Sleepless nights are a staple of the coaching profession. Particularly when your defense gives up 705 yards.

That's the predicament that Ron Zook found himself in last week after the Illini got torched 61-14 by Michigan State. Zook is trying to convince himself and his team that the performance against Michigan State was an aberration.

Zook blamed himself for much of his team's poor defensive performance against the high-powered Spartans. Despite the presence of QB Drew Stanton, Zook often sent eight and nine men into the box in order to stop the Spartans running game. Not only were the Spartans able to run all over that defense, the game-planning left Stanton with a wide open field to navigate. He made no mistakes in completing 20-of-26 passes and throwing five TDs.

Zook has to get things fixed in a hurry for an Iowa team that should be in an awful mood. The Hawkeyes were taken to the woodshed by Ohio State and are anxious to get back on the field and show they are a much better team than the one that got beaten 31-6.

Iowa has looked inept in losses to Iowa State and Ohio State, but they were powerful bullies in wins over Ball State and Northern Iowa. If Iowa can continue its win-one, lose-one pattern, the Illini will have problems.

The key for Illini will be to find a way to control Hawkeye QB Drew Tate. When he has time and can survey the field, he is one of the most dangerous passers in the Big Ten. Illinois does not bring a lot of pressure from its front seven, so the secondary will have to improve its play dramatically if they are going to contain the Hawkeye passing game.

Zook also needs a big game from RBs Pierre Thomas, E.B. Halsey and Rashard Mendenhall. If those three can gash the Hawkeyes, the Illini will be able to control the clock and keep the ball out of Tate's hands.

A win at Iowa City does not appear realistic for Illinois. However, if they can make a significant improvement and stay in the game for 60 minutes, they could get back in the win column the following week at Indiana.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Illinois did not have a chance to use its balanced offense against powerful Michigan State, because the Spartans exploded for 61 points and the Illini was forced into a desperation mode. Ron Zook will try to get the offense back on track and that means nearly an equal amount of running and passing. QB Tim Brasic is a fine leader who remains calm under pressure and can get things done with his arm or his legs. ... Illinois is averaging 26.8 ppg, ranking 11th in the Big Ten. ... The Illini have done remarkably well in the red zone, converting on 18-of-18 opportunities.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Zook has asked his team to forget the 61-14 loss to Michigan State and concentrate on what it had done well prior to that game. That's probably good advice, but to have a chance against the Hawkeyes, DTs Ryan Mantha and Chris Norwell will have to step up and provide pressure up the middle and redshirt freshman Remond Willis will have to be extremely active. Willis is the team's leading tackler with 26 stops this season. ... The Illini rank dead last in the conference in points allowed, giving up 36.2 ppg.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Let's go back to the first three quarters of that Cal game. That's us. What we did against Michigan State -- that wasn't us." -- Ron Zook on the Illinois defense that gave up 705 yards in last week's loss to Michigan State.

THIS WEEK'S GAME: at Iowa, Oct. 1 -- Both teams are coming off lopsided defeats, so that means Illinois will probably catch Iowa coming with its best effort. Drew Tate is one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten and could have a great game against an Illinois pass defense that gave up five TD passes to the Spartans.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Pierre Thomas -- He is the key to Illinois' ball-control offense. Thomas is the team's leading rusher with 223 yards and three TDs. He can run inside the tackles or bust it outside, but he has not been that explosive to this point.

QB Tim Brasic -- He has a fine arm, quick feet and poise in the pocket. However, he needs to get the ball to his wide receivers. Kendrick Jones has 11 catches and that's the most of any Illini wideout through four games.

LB Remond Willis -- He's one of the most aggressive defensive players the Illini have had in recent years. In addition to his team-leading 26 tackles, he has three TFL, one interception and one QB hurry.

PK Jason Reda -- He is 8-of-9 on field-goal attempts this season, which ranks seventh in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten. He also is a perfect 11-of-11 in his extra point attempts this season.

ROSTER REPORT: S Morris Virgil suffered a slight shoulder separation against Michigan State and his status against Iowa is questionable. ... Defensive back Justin Harrison (hip) is questionable for Saturday's game against Iowa.