SB Nation - Larry English

Larry English's Contract allows him to do such things

Mike Breese — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:16:57 -0000

I had a link about this earlier and apparently it got picked up by a lot of sources. Check out former Huskie Larry English's mug on the front page of Yahoo!:

What large bill you ask? The San Diego Chargers 'Rookie Dinner' bill as tweeted by DT Shaun Phillips

YIKES!!!

However, it looks like Larry got off pretty easy:

Upon further review, though, Larry English got off light. Shawne Merriman (notes) says that after he was drafted, his rookie dinner cost him $32,000. Maybe Merriman took everyone out to a fine steakhouse, and Larry English insisted on TGI Friday's. Five dollars to make a couple of deserts a la mode doesn't seem unreasonable.

Even worse was when Ryan Leaf came in to the league. This explains a lot:

The other famous Chargers rookie dinner came back in 1998, when a young man named Ryan Leaf was expected to take everyone out to dinner. Leaf was, um, reluctant, we'll say ... so Junior Seau (notes) stole his credit card and made it happen anyway. Leaf had a fit, and his bill was only $3,000. I hope everyone enjoyed their Extra Value Meals that night.

That's one way to do it.

For those of you that were wondering, Larry English's contract with the Chargers signed this summer landed him $13.4 million with $9.9 million guaranteed. Per the National Football Post:

The San Diego Chargers and rookie outside linebacker Larry English reached an agreement today on a five-year contract. The National Football Post has just been informed the deal is worth $13.4 million, which is a 6.5% increase over Cardinals’ cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie’s contract from 2008. Both players were drafted in the first round, No. 16 overall.

In addition, English will receive $9.9 million guaranteed (a 10% increase over Rodgers-Cromartie) and $3.6 million in playing time escalators.

Dear Larry, I'm expecting a check in the mail for attending all your games at Northern Illinois. Or at least an Indoor Practice Facility.

Top 5 Mid Major - Big Ten Games of 2009: #3 Wisconsin v. Northern Illinois

grahamfiller10 — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:00:20 -0000

In partnership with Mid-Major Madness (MMM), SBN's haven for non-BCS coverage, we present to you the top five match-ups between Big Ten and Mid-Major football teams. At number three comes Saturday's showdown between Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.

Make sure to go back and submit your picks for the Obligatory Predictions Contest. Every weekly winner gets the right to write 500 words on the site about college football. NEW this year is our season long competition - win the whole damn thing and we send you something amazing.

The favored Badgers have played musical chairs with their starters, while Northern Illinois will comes out inexperienced but featuring a star quarterback. Can the Big Ten's 3rd best program of the last 10 years make a run this year? Will Student Body Sweep Right crush the Huskies?

Hype

MMM: When Jerry Kill took over the NIU football program after the 2007 season it looked as if he was going to have to spend at least a few seasons rebuilding the team. After the Huskies finished with an abysmal 2-10 record in 2007, Kill’s team made surprising progress in 2008 with a .500 regular season winning percentage and an invitation to the Independence Bowl. Kill looks to continue with his rebuilding efforts as he enters his 2nd year as head coach of the Huskies.

However, 2009 might be a bit more difficult as he loses 20 seniors from last years roster including the MAC MVP and the 16th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Larry English. Along with English, the Huskies lost 5 receivers that accounted for 83% of the teams catches. The team will need someone from the incoming freshman class to step up and become a playmaker.

With such a young and inexperienced team it will be very difficult to go into Madison, one of college footballs biggest stages, and come out with the victory against the Badgers.

TRE: What in the world happened in Madison? The entire state will be watching the Badger's backfield, as heralded RB John Clay has been passed on the depth chart by Zach Brown and preseason starting QB Dustin Sherer has been replaced by Scott Tolzien and frosh Curt Phillips. Clay will play big minutes, but the concept is clear - Coach Bielema is winning at all costs and doesn't give a damn if that means changing leaders one week before the season.

Countdown Games

#5 - Wisconsin v. Fresno State

#4 - Purdue v. Northern Illinois

Key Matchup

Huskies Red Zone Offense vs. Badgers Defense

MMM: In 2008, the Huskies seemed to always have found a way to screw up every possession in which they were within the coveted boundaries of the Red Zone. Quarterback Chandler Harnish failed in attempt after attempt, causing Kill to rely on his kicker Mike Salerno to put points on the board. Kill has worked to address the issue during camp and feels confident in his QB, although they still lack the go-to guy that they can rely on to put 6 points on the board.

Harnish is unquestionably their best shot at an X-factor , with the quick feet necessary to pick up yardage on the ground. A lot of Harnish’s struggles in 2008 was due to his inexperience, but this year he really needs to show the coaching staff that he can step up and make the big plays and what better way to do so than against then against a Big Ten powerhouse. With such a young supporting cast it will be very interesting to see if Harnish has what it takes to put points on the board and take some stress off Salerno.

TRE: It looks like MMM has been doing his research. The Huskies run game has been potent for years and matches up extremely well with Wisconsin's depleted defensive line. The Badgers lost DE's Mike Newkirk and Matt Shaughnessy to graduation, making it their most vulnerable defensive position. If Northern Illinois makes it inside the 20, they should pound the rock with quarterback runs (Harnish is almost 220 lbs) and draws to smallish playmaker Me'Co Brown.

Significance

MMM: As mentioned earlier, this is NIU head coach Jerry Kill’s second season and although he did a tremendous job at turning the team around in 2008, he needs to prove that last year wasn’t just some aberration. Last year he had a team with a mix of not only the players he recruited, but also the players that signed on to play under former head coach Joe Novak. Now that Kill has 24 of his own recruits coming in can really showcase his coaching ability. There is no question that they will be a very young and inexperienced team but they are talented nonetheless.

Kill will be in the spotlight week one against the Badgers in easily one of NIU’s biggest games of the season. If the Huskies can go in and steal the win, it will not only start the season off on the right track but also show NIU boosters and fans that Kill is the real deal.

TRE: The Wisconsin preseason preview is littered with cliches. Bielema is always on the " hot seat" and every OOC game is a "must win." But much of the time, cliches exist to wipe out the need for long, complicated explanations. And in Madison, these overused cliches might ring true. The Wisconsin "system," which consists of a strong run game, hard-hitting defense, and the ability to draw other teams into slugfests, didn't work so well last year. Bielema can take steps to prove '08 was an aberration with a thumping of the Huskies.

Predictions

MMM: The Badgers face another quarterback decision coming into the 2009 season. It seems that the past three years the Badgers have face the same issue over and over again, which is probably the main reason behind their mediocre play. Regardless, the Badgers have veteran players that the Huskies seem to lack. The youthfulness of the Huskies will be a major issue and will most definitely lead to careless turnovers and blown coverages. Wisconsin 31, Northern Illinois 17.

TRE: Preparation is the keyword for the Badgers. They were caught unprepared against numerous opponents (Cal Poly, Florida State, Iowa) in 2008. Bielema has had the entire off-season to put together some kind of gameplan and one has to believe he'll have the Badgers jacked up for Redemption Year '09. Right? Wisconsin 34, Northern Illinois 20.

Comparing the Online Recruiting Ranking Services

Buck Bravo — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:00:11 -0000

Rivals, Scout, and ESPN all provide ranking systems for recruits headed to Division 1 football programs. Often, ratings of individual players will vary greatly from one service to another. In an attempt to determine which service most accurately projects the future performance of players, let's take a look at the ratings that were given to the 2009 NFL first round draft picks back when they were being recruited for college football:

PICK

NAME

COLLEGE

TEAM

RIVALS

STARS

SCOUT

STARS

ESPN

RATING

Matthew Stafford

Georgia

Jason Smith

Baylor

Tyson Jackson

LSU

Aaron Curry

OLB

Wake Forest

Mark Sanchez

USC

Andre Smith

Alabama

Darrius Heyward-Bey

Maryland

Virginia

Boston College

Texas Tech

Penn State

Georgia

Texas

Ohio State

OLB

USC

Northern Illinois

Kansas State

Tennessee

Missouri

Oklahoma State

California

Florida

Ole Miss

Ole Miss

Illinois

OLB

USC

Donald Brown

Connecticut

Louisville

North Carolina

Rutgers

Ohio State

Missouri

ESPN did not start ranking recruits until 2006, so players from before that time have no ranking. Despite this limitation, let's look at the trend lines for the different services:

While Scout may have had the most 5 star rankings for recruits who ultimately became first round NFL draft choices, Rivals had the best trendline for accurately ranking future NFL talent. A more comprehensive analysis looking at later rounds and previous years would best determine which service best analyzes talent. If I were retired or writing for TDG full time, I'd be eager to put such a report together for later this week. For now, the first round of the 2009 NFL draft will have to suffice.

English charged up for first NFL action

Jerry Burnes — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:00:22 -0000

Associated Press | Former Huskie Larry English will make his Chargers debut Saturday against Seattle at 9 p.m CT on NFL Network.

View full size photo »

Some fans and players might say the preseason is too long. Others might just be anxious to get into a game and off the same old practice field. About 72 hours away from his first NFL preseason game, San Diego Chargers rookie linebacker Larry English had only one thing on his mind.

"You spend all of camp hitting your teammates...I'm looking forward to hitting somebody, " the No. 16 overall pick said. "It'll be nice to get in a game and really get out there and hit someone else."

Scary words coming from a player who haunted Mid-American Conference quarterbacks to the tune of 31.5 sacks. The former Northern Illinois defensive end will make his San Diego debut, at home, against the Seahawks on Saturday.

English said he isn't feeling any nerves prior to the game, adding that he feels it is his biggest chance to get familiar with his new position. English is transitioning to outside linebacker in the 3-4 system run by former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. English played defensive end in the 4-3 defense at NIU.

"A lot of times [in the 3-4] my focus is rushing the passer," English said. "From that standpoint I'm real comfortable."

The Aurora native will be second on the depth chart to Shawne Merriman but will see considerable action. After the draft, head coach Norv Turner said English could see 500-600 snaps as a rookie, making him a big part of the Chargers' pass rush.

Partly due to an injury that forced Merriman out for almost all of 2008, the Chargers saw the second most passes in the NFL last season. San Diego runs a package that will put Merriman, English and Shuan Phillips on the field at the same time to pressure the quarterback.

"Larry has to come in here and crank it up and learn what this league is like," Turner said after the draft. "He's going to get in here and have the same learning curve that all young guys do, but certainly you can take a skill and if a guy comes in and is an outstanding pass rusher, you can get his hand in the ground or let him rush from the quarterback from the two-point stance."

"You don't have to deal with all the other things you have to deal with in getting a young player ready to play."

English said the 3-4 requires him to drop back into coverage more, but with continued repetitions in practice, he's becoming more comfortable doing so. To learn the position, English has two veteran Pro Bowlers in Merriman and Phillips to learn from.

"They've been helping me out a lot," the rookie linebacker said. "Just to see how they go about their business and how they do things is helping me."

While the pair has been teaching English on the field, they haven't forgotten that he's a rookie. He hasn't been tied to the field goal post but English has been carting Phillips and Merriman's equipment off the field as part of his rookie treatment.

"It hasn't been too bad, they make me carry pads and helmets off the field," he added. "Anything they can do to make you look foolish."

After signing a five-year, $13.4 million contract ($9.9 million guaranteed), on July 31 English bought a little condo out in San Diego. One thing he is looking forward to on the west coast is being out of the DeKalb wind tunnel when the winter months roll around.

The two-time MAC MVP would not give a 2009 prediction for his alma-mater NIU but said the Huskies have a good chance to improve from last season. In 2008 the Huskies finished 6-7, losing to Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl.

"They have a lot of talented players returning," English said, crediting the players and coaching staff for their work.

Saturday's preseason game between the Chargers and the Seattle Seahawks can be seen at 9 p.m. CT on NFL Network.

Another game of note: English and the Chargers will face former NIU running back Michael Turner and his Falcons on Satuarday, Aug. 29. English said facing Turner is a great opportunity for him in what will be just his third preseason game.

The Chargers open the regular season on Monday, Sept. 14 at Oakland. One of two Monday Night Football games for San Diego this season.

Poll

How many sacks will Larry English record this season with the Chargers?

0-3

6 votes

4-6

24 votes

7-9

21 votes

10+

11 votes

62 votes | Poll has closed

An NIU fan's guide to the NFL preseason

Mike Breese — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:45:19 -0000

Will WR Britt Davis be able to make an impact for the Jets this year?

View full size photo »

Training camp for former Huskies has been exciting so far. Probably the biggest stories have been about how a pair of UFA wide receivers are impressing in Sam Hurd and rookie Britt Davis.

Britt has been doing everything that has been asked of him and has been deemed as Rex Ryan's "Mystery Wide Reciever"

"You say he's flying under the radar because he's not going with the 1s or doing what Jerricho (Cotchery) or (Chansi) Stuckey is doing," quarterback Erik Ainge said. "But he gets talked about a lot in meetings. He just keeps showing up. From the day he got here, he's shown flashes and made plays."

Davis set a Northern Illinois freshman record with 42 receptions for 441 yards before earning all-conference honors as a sophomore. Hampered by an injured right shoulder that required surgery before his senior year, Davis struggled in his final two seasons.

"I never got it fixed until after junior year," Davis said of his bum shoulder. "It was just something I played through and played with. It's just football. You get banged up. Guys get hurt all the time in football."

It's Sam Hurd's 4th year in the league and he is ready to go after undergoing surgery after an ankle injury hampered him towards the end of last year. Depending on who you ask, Hurd has been one of the better performers throughout Cowboys camp after a strenuous off-season regimen:

"Every day has been a blessing since I got injured," he said. "(God) just letting me know to stop worrying, stop whining, stop crying, stop thinking that you're never going to come back.

"I know I'm about to face a lot more. Anything can happen, but I'm ready. I'm 100 percent ready, much better than last year."

All eyes are on Larry English, who went 16th to the San Diego Chargers in this past NFL Draft, but he just returned from a hamstring injury that hampered him throughout the first few practices. English was out for the first practice while he was ironing out his 5-year contract worth $13.4 million with $9.9 million guaranteed.

Even the most experienced NIU alum in 340 lb DT Hollis Thomas signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Rams not too long ago.

These games featuring former Huskies will be televised this preseason. We all know Larry English and Michael Turner are going to get a good amount of playing time this year, but these games provide a huge tryout for some of the former Northern Illinois players trying to break through and make a name for themselves:

Week 1

Fri, Aug 14

NFL Network: 6:00 PM - St. Louis Rams (#93 DT Hollis Thomas) @ New York Jets (#17 WR Britt Davis)

Sat, Aug 15

NFL Network: 3:00 PM - Atlanta Falcons (#33 RB Michael Turner) @ Detroit Lions ~~(#85 TE Jake Nordin)~~

NFL Network: 6:00 PM - Chicago Bears (#25 RB Garrett Wolfe) @ Buffalo Bills

NFL Network: 9:00 PM - Seattle Seahawks @ San Diego Chargers (#52 OLB Larry English)

Week 2

Thu, Aug 20

FOX: 7:00 PM - Philadelphia Eagles @ Indianapolis Colts (#71 RT Ryan Diem)

Fri, Aug 21

FOX: 7:00 PM - Tennessee Titans @ Dallas Cowboys (#17 WR Sam Hurd, #68 OT Doug Free)

Mon, Aug 24

ESPN: 7:00 PM - New York Jets (#17 WR Britt Davis) @ Baltimore Ravens

Week 3

Sat, Aug 29

NFL Network: 12:00 PM - Indianapolis Colts (#71 RT Ryan Diem) @ Detroit Lions (~~#85 TE Jake Nordin~~)

NFL Network: 3:00 PM - New Orleans Saints (#81 WR Matt Simon) @ Oakland Raiders

CBS: 7:00 PM - San Diego Chargers (#52 OLB Larry English) @ Atlanta Falcons (#33 RB Michael Turner)

Sun, Aug 30

NBC: 7:00 PM - Chicago Bears (#25 RB Garrett Wolfe) @ Denver Broncos

Week 4

Thu, Sep 3

NFL Network: 6:00 PM - Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Jets (#17 WR Britt Davis)

Fri, Sep 4

NFL Network: 7:00 PM - Dallas Cowboys (#17 WR Sam Hurd, #68 OT Doug Free) @ Minnesota Vikings

Did I just read that right? NIU's greatest offensive player of all-time RB Michael Turner to take on NIU's greatest defensive player of all-time in OLB Larry English? Can't wait to see the first part of that game primetime on CBS!

I mean, come on what else are you going to do for the next 25 days leading up to the season opener at Wisconsin?

[Note by Mike Breese, 08/12/09 12:32 PM CDT ] Make sure to check out the Huskies in the Pros page to follow all of your former favorite players on the next level.

Q&A with Chicago Bears RB Garrett Wolfe

Jerry Burnes — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:30:09 -0000

Photo by Jerry Burnes | Garrett Wolfe will assume a special teams role again for the Bears in 2009. But will Ron Turner finally implement him into the offense?

View full size photo »

Entering his third season with the Chicago Bears, former NIU running back Garrett Wolfe is poised to make an impact. Offensive coordinator Ron Turner has all but promised there will be a role in the offense for the Huskies' all-time leading rusher, who led Chicago in special teams tackles last season.

Wolfe took some time after Monday's afternoon practice to talk with me about his role on the Bears, expectations, and keeping in touch with former NIU teammates following their successes.

Jerry Burnes: How's camp going so far for you?

Garrett Wolfe: It's going good. This is the best, the healthiest, I've felt in a long time.

JB: What do you look to improve on from last year?

GW: Just to become more of a complete football player. I think my role this year will be a little bit more specialized and that's something I'm very excited about. I'm very excited to have the opportunity to go in and compete.

JB: What kind of role do you see yourself having on the team and on the offense this year?

GW: I know I'll continue to be a special teams guy which is something I'm excited about. I also think I'm going to take more of a specialty role; more down specific, field position specific type of role. If that's something that's going to get the ball in my hands, I'm all for it.

JB: What kind of teammate has Jay Cutler been so far?

GW: He's been a great teammate. He's taken control of the offense, been a great leader and his knowledge of what we try to do as an offense has been very impressive. He's picked up the playbook, he understands it fully and has done a great job of leading the team thus far.

JB: What kind of improvements have you noticed with Matt Forte from his rookie season to his second season?

GW: Well, as far as training camp, I haven't noticed anything different. That's a testament to just how strong he was as a rookie as far as knowledge of the game, his approach to the game and his preparation. But so far, I haven't noticed anything different.

JB: What kind of goals do you have this year as both a team and an individual?

GW: I think our team goal definitely involves us going to the playoffs. The ultimate goal for every team is to make the Super Bowl, play in the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl. My goal as a player is to go out and stay healthy, number one, because when you're healthy and in great condition then there isn't anything you can't go out on the field and do. The main thing I want to do is be as healthy as possible so I can go out on the field and use my talents to the best of my ability and make things happen.

JB: When you came to the Bears a couple years ago, did you envision yourself having the role on special team that you had last year?

GW: I knew coming in that if you're not the starting running back, you're going to have to play special teams. It's something I had never done before and was a little reluctant to do. Now it's something that I'm excited to have the opportunity to go out and do.

JB: What was the feeling like last year getting your first NFL touchdown?

GW: It was weird because I didn't envision it coming in that way. I didn't envision coming in the form of a special teams touchdown.

JB: Are you able to keep in touch with any of the former NIU running backs?

GW: Oh yeah, me and Michael [Turner] keep in touch. Michael did a great job of being a leader by example during our time at Northern Illinois. He definitely left big shoes to fill throughout my collegiate career and I was excited to have that opportunity to not only follow him but to continue that tradition and that legacy. But I still talk to Michael, in fact I just talked to him probably about a month-and-a-half ago. He's doing well and I'm happy to see he's doing well.

JB: The past few years you have had the chance to play against Michael Turner, what's that been like?

GW: My first year he was a backup at San Diego. My second year, I was excited for the success that Michael had thus far in one season, granted I didn't want him to have that success against us. To see Michael and see how successful he's become is something I've always envisioned for him because Michael has always been a complete football player for a long time. He just didn't get the opportunity out in San Diego. Him having that opportunity now, I'm very excited for him. Very happy for him as well.

JB: What about some of the current NIU running backs such as Justin Anderson or Me'co Brown?

GW: I had an opportunity to meet Me'co when I went down for a game last fall. I don't really keep in contact with him. But Justin Anderson is a guy I've known since I was about seven years old, we actually went to the same grammar school growing up, from the same neighborhood, so me and Justin talk often.

JB: Were you disappointed at all last year when NIU, for the first time in nine seasons, did not have a 1,000-yard rusher?

GW: [hesitates] No, I mean, that's not something I really paid attention to. Granted when I was there it was very important for me to keep that tradition because I didn't want to be the guy who didn't continue that. But there's a different offensive scheme that's in place now, different head coach, different system at hand, and the numbers reflect that.

JB: How excited were you to see your former teammate Larry English go in the first round this year?

GW: I was very excited for Larry because I've seen what Larry has grown to become. When he came into Northern Illinois he was very talented, a very physically imposing guy, just as he was when he left. Seeing how far he has come and him being the same guy in the core, I was very impressed. To see him have the success he's had and also know how hard he's worked to get as far as he's come is something I was very excited about.

Poll

Will Ron Turner integrate Garrett Wolfe into the offense this year?

Yes

61 votes

No

33 votes

94 votes | Poll has closed

Know thy Opponent 2009: Northern Illinois Huskies

BoilerTMill — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:17:43 -0000

We should really be afraid of our next opponent on the schedule. Northern Illinois is one of the better MAC teams, yet it is a critical game for our bowl chances in 2009. Going into the Northern Illinois game most people expect us to be 1-1. Anything less and we can forget a bowl game. It is a must-have game because we're expected to lose to Notre Dame the following week. We absolutely have to have at least a 2-2 finish in non-conference play to have any hope of a 6-6 finish and possible bowl bid.

Our fans have become spoiled by facing the MAC, however. Sure, we've been tested by a very good central Michigan team and we got shocked at home by Bowling Green in 2003, but we're used to blowing out MAC team du jour. It may happen against Toledo, but it will not happen against Northern Illinois. As Mike said in last week's Q&A, this is a focused team that will be looking at us as a chance to grab a pelt for themselves from a BCS conference.

2008 Record: 6-7 (5-3 in MAC West)

Bowl result: Lost 17-10 to Louisiana Tech in Independence Bowl

Blog Representation: Red and Black Attack

Series with Purdue: First Meeting

Last season for the Huskies:

Last year was a bowl year for Northern Illinois, though it is most likely because of a glut of bowls on the calendar. The Huskies finished just 6-6 on the year, but grabbed a bid to play in the Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech. They did well in what was a virtual home game for Tech, but lost 17-10 after both teams played a virtually scoreless second half. It was Tech's first bowl win since 1977.

That is not to say the Huskies were a bad team last year. They had plenty of moments that could have vastly improved their record. Four of the six regular season losses were by less than a touchdown. They were not against your typical run of the mill MAC opponents either. They led Minnesota with 30 seconds left before a late touchdown saved the Gophers. They lost by three the following week at a very good Western Michigan team that would later beat Illinois. They went into SEC country and played Tennessee to a 13-9 game without their starting quarterback. Finally, they had a 33-30 overtime loss to Central Michigan, which has been the most consistent MAC team in recent years. They may not have had a notable win, but they know how to play good teams tough.

As far as this year's schedule looks, they are not afraid to play BCS teams. The Huskies open the season in a night game at Wisconsin. In addition to coming to Purdue, they have non-conference home games against Western Illinois and Idaho. Toledo and Central Michigan make appearances later in the MAC schedule, as does Ball State.

Northern Illinois offense:

As Mike said, second year coach Jerry Kill likes to run a spread offense that is weighted towards running the football. This is where the game against Oregon should be an advantage. I am sure that Northern Illinois is good at this offense, but few teams in the country are better at running out of the spread than Oregon. If we're fortunate enough to beat the Ducks, or at least hold our own defensively against their offense, it should be a good sign for the Northern Illinois game.

Chandler Harnish is a dual threat quarterback in the mold of many others, but NIU would not mind him to be more like Dan Lefevour. We have seen enough of Lefevour

Quarterback Chandler Harnish will be returning to run the show. He was a redshirt freshman last season and performed admirably in ten starts. He didn't play in the Tennessee game, and was the starter from day 1 against Minnesota. In a way, we're probably lucky to be facing him now instead of in two years when he becomes the experienced senior MAC quarterback the NFL desperately wants. He threw for just over 1,500 yards with eight TD"s and nine interceptions during his rookie season. More importantly, he finished as the Huskies leading rusher with 539 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He's not quite the dual threat that Oregon's Jeremiah Moseli is, but he is still good.

Joining him in the ground attack will be sophomore Me'co Brown (510 yards, 2 TD's) and junior Chad Spann (429 yards, 8 TD's). Spann is built a little bit like former Northern Illinois back Garrett Wolfe, who ran for more than 5,000 yards and is now on the Chicago Bears roster. Spann is the quicker of the two backs, but Brown is pretty quick as well. Look for Brown and Spann to run more as Northern Illinois tries to keep Chandler from running as much.

The Huskies didn't have a great passing attack last year, so they will need more of one in order to free up the running game. Marcus Perez was the leading receiver with only 34 catches for 480 yards and two TD's, but he was lost to graduation. The same is true for number two receiver Matt Simon (24-377-2). That leaves Reed Cunningham (22-252-3), a 6'5" target, as the team's top returning receiver. Nathan Palmer (12-278-2) should be a quality slot receiver for them, but he was injured for a good portion of last year. We also need to look out for Justin Anderson. Anderson was a 1,200 yard receiver with eight touchdowns in 2007, but a knee injury caused him to miss all of last season. Our secondary needs to take away the passing game and make the Huskies as one dimensional as possible. We should be able to do it with the experience we have versus their lack of experience.

The offensive line is one of the best in MAC. Eddie Adamski was a third-team all-Mac selection last season at center and makes few mistakes. Left guard Jason Onyebuagu joined him on the third team last year and has Big Ten size at 6'2", 305 pounds. Trevor Olsen, Panan Tense, and Kevin Skatrund were all starters last year at one point, making this line incredibly experienced. They should give Harnish plenty of time to throw, but they are not particularly skilled at run blocking. Our defensive line will have to cause havoc in the running game at the same time our secondary is shutting down the receivers. If both things happen, the Northern Illinois offense will struggle.

You can't beat snow highlights of Harnish

Northern Illinois defense:

This was by far the strength of the team last year, but as Mike said, they lose seven starters. One of those starters was defensive end Larry English who was the 16^th overall pick in the NFL draft. English was a terror in the backfield with eight sacks and 16 tackles for loss, but he is the problem of the AFC West now with the Chargers. Brandon Bice was almost as good on the other end of the line with 6.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. He returns for his senior season as the top pass rusher and will attempt to replicate English's numbers. Mike Krause and D.J. Pirkle look to be the starting tackles, but they weren't especially good at getting into the backfield and disrupting offenses. If our offensive line can play well we should be able to create holes for the running game.

Pat Schiller, Alex Kube, and Cory Hanson are the starting linebackers that have a decent amount of experience. Kube was the team's leading tackler in 2007 with 111 and has moved all around the defense from safety to linebacker. He also had seven tackles for loss a season ago. Hanson had six tackles for loss as well, so they can get in the backfield if necessary.

The secondary is not one that caused turnovers, which is good for our inexperienced receivers. Last season Northern Illinois had only six interceptions, and only one of those came from a projected starter in the back four. Schiller and Hanson each had one as linebackers, while cornerback Patrick George had just one. The team did have 13 fumble recoveries, however, so we will need to hold on to the ball once we have it. Safety David Bryant led the team in tackles with 83 and has played all over the field on both sides of the ball in his career. He forced three of those fumbles and simply likes to hit people. This secondary is young and though they have talent, it will likely be the weakest secondary we face in the first half of the season.

Northern Illinois Special Teams:

Mike Salerno is one of the best kickers in the MAC and maybe in the country. The kid has range with a long of 52 last year and he hit on 18 of 24 total field goal attempts. He was also a perfect 34 of 34 on PAT's and had 16 touchbacks on kickoffs. This helped the Huskies to have a very good kick coverage team that allowed only 23 yards per return. Salerno may punt as well, as they must find a new punter. They gave up 10.7 yards per punt return last season and a touchdown with an experienced punter.

The return game will likely be handled by Me'co Brown on both sides. He averaged 21.4 yards on kick returns and 7.9 yards on punt returns a season ago.

Intangibles:

Northern Illinois is not going to be afraid of us. If anything, they are looking at this game as a chance to grab another win over a BCS program. They came agonizingly close in two games last year, and they will have already cut their teeth against Wisconsin. The Quad ranks them as 80^th overall, which is still ahead of us in that countdown. Their coach is in just his second season, but he has them believing they can beat anyone.

Still, this will be a young team especially on defense. It is another chance for our passing game to get going with our own inexperience issues. As a senior laden team last year they finished under .500 and lost three of there last four games.

Game Outlook:

This is a must win for us. I was a little scared of them at first, but I don't think their offense is strong enough to move the ball regularly against our experienced defense. Our secondary should dominate their receivers and shut down the passing game. If we can get into the backfield a few times my only fear is that Harnish can create something out of nothing with his legs. How many times have we struggled with that? Of course, with this game coming immediately after Oregon we should be used to their offensive style.

Defensively, I think this will be a very good team in time, but they are awfully young. It is a perfect chance for our offense to mature and show we can actually score this year. Let's face it, if we can't move the ball and score against Northern Illinois and an awful Toledo defense we're not going to suddenly figure it out in Big Ten play.

Prediction:

This is a must win game for us. If we lose to Toledo, it could be the only game standing between us and a winless season. As good as Northern Illinois is on paper they aren't as good as at least eight other teams in the Big Ten. Let them get their big upset at Wisconsin (thus improving our chances of winning in Madison). For now, I think we win a game that is close for a half, but we pull away in the end. Purdue 34, Northern Illinois 21

The journey and future impact of Larry English

Mike Breese — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:47:15 -0000

More photos » by Jack Smith - AP

7 months ago: San Diego Chargers' first-round draft pick Larry English, second from right, holds up his new jersey as, from left to right, general manager A.J. Smith, president-CEO Dean Spanos and head coach Norv Turner look on during a news conference Sunday, April 26, 2009, in San Diego. English, a linebacker, is from Northern Illinois. (AP Photo/Jack Smith)

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Where were you when English was drafted?

Personally, I just came out of my "office" thinking I had a good 20 minutes before we would hear Larry's name announced in the 20s or so. I walk out and my roommate tells me what happened. "BS" I tell him. I consistently doubt him until I see it with my own two eyes. The 16th pick in the NFL Draft? Never in my wildest dreams would I have though that any NIU player would achieve this.

Congrats to the Buffalo News on being one (and only?) of the scant few predicting English to go that high to the Chargers. I sure as hell didn't think he would go there. Neither did Larry himself. English said the contact was limited between him and the Chargers ever since the Combine ended.

Imagine how you must have felt as a San Diego Chargers fan at that point. Sure you're not in LA, but USC country extends throughout all of Southern California. OLB Brian Cushing goes a pick before at #15. His teammate Clay Matthews was expected to go right up there with him, but fell along with Rey Maualuga. Even Tennessee's Robert Ayers dropped to #18 to the Broncos. San Diego management thought different. Shouldn't Chargers fans know who he is or about the team he played for? NIU even played in the Poinsettia Bowl in Qualcomm Stadium back in 2007. We got destroyed by TCU and English had to work all season to come back from a knee injury that he endured in that game. The next season NIU went 2-10 and LE still won the MAC MVP. Also, didn't San Diego draft emerging superstar RB Michael Turner out of NIU back in 2004?

It really impresses me that Chargers GM A.J. Smith would go this way and pick Larry English. Obviously, this decision had nothing to do with PR, but more to do with improving his defense and preparing more depth and pressure San Diego for the upcoming season. Larry English was the only player to be picked in the 1st round from a non-BCS school.

The biggest gripe I ever see about Larry English was that he played in the Mid-American Conference. Larry just didn't play in the MAC, he DOMINATED it for the past 4 years. He was (and probably forever will be) the only defensive player to win the MAC MVP 2 years in a row. Pundits fail to point out that he had some of his best games against BCS schools like Northwestern, Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Tennessee. Do I even need to start listing the players that have excelled in the NFL from the MAC like Super Bowl Champs QB Ben Roethlisberger (Miami) and LB James Harrison (Kent)? It's sad, really.

He went through the combine just like all the other prospects and excelled. He also had a great senior bowl against the top talent coming out in the draft. Don't diss a guy for making the choice to experience more playing time as a large fish in a small pond. English did have a late offer to play at Iowa, but turned it down as he was already committed to the Huskies.

Impact in San Diego

Larry English couldn't have been put in to a better situation. San Diego already has two great Outside Linebackers in Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips. Some think that Merriman may not be ready for this upcoming season because of his knee surgery last year and that English may be the eventual replacement for "Lights Out". The Southern Cal Bolts are consistenly a Super Bowl contender year-in and year out, so English will get plenty of exposure as well as learn from some of the best defensive players in the league. San Diego needs pressure on defense to help the passing game and English can provide that.

Call it the "New York Giants syndrome". Their picking apart of Tom Brady in the Super Bowl two years ago has put a premium on rushing the passer. The Steelers did the same thing just this past year winning their title against the Cardinals. Merriman is happy about the pick and can't wait to bring the heat this upcoming season.

Impact in Dekalb

A first-rounder coming out of Northern Illinois? There hasn't been this much recruiting ammo since beating up on Maryland and Alabama back in 2003. I'm positive recruiting coordinator PJ Fleck is hitting these recruits over the head with Larry English articles as we speak. This is especially exciting, because the 'Old Guard' of Huskies in the NFL like DT Hollis Thomas and WR Justin McCareins near closer to being out of the league.

Coach Kill must be smiling. He makes it to a bowl game and has Larry English play for him in just his first year! You can't ask more from a guy that has in the past produced NFL products in Giants RB Brandon Jacobs and Jets LB Bart Scott. All the doors have been opening for the Huskies lately and the talent on future Huskie squads can only go up after this extremely proud moment in NIU History.

San Diego Chargers 2009 NFL Draft Grades

John (obviousman) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:23:30 -0000

More photos » by Jack Smith - AP

San Diego Chargers' first-round draft pick Larry English, second from right, holds up his new jersey as, from left to right, general manager A.J. Smith, president-CEO Dean Spanos and head coach Norv Turner look on during a news conference Sunday, April 26, 2009, in San Diego. English, a linebacker, is from Northern Illinois. (AP Photo/Jack Smith)

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Larry English, OLB, N. Illinois (Round 1, Pick 16 - 16th Overall)

I don't think anyone was really surprised by this choice. In the past week we began discussing AJ Smith's past picks and how we almost never know who the guy is before he's drafted. AJ did it again, drafting what he believed to be the best player available at 16. This was not the most exciting pick, but it's one that provides the defense with some sorely-needed depth.

The more I watch of Larry English, the more he looks like a fearsome pass rusher. He's built in a similar mold as Merriman - strong, fast and tenacious. After sitting through 2008, I like the idea that an injury to Merriman or Phillips no longer means our defense turns into wet paper. This pick also has me fearing the upcoming offseason and negotiations with Merriman a little less. Most importantly though, our pass rushing linebackers are deeper than ever with Merriman, Phillips, English and Jyles Tucker.

2009 Outlook: Not a starter, but Larry English will see plenty of time on the field.

Pick Grade: B+

Louis Vasquez, OG, Texas Tech (Round 3, Pick 14 - 78th Overall)

Immediately Louis Vasquez becomes our widest offensive lineman. McNeil is the heaviest at 335lbs, but Vasquez matches that weight while being three inches shorter. This pick is all about potential. He has unbelievable size and strength to go with great quickness off the line and quick, nimble feet. Louis' only drawback seems to be that he spent so much time in pass-blocking at Texas Tech that he has little experience driving the defender back or pulling down the line. These things can be taught.

2009 Outlook: With an outstanding camp Louis Vasquez could possibly compete for the starting RG spot. It's more likely that he'll sit out most of 2009 while having his skills refined.

Pick Grade: B

Vaughn Martin, DT, Western Ontario (Round 4, Pick 13 - 113th Overall)

Here's the risk pick. The one that the fans know nothing about because we don't typically watch Canadian College Football. At 6'4", 330lbs Martin has the size to be the Chargers Nose Tackle of the future. Although he was not invited to the combine, during his workout for NFL teams Martin ran the 40 in about 5 seconds, did 33 bench press reps and somehow did the 20-yard shuttle in 4.31 seconds. By comparison, Larry English ran the 40 at 4.88 and did the 20-yard shuttle in 4.38 seconds. It's quite possible the Chargers just drafted a player with Jamal Williams' size and Shawne Merriman's speed.

The one reason I'm down on this pick is it seems to be a major reach. Martin was expected to go undrafted or possibly get grabbed in the 7th round.

2009 Outlook: Because the Chargers need depth on the defensive line, Vaughn Martin may end up as a backup of some sort for the upcoming season. However, he is a project and will need to adjust to the rules of American football as well as the size, speed and ferocity of the game before he has any chance of starting.

Pick Grade: D

Tyronne Green, C, Auburn (Round 4, Pick 33 - 133rd Overall)

A pick of tremendous value. Green will replace Newberry, who was effective but might have the creakiest knees in football. Tyronne provides good size (6'1.5", 309lbs), strength and versatility (he played OG at Auburn). To add to that, his athleticism makes him a tremendous pull blocker who hits the second level with power and keeps his head on a swivel.

2009 Outlook: Barring any injury, Tyronne Green will not see any playing time in 2009 but will be sitting behind a former Pro Bowler and learning the Center position from him. Grabbing a Center in the draft was seen as a priority after consecutive injury-plagued seasons from Hardwick.

Pick Grade: A

Gartrell Johnson, RB, Colorado St. (Round 4, Pick 34 - 134th Overall)

This is a pick I'm very excited about. Although I believe LaDainian Tomlinson to be a great player, I have spent many games screaming at my TV for the Chargers to get a power back. Or, when they knew they had one in Michael Turner, for them to use a power back. Not necessarily because I think a big, bruising runner would have more success in certain situations of the game but because LT needs to be taken care of so we can extend his career and get the most from him. This was gone over in great depth here, but to summarize: The Chargers have worked Tomlinson harder than any other back in the league since his rookie season and he's starting to break down because of it. It's time to let somebody else take that pounding and have LT healthy for the playoffs.

As for Gartrell Johnson, I think he's a fantastic player. He's built like a MAC truck and he runs like one too. From what I've seen of him as a college player, he almost never goes down from the first or second hit. As a matter of fact, it usually takes two or three guys to get him down. Johnson is the polar opposite of Darren Spoles. He is not very fast and is not going to be able to make it to the corner for an outside run. Gartrell Johnson takes the ball and runs straight up the middle, but his strength and determination make him very effective at that.

2009 Outlook: Gartrell Johnson is going to get a lot of looks. He's going to be out starting RB in the preseason to save Sproles from the pounding and I think he's going to impress a lot of people. As the Charger short-yardage back I'm looking for a first-year similar to Brandon Jacobs' second year: 96 attempts (less than 7 per game), 423 yards (4.4 yards per attempt), 9 TD.

Pick Grade: B

Brandon Hughes, CB, Oregon St. (Round 5, Pick 12 - 148th Overall)

I thought after a night of sleep I'd wake up and realize why this pick was made. Nope. Brandon Hughes is an undersized corner (5'10.5", 182lbs) with good speed. The scouting report on Hughes describes him as "feisty, physical and quick" when playing the run or a screen pass, so he likes to hit. Due to his size he has a hard time fighting through blocks and has only average ball skills (and hands). His ceiling seems to be as a nickel corner.

2009 Outlook: Brandon Hughes will not see the field in 2009. With five or six cornerbacks ahead of him on the roster, Hughes will most likely end up on the practice squad.

Pick Grade: D-

Kevin Ellison, S, USC (Round 6, Pick 16 - 189th Overall)

Rodney Harrison, part two. Kevin Ellison is a linebacker with good enough ball skills to play safety. He is without a doubt a strong safety, one who likes being the 8th man in the box and laying a big hit on a RB or a WR coming across the middle. Ellison's scouting report says he's very good at defending TEs over the middle, but struggles with covering a RB or WR near the sidelines.

The question I'm asking with this pick is if the big, hard-hitting strong safety with marginal cover skills is still an asset in the NFL. The Chargers let Rodney Harrison go, the Cowboys let Roy Williams go and it seems teams are looking more for fast/quick players that can lay the lick (like Polamalu) than a linebacker to play in the secondary.

2009 Outlook: Kevin Ellison could end up taking the starting safety spot away from Clinton Hart with a good training camp. If he shows the same level of ability or better in coverage as a rookie, I have no reason to believe they'd put Hart out there. Even if Ellison doesn't win the job out of camp, he could be the starter by the end of the season.

Pick Grade: B-

Demetrius Byrd, WR, LSU (Round 7, Pick 15 - 224th Overall)

I always liked Demetrius Byrd. He was one of those players that I couldn't quite put my finger on why I liked him so much, but it seemed like when the ball was in the air he just wanted it more. In reality, there are several things I can take out of that sentence and translate. One, he plays with passion. Two, he has the strength to fight for the ball. Three, he's a QB's best friend (a receiver who comes back to the ball). Four, he's tough. Fifth, he's the best college receiver I've seen at making an over-the-shoulder catch in-stride. And finally, Byrd has a burst of speed that cannot be captured in statistics or measurements.

Byrd was projected to go in the 5th round or higher, but a recent one-car accident has put him in the hospital with no news as to the severity of his injuries. If he fully recovers, it's a steal. If he doesn't, it was still a good risk to take.

2009 Outlook: Recovery, I imagine. Depending on the severity of his injuries, Byrd may not be able to play at all this season. In his first healthy year I expect Byrd to be our 4th receiver and push for the slot receiver spot.

Pick Grade: B

Poll

What did you think of the Chargers 2009 draft?

Loved it! We filled our needs on both sides of the ball

284 votes

Hated it! These guys will not contribute!

55 votes

Too early to tell

630 votes

969 votes | Poll has closed

In-Depth Analysis: Larry English

John (obviousman) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:27:43 -0000

via static.nfl.com

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Why Was He Picked?: After a night of sleep and a lot of research, I have some theories. The first one involves a three-headed monster of pass rushing LBs. Shawne Merriman is coming off of a devastating knee injury and Shaun Phillips showed last year that while he's still talented he needs Merriman on the other side to take the pressure off of him. Shaun Phillips also showed that while he's talented as the LOLB (going against the RT), he is too small to be effective going against a LT.

If you look at the elite pass-rushers around the league, they're lined up against the Left Tackle position. Merriman, Freeney, Suggs, etc. An elite pass-rusher has to show that he has the skills to keep his level of play high when battling an elite offensive lineman. Phillips did not show that. In this theory, English was drafted to give some rest to Merriman's knee and to provide depth for both OLB positions. This was a move to prevent 2008 from happening again. What was plainly obvious was that the defense died when Merriman left with his knee injury. If that happens again, or if Phillips gets hurt, we now have a backup plan that keeps our defense at a high level.

Leverage is also part of this. If we were going to the negotiating table with Merriman after 2008 and he could say "You don't have anybody else. You need me." then we'd have to give him whatever dollar amount he wanted. Now we can work with him to come to a more reasonable figure.

Another theory, and an interesting one, is that New England was in love with Larry English. There are rumors floating around that they were even trying to move up a few picks to ensure that they got him (so English was moving up the boards secretly). Once the Chargers took him off the board, the Patriots felt there was no other player worthy of a first-round pick and traded out of it. After the first day they still have a gaping hole at OLB that could end up hurting their pass rush in 2009. Supposedly, Belichek viewed English as his own version of Merriman. Now don't you feel a little better that English is a Charger?

Fan's View: Courtesy of Mad.Mike from Red And Black Attack, SB Nation's blog for fans of the Northern Illinois Huskies:

Larry English Scouting Report:

Larry English didn’t just win Defensive POY in the MAC last year, he won the MAC MVP overall for the past two years, the first ever defensive player to accomplish that. The best part is that the Vern Smith Trophy is voted by the coaches, so they have that much respect for Larry English and had to plan accordingly for him in every single game. This past year, he even won the award with a cast on his hand because he played with a few pins in his broken right thumb the entire year. In high school, English played all 4 years at the linebacker position, so dropping back is something he is used to.

Strengths

Larry English has an absolute motor. He is not going to take a single play off during a game. Great overall strength. He is not only good rushing the passer, but I believe he is extremely underrated in stopping the run. Look in the dictionary and he is under the definition of a FOOTBAL PLAYER. Larry has extremely long arms and maintains good leverage on his opponents. Provides great leadership on the field and was team captain the last two years. Was extremely productive even when getting double and triple teamed these past couple years.

Weaknesses

A little on the shorter side at just over 6’2". Will have to go to a team that will be able to find the right fit for English on their defense. Needs to work on agility and played minimal time away from the defensive line in pass coverage. I think Larry is a lot quicker than he is fast. Improved his 40 time since the combine from the 4.8 range to around 4.6 at his pro day to solidify his 1st round status.

Video Clips:

SB Nation - Larry English

Larry English's Contract allows him to do such things

Top 5 Mid Major - Big Ten Games of 2009: #3 Wisconsin v. Northern Illinois

Comparing the Online Recruiting Ranking Services

English charged up for first NFL action

How many sacks will Larry English record this season with the Chargers?

0-3

4-6

7-9

10+

An NIU fan's guide to the NFL preseason

Week 1

Fri, Aug 14

Sat, Aug 15

Week 2

Thu, Aug 20

Fri, Aug 21

Mon, Aug 24

Week 3

Sat, Aug 29

Sun, Aug 30

Week 4

Thu, Sep 3

Fri, Sep 4

Q&A with Chicago Bears RB Garrett Wolfe

Will Ron Turner integrate Garrett Wolfe into the offense this year?

Yes

No

Know thy Opponent 2009: Northern Illinois Huskies

The journey and future impact of Larry English

Impact in San Diego

Impact in Dekalb

LARRY ENGLISH LINK ROUNDUP

San Diego Coverage

Dekalb Coverage

Videos from Chargers.com

San Diego Chargers 2009 NFL Draft Grades

What did you think of the Chargers 2009 draft?

Loved it! We filled our needs on both sides of the ball

Hated it! These guys will not contribute!

Too early to tell

In-Depth Analysis: Larry English