Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 2010 Review

2010 Record: 6-5 (4-4), 6th Big Sky
2010 Playoffs: None
2010 Schedule/Results
Western New Mexico, W 48-0
@ Arizona State, L 41-20
@ Idaho State, W 32-7
@ Southern Utah, W 26-23
@ Eastern Washington, L 21-14
Montana State, W 34-7
@ Montana, L 24-21
Sacramento State, L 40-10
@ Northern Colorado, W 21-14
Weber State, L 27-26
Portland State, W 62-14

OFFENSE
370.2 yards per game
Leading Passer: Michael Herrick, 2061 yards, 15 TDs, 9 INTs
Leading Rusher: Zach Bauman, 1059 yards, 14 TDs
Leading Receivers: Davieun Curry-Chapman, 69-738-6; Austin Shanks, 65-613-3; Mike Czyz, 26-331-2

There was plenty of production from the top tier talent, but depth was not evident. The offense totalled 21 points or less 5 times during the season, but the rest of the year could look as if they were about to set the world ablaze. Herrick was not always at his best, and it took it's toll on the win/loss column at times. Bauman was on mark all season long, and cannot be balemd for anything that went wrong. Czyz and Shanks will have to carry the load in 2011 at the receiver spots, not bad options, as Curry-Chapman moves on after his senior season.

DEFENSE
306.5 yards per game
Leading Tackler: Reid Worthington, 6.09 per game
Leading TFL: Scott McKeever, 11
Leading Sacks: Scott McKeever, 6
Leading INTs: Brian Hunter, 3 (1 TD)
Leading Passes Defended: Taelor Worrell, 11

One thing that you did not do against the Lumberjacks in 2010 was run effectively. NAU only allowed 93.5 yards rushing per game, one of the toughest run defenses in the nation. The problem was finding players to make the important tackles, or players who tackled with any regularity at all. Worthington's number was not near enough to put him in the top 20 tacklers in the league. McKeever was a force up front, and it was hard to avoid seeing him getting through the line to make plays behind the line. The defense basically had two bad games in 2010, one against Sacramento State, and the other against FBS Arizona State.

SPECIAL TEAMS
FG's: Matt Myers, 14/18
Punting: Drew Zamora, 42.19
Punt Return: Matt Estrada, 9.89 per return
Kick Return: Daniel Adler, 19.21 per return

Myers was as solid as it gets on the season. You cannot ask any more of your kicker than what he gave NAU in 2010, Zamora had one of the better punting legs in the league, but it could get better due to the altitude of kicking in Flagstaff.
The return game was decent on punts with Estrada, but not nearly good enough with Adler on kick returns. More production is needed in the return game.

FINAL NOTES
The Lumberjacks still strike fear into opposing teams coming into Flagstaff. Their problems are dealing with consistency issues. NAU will be one more team dealing with replaceing a QB in 2011, and there could be growing pains next season. Don't expect too much. Teams may stack up to stop Bauman with a new QB breaking in. Expect next season to be one of slight rebuilding.