Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, August 17, 2015
Monday marked the sixth stop on our annual summer football tour across the Big Ten.
[ MORE: 5 things Tom Dienhart learned | Fun nuggets from Northwestern ]
Stop No. 6 of 14 had us visiting Kenosha, Wisconsin, to watch Pat Fitzgerald's team get things underway at Camp Kenosha.
Northwestern, in its 20th summer practicing in Kenosha, will hold eight practices at UW-Parkside.
Get BTN analyst analyst Gerry DiNardo, BTN host Dave Revsine and BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart's tweets from the practice below.
BTN Bus Tour #Northwestern Let's start with LOS D Line looks like most of B1G D Lines except MSU/OSU/Neb O Line will need help w the option
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) August 17, 2015
BTN Bus Tour #Northwestern - Zack Oliver and Christian Jones not at practice - in class for the morning practice.
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) August 17, 2015
BTN Bus Tour #Northwestern QB decision wil b based on how the best runner throws ball & best passer runs ball b/c neither dynamic @ stg suit
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) August 17, 2015
BTN Bus Tour #Northwestern - Looks like as many as 10-12 frosh could contribute. Hartage, Mayo,Murray,Moten,Roberts,Green,Nagel,Fessler etc.
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) August 17, 2015
***
Pat Fitzgerald just named 11 true freshmen who he thinks could play this season - 4 WR's
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 17, 2015
Fitz said NU has to get QB run game back in offense. Said that doesn't preclude Oliver - believes he can run entire offense
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 17, 2015
Pat Fitzgerald takes HC involvement in drills to an extreme level - was just playing QB in a blitz pickup drill. Questionable footwork
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 17, 2015
Northwestern practice dramatically more physical than a year ago - night and day. Really getting after it
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 17, 2015
Best play of practice so far - Alviti to Vitale - beautiful leaping grab for a RZ TD
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 17, 2015
Seeing some of the same issues on offense, though - OL is a work in progress, separation an issue for WR's . Been up & down
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 17, 2015
Secondary clearly strength of the D - really good unit. They're set at CB, but obvious true frosh Montre Hartage will play - impressive
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 17, 2015
QB decision is biggest ? - tough to say bc Oliver didn't practice (class conflict). Alviti struggled early, but bounced back in team drills
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 17, 2015
Thorson has bigger arm than Alviti - not as elusive, but mobile enough. Might give him the slight edge - but both had their ups and downs
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 17, 2015
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Wanted to see WR Christian Jones but am told he is in class. Ditto QB Zack Oliver for @NU_Sports.
— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) August 17, 2015
The QB derby for @NUFBFamily drips with intrigue. Clayton Thorson (left) and Matt Alviti are main combatants. pic.twitter.com/RLpAKQLqXG
— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) August 17, 2015
It is almost as difficult to block DE Ifeadi Odenigbo as it is to pronounce his name. @NUFBFamily pic.twitter.com/rvGJEa5C9t
— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) August 17, 2015
Can @NUFBFamily OC Mick McCall push the right buttons this year? Questions loom up front and at QB and WR. pic.twitter.com/gDVcYOuYu7
— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) August 17, 2015
Another year, another watermelon eating contest at Camp Kenosha for @NUFBFamily. Joey Chestnut would be proud. pic.twitter.com/jF76OTiaie
— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) August 17, 2015