On one hand, Northwestern's arrow clearly points upward.

The Wildcats are riding three consecutive bowl bids for the first time. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald believes his roster enjoys more depth than any of his five previous years -- and those players set unofficial records for fitness and strength before spring ball began on March 7.

Then why was Fitzgerald so antsy during the two months between NU's New Year's Day bowl appearance and the start of practice Because of the gory numbers posted during the Wildcats' final three games.

They took a 48-27 pounding from Illinois that featured a school-record 330 rushing yards by soon-to-be-rich running back Mikel LeShoure. They suffered a 70-23 pounding at Wisconsin where the defense surrendered nine TDs in the first 39 minutes. Then, playing Texas Tech in the TicketCity Bowl, NU trailed by 18 at halftime before rallying to lose by a 45-38 margin.

In total, Northwestern coughed up 163 points and 1,670 total yards during the final three games to erase all of the good feelings built during its 7-3 start to the season. You can point to quarterback Dan Persa's ruptured right Achilles' tendon as the point where the Wildcats' season changed, but that's a little too convenient for Fitzgerald.

"My utmost concern is getting our attitude back," Fitzgerald said in the Daily Herald. "Thats the area where I feel I failed the most last year. We lost our attitude and we turned the ball over 10 times in our last two regular-season games. You cant do that and win."

To ensure his players would compete like the dickens throughout the spring, Fitzgerald threw out the depth chart before spring ball started. Though Northwestern retains nine offensive starters and seven defensive mainstays, Fitzgerald issued a depth chart that listed each position in alphabetical order.

"My point was to the team, based on the way we played our last three ballgames, why should anybody feel _ myself included _ that our jobs are in a good place right now" Fitzgerald said. "There needs to be a sense of urgency for all of us to improve and to fix our attitude."

While most, if not all, of the returning starters are likely to retain their jobs, that doesn't mean there aren't good position battles on tap. Sophomores Mike Trumpy and Adonis Smith are battling at running back. Senior right guard Doug Bartels has started most of the last three years, but he's hurt this spring and sophomore Brian Smith and redshirt freshman Paul Jorgensen are legitimate threats to swipe that job.

On defense, Fitzgerald has a ton of underclassmen eager to step in for graduated three-year starters Nate Williams (MLB) and Quentin Davie (OLB). On the first day of practice, redshirt freshman Collin Ellis, sophomore Tim Riley and junior David Nwabuisi worked on the first string with incumbent WLB Bryce McNaul sitting out due to shoulder surgery.

Even the special teams drills will have an edge to them as sophomore Jeff Budzien and walk-on Steve Flaherty compete to replace 2009 second-team all-Big Ten kicker Stefan Demos.

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