Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - 2006 SEASON IN REVIEW: The Wildcats began the 2006 season reeling from the death of beloved coach Randy Walker, although wins in two of their first three games seemingly had the team in the right frame of mind. Unfortunately, the Big Ten slate would begin shortly thereafter and the rest of the league, while empathetic to Northwestern's plight, was anything but accommodating as they allowed the 'Cats just two victories in eight tries. At one point, NU lost six straight and scored more than 10 points just twice in that span. While the season was difficult on many fronts, few could argue that the Wildcats, under the direction of rookie head coach Pat Fitzgerald, failed to leave it all out on the field. In the second half of the season, a heartbreaking 41-38 loss to Michigan State was followed by a hard-fought 17-3 setback at mighty Michigan, demonstrating the team's willingness to fight tooth and nail to the very end. On a positive note, the team seemed to respond to Fitzgerald and actually won two of its final three games to finish 4-8 on the year.

2007 ANALYSIS:

OFFENSE: The NU offense averaged a mere 16.5 ppg last season, really struggling in the passing game which generated just 169.0 ypg and only eight TDs. Sophomore QB C.J. Bacher appeared in six games and completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,172 yards and six TDs. He was picked off eight times though so making better decisions is an absolute must for the Wildcats to succeed this fall. Junior WRs Ross Lane and Eric Peterman are back for another go after combining for 53 catches, 750 yards and three scores in '06, and both are big guys who can stretch the field. Another guy Bacher will try to get the ball to will be Andrew Brewer, a gifted athlete who could turn out to be one of the team's top playmakers. The run has been Northwestern's primary offensive weapon the last several years, and junior Tyrell Sutton is the latest in a long line of talented RBs to wear the purple and white. Sutton rumbled for exactly 1,000 yards last season and scored five times, averaging better than five yards per carry in the process. Running behind an offensive line that returns three starters, Sutton is poised for his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season.

DEFENSE: The Wildcats were more like pussycats when it came to stopping the run last year, yielding 158.3 ypg to rank 93rd in the country. As a result, foes put up more than 26 ppg, scoring 21 times on the ground. They would score an additional 14 times through the air. The team wasn't totally devoid of talent however, as guys like Adam Kadela, Brendan Smith and Deante Battle did what they could. They paced the team in tackles in '06 and all three are back to lead what NU fans hope is a defensive resurgence. Kadela is an experienced linebacker who simply makes plays, while Smith and Battle control things in the defensive backfield. The line features four returning starters, with massive DE Corey Wootten probably the best of the bunch. With the exception of Kadela and perhaps senior Eddie Simpson, linebacker may be the one area Fitzgerald should be concerned about.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The kicking game has been a bone of contention in Evanston the last few years. Redshirt freshman Stefan Demos is being touted as the possible savior, although he has yet to play a game so we shall see. As for punter, look for junior Kyle Daly to land the job, while the return game should be fine with some of the speedy wideouts and/or defensive backs handling the chore.

OUTLOOK: Opening the season with three winnable games, at home no less, should have the Wildcats in good spirits. The positive vibe will likely be short-lived though as the Big Ten slate kicks off with back-to-back bouts against Ohio State and Michigan. Where the 'Cats might pick up their first conference win is anyone's guess, although games against Michigan State and Minnesota could wind up in their favor. A mid-season non-league clash against Eastern Michigan in Detroit will likely result in victory and if they haven't won a Big Ten game to that point, matchups against Indiana and Illinois to close the regular season could be just what the doctor ordered. Bacher's progress, Sutton's health and the defense playing above its means will all determine Northwestern's fate this season.