Northwestern (1-2, 0-1 B1G) has a bye this weekend, and it's coming at a good time. The 'Cats haven't looked like a team capable of making a bowl game through three weeks of the season, and it's time to make some improvements.

Bye weeks are about rest, of course, but they're also about getting better -- especially when it comes this early in the season. Here's three things Northwestern needs to be focused on with extra practice time in between games.

Getting Preston Stone right

Something seems wrong with the transfer quarterback fans once hoped would propel this offense into a better place after last year's difficult season. The reality so far has been rough.

Currently, the 'Cats are No. 15 out of 18 Big Ten teams in offensive yards per game and second-to-last in passing yards per game. Stone has also thrown six interceptions, fumbled and simply dropped the ball on multiple plays throughout the first three weeks. He has three touchdown passes.

It's still early, but that's not good enough. It isn't going to cut it in a hotly contested Big Ten, especially on a team like Northwestern that has no guaranteed victories in conference play. To have any chance at a bowl appearance, Northwestern is going to need to beat the teams it can handle, and it will not do that with its starting passer playing like this.

Getting Preston Stone right is the most important thing for David Braun and his coaching staff right now. That's it. Full stop. No questions asked.

Make the defense play angry

Northwestern's defense has not been the problem. By and large, it looks like a competent unit, one that did hold Oregon's high-flying offense to 34 points. That sounds like a lot, but considering the Ducks posted a 69 on the board a week prior, it's pretty good work.

But the 'Cats haven't benefited from many timely, game-breaking plays on the defensive end. So far, Northwestern has just three sacks, second worst in the Big Ten. It has 10 TFLs, third worst in the Big Ten. And it's forced just two turnovers.

Sometimes, those stats come in bunches. It's reasonable to wonder whether the 'Cats have been in the right place to make those kinds of plays, and it just hasn't happened yet. But, acknowledging that, Northwestern needs these plays to happen to have a chance against better opponents.

If the staff can get the defense playing angry, motivated to break up plays and change the game, that could result in a major improvement.

Tweak the offensive strategy

It's time to take some of the pressure off Stone and establish the running game. Yes, that sounds like something straight out of an NFL coach's mouth from 15+ years ago, but it's true. In the absence of starter Cam Porter, Caleb Komolafe and Joseph Himon II looked more than capable of toting the rock against Oregon.

Early in the game, Northwestern seemed committed to getting them touches, and it worked. The 'Cats were picking up first downs on drives. They were staying in sequence, something Braun harped on in the postgame presser.

Stone needs a reset, and if all goes well, maybe there comes a time where it makes sense to let him fire away again for much of the first half. That time is not now. Offensive coordinator Zach Lujan needs to recognize the importance of keeping the ball in the offense's hands for as long as possible and getting touches to two emerging running backs.

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