2005 Illinois Fighting :ill: Illini Game Preview
written by: BB73, Bucklion, DaddyBigBucks, daddyphatsacs,
Hubbard, Jaxbuck, LordJeffBuck, and 3yardsandacloud
written by: BB73, Bucklion, DaddyBigBucks, daddyphatsacs,
Hubbard, Jaxbuck, LordJeffBuck, and 3yardsandacloud
Let's start by talking about the offense this week. The Buckeyes scored over 40 points in regulation for only the sixth time in the Tressel era. The other 4 times were all in the glorious season of 2002, including the first two games of that year, which was the last time at least 40 points were scored in back-to-back games.
But if you want to win a bar bet (not that we're condoning drinking or gambling), come armed with the answer to this: Counting only the games played outside of Columbus, when was the last time that tOSU scored at least 40 points in 2 straight? And this doesn't only apply to times that road games were scheduled in consecutive weeks, it's for 2 straight road games, no matter how many home games were in between.
After getting the other guy to believe you that it didn't occur in 1998, or in the record setting offensive explosions of 1995 and 1996, let him know that 1989 was indeed the last time the Bucks scored 40 on the road twice in a row.
How many times has that happened in tOSU's illustrious history? Surprisingly, this is only the 5th time for a consecutive pair of 40-point efforts on the road. Woody's boys did it in 1974, Earle's in 1980 and 1982 (which had 3 straight counting the Holiday Bowl), and oddly enough Coop's only time was that 1989 squad.
Looking forward to another potential 40-point effort, one may wonder when was the last time that at least that many points were scored in 3 straight contests? That distinction does belong to the 1995 offensive machine, which reached the mark in 4 consecutive games.
Speaking of 40-point games, one of the more interesting battles with the Fighting Illini occurred in 1980, when Dave Wilson was unstoppable in the second half, and threw for a record 621 yards in a 49-42 Buckeye victory. What a relief it was when the clock in the 'Shoe finally hit 0:00 that day! That is still the most yards ever thrown by a QB that was playing for a team that's now in the BCS. Illinois got 659 yards of total offense that day, which is the only time a Buckeye opponent got more yards than the 578 piled up by Minnesota last Saturday.
Other great memories against the Illini have to include the tOSU record 314 rushing yards that Eddie George racked up in his 1995 Heisman campaign.
Another classic was the 1984 comeback, when a 24-0 deficit was wiped out when Keith Byars ran out of his shoe in the 'Shoe, with that TD making it 24-14, and another TD after Earle's successful decision to go with an onside kick got the Buckeyes within 24-21 at the half. The eventual 45-38 victory was pretty much a foregone conclusion at that point.
The 2002 overtime nail-biter, with incompletions in both sides of the end zone, was just another close call for our most recent National Champions.
Some other fairly recent contests include 48-0 and 41-0 whitewashes in Champaign in 1996 and 1998, respectively.
All of this makes the next question another candidate for a bar bet:
Which team holds the edge in the last 15 games played head-to-head? Well, Illinois holds an 8-7 edge in games played since 1988, due mostly to five straight wins from '88 to '92. And they also hold a 2-game winning streak for contests in Columbus, with victories in 1999 and 2001. 2001 was also a Big-10 championship year for Illinois, who lost to LSU in the Sugar Bowl in the first year that the Rose Bowl had the BCS NC game.
A tradition of 89 straight years with a tOSU-Illinois game was broken after the 2002 season. That started in 1914, which was the year that World War I began. To put 89 years into sports terms, that's longer than the Red Sox and the White Sox waited to win the World Series, but not as long as the Cubs.
1914 was also the first of 4 recognized NC's for Illinois. They won four of those between that year and 1927, all under Coach Robert Zuppke, who was there for 29 years, retiring just before Pearl Harbor.
Now they have another Coach 'Z', Ron Zook, who can claim something for this season that Jim Tressel cannot: a win over a bowl eligible team. That's right, Illinois had a great 4th-quarter comeback over Rutgers in their season opener, and Rutgers now has 6 wins, making them eligible for their second bowl ever; while none of tOSU's victims this year has yet reached the 6-win mark. Feel free to try for another free drink with that tidbit.
But the Illini have had their ups and downs. They lost 15 straight to tOSU from '68 to '82, and 11 in a row from '35 to '45. Eleven straight losses also describes their entire 1997 season. After that they rebounded to end their 1999 season with a 63-21 demolition of Virginia in the Micron PC Bowl.
The Buckeyes only 40-point outputs in the postseason are the 42-21 victory over USC in the 1974 Rose Bowl (after the 10-10 tie and Bo losing the vote); and the 47-17 win in the aforementioned 1982 Holiday Bowl, finishing the non-Columbus games that year with a third straight 40 point effort.
The 63-point outburst by Illinois in that bowl game was recently matched by a Penn State offense facing Illinois without Derrick Williams, despite JoePa taking it easy and only getting 7 of those points after the half.
Saturday's halftime will feature the return of the Illibuck, the wooden trophy that replaced an actual turtle that died in 1927. It is presented to the winner of the previous game (in this case the 2002 OT thriller) during the middle of the next contest.
Despite dropping the last two games in Columbus against this opponent, it is somewhat difficult to get the adrenaline going this week. Let's hope the players don't have that same problem. But if researchers could tap into the adrenaline surge experienced by Buckeye fans right after Teddy Ginn faked the handoff to Gonzo on the kickoff return, the nation's energy problems could be a thing of the past.
Recapping for the lazy but thirsty:
1. For the last 15 games head-to-head, Illini holds an 8-7 edge.
2. The only defeated opponent of either team this year that's now bowl eligible: Rutgers
3. The last time (prior to the last 2 games) that tOSU had back-to-back away from home 40 point games: 1989
Date and TimeBut if you want to win a bar bet (not that we're condoning drinking or gambling), come armed with the answer to this: Counting only the games played outside of Columbus, when was the last time that tOSU scored at least 40 points in 2 straight? And this doesn't only apply to times that road games were scheduled in consecutive weeks, it's for 2 straight road games, no matter how many home games were in between.
After getting the other guy to believe you that it didn't occur in 1998, or in the record setting offensive explosions of 1995 and 1996, let him know that 1989 was indeed the last time the Bucks scored 40 on the road twice in a row.
How many times has that happened in tOSU's illustrious history? Surprisingly, this is only the 5th time for a consecutive pair of 40-point efforts on the road. Woody's boys did it in 1974, Earle's in 1980 and 1982 (which had 3 straight counting the Holiday Bowl), and oddly enough Coop's only time was that 1989 squad.
Looking forward to another potential 40-point effort, one may wonder when was the last time that at least that many points were scored in 3 straight contests? That distinction does belong to the 1995 offensive machine, which reached the mark in 4 consecutive games.
Speaking of 40-point games, one of the more interesting battles with the Fighting Illini occurred in 1980, when Dave Wilson was unstoppable in the second half, and threw for a record 621 yards in a 49-42 Buckeye victory. What a relief it was when the clock in the 'Shoe finally hit 0:00 that day! That is still the most yards ever thrown by a QB that was playing for a team that's now in the BCS. Illinois got 659 yards of total offense that day, which is the only time a Buckeye opponent got more yards than the 578 piled up by Minnesota last Saturday.
Other great memories against the Illini have to include the tOSU record 314 rushing yards that Eddie George racked up in his 1995 Heisman campaign.
Another classic was the 1984 comeback, when a 24-0 deficit was wiped out when Keith Byars ran out of his shoe in the 'Shoe, with that TD making it 24-14, and another TD after Earle's successful decision to go with an onside kick got the Buckeyes within 24-21 at the half. The eventual 45-38 victory was pretty much a foregone conclusion at that point.
The 2002 overtime nail-biter, with incompletions in both sides of the end zone, was just another close call for our most recent National Champions.
Some other fairly recent contests include 48-0 and 41-0 whitewashes in Champaign in 1996 and 1998, respectively.
All of this makes the next question another candidate for a bar bet:
Which team holds the edge in the last 15 games played head-to-head? Well, Illinois holds an 8-7 edge in games played since 1988, due mostly to five straight wins from '88 to '92. And they also hold a 2-game winning streak for contests in Columbus, with victories in 1999 and 2001. 2001 was also a Big-10 championship year for Illinois, who lost to LSU in the Sugar Bowl in the first year that the Rose Bowl had the BCS NC game.
A tradition of 89 straight years with a tOSU-Illinois game was broken after the 2002 season. That started in 1914, which was the year that World War I began. To put 89 years into sports terms, that's longer than the Red Sox and the White Sox waited to win the World Series, but not as long as the Cubs.
1914 was also the first of 4 recognized NC's for Illinois. They won four of those between that year and 1927, all under Coach Robert Zuppke, who was there for 29 years, retiring just before Pearl Harbor.
Now they have another Coach 'Z', Ron Zook, who can claim something for this season that Jim Tressel cannot: a win over a bowl eligible team. That's right, Illinois had a great 4th-quarter comeback over Rutgers in their season opener, and Rutgers now has 6 wins, making them eligible for their second bowl ever; while none of tOSU's victims this year has yet reached the 6-win mark. Feel free to try for another free drink with that tidbit.
But the Illini have had their ups and downs. They lost 15 straight to tOSU from '68 to '82, and 11 in a row from '35 to '45. Eleven straight losses also describes their entire 1997 season. After that they rebounded to end their 1999 season with a 63-21 demolition of Virginia in the Micron PC Bowl.
The Buckeyes only 40-point outputs in the postseason are the 42-21 victory over USC in the 1974 Rose Bowl (after the 10-10 tie and Bo losing the vote); and the 47-17 win in the aforementioned 1982 Holiday Bowl, finishing the non-Columbus games that year with a third straight 40 point effort.
The 63-point outburst by Illinois in that bowl game was recently matched by a Penn State offense facing Illinois without Derrick Williams, despite JoePa taking it easy and only getting 7 of those points after the half.
Saturday's halftime will feature the return of the Illibuck, the wooden trophy that replaced an actual turtle that died in 1927. It is presented to the winner of the previous game (in this case the 2002 OT thriller) during the middle of the next contest.
Despite dropping the last two games in Columbus against this opponent, it is somewhat difficult to get the adrenaline going this week. Let's hope the players don't have that same problem. But if researchers could tap into the adrenaline surge experienced by Buckeye fans right after Teddy Ginn faked the handoff to Gonzo on the kickoff return, the nation's energy problems could be a thing of the past.
Recapping for the lazy but thirsty:
1. For the last 15 games head-to-head, Illini holds an 8-7 edge.
2. The only defeated opponent of either team this year that's now bowl eligible: Rutgers
3. The last time (prior to the last 2 games) that tOSU had back-to-back away from home 40 point games: 1989
Game time: Saturday, November 5th, 2005
3:30 EDT Kick-off at Ohio Stadium (Columbus, OH)
ESPN will cover the game.
2005 Illinois Fighting Illini Offensive Preview3:30 EDT Kick-off at Ohio Stadium (Columbus, OH)
ESPN will cover the game.
Returning starters: 6
Last year, the Illini stumbled to a 3-8 record, in large part due to a completely inept offense. They were 86th nationally in total yards, averaging only 338.1 ypg. Of that, the rushing attack (153.4 ypg) was 62nd, and the nearly non-existent passing attack (184.7 ypg) was 85th. They scored only 21.8 ppg, which was also ranked 88th nationally. Enter Ron Zook and coordinator Mike Locksley, who have installed about as multiple of a multiple scheme as one can find. Don’t be surprised to see 3-wide, 4-wide, the spread, the shotgun, the power I, 2 TEs….and that’s all in one quarter. The Illini have been trying to make up for a lack of firepower with a diverse attack this season.
Have there been improvements in production in Zook year 1? Well, this season, the Illini have been able to move the ball some, though they have struggled mightily in large stretches during Big Ten play, and have scored only 68 points since conference play has started. Illinois is averaging 397 ypg, which is 58th in the nation and up considerably from last year. Out of that, their 163.1 ypg rushing is a respectable 41st, and hasn’t dropped off, whereas their 216.4 ypg passing is 70th nationally, but is still an improvement. Probably most telling is the scoreboard, though, where their 20.1 points per game is tied for 93rd, and actually lower than last year. Turnovers, penalties, and drive-stalling sacks have plagued the Illini throughout conference play, and their defense has been atrocious, so a lot of undue pressure is put on the offense to manage a game…something they have been unable to do against Big Ten teams. Toss an elite defense like the Buckeyes at them, and it could be a very long week for the Illini this week.
Quarterbacks
QB #15 Tim Brasic (6-1, 185, JR)
Brasic is a dual threat who likes to mix in passes with running the football from the QB position. At his best, he is a dual threat that can keep a defense on its heels and can use his feet to create space and find an open man. At his worst, he can be prone to turning the ball over and taking a big drive-killing sack. He has completed over 61% of his passes for 1597 yards, with 9 TDs and 8 INTs. More alarming is that he has been sacked 23 times, despite being a very good runner. Brasic doesn’t put up huge numbers, but he has passed the 200 yard mark through the air in 5 of the 8 games, and threw for 199 in a sixth. Considering he was benched during the Penn State game, his production has been, for the most part, consistent. He threw for 277 yards and 2 TDs last week against Wisconsin, so he is capable of having a good game against decent competition, though the Penn State game sends up some red flags for this week. He’s carried the ball at least 10 times in 7 of the 8 games, and he is second on the team with 358 yards rushing, with 3 rushing TDs. His best games came early, and 2 of his rushing TDs came in a win against San Jose State…a game that seems like a distant memory to Illini fans. He did carry for a team-season-high 116 yards against Wisconsin last week, so the Buckeyes will have to respect his ability and adjust accordingly in order to stop the Illini offense.
Junior Chris Pazan is the backup. He’s seen limited action, but did play the second half of the Penn State game, where he was 10/15 for 84 yards and a TD, but threw 2 INTs, including a “pick-6”. If things get out of hand, don’t be surprised to see him get a look at the field Saturday.
QB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Tim Brasic versus Troy Smith
Smith feasted on the Gophers last week, and seems to be getting himself primed for another late season explosion. Brasic played arguably his best game last week against Illinois, but Smith is more dangerous, both on the ground and through the air.
Edge: Troy Smith
Running Backs
RB #30 Pierre Thomas (5-11, 190, JR)
FB #34 Jason Davis (5-11, 220, SR)
Like many teams in the Big Ten, the Illini basically use the back-by-committee approach. The Illini running game has not been terrible, but also has not produced a lot of big plays. The best of the group is Thomas, who leads the team with 471 yards and 4 TDs on only 89 carries. He’s a shifty back who averages over 5 yards per carry, but his long on the season is only 28 yards. He gets 8-15 carries a game, and generally produces between 45 and 100 yards per contest. He cracked the 100 yard mark only once, against Iowa, where he reached 100 exactly on 15 carries. Again, he’s a consistent player, but not spectacular, and he scored his first TD in Big Ten play last week. He also generally catches a pass or 2 per game, but doesn’t factor in significantly.
Second on the depth chart is junior E. B. Halsey, who is much in the same mold as Thomas. He has gained 250 yards and has scored one TD. He hasn’t factored in as much in conference play, averaging between 4 and 10 carries a game for 15-30 yards. He is a much bigger facet of the passing game, as he leads the team in receptions with 32, including a head-scratching 11 catches against Iowa, though for only 40 yards and a TD. He’s only caught 3 passes the past 3 games, however.
Third on the chart is Rashard Mendenhall, a bigger back (205) who has 150 yards on the ground this season. He had 9 carries and 4 catches in extensive action against Penn State, but has been used sparingly otherwise.
Davis doesn’t carry much (15 for 31 yards) and is more of a blocker. He’s a veteran in the system who knows his role and does it pretty well. He did have a 61 yard reception in last week’s Wisconsin game, so the Buckeyes can’t ignore him on passing downs.
RB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Pierre Thomas versus Antonio Pittman
Statistically, this is a no-contest. Pittman has been playing better as of late, and exploded against Minnesota…and held his own with the vaunted Gopher rushing attack. Pittman is making a case for being an elite back in the conference, and though the Illini are not bad, they have nothing to match his power or production.
Edge: Antonio Pittman
Wide Receivers
WR #21 Kyle Hudson (5-11, 165, FR)
WR #84 Kendrick Jones (6-2, 180, SR)
The Illini basically run a lot of people out there and keep the defenses guessing. One might think that the 165-pound Hudson could blow away if the wind picks up Saturday, but he’s been pretty productive for the Illini. He leads the team (by far) with 373 yards receiving on 26 catches, and he has found the end zone one time. Unlike what one often sees with freshmen, Hudson has actually worked his way up the depth chart and made his mark in conference play the last 4 weeks, which is a testament to him and his ability. He caught 6 passes for 83 yards against Iowa, and exploded for 10 catches for 114 yards last week against Wisconsin, and he scored his first TD also. He seems to be their best playmaker in the passing game. Jones on the other hand is a veteran of the program, but he hasn’t been able to build on a 687-yard effort last season. Through 8 games, he’s caught just 17 passes for 180 yards. He’s caught just 6 in conference play, and hasn’t scored since week 1.
Lead backup DaJuan Warren will get plenty of playing time Saturday. He has 18 catches for 185 yards, and generally catches 2-3 passes per game. Freshman Jody Ellis has shown some promise, catching 15 passes for 156 yards and a score. Derrick McPhearson (6 catches for 51 yards) and Franklin Payne (7 catches, 77 yards) could also factor in.
WR Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Hudson/Jones versus Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
Again, statistically, this is no contest. Talent-wise, it isn’t much of a contest either. Hudson could be a good player, and has shown some promise, but the rest of the group is very average, at best.
Edge: Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
Tight Ends
#88 Melvin Bryant (6-5, 235, JR)
Bryant is a decent blocker, and also factors in to the passing game. He’s caught 14 passes for 157 yards and 2 TDs. He scored against Indiana, and against Wisconsin, so it is very possible that the Illini will look to him this week. He is also a capable blocker.
TE Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Melvin Bryant versus Ohio State
Bryant is a good player, and the Ohio State TE situation is in flux with injuries. The Buckeye TEs are good blockers, and have helped the running game, and catch the occasional pass…the same as Bryant, so this one looks to be about even.
Edge: Even
Offensive Line
LT #57 J. J. Simmons (6-6, 290, JR)
LG #64 Martin O’Donnell (6-5, 290, SO)
C #67 Matt Maddox (6-4, 305, JR)
RG #79 James Ryan (6-6, 310, SO)
RT #60 Ryan McDonald (6-4, 275, FR)
This group is relatively undersized on the left side and inexperienced on the right side, which is a bad combination. As a unit, they have played decent in stretches, but the high number of sacks, penalties, and pedestrian running game don’t paint an overly positive picture. The pass protection in particular has been spotty at best, and one wonders how much of Brasic’s running id by necessity, rather than by design.
A lot of underclassmen are at the backup spots, including tackle Jim LaBonte, and guards Ben Amundsen and aptly named freshman Eric Block. Tackle Andrew Burk and center Kyle Schnettgoecke offer experience.
OL Rating: C-
Head to Head team comparison
Ohio State vs. Illinois
The Buckeyes have picked up their game, as evidence by Pittman’s sharp increase in production. Smith has also had some more time to find receivers of late. The Buckeye line has been inconsistent this year as well, but they are definitely playing better than the Illini at this point of the season.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Analysis: Zook and his staff will mix it up quite a bit, but in the end, gimmick formations are no substitute for good talent, which the Illini have some of, but not anywhere near enough of to compete in the Big Ten right now. Zook will take some time to get his personnel and scheme in place, and until then, the offense will continue to struggle in stretches. The unit looked better last week against a weaker Badger D, but with the Buckeye defense playing at home, this could be a long, long Saturday for the Illini.
Overall offensive grade: C-
2005 Illinois Fighting Illini Defensive PreviewLast year, the Illini stumbled to a 3-8 record, in large part due to a completely inept offense. They were 86th nationally in total yards, averaging only 338.1 ypg. Of that, the rushing attack (153.4 ypg) was 62nd, and the nearly non-existent passing attack (184.7 ypg) was 85th. They scored only 21.8 ppg, which was also ranked 88th nationally. Enter Ron Zook and coordinator Mike Locksley, who have installed about as multiple of a multiple scheme as one can find. Don’t be surprised to see 3-wide, 4-wide, the spread, the shotgun, the power I, 2 TEs….and that’s all in one quarter. The Illini have been trying to make up for a lack of firepower with a diverse attack this season.
Have there been improvements in production in Zook year 1? Well, this season, the Illini have been able to move the ball some, though they have struggled mightily in large stretches during Big Ten play, and have scored only 68 points since conference play has started. Illinois is averaging 397 ypg, which is 58th in the nation and up considerably from last year. Out of that, their 163.1 ypg rushing is a respectable 41st, and hasn’t dropped off, whereas their 216.4 ypg passing is 70th nationally, but is still an improvement. Probably most telling is the scoreboard, though, where their 20.1 points per game is tied for 93rd, and actually lower than last year. Turnovers, penalties, and drive-stalling sacks have plagued the Illini throughout conference play, and their defense has been atrocious, so a lot of undue pressure is put on the offense to manage a game…something they have been unable to do against Big Ten teams. Toss an elite defense like the Buckeyes at them, and it could be a very long week for the Illini this week.
Quarterbacks
QB #15 Tim Brasic (6-1, 185, JR)
Brasic is a dual threat who likes to mix in passes with running the football from the QB position. At his best, he is a dual threat that can keep a defense on its heels and can use his feet to create space and find an open man. At his worst, he can be prone to turning the ball over and taking a big drive-killing sack. He has completed over 61% of his passes for 1597 yards, with 9 TDs and 8 INTs. More alarming is that he has been sacked 23 times, despite being a very good runner. Brasic doesn’t put up huge numbers, but he has passed the 200 yard mark through the air in 5 of the 8 games, and threw for 199 in a sixth. Considering he was benched during the Penn State game, his production has been, for the most part, consistent. He threw for 277 yards and 2 TDs last week against Wisconsin, so he is capable of having a good game against decent competition, though the Penn State game sends up some red flags for this week. He’s carried the ball at least 10 times in 7 of the 8 games, and he is second on the team with 358 yards rushing, with 3 rushing TDs. His best games came early, and 2 of his rushing TDs came in a win against San Jose State…a game that seems like a distant memory to Illini fans. He did carry for a team-season-high 116 yards against Wisconsin last week, so the Buckeyes will have to respect his ability and adjust accordingly in order to stop the Illini offense.
Junior Chris Pazan is the backup. He’s seen limited action, but did play the second half of the Penn State game, where he was 10/15 for 84 yards and a TD, but threw 2 INTs, including a “pick-6”. If things get out of hand, don’t be surprised to see him get a look at the field Saturday.
QB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Tim Brasic versus Troy Smith
Smith feasted on the Gophers last week, and seems to be getting himself primed for another late season explosion. Brasic played arguably his best game last week against Illinois, but Smith is more dangerous, both on the ground and through the air.
Edge: Troy Smith
Running Backs
RB #30 Pierre Thomas (5-11, 190, JR)
FB #34 Jason Davis (5-11, 220, SR)
Like many teams in the Big Ten, the Illini basically use the back-by-committee approach. The Illini running game has not been terrible, but also has not produced a lot of big plays. The best of the group is Thomas, who leads the team with 471 yards and 4 TDs on only 89 carries. He’s a shifty back who averages over 5 yards per carry, but his long on the season is only 28 yards. He gets 8-15 carries a game, and generally produces between 45 and 100 yards per contest. He cracked the 100 yard mark only once, against Iowa, where he reached 100 exactly on 15 carries. Again, he’s a consistent player, but not spectacular, and he scored his first TD in Big Ten play last week. He also generally catches a pass or 2 per game, but doesn’t factor in significantly.
Second on the depth chart is junior E. B. Halsey, who is much in the same mold as Thomas. He has gained 250 yards and has scored one TD. He hasn’t factored in as much in conference play, averaging between 4 and 10 carries a game for 15-30 yards. He is a much bigger facet of the passing game, as he leads the team in receptions with 32, including a head-scratching 11 catches against Iowa, though for only 40 yards and a TD. He’s only caught 3 passes the past 3 games, however.
Third on the chart is Rashard Mendenhall, a bigger back (205) who has 150 yards on the ground this season. He had 9 carries and 4 catches in extensive action against Penn State, but has been used sparingly otherwise.
Davis doesn’t carry much (15 for 31 yards) and is more of a blocker. He’s a veteran in the system who knows his role and does it pretty well. He did have a 61 yard reception in last week’s Wisconsin game, so the Buckeyes can’t ignore him on passing downs.
RB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Pierre Thomas versus Antonio Pittman
Statistically, this is a no-contest. Pittman has been playing better as of late, and exploded against Minnesota…and held his own with the vaunted Gopher rushing attack. Pittman is making a case for being an elite back in the conference, and though the Illini are not bad, they have nothing to match his power or production.
Edge: Antonio Pittman
Wide Receivers
WR #21 Kyle Hudson (5-11, 165, FR)
WR #84 Kendrick Jones (6-2, 180, SR)
The Illini basically run a lot of people out there and keep the defenses guessing. One might think that the 165-pound Hudson could blow away if the wind picks up Saturday, but he’s been pretty productive for the Illini. He leads the team (by far) with 373 yards receiving on 26 catches, and he has found the end zone one time. Unlike what one often sees with freshmen, Hudson has actually worked his way up the depth chart and made his mark in conference play the last 4 weeks, which is a testament to him and his ability. He caught 6 passes for 83 yards against Iowa, and exploded for 10 catches for 114 yards last week against Wisconsin, and he scored his first TD also. He seems to be their best playmaker in the passing game. Jones on the other hand is a veteran of the program, but he hasn’t been able to build on a 687-yard effort last season. Through 8 games, he’s caught just 17 passes for 180 yards. He’s caught just 6 in conference play, and hasn’t scored since week 1.
Lead backup DaJuan Warren will get plenty of playing time Saturday. He has 18 catches for 185 yards, and generally catches 2-3 passes per game. Freshman Jody Ellis has shown some promise, catching 15 passes for 156 yards and a score. Derrick McPhearson (6 catches for 51 yards) and Franklin Payne (7 catches, 77 yards) could also factor in.
WR Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Hudson/Jones versus Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
Again, statistically, this is no contest. Talent-wise, it isn’t much of a contest either. Hudson could be a good player, and has shown some promise, but the rest of the group is very average, at best.
Edge: Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
Tight Ends
#88 Melvin Bryant (6-5, 235, JR)
Bryant is a decent blocker, and also factors in to the passing game. He’s caught 14 passes for 157 yards and 2 TDs. He scored against Indiana, and against Wisconsin, so it is very possible that the Illini will look to him this week. He is also a capable blocker.
TE Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Melvin Bryant versus Ohio State
Bryant is a good player, and the Ohio State TE situation is in flux with injuries. The Buckeye TEs are good blockers, and have helped the running game, and catch the occasional pass…the same as Bryant, so this one looks to be about even.
Edge: Even
Offensive Line
LT #57 J. J. Simmons (6-6, 290, JR)
LG #64 Martin O’Donnell (6-5, 290, SO)
C #67 Matt Maddox (6-4, 305, JR)
RG #79 James Ryan (6-6, 310, SO)
RT #60 Ryan McDonald (6-4, 275, FR)
This group is relatively undersized on the left side and inexperienced on the right side, which is a bad combination. As a unit, they have played decent in stretches, but the high number of sacks, penalties, and pedestrian running game don’t paint an overly positive picture. The pass protection in particular has been spotty at best, and one wonders how much of Brasic’s running id by necessity, rather than by design.
A lot of underclassmen are at the backup spots, including tackle Jim LaBonte, and guards Ben Amundsen and aptly named freshman Eric Block. Tackle Andrew Burk and center Kyle Schnettgoecke offer experience.
OL Rating: C-
Head to Head team comparison
Ohio State vs. Illinois
The Buckeyes have picked up their game, as evidence by Pittman’s sharp increase in production. Smith has also had some more time to find receivers of late. The Buckeye line has been inconsistent this year as well, but they are definitely playing better than the Illini at this point of the season.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Analysis: Zook and his staff will mix it up quite a bit, but in the end, gimmick formations are no substitute for good talent, which the Illini have some of, but not anywhere near enough of to compete in the Big Ten right now. Zook will take some time to get his personnel and scheme in place, and until then, the offense will continue to struggle in stretches. The unit looked better last week against a weaker Badger D, but with the Buckeye defense playing at home, this could be a long, long Saturday for the Illini.
Overall offensive grade: C-
Ohio State returns to the friendly confines of the Horseshoe this week to play Big Ten doormat Illinois led by first year coach Ron Zook. To say that Illinois is bad would be an under-statement, they flat out suck for the most part. They started out decently this year, but have really struggled in Big Ten play. Michigan State hung up 61 points on them to start conference play, Iowa followed with 35, Indiana with 36, Penn St with 63, and Wisconsin with 41. When you average these scores together you get 47 PPG in conference play, which very bad. They have surrendered 39 touchdowns so far this season, the 2nd highest total in the Big Ten is Purdue's 31. Below is where they stand in other important categories from a conference standpoint.
Defensive Line
DE # 91 Derek Walker (6-4, 245, R-Fr.)
DT # 96 Chris Norwell (6-6, 290, So.)
DT # 97 Ryan Matha (6-3, 300, Sr.)
DE # 92 Arthur Boyd (6-2, 260, Jr.)
Illinois is led by sophomore DT Chris Norwell along the front 4. On the season Norwell has a total of 28 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss, and a team high 2 sacks. He has also broken up 2 passes on the season. Norwell is pretty much the lone bright spot on this Illinois defensive line. He earned freshman All-America honors from Rivals.com, and was named to the Sporting News’ All Big Ten freshman team last season. He has very good size, and received looks from some schools for his basketball skills in high schools, which shows his athleticism and great footwork. The other defensive tackle for the Fighting Illini will be 300 pound senior, Ryan Matha. On the season Matha has a total of 17 tackles, including 3 for a loss, and 1.5 sack.
Leading the way for Illinois at defensive end will be redshirt freshman Derek Walker. On the season Walker has a total of 20 tackles with 4 of them being for a loss. Walker has also been credited with 3 QB hurries so far this season. The other end spot for the Illini will be occupied by Arthur Boyd. Boyd has 8 tackles on the season, including 0.5 for a loss.
Overall Defensive line Analysis
For the most part the Illinois defensive front that has taken it squarely on the chin to this point in the season. They are last in the conference against the run, and last in sacks, which are two stats that do not reflect well for a defensive front 4. They are undersized and not nearly as athletic as most Big Ten defensive lines. The Buckeyes should be able to run at will on this unit.
Defensive Line rating: D+
Head to Head team comparison
Ohio State vs. Illinois
No question here at all. OSU features one of the best units in the Big Ten, Illinois probably has the worst unit in that category. In all honesty all 4 of these Fighting Illini starters probably would have a difficult time cracking the 2 deep at OSU. Chris Norwell is the only potential big play guy on the Illinois line, and he is not there yet by any means.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB # 47 J Leman (6-2, 235, So.)
MLB # 48 Remond Willis (6-1, 220, R-Fr.)
OLB # 51 Anthony Thornhill (6-1, 215, So.)
Illinois will be led at linebacker by redshirt freshman Remond Willis. Willis is 2nd on the team with a total of 46 tackles, including a team high 6.5 tackles for a loss. In addition, Willis also has recorded a QB sack, an interception, and a forced fumble this season. Willis is a bit undersized in the middle, but has excellent quickness and good instincts. He is one of the only playmakers on this Illini defense, and will need an all world performance if Illinois is going to make this a game.
On the outside the Fighting Illini will call on a couple of sophomores to fill their 2 linebacker spots. J Leman will get the nod at one of the OLB slots. On the season Leman is 3rd on the team with a total of 45 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss. Leman has also forced a team high 2 fumbles so far this season. J is another young guy on this Illini defense that offers some potential star power for an Illinois team that is in dire need of some studs on defense. He was selected to the Sporting News Freshman All Big Ten team last season. The final OLB spot will be occupied by Anthony Thornhill. On the season Thornhill has a total of 26 tackles, including 3 for a loss, and a half sack.
Overall LB analysis:
It’s pretty hard to get excited about any of these Illinois linebackers. They are still young and are very undersized (235 LBS, 220, 215). All is not lost for the Fighting Illini though because with every snap that this unit takes they are building a foundation for a solid unit down the road. In all honesty most of these guys have probably been rushed to the field, but are becoming battle tested, which will lead to a brighter future for this Illinois defense. They will need huge games from Willis and Leman if they want to stop a rapidly improving OSU offense. These guys would do much better if they had any kind of defensive line in front of them to keep the offensive lineman off of them.
Overall LB Rating: C-
Head to Head team comparison
Ohio State vs. Illinois
This one features a complete set of polar opposites. OSU is very experienced with 3 seniors starting along the front, Illinois has 2 soph’s and a freshman. OSU has the size advantage, and dwarf this Illini bunch in athleticism. Donte Whitner has double the amount of sacks (3) than this whole Illinois starting unit (1.5). Enough said, I won’t get into our LB’s stats for sake of embarrassment.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB # 24 Charles Bailey (6-1, 195, So.)
FS # 32 Justin Harrison (5-11, 215, So.)
SS # 42 Kevin Mitchell (6-0, 190, So.)
CB # 22 Sharriff Abdullah (5-8, 170, Jr.)
Illinois is led in the secondary by sophomore strong safety Kevin Mitchell. Mitchell leads the team with 53 tackles on the season, with 2.5 of those being for a loss. In addition he has also broken up 3 passes, and been credited with 2 QB hurries. Mitchell recorded a career high 8 tackles vs. Iowa earlier this season. His high production from a numbers standpoint usually speaks volumes about the quality of the Illinois defensive line, and LB’s for the matter. If he is being forced to make the tackles, it means that teams are breaking off large chunks of yardage against them. Look for Mitchell to lead the Illini in tackles again this weekend. Getting the start at free safety for Illinois this weekend will be sophomore Justin Harrison. On the season Harrison has a total of 42 tackles, including 1 for a loss. Harrison has also picked off a pass this season, in addition to his forced fumble, and fumble recovery.
Getting the start at one of the corner spots is junior Sharriff Abdullah. On the season Abdullah has a total of 21 tackles, including 1 for a loss, and a sack. Abdullah has also broken up a pass so far this season. The other cornerback will be sophomore Charles Bailey. On the season Bailey has a total of 32 tackles. In addition he has also forced a fumble and broken up a pass.
Overall Secondary Analysis
This Illinois secondary is pretty bad, I’m not sure if this unit or the defensive line is worse. The reason that they are 6th in the country against the pass is because teams have no problem running the ball down the throats of the Illinois defense, and are not usually forced to throw very much. This unit has a Big Ten low 3 interceptions on the season, and has given up a league high 21 touchdown passes. Their opponents are completing 64% (worst in Big Ten) of their passes against this bunch. That is a very, very bad combination if you are hoping to stop someone, especially a team with Ginn, Holmes, and Gonzalez lined up at receiver. Fortunately for this unit, they are still very young, which seems to be the pattern on most of this defense. They will get beat up for a while, but will hopefully learn from it and become a tougher unit down the road.
Overall DB Rating: D+
Head to Head team comparison
Ohio State vs. Illinois
Ohio State has 5 picks on the season, Illinois has a total of 3. Illinois has surrendered a total of 21 TD passes this season, OSU has surrendered 6.
The Buckeyes have much more speed and talent in their unit as a whole. In addition, the Buckeyes feature 4 guys who will absolutely stick you after you catch the ball, and rarely miss a tackle. I cannot say the same for this Fighting Illini group.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis:
You almost have to feel bad for this Illinois defense. They are very, very young at nearly every position with one senior and two juniors being starters, and the other nine guys being sophomores or freshman. They are last in the Big Ten in a lot of key categories, and have really been taken to the woodshed during the Big Ten schedule. Ron Zook was handed a pretty bare set of cupboards, and it is going to take him a while to right this Fighting Illini ship. With every beating that this unit takes, you would have to think comes more and more fire along with experience. Zook has done some nice things in regards to recruiting, and will get this program back on their feet. Until then, expect some more games where this defense really struggles. Ohio State has their pick this week, they will be able to run and throw at will I would think. If they are clicking on all 4 cylinders offensively I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go over 45 points this week. The good thing for the Buckeyes is that we should be able to get a chance to see some young guys by the 3rd quarter this week.
Overall Defensive Rating: D+
Points per contest: 40 PPG (11th in Big Ten)
Total yards surrendered: 456 YPG (9th in Big Ten)
Total Passing yards surrendered:228 YPG (6th in Big Ten)
Total Rushing yards surrendered: 228 YPG (11th in Big Ten)
Defensive sacks: 6……….on the season! (11th in Big Ten)
Interceptions: 3 on the season (11th in Big Ten)
Red Zone Defense: Illinois is ranked 10th in the Big Ten in red zone defense. They are giving up points 84% of the time that their opponents reach their 20 yard line. More importantly, 27 of the 38 red zone opportunities for their opponents have resulted in touchdowns, which is worst in the Big Ten.
Total yards surrendered: 456 YPG (9th in Big Ten)
Total Passing yards surrendered:228 YPG (6th in Big Ten)
Total Rushing yards surrendered: 228 YPG (11th in Big Ten)
Defensive sacks: 6……….on the season! (11th in Big Ten)
Interceptions: 3 on the season (11th in Big Ten)
Red Zone Defense: Illinois is ranked 10th in the Big Ten in red zone defense. They are giving up points 84% of the time that their opponents reach their 20 yard line. More importantly, 27 of the 38 red zone opportunities for their opponents have resulted in touchdowns, which is worst in the Big Ten.
Defensive Line
DE # 91 Derek Walker (6-4, 245, R-Fr.)
DT # 96 Chris Norwell (6-6, 290, So.)
DT # 97 Ryan Matha (6-3, 300, Sr.)
DE # 92 Arthur Boyd (6-2, 260, Jr.)
Illinois is led by sophomore DT Chris Norwell along the front 4. On the season Norwell has a total of 28 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss, and a team high 2 sacks. He has also broken up 2 passes on the season. Norwell is pretty much the lone bright spot on this Illinois defensive line. He earned freshman All-America honors from Rivals.com, and was named to the Sporting News’ All Big Ten freshman team last season. He has very good size, and received looks from some schools for his basketball skills in high schools, which shows his athleticism and great footwork. The other defensive tackle for the Fighting Illini will be 300 pound senior, Ryan Matha. On the season Matha has a total of 17 tackles, including 3 for a loss, and 1.5 sack.
Leading the way for Illinois at defensive end will be redshirt freshman Derek Walker. On the season Walker has a total of 20 tackles with 4 of them being for a loss. Walker has also been credited with 3 QB hurries so far this season. The other end spot for the Illini will be occupied by Arthur Boyd. Boyd has 8 tackles on the season, including 0.5 for a loss.
Overall Defensive line Analysis
For the most part the Illinois defensive front that has taken it squarely on the chin to this point in the season. They are last in the conference against the run, and last in sacks, which are two stats that do not reflect well for a defensive front 4. They are undersized and not nearly as athletic as most Big Ten defensive lines. The Buckeyes should be able to run at will on this unit.
Defensive Line rating: D+
Head to Head team comparison
Ohio State vs. Illinois
No question here at all. OSU features one of the best units in the Big Ten, Illinois probably has the worst unit in that category. In all honesty all 4 of these Fighting Illini starters probably would have a difficult time cracking the 2 deep at OSU. Chris Norwell is the only potential big play guy on the Illinois line, and he is not there yet by any means.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB # 47 J Leman (6-2, 235, So.)
MLB # 48 Remond Willis (6-1, 220, R-Fr.)
OLB # 51 Anthony Thornhill (6-1, 215, So.)
Illinois will be led at linebacker by redshirt freshman Remond Willis. Willis is 2nd on the team with a total of 46 tackles, including a team high 6.5 tackles for a loss. In addition, Willis also has recorded a QB sack, an interception, and a forced fumble this season. Willis is a bit undersized in the middle, but has excellent quickness and good instincts. He is one of the only playmakers on this Illini defense, and will need an all world performance if Illinois is going to make this a game.
On the outside the Fighting Illini will call on a couple of sophomores to fill their 2 linebacker spots. J Leman will get the nod at one of the OLB slots. On the season Leman is 3rd on the team with a total of 45 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss. Leman has also forced a team high 2 fumbles so far this season. J is another young guy on this Illini defense that offers some potential star power for an Illinois team that is in dire need of some studs on defense. He was selected to the Sporting News Freshman All Big Ten team last season. The final OLB spot will be occupied by Anthony Thornhill. On the season Thornhill has a total of 26 tackles, including 3 for a loss, and a half sack.
Overall LB analysis:
It’s pretty hard to get excited about any of these Illinois linebackers. They are still young and are very undersized (235 LBS, 220, 215). All is not lost for the Fighting Illini though because with every snap that this unit takes they are building a foundation for a solid unit down the road. In all honesty most of these guys have probably been rushed to the field, but are becoming battle tested, which will lead to a brighter future for this Illinois defense. They will need huge games from Willis and Leman if they want to stop a rapidly improving OSU offense. These guys would do much better if they had any kind of defensive line in front of them to keep the offensive lineman off of them.
Overall LB Rating: C-
Head to Head team comparison
Ohio State vs. Illinois
This one features a complete set of polar opposites. OSU is very experienced with 3 seniors starting along the front, Illinois has 2 soph’s and a freshman. OSU has the size advantage, and dwarf this Illini bunch in athleticism. Donte Whitner has double the amount of sacks (3) than this whole Illinois starting unit (1.5). Enough said, I won’t get into our LB’s stats for sake of embarrassment.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB # 24 Charles Bailey (6-1, 195, So.)
FS # 32 Justin Harrison (5-11, 215, So.)
SS # 42 Kevin Mitchell (6-0, 190, So.)
CB # 22 Sharriff Abdullah (5-8, 170, Jr.)
Illinois is led in the secondary by sophomore strong safety Kevin Mitchell. Mitchell leads the team with 53 tackles on the season, with 2.5 of those being for a loss. In addition he has also broken up 3 passes, and been credited with 2 QB hurries. Mitchell recorded a career high 8 tackles vs. Iowa earlier this season. His high production from a numbers standpoint usually speaks volumes about the quality of the Illinois defensive line, and LB’s for the matter. If he is being forced to make the tackles, it means that teams are breaking off large chunks of yardage against them. Look for Mitchell to lead the Illini in tackles again this weekend. Getting the start at free safety for Illinois this weekend will be sophomore Justin Harrison. On the season Harrison has a total of 42 tackles, including 1 for a loss. Harrison has also picked off a pass this season, in addition to his forced fumble, and fumble recovery.
Getting the start at one of the corner spots is junior Sharriff Abdullah. On the season Abdullah has a total of 21 tackles, including 1 for a loss, and a sack. Abdullah has also broken up a pass so far this season. The other cornerback will be sophomore Charles Bailey. On the season Bailey has a total of 32 tackles. In addition he has also forced a fumble and broken up a pass.
Overall Secondary Analysis
This Illinois secondary is pretty bad, I’m not sure if this unit or the defensive line is worse. The reason that they are 6th in the country against the pass is because teams have no problem running the ball down the throats of the Illinois defense, and are not usually forced to throw very much. This unit has a Big Ten low 3 interceptions on the season, and has given up a league high 21 touchdown passes. Their opponents are completing 64% (worst in Big Ten) of their passes against this bunch. That is a very, very bad combination if you are hoping to stop someone, especially a team with Ginn, Holmes, and Gonzalez lined up at receiver. Fortunately for this unit, they are still very young, which seems to be the pattern on most of this defense. They will get beat up for a while, but will hopefully learn from it and become a tougher unit down the road.
Overall DB Rating: D+
Head to Head team comparison
Ohio State vs. Illinois
Ohio State has 5 picks on the season, Illinois has a total of 3. Illinois has surrendered a total of 21 TD passes this season, OSU has surrendered 6.
The Buckeyes have much more speed and talent in their unit as a whole. In addition, the Buckeyes feature 4 guys who will absolutely stick you after you catch the ball, and rarely miss a tackle. I cannot say the same for this Fighting Illini group.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis:
You almost have to feel bad for this Illinois defense. They are very, very young at nearly every position with one senior and two juniors being starters, and the other nine guys being sophomores or freshman. They are last in the Big Ten in a lot of key categories, and have really been taken to the woodshed during the Big Ten schedule. Ron Zook was handed a pretty bare set of cupboards, and it is going to take him a while to right this Fighting Illini ship. With every beating that this unit takes, you would have to think comes more and more fire along with experience. Zook has done some nice things in regards to recruiting, and will get this program back on their feet. Until then, expect some more games where this defense really struggles. Ohio State has their pick this week, they will be able to run and throw at will I would think. If they are clicking on all 4 cylinders offensively I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go over 45 points this week. The good thing for the Buckeyes is that we should be able to get a chance to see some young guys by the 3rd quarter this week.
Overall Defensive Rating: D+
Predictions
Bucklion's prediction: 41-18, Ohio State
BB73's prediction: 42-13, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks' prediction: 49-3, Ohio State
daddyphatsac's prediction: 45-7, Ohio State
Hubbard's prediction: ??-??, Ohio State
Jaxbuck's prediction: 51-10, Ohio State
LordJeffBuck's prediction: 47-17, Ohio State
3yardsandacloud's prediction: 45-10, Ohio State
All of our prognosticators had an "off" week against Minnesota, as none of us predicted Ohio State's unprecedented offensive explosion, or the failure of the Buckeye defense to hold the Golden Gophers' passing game in check. As a result of their "least bad" analysis, 3yards and LJB move into a first place tie for the year.
Last Week's Results (OSU 45 - Minnesota 31)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(123) 3yardsandacloud's prediction: 31-16, Ohio State (14 + 15 = 29 + 94 last week)
(123) LordJeffBuck's prediction: 27-23, Ohio State (18 + 8 = 26 + 97 last week)
(128) Jaxbuck's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State (18 + 14 = 32 + 96 last week)
(143) daddyphatsac's prediction: 24-13, Ohio State (21 + 18 = 39 + 104 last week)
(144) BB73's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State (18 + 14 = 32 + 112 last week)
(170) Bucklion's prediction: 31-17, Ohio State (14 + 14 = 28 + 142 last week)
(184) Hubbard's prediction: N/A-N/A, Ohio State (high score 39 + penalty 10 = 49 + 135 last week)
(N/A) DaddyBigBucks' prediction: none, Ohio State (N/A + N/A = N/a + N/A last week)
BB73's prediction: 42-13, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks' prediction: 49-3, Ohio State
daddyphatsac's prediction: 45-7, Ohio State
Hubbard's prediction: ??-??, Ohio State
Jaxbuck's prediction: 51-10, Ohio State
LordJeffBuck's prediction: 47-17, Ohio State
3yardsandacloud's prediction: 45-10, Ohio State
All of our prognosticators had an "off" week against Minnesota, as none of us predicted Ohio State's unprecedented offensive explosion, or the failure of the Buckeye defense to hold the Golden Gophers' passing game in check. As a result of their "least bad" analysis, 3yards and LJB move into a first place tie for the year.
Last Week's Results (OSU 45 - Minnesota 31)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(123) 3yardsandacloud's prediction: 31-16, Ohio State (14 + 15 = 29 + 94 last week)
(123) LordJeffBuck's prediction: 27-23, Ohio State (18 + 8 = 26 + 97 last week)
(128) Jaxbuck's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State (18 + 14 = 32 + 96 last week)
(143) daddyphatsac's prediction: 24-13, Ohio State (21 + 18 = 39 + 104 last week)
(144) BB73's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State (18 + 14 = 32 + 112 last week)
(170) Bucklion's prediction: 31-17, Ohio State (14 + 14 = 28 + 142 last week)
(184) Hubbard's prediction: N/A-N/A, Ohio State (high score 39 + penalty 10 = 49 + 135 last week)
(N/A) DaddyBigBucks' prediction: none, Ohio State (N/A + N/A = N/a + N/A last week)
Last edited by a moderator:
