Illini, Zookers, Fighting Politically Incorrects

Pastor: Thus speaketh the Champ
Congregation: Praise be to Champ


One thing the media will harp on that is ridiculously off base:
This is actually kinda hard to predict with this particular team. Juice Williams has the blessing of having a funny name, meaning that media-types will just drink it up (whoops!). It's not good business to have a back-and-forth with somebody and just agree with them, but in this case, Champ has hit the nail on the head. Juice is NOT a good passer. One quick look at "attempts" will tell you that the Illini coaching staff doesn't think he's a good passer. He had 267 attempts last year - placing him DEAD LAST in attempts in the Big Ten for starting QB's. His 134 yards per game? Also dead last. His 6.5 yards per attempt? 3rd to last.

In short, Juice didn't throw the ball and when he did - it was a lot of screening. When he threw downfield, he got picked off. 13 TD's to 12 INT's is not a good ratio, my friends. We know he can run, but he can't throw. The media forgets that at times.

One thing the media will completely ignore that is integral to this team's success
I don't follow Illini football too much, but it appears to me that a tailback is going to have to step up and fill the void left by Mendenhall. The Media won't ignore this - in fact, it's been well documented - so that doesn't count.

What will make this team go next year? It's the same answer to the question above: Juice Williams. If he can learn to throw the ball downfield in such a manner than it does not float gently into the opposition's waiting hands, then Illinois might, might, be a threat. The media - in ignoring the fact that Juice, to this point, hasn't been a good passer - is also ignoring the fact that in order for Illinois to have a successful season, he will have to become one. Whenever a team can stuff all 11 players, the mascot, and a randomly selected fan into the box with impunity - you've got a problem.

Most important contributors on each side of the ball:
Offense:
Obviously Juice. Arrelious Benn could be slotted in here, but only if I had any faith that Juice could get him the ball. HOWEVA: An interesting relationship could develop in which Benn becomes so good that the faults of his quarterback are overshadowed by his greatness (ala Henne to Braylon). In this regard - both could be crutial cogs to the Illinois offensive machine.

Defense: Up to this point I've talked strictly offense, but the defense has a few very solid players. Vontae Davis is a legitimate shut-down corner, and is projected as a first rounder in the insanely stupid 2009 mock draft.

Area that scares you as an opponent:
If Juice learns to throw the ball, he could be a legitimate nightmare for defenses ala Vince Young.

Really. I just went there.

He's got that type of raw athleticism! Remember Vince before his senior year? We don't either, partly because we were drunk most of the time (college, you know) but mostly because he was the exact same QB Juice was last season. It was only when he decided to "throw first scramble later" that he became awesome. He also haunts every Wolverine fan's dreams.

Area that makes you salivate as an opponent:
The fact that Zook really sucks at coaching during games is something that we've grown accustom to. Really, I look forward to playing Illinois because they always seem to bungle some innane detail that ends up really hurting them. This past year there was no reason that Michigan should have beaten Illinois. They were a scrambling team, and Michigan was down a tailback and a quarterback. The fact that Zook is prowling the sidelines is good enough for me.

Random factor that you think will come into play this season:
One of these two things will happen to make Illinois better than you think they should be:

a) Juice will learn to throw
or
b) Benn will turn into Braylon

I don't know which will happen, but one of them will, making Illinois an annoyingly dangerous team this year.

Overall Record:
9-3. I think that Juice or Benn will be good enough to power them through the opening non-conference games, then beat either Penn State or Michigan. Losses at one of those two, @ Wisky, and Ohio State.

Final Big Ten Standing:
I think they hang on to the 4th spot, but could be third if the cards fall right.

Bowl Game Destination
Outback Bowl Bound - but if the same funky "we're the Rose Bowl and will take an underqualified Big Ten team to get smashed by superior Pac Ten team" happens, they could be Citrusing.