This is going to be tough to write. Even with 2 losses, I still thought, as most probably did, that this was the best 2 loss team in the country. Still an outside chance at the Big Ten Title and a BCS Rose Bowl. Then comes the Indiana game, maybe the Hawks still are great. Maybe this was just a let down game which in the end they were incredibly lucky to win. However, with this loss to Northwestern, the defense looked horrible, the offense looked stagnate, and the coaching looked baffled. I no longer think they are even the best 7-3 team in the country. The defensive line looked tired and slow. One of the best defensive lines in the country, What? As I said in a Facebook post, “Kiper just took Ballard and Clayborn off his draft board due to the “Haynesworth’s Condition†“. Secondary was not much better. At some point, after giving receivers 10yd cushions all day, you have to learn to jump a route. Offense was just as inept, Northwestern’s pass defense is one of the worst in the Big Ten, but they could not expose them. When they did, they dropped balls, missed targets or ran poor routes. It is tough and I will admit I bought into the early season hype. Reality has a way of fixing these things. The Hawks are not one of the best in the country. The Hawks are not great, but the Hawks are still really good. I just hope really good is enough to beat a great Buckeye team next week.
Game Ball(s) – Kickoff/Punt Coverage, A Robinson
Game Jock(s) – Everyone Else