- Joined
- Nov 3, 2008
- Messages
- 5,106
- Reaction score
- 1,259
- Points
- 113
Gophers Game Preview: ‘U’ Hosts Illinois on Homecoming, Hoping to End Three-Game Slide
By Grant Erickson and Travis Erickson
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/846430?referrer_id=331171
Illinois (2-4 overall, 0-3 B1G) at Minnesota (3-3 overall, 0-3 B1G)
When: Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT – Minneapolis, Minn.
Stadium: TCF Bank Stadium (50,805)
TV/Radio: BTN, KFAN 100.3 FM
Coach: Lovie Smith (2nd)
Spread: Minnesota -13½ , o/u: 45½
INSIDE THE GAME
Fighting Illini at a Glance
Saturday will mark the 70th meeting between the two teams. Illinois has only won 12 times when playing at Minnesota.
Ball security is paramount every game and the Gophers will need to pay extra attention to Illinois. The Illini lead the nation in forcing fumbles; averaging two per game.
Wide receiver Ricky Smalling has been a big-play threat this season. The freshman leads the Big Ten conference with nearly 20 yards per reception. Illinois needs to find a way to get Smalling more involved to help its anemic offensive production.
The Illini offense has been brutal. UI ranks 119th in the FBS in scoring offense, accounting for just under 19 points per game. Surprisingly, they are one spot higher than Florida State.
Illinois is one of the youngest teams in the country. The Illini only have 25 upperclassmen on the roster and have played 20 true freshmen, tied for most in the country with LSU.
Coach Speak
“First of all, Lovie Smith, I think he's one of the best football coaches that have coached in the game, you know, Super Bowl coach. He's well respected in our coaching community. He's doing all the right things at Illinois. He's playing 14, 15 freshmen. And if you see us even next year, that's what we'll look like. I told you we're going to get younger before we get more experience.” – P.J. Fleck
“Well, you know of course it's the same personnel. A lot of the same personnel we played against last year. So we're familiar with that. Also playing Western Michigan last year, we're familiar with their schemes. So we feel like we have a good game plan to go off. As I mentioned they've lost three games in a row. So they're gonna search for answers too.” – Lovie Smith on Minnesota
STORYLINE CENTRAL
For a local view of the Illini, the Star Tribune’s Randy Johnson sat down with Illinois football beat writer Bob Asmussen to dissect the visitors.
Michael Berns of the Champaign Room points out three main stories of the game. The most interesting is pointing out the stark differences in personality between Lovie Smith and P.J. Fleck.
Like the Gophers, the Illini have been plagued by injury. Linebacker Julian Jones spoke with Scott Richey about what Illinois has to do to fill the voids and stop the Minnesota offense.
WHO WINS?
The Gophers Win If…
They can get sack quarterback Jeff George Jr. The Illini have the league’s worst rushing offense at just 118 yards per game, and will likely be slinging the ball at Minnesota’s patchwork secondary.
“Jeff George Jr., he’s like his dad, but he’s got a heck of an arm now,” said Fleck. “He can chuck it around the yard. They have got young receivers who are very athletic."
The problem is, the Gophers have recorded just nine sacks on the season, third fewest in the Big Ten. The defense could use a big play or two in the backfield on Saturday if they want to turn the field on Illinois.
“We’ve got to go back and we’ve got to make sure we do get pressure on the quarterback but mix it up,” said Fleck. “Can’t just say we’re going to do this the whole game and leave our secondary with no help...So that’s the challenge. It’s the balance of having both, being able to mix up five-man, six-man pressures and still being able to get there with three or four.”
The Illini Win If…
They can have some semblance of a running defense. In their four losses this year, the Illini have allowed an amazing 250 rushing yards per game. That task gets even tougher if the Gophers decide to roll with Demry Croft at quarterback. Croft is third on the team with 127 rushing yards (9.1 yards per attempt) while Conor Rhoda has just 18 yards on 17 attempts. If Croft is the guy on Saturday, Illinois will have their hands full stopping Minnesota’s rushing attack.
By Grant Erickson and Travis Erickson
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/846430?referrer_id=331171
Illinois (2-4 overall, 0-3 B1G) at Minnesota (3-3 overall, 0-3 B1G)
When: Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT – Minneapolis, Minn.
Stadium: TCF Bank Stadium (50,805)
TV/Radio: BTN, KFAN 100.3 FM
Coach: Lovie Smith (2nd)
Spread: Minnesota -13½ , o/u: 45½
INSIDE THE GAME
Fighting Illini at a Glance
Saturday will mark the 70th meeting between the two teams. Illinois has only won 12 times when playing at Minnesota.
Ball security is paramount every game and the Gophers will need to pay extra attention to Illinois. The Illini lead the nation in forcing fumbles; averaging two per game.
Wide receiver Ricky Smalling has been a big-play threat this season. The freshman leads the Big Ten conference with nearly 20 yards per reception. Illinois needs to find a way to get Smalling more involved to help its anemic offensive production.
The Illini offense has been brutal. UI ranks 119th in the FBS in scoring offense, accounting for just under 19 points per game. Surprisingly, they are one spot higher than Florida State.
Illinois is one of the youngest teams in the country. The Illini only have 25 upperclassmen on the roster and have played 20 true freshmen, tied for most in the country with LSU.
Coach Speak
“First of all, Lovie Smith, I think he's one of the best football coaches that have coached in the game, you know, Super Bowl coach. He's well respected in our coaching community. He's doing all the right things at Illinois. He's playing 14, 15 freshmen. And if you see us even next year, that's what we'll look like. I told you we're going to get younger before we get more experience.” – P.J. Fleck
“Well, you know of course it's the same personnel. A lot of the same personnel we played against last year. So we're familiar with that. Also playing Western Michigan last year, we're familiar with their schemes. So we feel like we have a good game plan to go off. As I mentioned they've lost three games in a row. So they're gonna search for answers too.” – Lovie Smith on Minnesota
STORYLINE CENTRAL
For a local view of the Illini, the Star Tribune’s Randy Johnson sat down with Illinois football beat writer Bob Asmussen to dissect the visitors.
Michael Berns of the Champaign Room points out three main stories of the game. The most interesting is pointing out the stark differences in personality between Lovie Smith and P.J. Fleck.
Like the Gophers, the Illini have been plagued by injury. Linebacker Julian Jones spoke with Scott Richey about what Illinois has to do to fill the voids and stop the Minnesota offense.
WHO WINS?
The Gophers Win If…
They can get sack quarterback Jeff George Jr. The Illini have the league’s worst rushing offense at just 118 yards per game, and will likely be slinging the ball at Minnesota’s patchwork secondary.
“Jeff George Jr., he’s like his dad, but he’s got a heck of an arm now,” said Fleck. “He can chuck it around the yard. They have got young receivers who are very athletic."
The problem is, the Gophers have recorded just nine sacks on the season, third fewest in the Big Ten. The defense could use a big play or two in the backfield on Saturday if they want to turn the field on Illinois.
“We’ve got to go back and we’ve got to make sure we do get pressure on the quarterback but mix it up,” said Fleck. “Can’t just say we’re going to do this the whole game and leave our secondary with no help...So that’s the challenge. It’s the balance of having both, being able to mix up five-man, six-man pressures and still being able to get there with three or four.”
The Illini Win If…
They can have some semblance of a running defense. In their four losses this year, the Illini have allowed an amazing 250 rushing yards per game. That task gets even tougher if the Gophers decide to roll with Demry Croft at quarterback. Croft is third on the team with 127 rushing yards (9.1 yards per attempt) while Conor Rhoda has just 18 yards on 17 attempts. If Croft is the guy on Saturday, Illinois will have their hands full stopping Minnesota’s rushing attack.