Illini and Tigers tangle in St. Louis
Sports Network | August 27, 2008
St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - In what may prove to be the best game of college football's opening weekend, the sixth-ranked Missouri Tigers of the Big 12 Conference and the 20th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini of the Big Ten meet in St. Louis. For UI fans, 2007 will be remembered as the season head coach Ron Zook turned the program around. Coming off back-to-back two-win campaigns, Zook guided the Illini to nine wins, including a huge victory at then top-ranked Ohio State, and an invitation to the Rose Bowl. Illinois wound up getting crushed by USC in that postseason clash (49-17), but even that couldn't spoil a season in which the team earned its way back on to the national radar. "I think when you look at that first game, knowing that you're going to play a top-five team it's going to give us an opportunity to make sure we do the things we have to do in camp," Zook said a few weeks ago. Illinois has seven starters back on both offense and defense and should be awfully tough. As for Missouri, it ran roughshod through the majority of its schedule in 2007, going 12-2 and winning the Big 12 North Division title. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they simply could not find a way to beat Oklahoma, losing to the Sooners twice, including a lopsided setback in the Big 12 title game. With eight starters back from an explosive offense, the Tigers will attempt to outscore the Illini and every other team on the '08 schedule. Missouri owns a 14-7 series lead over Illinois, including a thrilling 40-34 victory over the Illini last season. For Illinois, Junior quarterback Juice Williams is the spark plug of the offense. Williams burst onto the scene as an electrifying runner during his freshman campaign in 2006. However, he completed only 39 percent of his passes. Last year, in addition to his 755 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, Williams passed for another 1,743 yards and 13 scores, completing 57 percent of his attempts. This year, Zook and his staff are expecting further growth from their most dynamic player. It won't be easy though, as Williams will have to do so without the services of steady running back Rashard Mendenhall, who was scooped up in the first round of the NFL draft after garnering Big Ten MVP honors. The biggest question for the offense heading into this opener is who, if anyone, is capable of being even half the player that Mendenhall was for the Illini. Arrelious Benn earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors after leading the team with 54 catches and 676 receiving yards. He had offseason shoulder surgery, but is not listed on the injury report for this opener. Three starters return from an offensive line that allowed only 16 sacks a year ago, in addition to paving the way for Mendenhall to set a school record for rushing yards. Coach Zook feels like he's got one of the best defensive lines in the Big Ten, and that thinking is certainly justified. In Will Davis (9.5 sacks in '07), Derek Walker (2.5 sacks) and Dough Pilcher (5.5 sacks), Illinois has three starters to fill two spots, and plenty of quality depth beyond those three. Without question, the Illini will be able to rotate in fresh pass rushers and continue to throw fastballs at opposing quarterbacks for four quarters. Starting defensive tackle David Lindquist (4.5 sacks) is also back for his senior season. Former Outside linebacker Brit Miller (6-1, 252), who had 62 tackles and 8.5 TFLs last season, will slide into the middle to fill. Promising sophomore Martez Wilson (6-4, 246) and senior Rodney Pittman (6-2, 242) will flank Miller on the outside in this opener. Zook sent a message to All-Big Ten cornerback Vontae Davis by benching him in the spring game for not performing at a high level. However, when the dust clears, Davis is among the best corners in the nation and will no doubt be counted on to carry the secondary. The Tigers finished last season ranked in the top-10 in three major offensive categories (scoring at 39.9 ppg, passing at 314.1 ypg, total offense at 490.3 ypg). The return of QB Chase Daniel, receivers Tommy Saunders and Jeremy Maclin along with three offensive linemen means there is likely more of the same on tap this fall. Daniel earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors last season after completing 68.2 percent of his passes for 4,306 yards and 33 TDs against only 11 INTs. Maclin is an All-American who hauled in 80 balls for 1,055 yards and nine scores last season, and he will be asked to produce even loftier numbers this fall with the loss of Martin Rucker (84 receptions, 834 yards, eight TDs). Pinkel loves the versatility Maclin brings to the table saying, "Jeremy Maclin is so good with the football in his hands, we hand the football to him like a running back, seven, eight, nine times a game." Finding a suitable replacement for workhorse back Tony Temple (1,039 yards and 12 TDs) won't be easy, but Pinkel believes he has options there. "Derrick Washington did well a year ago as a freshman. I think he's an outstanding talent, a little different than what Tony is as far as style." There is serious depth at running back, although it remains to be seen which guy or guys will shine in this opener. Despite a tough time defending the pass, Missouri did a solid job overall on defense, allowing 23.3 ppg (37th nationally) last season. The pass was indeed the unit's Achilles' heel as foes torched the Tigers for nearly 260 ypg. The team did prove to be opportunistic, logging a +13 turnover margin to rank 11th in the country. The return of several starters should serve Mizzou well as it continues to develop into one of the finer defenses in the Big 12. Pressure up front will be integral to the Tigers' success this season, and led by senior DT Ziggy Hood the team should improve in that regard. The linebackers could be among the more productive in the conference, but that may depend on whether or not senior Van Alexander is back to form following off-season knee surgery. Senior FS William Moore came up with a nation-tying eight INTs in '07 and he should be recovered from off-season shoulder surgery to pick up right where he left off. Athletic corners Carl Gettis and Castine Bridges will start, but the Tigers have several talented guys ready to step in should the need arise.
