INSIDE SLANT
The last time the world saw the Illini, they were trudging off Northwestern's grass and pondering a 27-10 loss that wrapped up a 5-7 season and kept them home for the holidays. All in all, a wholly unforeseen sequel for a team that went to the Rose Bowl the year before.
"The biggest thing I think we have to do is, we've got to try to put on finger on 'Why?' " Illinois coach Ron Zook said after that game. "Everyone wants to know why and no one wants to know why more than myself. It's our job as a coaching staff. It's one of those things where we may never find out."
What did Zook figure out? Some of that remains to be seen as Illinois dives into spring practice, with the official spring game on April 25. But some tea leaves can be read by the staff shuffling that Zook did during the offseason.
When offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Locksley left to become New Mexico's head coach, Zook hired TCU offensive coordinator Mike Schultz to run the system while shifting Kurt Beathard from outside receivers coach to quarterbacks coach. At roughly the same time, Zook fired defensive line coach Tom Sims and tried to lure Penn State's Larry Johnson to fill that void as well as become defensive coordinator.
When Johnson didn't bite, Zook kept co-coordinators Curt Mallory and Dan Disch in place and lured Keith Gilmore from Cincinnati to run the D-line. Last but not least, offensive line coach Eric Wolford jumped to South Carolina and Zook brought in Joe Gilbert from Houston.
Here's what the moves mean off the field: Schultz and Gilbert give the Illini unprecedented access to the lucrative Texas preps market, while Gilmore shores up the Washington, D.C. pipeline that Locksley used to own.
Here's what the moves mean on the field: Not much, at least not at this time. Schultz ran the spread option at TCU while Illinois will always run Zook's brand of defense no matter who the coordinator or coaches might be.
While much of spring ball will allow the new coaches to mesh with Illinois' players and each other, there's going to be a lot of player evaluation going on -- especially on defense.
Illinois' offense, which ranked 19th in total yardage (438.8 yards per game) but 40th in scoring (28.7 points per game), retains every skill player except fourth-leading receiver Will Judson. The Illini do need to find a left tackle to replace Xavier Fulton (perhaps sophomore Corey Lewis) and a center to replace four-year starter Ryan McDonald.
As for the defense, departed all-Big Ten picks linebacker Brit Miller and cornerback Vontae Davis lead an exodus of six starters. There's some experience upfront in senior defensive end Doug Pilcher and senior defensive tackle Sirod Williams -- the latter was supposed to start last year but wrecked his knee in preseason -- but the Illini need to solve all three linebacker spots as well as find an answer at safety opposite Donsay Hardeman.
NOTES, QUOTESSPRING OBJECTIVES: After four years as Illinois' offensive coordinator and playcaller, Mike Locksley earned the head-coaching job at New Mexico. That means spring serves as the time new coordinator Mike Schultz (who held the same job and ran a similar spread-option attack at TCU) becomes familiar with what his new charges can do.
He'll have a fourth-year quarterback (Juice Williams), all-Big Ten wideout Arrelious Benn and three returning offensive linemen to ease the transition, but the Illini still need to sort out their running game. Senior Daniel Dufrene (117 carries, 663 yards, 0 TDs) and sophomore Jason Ford (81 carries, 294 yards, eight TDs) had the most opportunities last year, though Williams led the team in carries (175) and yards (719).
The defense lost three linemen, two linebackers and surefire first-round NFL pick Vontae Davis at corner. While the Illini have been stacking up talent on the line and at corner, there are no clear frontrunners at linebacker. Junior-college transfer Aaron Gress, who arrived in January, could replace all-Big Ten middle linebacker Brit Miller.
BUILDING BLOCKS: Senior quarterback Juice Williams will show up on a lot of preseason Heisman Trophy lists last season after setting the single-game record for total yards at three stadiums -- the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis, Michigan Stadium and Illinois' Memorial Stadium. He piled up 3,892 total yards and 27 touchdowns in 2008.
Williams' passing numbers could jump even higher in 2009 as he'll benefit from perhaps the most talented receiving corps in Illini history. All-Big Ten junior Arrelious Benn (67 catches, 1,055 yards) leads the way, but Florida transfer Jarred Fayson and incoming freshman Terry Hawthorne (the Parade Magazine all-American) will push incumbents like Jeff Cumberland, Fred Sykes and A.J. Jenkins. And this doesn't even count senior tight end Michael Hoomanawanui, who became a big target last year.
The offense needs to be extra-explosive to accommodate a defense that will be breaking in at least four new starters.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We had too many freshmen and sophomores on (last) year's team. They haven't been through enough tough times, especially in a league like the Big Ten. At worst, we should have been 8-4." -- Illinois coach Ron Zook in the Mississippi Press about his team that finished 5-7.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNELSTARS OF 2009: QB Juice Williams -- Having started 34 consecutive games, the senior from Chicago is gearing up to shatter a ton of school records. He owns 6,405 yards and 44 TDs through the air and 2,050 yards and 14 scores on the ground. However, Williams tossed 16 interceptions last year. Though head coach Ron Zook insists that half of those weren't Juice's fault, somehow that number needs to be chopped in half if the Illini are going to reach their goals.
WR Arrelious Benn -- It'll be a huge upset if the junior from Washington, D.C. doesn't sweep all-Big Ten honors, challenge for All-America recognition and then leave for the pros a year early. "Rejus" caught 67 passes for 1,055 yards and three scores last fall while rushing for 101 yards and two more TDs in his spare time.
LB Martez Wilson -- The prep All-American is Illinois' top returning tackler with 73 stops (including three sacks), but he never quite seemed to catch on to the defensive schemes and lost his starting job near the end of the season. After getting stabbed during a late-night scrap outside a Champaign bar, "Tez" has fought his way back into shape with hopes he'll develop into the dominant force that everyone has projected him to be.
TOP NEWCOMERS:
WR Jarred Fayson -- A five-star recruit when he enrolled at Florida out of high school, Fayson transferred to Illinois in January 2008 after posting just 13 receptions and rushing 33 times during two seasons with the Gators. Illinois can't wait for Fayson to team with Arrelious Benn at receiver, but will also utilize his skills as a punt returner.
LB Aaron Gress -- After two seasons at College of the Sequoias, Gress enrolled in January to enable him to battle for a starting linebacker job during spring ball. The 6-foot, 230-pounder posted 5 sacks and 3 interceptions in his sophomore year.
DT Reggie Ellis -- One of the most highly touted recruits in the Class of 2008, Ellis had some injury issues that made it necessary to redshirt him. But the 6-foot-2, 285-pound playmaker has a chance to jump into the lineup and live up to his billing as a four-star recruit.
ROSTER REPORT:
--Junior DT Josh Brent, who started several games and compiled 8.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks, hasn't been part of the team since being charged with a DUI in February. Brent won't participate in spring ball, but there's a chance he could return this fall.
--Senior S Donsay Hardeman underwent neck surgery at the end of last season. He's not going to take part in spring practices, but signs are good that the hard-hitting Florida native will be able to reclaim his starting job in the fall.
--G Eric Block was supposed to be done last year, but the senior was granted a fifth year of eligibility by the NCAA after playing just 7 snaps in his sophomore season. That's a good thing since Block started every game at left guard last fall.
Previous Report: 02/06/2009
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