After a banner campaign in 2002, which included Northeastern football’s first-ever conference championship, first-ever berth to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs and a record 10 wins, coach Don Brown and the boys have their work cut out for them to provide an encore. In the offseason, NU was lauded as the top team in I-AA by Street and Smith’s magazine, as well as the top Atlantic-10 squad by league coaches. Still, Brown doesn’t listen to critics. “When you look back a year ago, there were some teams that were picked at the top and some teams that were picked at the bottom. It really doesn’t matter; all it proves is that you’ve gotta play regardless of where you’re picked. Maybe we learned that, reversed last year. Obviously, it’s great publicity for our school and a source of pride for our alumni, but come August 30, it ain’t gonna mean anything. It has no bearing on the game, starting at 12:30. “We have a saying, ‘We don’t let people set standards for us from the outside,'” Brown added. “We set our own standards. Hopefully my guys will buy into that approach again and that’s a challenge they have to make and they have to take if we’re going to be successful.” Despite the newfound positive attention, mammoth junior middle linebacker Liam Ezekiel hasn’t seen a change in attitude from last year’s hungry bunch. “To be honest with you, after last season, I thought people would be a little bigheaded,” the team captain said. “But really, I don’t see it happening at all. It’s nice to get respect, but we know it really means nothing. You can be picked last, you can be picked first. But whoever is going to win is going to win: It really doesn’t matter where you’re picked.” NU opened the season with a pair of non-conference blowouts of Division II Stonehill College (78-6) and the University of Albany (51-0). The Huskies begin their A-10 title defense on Saturday in Rhode Island.
The News breaks down each position to start the year:
Quarterback: Along with the offensive backfield, the QB position could be NU’s deepest and most talented. Junior Shawn Brady (15 career wins) is back at the helm running Brown’s low-risk offense. Brady makes few mistakes and has the quarterback rating to prove it (121.9 career). Backup Sean Cassidy and athletic third-teamer Cecil Howard could push Brady for the starting job should he falter. Cassidy came to NU after transferring from Michigan while Howard left Syracuse after being one of the top-ranked option-QBs in the nation as a high schooler. Grade: B
Running backs: With the addition of freshman phenom Shawnn Gyles, the Husky backfield has become quite crowded. Last year’s leading tailback, senior Tim Gale posted a school record last season with 16 touchdowns, junior Anthony Riley led the team in rushing with 940 yards and senior Peter Harris (an explosive and powerful runner) is finally healthy after a bevy of knee problems. Mix in Gyles, who rolled up 172 rushing yards and four touchdowns on five carries in his debut against Stonehill, and Don Brown’s bunch has quite a good problem – four more-than-capable ball handlers. Grade: A Wide receivers: Sophomore Cory Parks, who set a Northeastern record with 246 yards against Albany, and junior Quintin Mitchell give Brady speedy wideouts that run precision routes and have excellent hands. The problem is, that’s about where it ends. With the loss of senior Curtis Guilliam for the season against Albany, Northeastern lacks a proven No. 3 option. Guilliam is also an excellent blocker who could be sorely missed in the ground game as well. Grade: C Offensive line: The line lost leaders and strong blockers in John McDonald (first team all A-10) and Tom Olivio (second team), but returns a very talented, and very big line. Junior Adam Bourget, a 6-3, 295-pound lineman, was voted as a third team all A-10 selection as a sophomore and is entering his third year as a starter. Liam Ezekiel noted the line’s ability on Media Day. “They’re good,” he said, “I play against them in practice and they are a good offensive line.” Center Greg Abramopaulos is the smallest of the group at 6-2, 260, but the 6-6, 320-pound Ryan Gibbons more than makes up for any size difference from his left tackle spot. Mike Roseborough (6-4, 320) and Tim Dwyer (6-4, 290) round out the rest of the starters in a line that should not only protect Brady, but should give a solid push to the run game. Grade: B
Defensive Line: The line won’t be the same with former captain and leader Steve Anzalone on the end. The Weymouth product recorded 26 career sacks, good for second all-time in the program. However, junior James Abosi was moved from his tackle spot to the end in an effort to minimize the loss of Anzalone. “Abosi is going to need to step up,” Brown said. “I think with his speed and quickness the move (in position) will give him a few more one-on-one opportunities that he didn’t have a year ago. We’re hoping that when we put him on the edge we can utilize some of that speed and pass rush stuff and obviously he’s got great quickness to get to the edge – he’s as fast as any of our running backs. But once again, he’s got to understand misdirection plays and bootlegs so he’s got a learning curve ahead of him as well.” Seniors David Williams (left tackle) and Scott Quimby (right end) return from one of the most effective and powerful defenses in the nation last year. Sophomore Gene Rich, slated to start at right tackle, has looked productive in the team’s first two games and could be a surprise player for Brown. Backing up Williams at left tackle is Tennessee transfer Andre Taylor. Grade: B+
Linebackers: The core group of linebackers lost after 2002 could have the biggest impact on the Husky’s defense. Adam Walter, Neil Anderson and Joe Gazzola were all major factors of NU’s staunch defense. Walter and Gazzola ended their careers sixth and seventh on the Husky all-time tackles list, respectively. NU can ill afford an injury in this position, but early looks on Robbiel Moore and Rold Louis showed they could be very capable fill-ins. Junior Mike Hall, who can spell any of the backers at any time, is a quality tackler and worthy backup. All three, however, are unproven. Oh yeah, and then there’s Liam Ezekiel. The preseason All-American recorded an NU record 145 tackles as a sophomore. With speed, size and an intimidating field presence, he’s one of the premier linebackers in Division I-AA. Grade: B –
Defensive backs: With the loss of all-conference corner Art Smith, Northeastern’s secondary appears to be the weakest link defensively. Senior strong safety Anthony Nolen leads the group and has already registered an interception. After that, it starts thinning out quickly. Jeremiah Mason, a transfer from Syracuse, has an eerily similar field presence to Smith, and has won a starting spot. Charles Cameron, a starter at cornerback last year, was picked on frequently with the presence of Smith across the field. Free safety Gavin Potter can lay punishing blows on opponents despite his size (5-10, 180 pounds). Grade: C+
Special teams: Kicker Miro Kesic set an NU record for consecutive extra points converted (46) and booted a 57-yarder against Richmond last year. Punter Tyler Grogan blasted a 93-yard punt a couple years back. Enough said. Grade: A –
Coaching staff: Don Brown does good work. The fourth year coach took a bad program and created a national power in just three years. The true test of the program will be this year, after losing key players from the last squad. Just how deep is Don Brown’s program? Time will tell. Grade: A+
Five players to watch in 2004: 1. Left defensive end James Abosi (#18): the 5-11, 245-pound lineman moves from his inside line spot last year to the outside to help combat the loss of NU mainstay Steve Anzalone from last year’s squad. Abosi, with a quick first step and deceptive power, could factor heavily into Husky hopes if he can get to the quarterback early and often. 2. Quarterback Cecil Howard (#14): Howard, a highly recruited option-quarterback that transferred to NU after a year at Syracuse, currently sits third on the NU depth chart. However, Don Brown’s squad is predicated on getting as many pure athletes on the field at once and Howard certainly fits that bill. If Brady falters, Howard could step into the role. Even if Brady doesn’t hit a cold-spell, though, Howard should be used all over the field. “We might have another Kordell Stewart type of ‘slash’ player on our hands here,” Brown said. 3.Linebackers Robbiel Moore (#6) and Rold Louis (#10): With the loss of stud ‘backers Neil Anderson, Adam Walter and Joe Gazzola, Moore and Louis will need to have an immediate impact for the Dogs. Both have good size (Moore is 5-11, 200 pounds and Louis is 6-0 230-pounds) and both have experience (Moore is a senior, Louis a junior). Both will start, and with All-American candidate Liam Ezekiel drawing offensive attention in the middle, both should be free to stop the run and put pressure on the quarterback. 4.Cornerback Jeremiah Mason (#23): As with Moore and Louis, Mason could inherit some big shoes to fill. Last season, offenses weren’t fond at throwing the ball towards Art Smith. With Smith gone, however, NU needs a big step up in the secondary. Mason, a talented athletic transfer from Syracuse, will battle junior Joe Okrah for the other starting corner spot opposite Charles Cameron. If he plays, NU fans might get a pleasant surprise in the loss of Smith. 5.Punter Tyler Grogan (#7): Hardly a sleeper entering his third year handling the punting duties for Brown, Grogan is a multifaceted threat. The son of former Patriot great Steve Grogan, Tyler’s arm is deadly and gives NU great fake-punt capability on every snap. He can also catch the ball and is used from time to time in five-receiver sets. Grogan keeps defenses honest on punt coverage, and let’s not forget his booming and accurate leg (holds the NCAA record for his 93-yard 2001 punt). Last year, Grogan put one-third of his kicks inside the opposing team’s 20-yard line.
