber back. Conteh stepped in and produced 447 yards and 5 scores primarily in Sutton's absence, so NU wants to find ways to have both backs on the field as much as possible.

Northwestern lost three linemen to graduation, including New York Giants free-agent pickup Dylan Thiry at left tackle, but the Cats think they've found some winners in redshirt freshman LT Al Netter and converted defensive lineman Keegan Kennedy at LG.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
New defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz inherited a fistful of veteran linemen (including potential all-Big Ten tackle John Gill), several experienced outside linebackers and three-fourths of a veteran secondary. However, these veterans haven't known much success during their years in Evanston. Nobody, for example, managed more than 1 interception last year. Hankwitz hopes his attack-style defense, rather than the read-and-react scheme of old, will help the Wildcats shed their porous ways and force more turnovers. The Wildcats think they've found a middle linebacker in Malcolm Arrington, but they need to find a cornerback to work opposite Sherrick McManis. Redshirt freshmen Jordan Mabin and Mike Bolden showed quite a bit during spring ball.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS
Northwestern retains all of its specialists from last year, which could mean a lot if everyone improves. McManis averaged 23.2 yards per return, while backup Stephen Simmons returned a kick 99 yards against Ohio State. Punter Stefan Demos averaged 40.1 yards per punt and the Wildcats ranked second in the league in net punting, but their kickoff coverage was dead-last in the league. Kicker Amado Villarreal had a weird stat line in 2007. He made 3 of 4 kicks beyond 40 yards, but went just 1 of 5 between 30-39 yards. The latter can't happen this year.

ROSTER REPORT

--Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald had 22 players sit out the spring game, including seven expected starters: Cornerback Sherrick McManis (pectoral surgery), safety Brendan Smith (shoulder surgery last year), defensive tackle Adam Hahn (shoulder surgery), defensive end Kevin Mims (shoulder), center Joel Belding (knee), punter Stefan Demos (hip) and kicker Amado Villarreal (hip).

--Converted defensive tackle Keegan Kennedy made a sparkling offseason transition to left guard. Kennedy, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound senior, looked so good that quarterback C.J. Bacher predicted Kennedy could be an all-Big Ten performer.

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