In his first two seasons, Russell Payne spent August and much of September cycling through a variety of strategies and setups, but this year has been anything but that. Northwestern has a clear identity, and while there are still questions over its efficacy, especially in conference play, it’s hard to argue with three wins and a draw in four contests.
This is not to suggest consistency in ideas has led to better results. In fact, much of what comprises “tactics” in any match is opponent-dependent, meaning (appropriate) change from one game to the next is a vital component of winning.