Scheelhaase leads one TD drive, but Illini offense struggles on windy day

CHAMPAIGN — As important as spring practices have become to a team’s fall fortunes, the spring games have become as useful as an appendix.

During Illinois’ 90-minute scrimmage Saturday afternoon, the roughly 3,000 fans at Memorial Stadium didn’t get to see the guys who’ll serve as the top two receivers and the top four running backs this season.

Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning didn’t give away any of the new wrinkles he has incorporated.

Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino bragged about how much sophomore quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase improved this spring — then noted the windy conditions discouraged him from dialing up many of the play-action routes Scheelhaase added to his repertoire.

So what did Ron Zook and his staff learn over the last month?

Despite losing record-setting rusher Mikel Leshoure (a likely second-round pick Friday in the NFL draft), the offense appears to be more explosive.

At least, that’s according to Petrino.

While the second-year offensive coordinator might be one of the most confident coaches in college ball, his guys have backed up everything he has said since arriving in Champaign.

“Nathan’s just at a whole ’nother level for me to call plays,” Petrino said. “So that’s a great thing to feel.”

The spring game belied those feelings.

Scheelhaase led a 16-play, 80-yard drive for a touchdown to open the scrimmage, but that was the extent of the scoring in the 14-possession day.

Scheelhaase finished 9 of 15 for 103 yards and 1 interception, though he showed great camaraderie with sophomore wideout Ryan Lankford (5 catches, 64 yards).

“That first drive was impressive,” Petrino said. “He converted some third (down) mediums and longs. That’s something we maybe didn’t do last year. If we did, it was calling quarterback runs.

“There’s play-action (passes) that he hit all spring that we didn’t even leave him in last year: We put Eddie (McGee) in.”

As for Illinois’ running backs, Petrino declared the starting job to be wide-open. Senior Jason Ford should have the upper hand, but he missed a good chunk of spring with a minor knee injury.

Ford, senior Troy Pollard (concussion) and incoming freshmen Donnovon Young and Naperville’s Ryan Ferguson will scrap this fall for touches.

“Someone should want it because there’s some real good linemen blocking in front of them,” Petrino said. “Someone’s going to go get him 1,000 yards.”

Koenning’s defense, meanwhile, could bear a remarkable resemblance to the running back situation.

With defensive tackle Corey Liuget and middle linebacker Martez Wilson gone a year early — Liuget destined for the middle of the NFL’s first round and Wilson no later than the second — Koenning has preached depth over individual dominance.

He doesn’t want a repeat of last season when the Illini looked so solid for two months before coughing up 67 points to Michigan and 38 to Minnesota in early November losses.

“A bunch of guys are going to have to be what we win and lose with,” Koenning said. “We’ve got to stay fresh. We cannot get six games, seven games into the season and be out of gas. We can’t get to the fourth quarter and be out of gas.”

Perhaps some incoming freshmen get into the mix on defense, too?

“That would be good because we look like a dadgum basketball team with muscles with our signees,” Koenning said. “Bunch of tall guys. Impressive-looking guys.”