Sounds Like a Library? — Charlie’s Film Room Week 3

Aidan Chiles accounted for five touchdowns: two on the ground and three through the air. His EPA/play this week per PFF was 0.480, which was 28th among all QBs who took at least 10 dropbacks and a significant increase compared to his 0.140 in Week 1. Chiles threw just three passes behind the line of scrimmage, completing all three. For his other throws, he was 14-of-19 for 214 and 3. It was encouraging to see Chiles go 6-of-9 when throwing in the middle of the field, including 4-for-4 between 10-19 yards.

Joseph Himon II had a big day, catching three passes for three touchdowns against the Buffaloes. Himon II did run eight routes in this game, but Gavin Sawchuk actually led the RBs in routes run vs Colorado with nine. Caleb Komolafe also ran seven routes, so the true three-RB committee seems to be in effect through two games. Griffin Wilde and Drew Wagner ran 25 and 23 routes respectively, although Wilde led all skill position players in snaps. Luke Dehnicke was second among skill position players with 50 snaps behind Wilde's 57, during which Dehnicke ran 23 routes on 24 pass snaps. Alex Honig, who caught the first touchdown off the season for the Wildcats, didn't run a single route per PFF. Hayden Eligon II missed this game, so Ricky Ahumaraeze functioned as the WR3 (even though it was moreso Dehnicke, but he is a TE). Targets were spread out among the three WRs and Dehnicke fairly evenly, plus Himon II who scored three times. Ezomo Oratokhai went down with an injury and was carted off, and we are still awaiting an update on his status, but Jackson Carsello did play and looked like his old self, especially in pass blocking.

The Northwestern defense forced four turnovers as well as three turnover on downs. The Wildcats defense allowed just seven points, but Colorado did gain 18 first downs and 348 total yards of offense. The bend, don't break mentality of Northwestern's defense held true in this contest, but against Indiana that may not fly.