2011 Illinois Fighting Illini Football Preview

Ron Zook entered the 2010 season squarely on the hot seat in Champaign. The Illini failed to reach the postseason since their magical run to the Rose Bowl in 2007 and patience with Zook was beginning to wear thin. Always considered a top flight recruiter, Zook revamped his offensive coaching staff and dedicated the team to becoming more ground oriented and physical. The experiment paid off as Zook rode the capable legs of tailback Mikel Leshoure and his almost 1,700 rushing yards to a 6-6 season, capped by a Texas Bowl win over Baylor. Now with at least a temporary reprieve from the calls for his job, Zook’s Illini return 15 starters from last season and hope to build on last year’s success in the new Big Ten Leaders Division.

The Illini didn’t ask quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase to beat teams throwing the ball in 2010, content to simply have the passing game complement the running game and keep defenses honest. In fact, Scheelhaase himself was often a rushing alternative to Leshoure, chipping in an impressive 868 yards rushing in addition to his 1,825 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air. With Leshoure gone to the NFL, the pressure will be on Scheelhaase to beat teams throwing the ball. When he does throw the ball, he’ll have his leading receiver from 2010, A.J. Jenkins, and sophomore Darius Millines back to catch it. He’ll also have his security blanket in tight end Evan Wilson who should see an expanded role in the offense.

The challenge for Illinois will be replacing Leshoure and replacing two starters along the offense line. The first to get a crack at replacing Leshoure is senior Jason Ford. Ford is a load at tailback (6’0, 235) and while he lacks some of the breakaway speed that Leshoure possessed, he can be a grinder that moves the pile. For a change of pace back, Zook will lean on redshirt freshman Troy Pollard. The offensive line returns three of five starters and is led by senior left tackle Jeff Allen. Due to attrition, the Illini are both figuratively and literally thin along the offensive line and could find themselves starting 260 pound redshirt freshman Michael Heitz at right tackle. The coaching staff will be on pins and needles hoping to avoid injury in 2011.

Rebuilding a decent defense from last year will be a tough chore for Zook and his defensive coordinator Vic Koenning. Still, few expected Koenning to get as much out of the defense as he did last year, so there’s hope in his ability to coach the defense up again in 2011. The defensive line loses its two anchors from 2010 in Corey Liuget and Clay Nurse, but Zook has recruited the defensive line pretty well in his time in Champaign and while the unit might be young, there is talent. Defensive tackles Akeem Spence and Craig Wilson are a load at 320 and 310 pounds, respectively. Their size makes running inside difficult and help keep linebackers free to roam. Michaek Buchanan is back as the “bandit”, a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end and is a quality pass rushing threat as well as a capable man in coverage. Ian Thomas is the only true linebacker returning from last year’s unit, but he is a load inside at 240 pounds. He’ll be counted on to take an increased role in the defense while newer pieces are worked in.

The strength of the defense should be the secondary. Cornerbacks Tavon Wilson and Terry Hawthorne are both talented, experienced cover men that broke up eleven passes between them last year. With the loss of pass rushers in the front seven, the Illini might be forced to be more aggressive with blitzes and that means more man coverage. Wilson and Hawthorne are capable of handling those duties. Free safety Trulon Henry was everywhere on defense last year and will be counted on to do the same again in 2011. Henry had three tackles for loss, three interceptions, and was fifth on the team in tackles. He’s a very big safety at 6’2, 225 and the state sheet shows he’s not afraid to come up and support the run defense. He’s the ideal size for a safety in the Big Ten conference and its collection of powerful rushing teams.

The schedule should at least send Illinois back to the postseason and might allow the Illini to open 5-0, depending on how home games against Arizona State and Northwestern go. The Illini beat Northwestern last year at Wrigley Field. The Illini will need to pile up on wins in the early going as the schedule gets increasingly difficult. Few teams will face a more difficult final stretch than their final month which features games at Penn State, followed by games at against Michigan and Wisconsin. The season finale at Minnesota could be a battle for bowl eligibility if the Illini stumble early.