Where Illinois Football Must Improve During the Bye Week

A bye week provides Bret Bielema‘s staff with a great opportunity to zero in on any problems Illinois Football is currently facing and address them before diving into the core of Big Ten Play.

The most glaring issue within the program currently is consistent play in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Being able to run the ball and stop the run is key to Bielema’s style of play, and so far, the big dogs are not living up to expectations.

Purdue is next, and realistically, the struggling Boilers should be a favorable opponent for the Illini. However, Following Penn State, Illinois football has proven that they must progress in the trenches to maximize their potential. Continuing to struggle up front on both sides of the ball may be the fine line between sneaking up on a team like Michigan on the way to a 9 or 10-win season, or dropping heartbreakers to the likes of teams such as Purdue, Michigan State, or Rutgers.

Sep 14, 2024; Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Interior Offensive Line

Tackles Melvin Priestly and JC Davis have had some hiccups here and there, but overall, they have been solid at the tackle positions. There is certainly room to improve in the run game, but, these two are currently holding their own better than the interior.  Bad snaps, have been a problem for RS-JR Center Josh Kreutz. Additionally, guard Josh Gesky was simply out of his league vs Penn State.

With two redshirt juniors and a senior with experience on the inside of the O-line, I would expect better production from this starting cast. If they cannot get going through the bye week, and show improvement, is it Brandon Henderson time?

Sept. 28, 2024, in State College, Pa.

Defensive Line

The Defensive line is a group that is performing better than most had expected. In fact, I would go as far as to say that Illinois defense as a whole is better than many had previously had perceived.

Of course, Illinois defensive success is heavily due in part to Aaron Henry‘s fantastic development of secondary players. However, the Illini’s D-line has held their own thus far.

The unit must get better at stopping the run. Penn State’s O-line went to work vs Illinois in Saturday’s 21-7 loss.  Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen combined for a total of 196 yards rushing vs the Illini D-line.

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