The Fighting Illini at times looked like a Big Ten title contender, putting up a school record 32.5 points per game in 2010, but other days they looked completely out of sync offensively and came up short against average teams such as Minnesota and Fresno State.
Despite losing a lot of key players to the NFL, 15 starters are back for the 2011 campaign and will attempt to lead Illinois to a second consecutive bowl victory for the first time in school history, which may be the only way Zook will be retained for 2012.
Offense:
Sophomore quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase is coming off a fantastic freshman season in which he threw for 1,825 yards and was Illinois‘ second leading rusher with 868 yards and 22 total touchdowns.
Scheelhaase will need to be spectacular again in 2011 in order for the Fighting Illini to have success due to the loss of running back Mikel Leshoure, who set the school’s single-season rushing record with 1,697 yards last year, and a lack of depth at wide receiver.
Senior wideout A.J. Jenkins will be the “go-to player” in the passing game, while senior running back Jason Ford has 1,362 career rushing yards and will attempt to fill the gaping hole left behind by Leshoure.
Ford and speedy senior tailback Troy Pollard were both dinged up a bit in the spring, but if both are healthy going into the season they will have a chance to thrive behind an offensive line, which returns four of five starters from 2010.
Defense:
Illinois‘ defense was one of the best in the nation at blowing up plays in the backfield and were ranked 38th among all Football Bowl Subdivision schools and second in the Big Ten in sacks and tackles for loss.
Senior linebacker Ian Thomas and defensive tackle Craig Wilson will have to replace second-team All-Big Ten performers Martez Wilson and Corey Liuget.
Veteran cornerbacks Tavon Wilson and Terry Hawthorne along with senior free safety Trulon Henry will need to have big seasons to improve the Fighting Illini’s pass defense, which gave up just over 220 yards per game in 2010.
Coaches have also hinted at freshman safety Nick North seeing the field this season due to a lack of depth at the position.
Prediction:
The Fighting Illini have too many question marks heading into the 2011 season to be any better than a year ago.
The defense will not apply as much pressure on opposing quarterbacks, or be able to stifle some of the nation’s best rushing offense’s this season with a depth issue on the defensive line.
Offensively the Fighting Illini may not have a standout running back, which will put more pressure on Scheelhaase to carry the load offensively. Jenkins has a chance to be one of the Big Ten’s best wide receivers, but there are no other standouts behind him on the depth chart.
The schedule sets up well for Illinois at the beginning of the season with their first five games at home, but becomes much tougher in mid-October when they matchup against Ohio State, make a road trip to Penn State two weeks later, followed by home bouts with Michigan and Wisconsin.
Arizona State will be tough to beat in non-conference play and the Fighting Illini could be tripped up by an improving Purdue Boilermakers squad on the road. Look for an upset over hated rival Northwestern to balance out a potential tough loss against the Boilermakers.
Do not expect Illinois to be much better than they were last year, which may force new athletic director Mike Thomas to show Zook the door at the end of the 2011 campaign.
Projected Record: 6-6 (3-5 Big Ten, Fourth Place Leaders Division)
9/3 – Arkansas State – Win
9/10 – South Dakota State – Win
9/17 – Arizona State – Loss
9/24 – Western Michigan – Win
10/1 – Northwestern – Win
10/8 – @ Indiana – Win
10/15 – Ohio State – Loss
10/22 – @ Purdue – Loss
10/29 – @ Penn State – Loss
11/12 – Michigan – Loss
11/19 – Wisconsin – Loss
11/26 – @ Minnesota – Win
Source: Bleacher Report
Photo: Jacek Urbanczyk/Polish News