DeKALB, Ill. – Ten practices into preseason training camp and 19 days away from the 2017 season opener for the Northern Illinois University Huskies, NIU Head Coach Rod Carey said his team has continued to bring the energy and effort it showed during the first week of practice, while improving on both sides of the ball.
 
"I think that energy and effort we talked about that's been there pretty darn consistently through the first 10 [practices] is now starting to show as improvement," Carey said.  "There's a give and take.  I thought yesterday the offense really got after the defense. Today the defense came back and pushed back some, although the offense did some good things.  When you get that back and forth in practice and it's not just one way each practice, you're seeing improvement and that's what you really like to see. That effort and energy is turning into improvement."
 
Sunday's 1:50 minute practice on the Huskie Stadium turf in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts, saw the defense focus on tackling form early in individual drills, before moving into position-by-position match-ups with linebackers taking on running backs, tight ends facing off with defensive ends, defensive backs and wide receivers squaring off and interior defensive linemen battling the offensive linemen. 
 
The offensive line appeared to have the best of it during "inside drill" as running backs consistently broke into the second level, a development Carey – a former offensive lineman and offensive line coach – has enjoyed. 
 
"As a group, I think the o-line has played better here these last three days and that's good to see," he said. "They should start to be gelling and doing those things so I'm really happy to see some of that. The right side with the ones is not necessarily young, but it's inexperienced, so seeing them gel together has been good. The two o-line is VERY young, but it's a good group."
 
On the other side of the ball, Carey said the linebackers have stood out.
 
"Defensively, I really like the way our linebackers are running around," he said. "They're playing fast, they're getting to the ball, they're physical.  As a group, they have really been pretty good for us.  That's what's caught my eye right now."
 
A member of that group, sophomore middle linebacker Kyle Pugh, closed out Sunday's practice with an interception off a tipped ball.  He was one of the individual players singled out by Carey as a preseason standout.  
 
"I think Jawuan Johnson is making a lot of plays out there, along with Kyle Pugh," Carey said.  "I like the way our inside tackles are playing - Ben LeRoy, Jack Heflin, William Lee and Devin Webster.  Offensively, I think [quarterback] Ryan Graham has taken a couple of steps here, which has been very good to see.  But along with Ryan, I will say that the entire quarterback group has taken steps since last Sunday, when I was a little disappointed."
 
Graham was the lone quarterback to lead the Huskies into the end zone during red zone situations to close out Sunday's practice as he hit receiver Christian Blake for a touchdown. Second team kicker Josh Orne made a long field goal to close out Marcus Childers' red zone series with the number two offense.  Childers also led the twos to a field goal during an earlier team period. 
 
Even with Graham's progress, Carey said the depth chart continues to fluctuate at multiple positions, including quarterback.
 
"[The depth chart] is still a day-by day proposition, still straight competition mode, so it changes after every practice," he said. "I think we have some great competition going on at wide out and at defensive back."
After four consecutive days of practice, the Huskies will spend Monday in meetings and walk-throughs in addition to a session in the weight room, before returning to the practice field Tuesday for a planned scrimmage in full pads.
 
Single game tickets for the season opener versus Boston College on Friday, Sept. 1 at Huskie Stadium, are priced at $30 (reserved West Side) and $20 (general admission East Side) with special discount pricing for DeKalb County residents at just $15/ticket. The game kicks off at 8:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network and NIU wants all fans to wear black to the game, fill the stands and help #BlackOutBC. 
 
Season tickets, Family Packs, three-game Mini-Plans, and single game tickets, are on sale for all 2017 NIU Football home games. Purchase tickets online at NIUHuskies.com, by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) or in person at the NIU Athletics Ticket Office in the Convocation Center Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
 
Follow NIU Football throughout the 2017 Training Camp at Training Camp Central on NIUHuskies.com for daily updates, news and information, video and more. 
 
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