Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Stalled Out
The Illini offense -- especially the running game -- stalled in East Lansing last weekend, unable to break through the Spartans big line. But although the Illini lost big, they still showed signs of improvement compared to last season.
Let's start with areas that need to improve:
Next up, Indiana at home. If the defense plays well, the Illini should be able to compete well against the Hoosiers...
Let's start with areas that need to improve:
- Accuracy of Nathan Scheelhaase's arm, and his pass protection. Scheelhaase can throw, but he also gets picked off regularly. Remember, he's a freshman, and with experience, this is an area that should improve. The turnovers really demoralized the Illini Saturday, changing the momentum of the game.
- Patience and discipline are critical, but the Illini penalties showed a lack of both. The Illini moved backward -- or allowed Michigan State to move ahead -- more than they could afford. These mistakes can be cleaned up, and they need to be to survive the rest of the season.
- Much better return game. It was State that fumbled on special teams this week, and that was a relief after the Illini performance against Penn State.
- 30 minutes of strong defense. The D kept the Spartans in check for the entire first half, as they were well below their typical output. The second half wasn't quite as pretty, but the D still held Kirk Cousins and his offense to field goals off the third-quarter turnovers. And they may have held better in the second half if it hadn't been for the turnovers.
- A.J. Jenkins continues to have some great catches, and even when stood up, the Illini running backs often push the pile forward.
Next up, Indiana at home. If the defense plays well, the Illini should be able to compete well against the Hoosiers...
Labels: Illini football
# posted by Alma Mater : 10:35 PM
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