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1) The offensive line has to solidify. No more of this Jekyll / Hyde identity. Ashton Craig and Billy Schrauth getting injured makes this more difficult, since those two were our most solid players on the line. I haven't heard any injury updates, so I suspect that we'll know more today after x-rays.

That being said, the silver lining here, is that Rocco Spindler filled in very well, having been a starter before, and aside from a few nervous snaps, Pat Coogan did decently, also having been a starter (Pendleton wrested away that starting LG position). We've lost too much depth on the line, though, and everyone had better be praying for speedy injury recoveries here.

2) Riley Leonard has to be able to show at least *some* semblance of a downfield passing ability. He's a running QB first, of course, and he's not going to evoke images of Joe Burrow, Ty Detmer, etc., but if he doesn't make the defenses at least respect the notion that he can complete a 20 yard pass downfield, they're simply going to stack the box like defenses did against us in 2017, and early 2018.

He'll get a chance against our old friend, Chuck Martin (a fellow I actually respect) this Saturday.

3) Marcus Freeman and Mike Denbrock have to be willing to yank Riley Leonard if he stinks up the field. I respect Leonard for being a tough guy, and a real competitor, but against NIU, when he had an injured shoulder and did a very poor job (understatement), the coaches should have benched him, and Leonard should have had the courage to say that he couldn't run.