Aug. 24, 2007

DeKalb, Ill. - The kicking game has always been important, but now that kick-offs have been moved back to the 30 yard-line, Northern Illinois will have a reason to put even more emphasis on special teams for the 2007 season.

"With the kickoff team, the big [change] this year is that the ball is being moved back to the 30 yard-line instead of the 35 yard-line," said assistant coach Mike Sabock, who works with the Huskies special teams. "So, a lot of people are not going to be able to kick the ball in the end-zone. There are going to be a lot more returns this year."

With more returns, more return-men will have the opportunity to make plays. The Huskies want to focus on their coverage units, which will be a speedy unit, according to Sabock.

"We've got some really fast coverage guys this year, probably our fastest coverage team that we've had," Sabock said. "I'm expecting big things from our kick-off team this year and it needs to be good with the move back to the 30 yard-line. Coverage teams are going to take a big step forward this year in being a bigger part of the game."

However, Sabock hopes to still minimize opponents' return opportunities.

"Chris Nendick (Naperville, Ill./Central) still has the potential to kick the ball deep," Sabock said. "If he has any tail-breeze at all, even from the 30 yard-line, he can kick that ball, if he kicks up to his capability, to be un-returnable. We're expecting him to have a big year kicking-off for us."

Huskies head coach Joe Novak knows the importance of special teams. With punter Andy Dittbenner (Bloomington, Ill./Normal), who averaged 37.6 yards per punt and placed 14 punts inside the 20 yard-line, and honorable mention All-Mid-American Conference kicker Nendick, who scored 95 points and made 81 percent of field goals inside 40 yards, returning, Novak feels he has a solid veteran kicking unit.

"Our goal is to win the kicking game every week," Novak said. "It's a third of the game and it's a very important part. We work very hard at it. I think we have the ability to, but so much of the kicking game is `want to.' We have to go out there and make sure we're getting a great effort out there every week. If we do that, we have a chance to be pretty good."

While Dittbenner and Nendick have been solid, Sabock sees room for improvement for each.

"Dittbenner has had to work on some technique things that he has really improved on," Sabock said. "I think Andy's getting ready to have his best year by far as a punter."

"Nendick, his history speaks for itself, but kickers are only as good as their last kick," he continued. "He has the potential to be All-MAC and an NFL draft pick, but it's the old potential word. Potential doesn't mean anything and Chris knows that. When we get kicks inside of 40 yards, Chris needs to make them."

According to Sabock, the return game strategy is still being worked out.

"With punt returns, we are still trying to decide for sure who our return-man is," Sabock said. "We have some capable guys in Greg Turner (Glendale Heights, Ill./Driscoll) and Marcus Perez (Elkhart, Ind./Central). We have Evans Adonis (Miami, Fla./Southwest), who has been catching the ball well. Greg's done it in the past, but the other guys really haven't. I think we are going to have a good combination of blocks and returns set-up in our scheme."

In 2006, Turner averaged 12.2 yards per punt return and 18 per kick return. Perez averaged 9.6 yards in punt returns and 18.9 in kick returns.

A key addition to the Huskies in 2007 will be freshman long-snapper Nolan Owen (Canyon Lake, Calif./Temescal Canyon), who Sabock thinks will solidify long-snapping for NIU for the next four years.

"We recruited Nolan and told him he was the guy," said Sabock. "He has had a great camp. We're going to be as good as we've ever been at the snapping position. We're really excited about Nolan."

Novak feels that the Huskie special teams have come along in camp and, as a whole, will be a productive unit in 2007.

"We've spent a lot of time [on special teams]," Novak said. "Each group has had plenty of time. We have progressed from day one to where we are at now. We're not quite ready to go yet, but we will be by game-time."

Northern Illinois practiced for over two hours Friday morning under overcast conditions. While it wasn't quite as hot and muggy as the past couple days, the players were still feeling the heat. However, just after practice was over the sun came out to shine down on Huskies Stadium as the players were walking to the locker-room which seemed to be a sign of relief after a flooded campus from Thursday's storms. Some of the players were yelling "let it shine" as they exited practice.

Northern Illinois opens the 2007 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 at Chicago's Soldier Field versus Iowa. The sold-out game kicks-off at 2:30 p.m. and will be televised by ESPNU. The Huskie Stadium opener will take place Saturday, Sept. 8 versus in-state foe Southern Illinois. Season tickets for NIU's five Huskie Stadium games are on sale now for just $95 at www.niuhuskies.com or by calling the Athletics Ticket Office at 815-752-6800.

-NIU