DeKALB | Ben Gross: Jimmy, our colleague — if you can call him that — Chris Dertz has ushered in the DeMarcus Grady era.

Jimmy Johnson: Indeed, Ben. With Chandler Harnish sidelined for an unknown amount of time, Grady has been put into the starting spot.

BG: Yeah, but if I had my choice, Harnish would be back sooner than later. No offense to Grady, but there’s a reason he’s the backup.

JJ: Are you hinting that Grady, as the signal caller, is a significant downgrade?

BG: Nothing against the dude — he’s done a nice job coming in when called upon — but Grady just doesn’t have the arm that Harnish has.

JJ: It doesn’t matter though, because the offensive philosophy for NIU is to run the ball. Simply, whoever is receiving snaps from center Eddie Adamski just has to hand it off to the Huskies’ tailback.

BG: Jimmy, I agree that game plan has worked. But that’s only because of the opposition NIU has faced.

Both Miami and Akron are allowing teams to rush for over 180 yards a game. Heck, with this schedule, why don’t you just make Chad Spann NIU’s quarterback?

JJ: And thin the running back spot? It’s not like the Huskies are running a five wide set and throwing the ball every down. It’s NIU, Ben; what does NIU do?

BG: Uhhhhhh, run the ball.

JJ: Quit your lolly-gagging. Grady can, and has been, getting that job done. Stay committed to the run and I’m confident NIU will steamroll the opposition.

BG: So you’re telling me that if NIU was to play Purdue this week, instead of Eastern Michigan, that there would be no drop in the quarterback position by having Grady instead of Harnish start?

JJ: Of course Grady would be more challenged against Purdue. But so would Harnish.

But, we aren’t playing Purdue; we are playing EMU. And I’m making a bold prediction: Grady will feast on the Eagles’ defense and light up the box score and shut up all his doubters.

BG: That ain’t so bold there Jimmy — EMU is allowing 277 rushing yards per game.

JJ: Well, then the running backs can have the leftovers after the Grady Express runs wild, whoo whoo!

BG: If NIU really wanted to have a quarterback run silly over defenses, it would play Justin Anderson. The Huskie tailback played quarterback in high school and could make the Eagles honor the pass just as much as Grady.

That’s the point, Jimmy. NIU loses the pass as a true option without Harnish.

JJ: Since when did we have Jerry Rice and Lynn Swann lined up at wideout?

Mr. Gross, if I may call you that, NIU’s offense isn’t focused on the pass; it relies on the run. Its run parts the sea of defenders, which makes the play-action dangerous.

BG: When did Huskie Stadium get red turf, Moses, if I may call you that?

In all honesty, you’ve hit the nail on the head about NIU’s offense. Except one thing: Grady can’t hit the long play-action. He hits bubble screens, short slants and curls. That’s why, although as well as he’s played, he’s a drop off.

JJ: Ben, take a cue from my Moses reference and let this argument go!

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