Illinois Fighting Illini: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Illinois Fighting Illini: Key To The 2022 Offense
Grind, grind, grind.
Yes, Illinois has to be better and more consistent with the passing game – failing to come up with more than 100 passing yards five times in the last eight games is inexcusable – but when a Bret Bielema team is flattening defenses, everything else works.
The Illini were 4-0 when running for 185 yards or more, and 1-7 when they didn’t. Over the last two years they’re 6-0 when they hit that mark, and 1-13 when they don’t.
Again, there has to be more of a passing attack – seriously Illinois, hit more than 51% of your throws. Get that O line into a lather, control the clock, and grind … grind … grind.
Illinois Fighting Illini: Key To The 2022 Defense
Keep up the pressure.
How did the Illinois defense keep the team in games when the offense was struggling to put 20 points on the board? It came up with a whole lot of big things in the backfield, and it has to keep on coming.
There were a whole lot of problems in the Lovie Smith era, but the pass rush was solid in the final season averaging 2.25 sacks per game, and it kept on going and cranked up a notch last year averaging 2.3 per game.
No, the defensive front couldn’t do much of anything against Wisconsin, and Rutgers did a brilliant job up front in its win, but overall the Illini came up with three sacks or more in seven games.
Keep that going, get more of an offensive punch, and the extra wins will be there.
Illinois Fighting Illini: Key Player To The 2022 Season
PK Caleb Griffin, Jr.
Or Will McManus, and throw in redshirt freshman punter Hugh Robertson, too.
Illinois should be better, but it’s not going to come up with a high-octane scoring attack and should be in close game after close game.
Only three games last year were devices by four points or fewer, but one close call and one close kick might be the difference between going bowling and another losing season.
James McCourt hit 18-of-23 field goals last year, and now Griffin has to be equally as consistent and solid. Also for this team, field position matters. Blake Hayes averaged over 45 yards per kick – Robertson needs to be a factor right away.
Illinois Fighting Illini: Key Transfer
QB Tommy DeVito, Sr.
DeVito gave it a shot.
He’s a good passer who had some great moments at Syracuse, but the O line allowed 158 sacks over the last four years. There were a few quarterbacks who caught a beating, but DeVito was the main punching bag behind the porous front five.
He’s not going to know what to do with himself with time to operate, but if he can beat out the other options, he’ll give the offense the consistent passing attack missing last year.
Illinois Key Game To The 2022 Season
Virginia, Sept. 10
How far has the program come in a year?
There were only two times last season when the Illini got rocked. Once was against a Wisconsin defense that took its game up a few notches, and the other was a 42-14 whacking from Virginia – the D allowed 556 yards and a season-high 423 through the air.
If this is going to be a good season, Illinois has to open the season with a win over Wyoming and it needs to be good enough to get by Indiana on the road. Then Virginia comes to Champaign.
When was the last time Illinois started 3-0? 2011. That was the last time it came up with a winning season.
Illinois Fighting Illini: 2021 Fun Stats
– 1st Quarter Scoring: 36 – 2nd Quarter Scoring 102
– 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 13-of-18 (72%) – Illinois 5-of-13 (38%)
– Passing Yards Per Game: Opponents 215 – Illinois 156
O, D Breakdown | Season Prediction, What Will Happen
Illinois Top 10 Players | Illinois Schedule & Analysis