Five Questions: With a Northern Illinois writer

[ChrisMWilliams]

Here's some insight on Iowa State's first football opponent of 2010, Northern Illinois.

Iowa State Cyclone Football: Five questions with a Northern Illinois expert | Cyclone Fanatic

[j_crow]

Did the NIU writer interview you, too?

[ChrisMWilliams]

Did the NIU writer interview you, too?

No.

[sdillon500]

Great work as always, Chris. First game of the year always makes me nervous. If ISU can beat NIU convincingly, it will ease a lot of my fears about the season and make me more optimistic about another bowl trip. With that said, I expect this to be an ugly game, especially with all the new faces on defense for the Cyclones.

[UNIGuy4Cy]

I think this game will be mighty close at first, but our defense finds its character in the second half and our oline just wears out the dline of NIU and this game gets away fast 42-14 or 17. Arob will run for around 200.

[BryceC]

I do think it's interesting that he feels the NIU defensive line should control the line of scrimmage. I wouldn't have guessed that.

[VeloClone]

I think this game will be mighty close at first, but our defense finds its character in the second half and our oline just wears out the dline of NIU and this game gets away fast 42-14 or 17. Arob will run for around 200.

I do not share your optimism. This is an experienced team that has repeatedly hung with BCS teams. I think this will be a dog fight.

Edit: This quote comes to mind:

"I didn't even comb my hair today," said Iowa State guard Michael Nurse, "because I knew it would be a dogfight."

[nickwc]

i'm shakin in my boots after that interview. The MAC's best running back, haha. We have A-rob and I am willing to bet he is 5 times the running back he is. Strength, D line? That's great and all if your Alabama, Texas, Florida, but a MAC conference D line should be no better than ours.

[LutherBlue]

i'm shakin in my boots after that interview. The MAC's best running back, haha. We have A-rob and I am willing to bet he is 5 times the running back he is. Strength, D line? That's great and all if your Alabama, Texas, Florida, but a MAC conference D line should be no better than ours.

I do not share your optimism.

[CTTB78]

If D-line is their strength, I hope the plan is pass first to set up the run. They should get a heavy dose of 5-10 yard passes, and we should be fine. Just as we would with Iowa.

[nickwc]

I do not share your optimism.

I'm not saying were going to win this one 34-0, but what i'm trying to say is that if N Illinois can beat us because of their D line, were not going to win a game this year. That would mean that both our O line and running backs took a considerable step back in year 2. If we want to go to another bowl game (which i'm predicting 5 wins) you can't lose to N illinois.

[cyclones500]

I think this game will be mighty close at first, but our defense finds its character in the second half and our oline just wears out the dline of NIU and this game gets away fast 42-14 or 17. Arob will run for around 200.

I see something like 30-27.

This game makes me nervous.

[CyDude16]

31-10 is my prediction.

[Stewo]

That dude must have been a real pleasure to interview (extreme sarcasm). He comes across very cocky. NIU may be good, but there is no reason ISU shouldn't win. We have better athletes from top to bottom and a damn good coaching staff. It will probably be a close game for most or all of the game, but I just fail to see how ISU loses.

[Cyhart]

I feel much better about him saying the D-line is their strength as opposed to the offensive line.
I wouldnt want their best unit going up against our weakest unit (our D-line). Luckily it looks like that wont be the case.