ILLINOIS FOOTBALL EARLY THOUGHTS

[Carpet]

The fireworks factory featuring the mosy dynamic
offense in the Big 10 is starting to recieve some
serious attention

Led by Senior QB Juice Williams who is a dual
threat QB. Juice is complimented with a splendid
receiving Corps that is as explosive as any line
ever assembled in the Big 10.

The Trio of the receiving corps for Illinois is
Areelious Benn (a first round pick for sure)
Florida transfer Jarred Fayson, and combine that
with a 6-5 Tight End who is a tank with hands
Cumberland.

The Running back situation at Illinois is
solid with 2 good power backs that are fast.

Offensive Line is Big, Experienced, and
Fast.

QB Juice Williams has a shot at breaking the
all time yardage record in a career in the Big 10
I believe that record is held by Drew Breese (Purdue)

This is gonna be a fun team to watch on Offense

Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn are the leaders
of this team, Juice a Senior and Benn a Junior are
pinning their hopes for a future in the NFL and
this season it is thiers to grab.

More to follow on Illinois, next up
Defense

Carpet

[Carpet]

ILLINOIS working 7 to 9

I am still on the offense of Illinois and want to share
some thoughts on what they are calling it Illinois
Seven to Nine.

9 being Wide Reciever Arrelious Benn

Benn needs 1956 all purpose yards to break the
school career record (this kid is only a junior)

He also needs 1662 catching yards for the all time
Illinois record.

The 7 is even more impressive Juice Williams QB

Juice needs 2,321 yards passing to become the all
time leader in passing at Illinois. (Last year the kid
threw for 3173 yards). He also rushed for over 700 yards.

Juice is 4238 yards away from becoming the all time
career offense leader in Big 10 History.

The above records are within reach for this dual
talented NFL bound talent.

Illinois is working 7 to 9 daily...................

NEXT UP Defense...

Carpet

[Swicat]

What's the deal with their new yoga program as reported by College Football Live?

Swicat

[Carpet]

This is the 2nd year for this program and it is designed
to give players a better degree of balance and flexibility
that compliments there brute strength

[Carpet]

A LOOK AT THE DEFENSE

2008 was a disaster for this team in Defense
and Special Teams.

Considering the talent that Zook has on this team
it was a unacceptable level of effort

DEFENSIVE LINE

Last year good teams with solid running games
moved the ball at will on Illinois. (OSU, PENN ST)
The line this year is stacked, they are big, strong
and all around 300 pounds;

The big weakness here is that the Illini dont
really have a TRUE pass rusher. Can Illinois
effectively stop the run game? I dont think they can.

LINEBACKER

5 star recruit Martez Wilson a 6-4 240lb stud
moves from Outside LB to Middle LB.

This could be exactly what the doctor ordered
for this proto type NFL LB. The last two Middle
Line backers for Illinois J Lehman and Brett Miller
put up some huge numbers in the middle for Illinois
and while I am not taking anything away from those
2 players they didnt have half the pure talent and skill
Wilson has.

Consider the middle position solid gold.......

Secondary

The Illini lost Vonta Davis to the NFL, but return
a loaded field of DBacks, fast hard hitting and talented
They have 3 returning starters giving Illinois depth
down field.

Last year the team had only 6 Interceptions and
4 of them from the secondary. This is a number that
must improve.

Teams are going to be throwing Bombs Away at
the secondary this year trying to stay in a foot
race with this Illini Offense.

I think Illinois Secondary is solid.

CLOSING DEFENSIVE THOUGHTS

This is a team that went 5-7 last year and it has
left a very very bitter taste for every player.

No One is taking that harder than this defensive
squad. There is alot of talk about a winning season
this year and the Defense knows this. The players
on defense are just as talented as that offense they
play with and are out to prove it.

Coach Zook has never been known for great
defenses, but this could be the best defensive
squad he has ever coached.

Next up Special Teams

Carpet

[Carpet]

SPECIAL TEAMS

Looking at Illinois special teams makes me
think there is nothing Special about Illinois
special team.

PUNTING

Illinois ranked 113th in the country last year
in allowing 24 yards a kick.

The Illini punter averaged 39 yards a kick,
which really dont help the coverage team
who was lost trying to cover the short field.

And trust me my friends I watched every punt
last year and each and every one of them was
tough to watch.

Illinois is also coming back to the RUGBY punt
which Coach Zook calls his secret weapon. Carpet
disagrees and reminds the coach of a 12 yard punt
last year that gave Iowa great field position.

Now some teams like TEXAS # 2 ranked uses
the rugby punt exclusively and it dont seem to
hurt them. But Illinois is not Texas who has mastered
that style of play.

This is gonna be trouble for Illinois the punting game
and I see no improvement at all.

FIELD GOAL

The FG kicking of Illinois is also suspect as the
returning kicker his hitting 75% of his kicks.
15-20 last year.

The kicker Matt Eller a junior has the leg to hit
the 50 yarder, but is suspect missing key field goals
within very reachable yardage.

I say this area is Average at best.

SPECIAL Teams has never been one of coach
Ron Zooks strong points and the cupboard is bare
again this year.

Carpet

[Carpet]

CAMP RANTOUL

Every year the Illini head off to a isolated world
called rantoul illinois to come together as a team.

The Illini are half way thru camp rantoul and played
the first scrimmage game of the camp.

The first play from scrimmage went for 80 yards
and a touchdown.

There was alot of sloppy play, bad tackling
and way to many holding calls.

Coach Zook said to his players, if you are happy
about your performance tonight you better reevaluate
your thinking.

I saw alot of bright spots on both sides of the
ball, this team is loaded with talent.

One area that was a weak spot was stopping the run
on defense, it was a problem last year and it looks
like its gonna be a problem again. The Illini are
really focused on getting the run defense working.

Its back to 2 a day workouts on Monday for this team

Camp Rantoul ends Aug 22nd and the team comes
home.

The Line for the Illini-Mizzou game has jumped to
6.5

Carpet

[Carpet]

Camp Rantoul

The Illini have been pretty injury free in camp until
today.

Miami Thomas CB went down with a serious knee
injury, he was carted off the field, it looks like a torn
ACL left knee and if thats the case he is done for the
season. A MRI will be performed tommorrow.

Losing Thomas at the Corner is a big blow to the
Illini Defense.

On a Side Note

Arrelious Benn Junior Wide Rcvr has been named
to the Walter Camp 2009 players of the year watch
list. This is the nations 4th oldest individual college
football achievement.

I expect this Kid to have a break out year as his
NFL stock rises.

Carpet

[Carpet]

Its official Miami Thomas CB for Illinois suffered a season
ending injury with a torn ACL

I feel really bad for this kid, who last year also
torn his other knee in preseason and was a red shirt
coming into this year

Illinois is loaded on the corners and should be
some players that can step up

Carpet

[Carpet]

Illinois is rated 27th in pre season AP poll

Beat Missouri in the opener and the top 20 here
they come

Carpet