Michigan Football: Getting to Know Illinois
The Michigan football team is done with its bye week. Now it’s time to return to the field against Illinois. Here is a look at the fighting Illini.
Michigan football fans can be thankful that the Wolverines have just one bye week this regular season. It’s over now — the only problem is that seemingly another cupcake opponent is coming into the Big House Saturday.
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That is the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-4).
Don’t get me wrong, Illinois is better than Rutgers, as evidenced by its 24-7 win over the Scarlet Knights last Saturday. But, in the overall picture, the Illini aren’t much better, which is why we could see another blowout.
Certainly, it’s never a bad thing to watch the Wolverines win in dominating fashion. However, when they are beating a team like a varsity squad beats the JV, it gets a bit boring.
Yet, when you look at Illinois you see some similarities with Rutgers. Here’s a refresher of what UM did to them.
The Fighting Illini currently rank ninth in the Big Ten is scoring offense (25.7), 10th in scoring defense (26.2), 12th in total offense (371.3 YPG) and ninth in total defense (388.5).
Not that stats are the only things that matter — but in those same categories in the Big Ten, Michigan football ranks either first or second in all of them.
The other thing that may make things difficult for Illinois is the fact that for the second straight week, it may need to start its backup quarterback.
Wes Lunt has a back injury that’s said not serious. But it could be serious enough to keep him on the bench this week. Before injury, he completed 60 percent of his passes, threw six touchdowns and one interception,
Chayce Crouch, who started against Rutgers, completed 6-of-14 passes for 92. He also threw one touchdown and one INT.
That’s against Rutgers, a defense that made Michigan look like the greatest offense college football has ever seen.
However, one thing Illinois can do is run the football. It’s the only area in the Big Ten, where the Illini rank is the top half of the league offensively.
Kendrick Foster leads the way for Illinois on the ground with 384 yards and five touchdowns. But Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Reggie Corbin are also viable threats in the backfield.
In the the passing game, the only real threat at receiver is Malik Turner, who has 31 receptions for 427 yards and three scores.
Defensively, the Fighting Illini aren’t much to write home about either. Yet, they do a decent job defending the pass (6th in the Big Ten) and are fifth in the league with six interceptions.
Hardy Nickerson has been Illinois’ most productive defender, with a team-high 58 tackles and two interceptions. Defensive back Darius Mosely also has two interceptions. And up front, the best player for Illinois is Carroll Phillips, who has 10 TFL and four sacks, both team highs.
Stats don’t mean everything. And as we all know, in college football, anything can happen. Yet, Michigan football should dominate this under-matched Illinois squad.
Right now, the Wolverines are on a mission and sadly for the Illini, they are the next team standing in their way.
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Like the Rutgers game, when it’s all said and done at the Big House, the final score may not be pretty. At least not for Illinois.