Step Back from the Ledge...

We all either watched the game or have read about the results. I feel that if I sat here and posted a review of the action, it would be a waste of our time. Instead I will discuss what I feel is needed from here on out to right the ship.

Let's be honest... No one is happy right now. Not coach Zook, not his players, and not the fans. But let's put some things in perspective here. First of all, the season is not doomed. The last time I checked, Mizzou is not in the Big Ten. I would have loved to have beaten the Tigers, don't get me wrong, but I did disagree all along with the fans who said it was the most important game of the year. It would have to have been some kind of special game to convince me that a non-conference foe was our most important game. If you don't believe me, ask coach Bill McCartney and his 1990 Colorado University Buffaloes. The Buffaloes lost a 23-22 heart breaker to none other than our very own Fighting Illini. What did they do next? They won out the remainder of the season and were crowned National Champions. I never said the Illini would win it all or even the Big Ten; I do, however, expect this to be a very successful season. It is always nice to get a good win against a non-conference rival, but trust me when I say that it is not imperative to having a successful season.

My hat's off to Gary Pinkel. His game plan against us worked to a T. I am hearing many fans complain about the lack of the long pass on Saturday. If you review the film, Missouri was dropping six, and sometimes seven, players into pass coverage. If the Illini offensive line holds up, Juice is allowed to throw the short stuff all day, right? Well, things get a little bit harder when preseason All-American Rejus Benn leaves with an ankle injury in the first 3 minutes. So what do you do now? Any good coach will tell you that it is time to get the running game going. Once again, however, the Illini are missing starting senior Daniel Dufrene, and back-up Jason Ford leaves around the same time Benn does. Let's face it. The deck was stacked against Illinois. Also, congratulations to Blaine Gabbert on his first NCAA win... I would not be surprised to see him in Heisman talks someday with that arm and this offensive system.

The most important thing right now is to not hang our heads and lose the remainder of the tremendous confidence this team showed in the preseason. We play Illinois State in a week, and then we must prepare for the real test. No section of the season will be tougher or more telling than the three game stretch of Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan State. We need to play with a chip on our shoulders so that we don't come out of that stretch at 1-4. If we pull things together and win two of the three, well, the schedule shapes up nicely for an Illini run at a Big Ten title.

Some things I would like to see after this game.

1. Get the TE the ball. The Illini are blessed with experience all over the offense, and the tight end is no exception. If teams are going to be dropping back into coverage like Missouri did, then we need to be able to use the tight end as a receiver and not just a blocker. The game in St. Louis resulted in two catches by the Illini tight ends resulting in a total of 5 yards.

2. Use the screen. The Illini receiving corps isn't going to be able to burn safeties deep if the safeties continue to play this kind of defense. Speed is only a threat when you get the ball to a receiver in the open field. Creating space with the screen pass is a great way to force those safeties to stay honest.

3. Take what the defense gives you. I felt that the read option was working well for the most part. The defensive backs were of little help because of the amount of North-South ground they had to gain as well as the lateral distance. The Illini were trying to pound the ball up the middle at times with the power I and just couldn't seem to push the defense much.

Once again, relax. I know we all wanted to beat Mizzou, but we all want to win the Big Ten more. The season may not have started the way we would have liked, but don't give up on this team.