Williams' QB streak ends as Illini switch to McGee
Juice Williams' resume boasts more than a few positive numbers.
Thirty-eight consecutive starts at quarterback. An Illinois-record 9,126 yards of total offense. The leader of the program's only defeat of a top-ranked team in the last 53 years.
But so much of that accrued in happier days at Illinois.
The only numbers that matter for the current-day Illini are 1-3. That record, as much as anything else, explains why Juice is being squeezed out of the lineup.
Coach Ron Zook announced Monday that redshirt junior Eddie McGee will start against Michigan State on Saturday.
"Believe me, this is not all on Juice," Zook said on his Monday morning radio show. "I mean, the poor guy has, at times, played extremely well. But the thing you try to do in athletics, you try to get a spark.
"I don't know what's going to happen, but I just think we need to make a little change and see what happens. This is not a knee-jerk reaction. This is (after) a lot of thought and 'what-if, what-if, what-if.' "
Williams hits the bench as the Big Ten's 12th-ranked quarterback in passer efficiency with a 101.01 rating.
That's a far cry from last season, when Williams finished seventh nationally in total offense (324.3 yards per game) and third in the Big Ten in passer efficiency (138.09).
Not only has he led Illinois to just 3 touchdowns in its three losses - 2 of them coming in the waning minutes of Saturday's loss to Penn State - but he has struggled to complete easy throws such as bubble screens and swing passes.
In a year when Zook wants his spread-option offense to control the ball and chew up time to protect an inexperienced defense, Williams hasn't shown the ability to provide that consistently.
"He's handling it well," said junior wide receiver Arrelious Benn. "He's being supportive of Eddie right now."
McGee handled almost all of Illinois' 45-17 win over Illinois State on Sept. 12 after Williams injured his thigh on the offense's first play from scrimmage.
McGee completed 13 of 17 passes against the Redbirds for 164 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. He also rushed 18 times for 55 yards and two touchdowns while losing a fumble.
McGee has taken over for an underperforming Williams on three previous occasions - most notably against Michigan in 2007 and against Ohio State in 2008 - but this will be the Washington native's first start.
"Eddie's going to get us going," Benn said, "and we're just going to keep on moving."