The problems are familiar to long-time Illinois observers. The Illini defense is way too passive and the offense just can't make enough big plays.

First-year head coach Ron Zook knew that the team's opportunities for victory in conference play would be limited in Big Ten play and one of those was the Nov. 8 game at Indiana. The Hoosiers, though, were not willing to cooperate. Terry Hoeppner is having quite a bit more success in his first year than Zook.

The Hoosiers broke open a close game by dominating in the fourth quarter and pulling away for a 36-13 victory in Bloomington.

In addition to defensive deficiencies that were on display in losses to California and Michigan State, the Illini offense has been well below expectations.

Zook thought he had a pretty good running game at his disposal with Pierre Thomas, E.B. Halsey and freshman Rashard Mendenhall. But the running game has not done the job and has not give QB Tim Brasic any comfort level. The Illini rushed for 113 yards on 35 attempts against Indiana and did not have a single rushing gain of more than 16 yards. With backs like Laurence Maroney, Gary Russell, Brian Calhoun, Tyrell Sutton and Javon Ringer running the ball in the Big Ten, that simply won't get the job done.

The backs need to do a better job and the offensive line needs to hold up its end as well. That hasn't happened since Illinois won the Big Ten title in 2001 and there's no signs of this turning around in 2004.

Zook will have a week off to turn things around before hosting revitalized Penn State Oct. 22.

KEEP AN EYE ON: LB J Leman -- He led the Illini with 8.5 tackles, 1.5 TFL and one forced fumble against the Hoosiers. Unfortunately, not enough of his teammates were willing to sacrifice their bodies the way Leman does on the field.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We get ourselves in a position to make plays. We don't make them. Sooner or later you these guys are going to get tired of people spitting in their faces and start fighting back." -- Illinois head coach Ron Zook on his 2-4 (0-3 Big Ten) team.

-- QB Tim Brasic has performed well. He completed 22-of-39 passes for 230 yards with a TD and two interceptions. He also ran for 34 yards.

-- DB Alan Ball had seven tackles and one interception. He has the kind of talent that allows him to catch up with receivers after giving ground early in the pattern.

STILL NEEDS SOME WORK: The Illini got tagged by instant replay. It appeared that Brasic threw a 51-yard TD pass to Derrick McPhearson in the third quarter. However, it was ruled that McPhearson stepped out of bounds 18 yards into the gain and Illinois could not capitalize on the play.

-- RB Rashard Mendenhall has game-breaking physical ability, but the Illini are not giving him the opportunity to put it on display. Mendenhall had two carries for 10 yards against Indiana. He needs 15-20 carries per game to show what he can do.

-- RB E.B. Halsey struggled against Indiana, running for 18 yards and catching just one pass. That's not the kind of production Zook anticipated from his versatile back at the start of the year.

ROSTER REPORT: DB Morris Virgil registered five tackles and played a credible game despite a shoulder injury against Indiana.