2019 Big Ten football spring preview: 7 biggest questions/storylines

2019 Big Ten football spring preview: 7 biggest questions – Finally Jim Harbaugh’s year?

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 29: Shea Patterson #2 and head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate the first quarter touchdown against the Florida Gators during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 01: Northwestern Wildcats linebacker Paddy Fisher (42) drops back in pass coverage during the Big Ten Conference Championship college football game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Ohio State Buckeyes on December 1, 2018, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

6. What will Northwestern have for an encore after winning the Big Ten West?

The Northwestern Wildcats put on a stellar showing last year, finishing with a 9-5 record despite playing half of their season against tough, nationally-ranked teams. They had one of the toughest schedules in the conference, and arguably in the nation, but Pat Fitzgerald navigated danger, eventually culminating in an appearance in the Big Ten championship game.

The Wildcats dug their way out of a 1-3 start last season and again will face some tough tasks heading into 2019. Starting with spring ball, Northwestern will have to find a replacement for team difference-maker Clayton Thorson and are facing some national hype, attempting to once again reach the eight-win mark.

Spring ball is an underrated part of the modern college football game and will serve as a starting point for Northwestern to answer questions like the one above.

Besides the replacement of Clayton Thorson, Northwestern also has to address an offensive line that too many times left free rushers in the face of the potentially-NFL-bound quarterback. Success on offense starts at the offensive line, and with three starters gone in Tommy Doles, Blake Hance, and J.B. Butler, the offensive side of the ball for Northwestern has a lot of work to be done.

The defense returns some solid players, including linebacker Paddy Fisher, and if the offense can pull it together, we could see another solid season from Northwestern football.

Ahead of their season opener against Stanford, Fitzgerald and new offensive line coach Kurt Anderson will have to sort out almost the whole of the offensive side of the ball. Northwestern boasts seemingly-competent players like Sam Gerak and Nik Urban as replacements, but at the same time, there is a lot of worry around their offensive potency heading into this year’s spring football.

Time will tell for the Northwestern Wildcats.

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