It’s finally here.

This is the year NIU wins the MAC. Remember, you heard it here first.

For the first time in ages, all the cogs are in place.

We have the nation’s top rusher. An offense that’s racked up 950 yards in two games against Big Ten opponents. A clutch kicker and a veteran coaching staff.

Not to mention a defense that – um.

Wait, has anyone seen our defense? Anybody?

I mean, that couldn’t have been NIU’s defense on the field Saturday at Northwestern.

That group of guys missing tackles and falling over themselves had to be the practice squad. Right?

Maybe the real defense got the wrong directions, took the wrong bus, got the measles, something.

Or maybe our ‘real’ defense is really just that bad.

What happened? We lose four players and our defense becomes as stout as a line of ballet dancers.

If NIU wants to finally break its streak of coming up just short, its defense better come out of the coma it has slipped into.

Here’s a list of each level of the defense and its accomplishments so far this season (or lack thereof).

Defensive Line: Two games, zero sacks. Chad Henne and Brett Basanez had enough time in the pocket to build one of those little ships in a bottle before throwing.

So far the closest any linemen has come to a quarterback has been the post-game handshake.

Granted, if any part of the defense has an excuse, it’s the line. After the Michigan game, both teams walked off the field together. NIU defensive end Ken West went up to one of Michigan’s offensive linemen to shake his hand.

West is not small by any means, but next to Michigan’s linemen, he looked downright petite. It might as well have been Billy from row 12, seat 3 trying to get in the backfield.

Linebackers: Brian Atkinson and Jason Hawkins: graduated; Javan Lee: out for the season. What does that leave the Huskies? So far, not much.

True freshman Tyrell Sutton is up for a national player of the week award because our linebackers said “olé” to him all game. He’s not Barry Sanders. Don’t pat him on the back, tackle him.

And all last week NIU students were treated to ESPN’s constant playing of Michigan running back Mike Hart leveling Jason Hutton en route to the end zone. Hutton has 50 pounds on Hart and Hart still ran him over like a iron tank over a Geo.

DeKalb is in the Midwest, an area known for corn, crummy weather and linebackers. It’s time for our boys to stop hiding behind being young. If Tennessee Tech has a rusher go over 100 yards, imagine what the rest of the season holds.

Secondary: Do we even have one?

Let’s give credit where credit is due: Safety Dustin Utschig is a monster. Put this guy at linebacker because he leads the team with 27 tackles. And he’s a first-year starter like many of our linebackers (hint, hint). His partner, co-captain Ray Smith, has also held his own despite battling a back injury.

But the problem has been our corners, who are seemingly MIA on gameday. The Hansbro twins are identical and both have been identically terrible.

They’ve yet to force an interception. Heck, they’ve yet to tip a pass. Receivers aren’t just getting open. Open is an understatement. Receivers are doing jumping jacks just begging the quarterback to throw to them. If we are to do anything this season, improvement from the twins is dire.

Of course none of this is breaking news to NIU coach Joe Novak.

He didn’t trust his defense enough to go into overtime against Northwestern. That’s why he already knew mid way through the fourth quarter that, given the chance, he would go for the win.

And against Michigan, he stormed over into a huddle screaming at his unit when they had to call a time out because nobody knew the play.

The Verdict: In the past few years, NIU has quietly crept into the national spotlight.

This is huge. The Huskies aren’t from the Big Ten or some other powerhouse conference. They’re from the MAC. We have to showcase our talents every time we get on ESPN and ABC. This year, other than Garrett Wolfe, all we have been showcasing is that our defense has become every offense’s dream.

Defense wins championships and gets a team to the next level. For NIU to succeed, its defense has to perform. And when you don’t perform in the national spotlight criticism is sure to follow.

Yes, our defense is young, and yes they are new, but they are also talented.

Now if only they can realize the last part.