Illini defense not getting the job done
CHAMPAIGN -- You might have heard Illinois and Northwestern are playing this Saturday at Wrigley Field.
In the wake of Saturday's 38-34 loss to Minnesota, Illini defensive coordinator Vic Koenning was a bit too preoccupied with his own team's foibles to think about the Wildcats or the fabled venue.
When told Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa is out for the season after rupturing his Achilles' tendon late in the win over Iowa, here was Koenning's response:
“I don't know who you're talking about,” Koenning said. “That shows you how focused. I haven't even thought about it.”
Here's what the glum Koenning can't forget: His defense has surrendered 105 points and 1,037 total yards in the last two weeks.
The Illini also allowed crucial 80-yard drives in the waning minutes against both Michigan and Minnesota.
The Gophers faced third-and-10 from their own 20 with 2:30 to go Saturday, but quarterback Adam Weber's 29-yard draw triggered the winning march.
Two plays later, senior cornerback Travon Bellamy hit Gophers running back Duane Bennett late to move to the visitors to Illinois' 31.
Starting weak-side linebacker Ian Thomas went out with a leg injury on that play, which hurt the Illini two plays later when they missed an assignment on Weber's 25-yard screen pass to Bennett that got the Gophers to the 6.
“That last drive, we spear a guy,” Koenning said. “We don't hug up the back on a screen. We get beat on a draw. We have 2 interceptions in our hands and we don't make them. I've obviously got to do a better job of finding things that our guys can do well.
“We just couldn't make plays. All it (would take) was one play. All it took at Michigan was one play to win the game, but we're not finding a way to make that one play.”
Bowl goal proving elusive:
With their back-to-back losses to Michigan and Minnesota, the Illini (5-5, 3-4) must win either Saturday against Northwestern (7-3) or the Dec. 3 trip to Fresno State (6-2 entering tonight's game vs. Nevada) in order to earn a bowl bid.
Is that bowl goal affecting the players' thoughts?
Illini coach Ron Zook would prefer they think about the game at hand rather than look ahead.
“I told them, ‘Everyone wants to bring up the bowl game,' ” Zook said. “And it's not a thing (where) I don't want to talk about the bowl game.
“Maybe that's what they were thinking about last week was the bowl game. I don't want to think about the bowl game. They're grown men. You don't think I don't think they don't think about the bowl game?”
Junior wideout A.J. Jenkins, who caught 6 passes for 137 yards and 1 touchdown Saturday, admits he's thinking about it.
“I haven't been to a bowl since I've been here,” Jenkins said. “I'm trying to experience that before I leave. I'm trying to do the best I can to lead myself, this offense and this whole team.”