Lunt may be back soon, but Illini count on O'Toole
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The formula for backup Illinois quarterback Reilly O'Toole's success against Minnesota was deceptively simple.
Filling in for the injured Wes Lunt, O'Toole's job was essentially to not give away the game when he dropped back to pass, and take advantage of his somewhat surprising running ability to make plays with his feet.
That formula worked fine in the 28-24 win Saturday over the Gophers, and Illinois (4-4, 1-3 Big Ten) will have to put some version of it to work at least one more game this Saturday at No. 13 Ohio State (6-1, 3-0).
But maybe only one more week. Illinois coach Tim Beckman said Monday that Lunt is expected back Nov. 15 for the game against Iowa. He fractured a bone in his left leg against Purdue on Oct. 4.
Between the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes, the Illini have a bye. And Beckman hopes Lunt can start practicing that week.
"Right now our doctors are saying that he's making great progress. We'll sprinkle in and do some things this week, throwing the ball," Beckman said. "We hope to have him back and prepared for Iowa."
In the two games without Lunt, Illinois has used primarily O'Toole, a senior, with a little of sophomore Aaron Bailey thrown in.
Bailey is the more serious run threat among the two.
But Saturday against the Gophers, Bailey played just three downs. O'Toole, showing a hot hand early on, pushed the offense to three touchdowns. The fourth was scored by Illinois' defense.
O'Toole was 14-21 for 118 yards and a touchdown. He didn't throw an interception, and led the team with 59 rushing yards on 17 carries. He also scored a rushing touchdown.
"The word that everybody used, and I totally agree, is how efficient he was," Beckman said. "He didn't hurt us and he made some important plays for us."
O'Toole came to Illinois as an all-state player from Wheaton in the Chicago suburbs. Since he's been in Champaign he's played but usually as a backup, first to Nathan Scheelhaase and then to Lunt.
O'Toole said he's spent that time learning, particularly the three years backing up Scheelhaase. But he also gets to learn from Juice Williams, the former Illinois quarterback who's now part of the staff. Williams is the last Illini quarterback to beat the Buckeyes. He threw four touchdown passes to knock off then-No. 1 ranked Ohio State 28-21 in 2007 in Columbus.
"Any time you beat Ohio State, especially at Ohio State, it's enormous," O'Toole said, explaining that around Memorial Stadium Williams' advice carries great weight, whether it's the week of the Ohio State game or not. "He's done it. Anything that he says about anything, not just the Ohio State game, because he's such a legend around here."
O'Toole has had his occasional shots to be the No. 1 quarterback, but he's often struggled. He started Illinois' 45-14 loss at Nebraska. He was sacked four times and threw three interceptions.
Offensive coordinator Bill Cubit believes O'Toole learned from that game, when he tried to do too much early, like a player who isn't sure he'll get another shot.
Before the Minnesota game, "I just said, 'Play within yourself, you don't have to go out there and be Wes Lunt. Play your game, and I'll tailor the game plan to what you do best."' Cubit said.
Bailey will see the field at Ohio State, too, Beckman said. But it's likely Illinois' offense again will be primarily in the hands of O'Toole, who Cubit said has matured into a good game manager.
"It's kind of fun to see the kid enjoy himself," Cubit said.