Illinitalk

Isaiah "Juice" Williams' senior season was not the one he had hoped for nor one that Illini fans were expecting. Although it was a challenging finish to his college career, I hope all of the Illini faithful will applaud Juice for his effort and how he represented the University of Illinois. He was a key early recruit for Ron Zook and had some terrific moments in the Illini uniform. For more on Juice, take a look at this excellent article from the Chicago Tribune.

Labels: Illini football, Juice Williams

The Illini are kicking off against Michigan State for Homecoming today with a new starter under center. Will the change from Juice Williams to Eddie McGee be enough to give the Illini a new start on the disappointing season? Maybe, but Michigan State is coming off a victory over in-state rival Michigan. Their confidence is high, and they've been playing very well.

The move to Eddie could energize the Illini, who clearly need something to try to stop the "free fall" that started with the dismal showing against Mizzou. But with the leadership that Juice provided in the off-season, I don't know if the change on the field will be enough.

The Illini have been confounding this season. They have so many solid pieces that should fit together to create a solid Big Ten football team. But for some reason, those pieces -- a talented QB, gifted wide receivers and diverse running game -- haven't fit together to put points on the board. We knew defense would be a question, and the loss of Martez Wilson hurt. And special teams have been an "adventure" in recent years.

Of course, the Illini have faced some of the top Big Ten teams at the beginning of the conference season. But that's not an excuse. Let's hope it's motivation for a stronger showing as the season wears on.

As for the Spartans, it will be a tough Homecoming game. Let's see what Eddie and the Illini can do...

Go Illini!

Labels: Eddie McGee, Illini football, Juice Williams

The Illini football season kicks off against the Missouri Tigers Saturday afternoon (on ESPN). And for the first time in 5 years of this 6-year series, the Illini are favored!

Missouri lost a lot of players from last year's team, leaving them with their share of question marks. Actually, there are plenty of unknowns on both sidelines, according to the coaches. How will Mizzou's new QB perform? Will Martez Wilson provide the defensive leadership we've come to expect from the middle linebacker? Can Juice limit turnovers? Does anybody care about Sean Weatherspoon's tweets?

Here are a few things to watch for this weekend:

• Jarred Fayson, the WR transfer from Florida, who will return to the field after sitting out as required last season
• The flow of the Illini offense under new offensive coordinator Mike Schultz and senior QB Juice Williams, who have been working together to prepare for the season
• How QB Blaine Gabbert handles the pressure to fill Chase Daniel's shoes
• What will defensive tackle Josh Brent do with his new chance on the Illini team? He received a DUI while driving on a suspended lisence, and spent 30 days in jail, but earlier this week Coach Zook confirmed that Brent will be on the field, and that he accepted his punishment and is doing his best not to repeat his mistakes
• Play of a less-experienced Tiger secondary against the Illini receivers -- let's hope it's as unbalanced as last year...
• The number of references made by national commentators on the UI admissions debacle

The Illini have dropped 4 straight to the Tigers. But the Illini are poised to break that streak. Juice and company have had no problem scoring on Missouri the last 2 years. If the Illini D steps up against Gabbert's offense, they can start the season with a W.

But enough questions. Go get the Tigers...Go Illini!

Labels: Illini football, Jarred Fayson, Josh Brent, Juice Williams

Summer (was it ever really summer?) is winding down, and college football season is nearly here!

So, what should we expect from the Illini this year?

Let's start with the offense. It could be the best in the Big Ten, according to this preview. And why not?

The Illini led the Big Ten in passing yards last year, and now QB Juice Williams is a senior. He can throw, he can run, and he has experience -- both over-achieving and under-achieving. Expect him to be hungry to win. Eddie McGee has proven to be a capable back-up -- also able to run and throw. Look for him in unexpected places again this season...

The wide receivers are considered the most talented group in the conference. They are led by Benn, a junior, in what could easily be his last season. He is fun to watch, and with a couple years of experience, expect him to excel. Especially since Florida transfer Jarred Fayson will be on the field this year and will take some of the pressure off Benn. Jeff Cumberland is an experienced senior and still a big target. And there are plenty of other guys who are capable of making an impact in any given game.

As for the running game, Daniel Dufrene is emerging as the leading running back. But he won't be alone in the backfield, with sophomores Jason Ford, Troy Pollard and Mikel LeShoure and speedy freshman Justin Green also on the roster. Mark Tupper says that Dufrene undertook a summer workout routine similar to the one Rashard Mendenhall took on before his junior season... Here's hopeing Dufrene gets similar results.

The biggest changes from last season's offense is the O-line. Eager to prove they aren't the offensive "question mark," this is big (310 lbs or so) group. Eric Block, a 5th-year senior, takes over under center. Senior right guard Jon Asamoah was named to the Outland Trophy Watch list, an award given to the best interior lineman in college football. And sophomore tackle Jeff Allen is coming off a surprising freshman season, with experience as a 9-game starter.

All that to say that the 2009 Illini should be fun to watch -- especially when they have the ball. This group should be able to put points on the board.

Go Illini!

Labels: Arrelious Benn, Daniel Dufrene, Illini football, Jarred Fayson, Jon Asamoah, Juice Williams

...a great way to see how the Illini took a step in defining themselves on Saturday:

• 431 yards: The new Michigan Stadium record for total yards (310 passing, 121 rushing) by a single player in one game, set by Juice Williams, College Game Day Final helmet sticker recipient
• 431 yards: The most yards by a single player against Michigan, tied by Juice Williams, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
• 45 points: Most points the Illini have ever scored against the Michigan Wolverines (on the football field, of course)
• 25 points: Most points the Illini have beaten the Wolverines by, tying the 1924 game
• 45 points: Most by a Michigan opponent in the Big House since 1991 (Florida State scored 51)
• 2, 4, 9: Number of sacks (back-to-back), tackles for loss, and total tackles respectively, recorded by Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Brit Miller
• 0: Juice interceptions on Saturday
• 122 yards: Rejus Benn career high on 6 catches, and while he didn't have any TDs Saturday, he was a vital part of the offense, as always
• 69 yards: Michigan rushing yards against the Illini defense -- on 35 carries
• 4 sacks: Suffered by Wolverine QB Steven Threet
• 109,750 fans: Number of people in the Big House for Michigan's 2008 Homecoming game against Illinois
• 34 bowls: Streak Michigan is currently riding -- and hoping to continue
• #3: AP ranking of Mizzou, the team the Illini lost to in the season opener
• #6: AP ranking of Penn State, the team the Illini lost to in the Big Ten opener
• 3-2: Current Illini football record, likely to improve over the next couple weeks...

The Illini offense is clicking on all cylinders, the defense is improving (gotta like a goal-line stand at the 6" line, even if they eventually converted on 4th and 1 or so) and the Big Ten race is looking tighter all the time...

Labels: Arrelious Benn, Brit Miller, Illini football, Juice Williams

Great win Saturday. Juice has really matured this season. Now if we can just get Rashard back next year...

Something I never thought was even close to possible when the season started and I can't believe this is even a possibility but there are those out there who believe we will not only get a very good bowl game but could be headed to a BCS game. SI's Mandel thinks so.

If you think Zook deserves Coach of the Year honors, click here and vote.

Finally, looks like we need to start preparing for life after Ron Guenther. Hopefully the university doesn't botch this like they did the Chief.

Labels: Juice Williams, Rashard Mendenhall, Ron Guenther, Ron Zook

I've had a bit of time for this win to sink in. The Illini were in the national spotlight today, and they stepped up. Yes, they got a break, but they played this game to win. Here's what I saw:

• A drive to win. The Illini went into Columbus with no fear. They didn't let two quick Buckeye scores rattle them. They stuck to their game plan well.
• An "all or nothing" attitude. You need this to beat a #1 team on their home field. You have to take chances -- which Zook did with two 4th down conversions. And he took chances again keeping the ball on the ground during the final drive of the game, even on 3rd and long. The Illini had nothing to lose, and they played like it. Ohio State had a lot more on the line, no question. Tressel's conservative coaching style suits the talented #1 team, but today risks paid off.
• No turnovers. Juice and his offense protected the ball perfectly.
• Few mistakes. The first Illini penalty came in the 4th quarter. Just three weeks ago, penalties killed this team.
• Taking what's there. Ohio State had a great defensive plan for the Illini, which they appeared to borrow from Iowa: Stop Rashard Mendenhall. They executed this strategy very well, but the Illini took what was available. QB draws and passes kept many drives alive, and Juice found the open man of the moment in the endzone not once or twice, but four times. He took control of this game.
• Hard hits. Both the Illini, led by J Leman, and Ohio State, led by James Laurenitis, made offensive players earn their yards. Beanie Wells got up limping, and Russ Weil was knocked out of the game. The hit of the day belonged to Vontae Davis -- it was impressive. He just didn't need to knock himself out of the game.
• Unexpected contributions. Benn was out for the second half, and barely touched the ball, although he did affect the game. But Gamble, Wilkins, Hoomanawanui, and Willis stepped up. True freshman Marcus Thomas filled in for Vontae, tipping a pass to Antonio Steele in the end zone and a 4th quarter interception.
• A dominating O-line. The Illini got the ball with 8:09 left in the game and a 7-point lead. The offensive line closed out the game, making it possible to use the entire 8:09 with the ball on the ground. These guys allows Illinois to control the clock.
• Strong defense. Leman had 12 tackles, and was on the ball for almost every other play. Beanie Wells and Brian Robiskie were contained relatively well. Plus, the Illini grabbed 3 interceptions -- one in the end zone.
• A lucky break. You don't pull huge upsets without a few of these, and the Illini clearly took advantage of theirs. But regardless of this call, the Illini out-played the Buckeyes for 60 full minutes.
• Sweet victory. Congratulations to Ron Zook. This is the second time he's put together a team that beat Ohio State. Zook and Juice Williams both were a bit choked up during their post-game interviews. The team clearly savored this win -- and so did the Illini Nation. (Note to team: Next time, let's avoid the mid-field altercation.)
• National attention. The Illini victory/Ohio State loss led SportsCenter, and Juice earned a College GameDay Final helmet sticker. The game grabbed top sports headlines on multiple websites, as well. It's nice to be the top story. Thanks to Buckeye Kirk Herbstreit for giving the Illini credit for a well-played game on national television.

Thank you to the Florida Gators for giving Coach Zook experience that has made him a great fit for Illinois. I look forward to seeing where this team will head for post-season play.

Go Illini!

Labels: Illini football, J Leman, Juice Williams, Ron Zook

On the first play of Saturday night's game, Vontae Davis and the Illini made one point clear. They are no longer in the basement of the Big Ten. The Davis interception was soon followed by an impressive 47-yard TD pass from Juice to Jacob Willis, and the Gophers continued to struggle all night.

After posting the lowest 4-season winning percentage in the conference, the Illini have turned a corner. The Penn State win marked the beginning of something special in Champaign, but the resounding victory over the current conference bottom-dwellers underscored just how far the Illini have come. (But take heart, Gopher fans, and give your new coach a couple years before you give up on him -- you won't be at the bottom forever.)

Juice showed off his arm with a couple beautiful TD passes. Rashard Mendenhall took advantage of a weak run defense to take over the Illinois single-season TD record at 16 (and counting). Then Rashard stepped back to let his brother Walter have a turn. Jeff Cumberland also had a great game that included a TD.

Now alone in third place in the Big Ten, the Illini are guaranteed a spot in one of the bowls committed to the conference. They looked great this weekend, and I plan to savor this for a day or two before thinking too much about #1 Ohio State next weekend.

Go Illini!

Labels: Illini football, Jacob Willis, Juice Williams, Rashard Mendenhall

Anyone as frustrated as I was after watching us give this game to Michigan? Mike Hart is on the sideline and our defense sends Henne and Manningham to the locker room and we still can't capitalize.

Obviously the penalties and silly mistakes killed us. We gave them the game.

I can't help but wonder if it's because we're such a young team and our guys were riding on so much adrenaline. Still, it's no excuse for most of the mistakes...especially Mitchell. Can we just go ahead and give the opposing team a personal foul penalty on him to start the game and get it out of the way? Invariably he either gets too hyped up or loses his cool or both and shoves someone after the play is over or comes flying in out of no where for a late hit. Drives me nuts. The refs have him pegged.

We don't rough the punter (which even though I understand the rule I see no way you can avoid touching the guy when you're coming in for a block) and drop that punt return and we win that game. Frustrating!

In addition, I do not see the reason why Juice was taken out. He was completing passes and seemed to be in a good rhythm.

In any case, there is still a lot to look forward to as this team matures. The stadium sounded loud on TV. Musburger and Herbstreit called a great game and gave Illinois a lot of props.

Finally, the interview with Jeff Jordan was GOLD.

Labels: Brent Musburger, Chad Henne, Juice Williams, Kevin Mitchell, Kirk Herbstreit, Mario Manningham, Mike Hart, Ron Zook

So says Tupper here. Good. I want them to destroy Iowa.

Kinnick Stadium empty by the start of the 4th quarter (with the exception of Illini fans) would be perfect.

Labels: Arrelious Benn, Juice Williams

19 carries
160 yards
3 TD's
8.2 YPC

BTW, Juice didn't look too hurt during celebration after the game. Let's hope the same goes for Benn.

Labels: Arrelious Benn, Juice Williams, Rashard Mendenhall

My caution in assessing the 2007 Fighting Illini football team scattered with a lovely late-September breeze on Saturday. The concerns I cited still exists -- with one key exception. These boys have learned how to win! Penn State had plenty of opportunities, but the Illini somehow managed to hang on. We have a real football team that is competitive in the (admittedly weak) Big Ten. And the Illini are starting to garner some national attention. What a great weekend to be an Illini fan!

Highlights:

• Rejus Benn. He is explosive, exciting and actually living up to (or exceeding?) the high expectations set for him. I look forward to cheering for him on Sundays in the not-too-distant future, but for now, let's keep getting him the ball. Although the opening kick return was impressive and exciting, I most appreciated the multiple broken tackles after receptions.
• J Leman. A leader, determined to win, he made the difference in one late drive by Penn State, ending it with his first career interception. Our defense allows big plays, but they have managed to make critical red zone stands that make all the difference. And Leman is the heart of the defense.
• Turnovers. The Illini still have their share, and Juice could certainly improve in accuracy. But they are capitalizing on turnovers recovered by the Illini defense.
• Special teams. After dreading punts, field goals, and other special teams plays for a couple years, it's exciting to see these units make plays more often than not.
• QB options. Juice Williams is exciting to watch, but having a reliable option to bring in, even in key situations, is very reassuring.

Best of all, we already have the upset I was looking for to get us headed toward bowl eligibility. With the Big Ten beating up on each other, we have a legitimate chance in almost every game on our schedule. Wisconsin struggled against Michigan State, Indiana beat Iowa in Iowa City, and Northwestern led Michigan for much of the game. Our schedule looks a lot better now than it did last spring.

Go Illini!!

Labels: Arrelious “Rejus” Benn, Big Ten football, Illini football, J Leman, Juice Williams

Those are the words of one Regus Benn, star wide receiver and kick returner for the Illini. But they could sum up what to me looked like the entire team's attitude yesterday. Click here for video highlights.

Illinois football is back, baby! And now the question is, just how good is this team?

We will find out a lot next Saturday against Wisconsin. I certainly didn't expect us to win yesterday. As a matter of fact, I didn't expect us to win any of the games in this stretch against Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa or Michigan.

But the factor I didn't take into account is that three out of four of them are at home. Penn State is a good football team so my thinking is the sky's the limit on this season.

It's great to have awesome talent on the field again. And I will enjoy this fall to its fullest because I have a feeling the hoops program is going in the opposite direction.

As for the QB "controversy," I think Zook needs to start Juice next weekend. He showed great progress with his passing in the first half yesterday and if he can adjust as Wisconsin adjusts, it'll be even more progress. Give the guy the start but use McGee if you need to.

What do you think?

Labels: Juice Williams, Regus Benn, Ron Zook

Over on the other Illinitalk (we were named that first btw) John Supinie has an interesting comparison between Juice Williams and former Penn State QB Michael Robinson.

I can see Supinie's point. However, I'm still not convinced we can hang with and have a chance to beat Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan or even Iowa in Iowa City unless Juice's completion percentage starts to go up.

I'm not asking for Peyton Manning. All Juice has to do is complete about 5-6 more passes a game and it'll make a huge difference. Steady improvement should be the goal and so far that's been happening. The offense is already clicking much better than last year. Once Juice and his class become upperclassmen I think we'll really notice a difference.

Anyway, Supinie also has some quotes from Zook on Joe Pa. My favorite:

Zook doesn’t expect to hang in there as long as the 80-year-old Paterno.

“I just hope I’m living at 80,” Zook said.

Labels: Joe Paterno, Juice Williams, Peyton Manning, Ron Zook

Finally, for the first time in just less than 15 years, the Illini football team won a Big Ten opener. And what a great feeling that was! However, I am a bit cautious in my excitement.

I agree with Mark Tupper's assessment of Juice. The kid is talented, and he has an incredible arm. He can throw the football, but can he pass? In Tupper's words:

"I love the kid, especially his toughness and the dilemma he presents defenses while running the option. But when it comes time to throw the ball downfield, it's still an uncertain adventure, and Saturday was no exception. He missed two wide-open touchdown chances (one to Joe Morgan, one to Brian Gamble), and there will come a time when those failed chances will cost Illinois a game.

"I realize he's not a finished product, and he did make two excellent throws over the middle to Rejus Benn on one Illini touchdown drive. He also had a couple of drops, but those shouldn't affect his other throws."

The offense was a bit sloppy, and the Illini are -3 in turnover margin. Better than last year, but even though the Big Ten is a weak conference this year, we need to protect the ball better against higher quality opponents -- like Penn State and Wisconsin.

The defense did lots of really good things, and Leman leads the Big Ten in tackles, with 11 more than Penn State's Dan Connor. They racked up 7 sacks, contained Thigpen and Hardy, and capitalized on the Hoosiers many mistakes. However, Indiana did seem to be able to move down the field fairly almost at will much of the game, and Illinois is 10th in the Conference in Red Zone defense. Indiana hurt themselves with penalties and turnovers that gave Leman & co. the energy to make a stand. The defense showed that it "would bend but not break" as Brian Barnhart said almost constantly during the radio broadcast. That worked well against Indiana and what appeared to be a very weak Syracuse team (congrats to the Orange on their upset of Louisville! Makes me feel much better about our decisive win), and I would expect similar results against Minnesota and Northwestern. But I think they will need to step it up a notch for the stronger Big Ten teams.

The most dramatic improvement over last year, in my opinion, is on special teams. I felt less inclined to wince every time we punted, and the blocked Indiana punt was a huge plus.

Dare the Illini start thinking Bowl? We only need 3 wins to be eligible. Penn State and Wisconsin would be huge upsets, and Iowa on the road won't be easy. Zook and his staff will have a wide variety of film to figure out how to beat Michigan, although the Wolverines are improving. Ball State should be a W for homecoming, but I'm a bit nervous since they nearly upset Nebraska in Lincoln. Minnesota is struggling, so that is a realistic place to win on the road. Ohio State at the Horseshoe will be very, very tough, but we finish the season with Northwestern at home (the team that let Duke beat them in Evanston -- did you know Duke had a football team?). We should be able to get at least 3 of those games, with a realistic chance for an upset in nearly-sold-out Memorial Stadium. My biggest concern is the attitude of this young team. The next couple weeks will be hard, but if they can remember how to win, we have a shot...Go Illini!

Labels: Illini football, Juice Williams

I have been MIA on posts for a while (my apologies for that) but saw something this morning that I thought would be worth sharing. Teddy Greenstein has a very nice article in today's Chicago Tribune about how Isaiah "Juice" Williams (of our beloved Illini) and Demetrius Jones (of Notre Dame) have raised the profile of the Chicago Public League when it comes to football. There are some good comments from both guys and I think you will be impressed by the article and what they have to say, especially at the end.

Until later, GO ILLINI!

Labels: Chicago Public League, Demetrius Jones, Illini football, Juice Williams, Notre Dame

Mark Tupper is genuinely excited about the shape the Illini are in at "Camp Rantoul" this year - lean, muscular and athletic. And these guys expect to win.

Coach Zook's recruiting has boosted expectations (and ticket sales) in Champaign this year, and the excitement is building toward the season opener Sept. 1.

Like every team, the 2007 Fighting Illini football team is made up of individuals who shape the team personality. We've heard plenty about potential stars who made foolish decisions and got kicked off the team, but the Illini have other leaders, as well. Senior linebacker J Leman may be "The best linebacker you've never heard of" and he makes an impact on and off the field. QB Juice Williams has more confidence after a year at the college level and a summer at the Mannings' camp. Freshman Martez Wilson plans to make an immediate impact, and he's not alone. And don't forget Regis Benn or the members of last year's recruiting class who now have a year of experience.

Have I mentioned yet that I'm excited about Illini football?

Labels: Illini football, J Leman, Juice Williams, Martez Wilson, Regis Benn