*Said if before will say it again before you read this...strategy for a successful football program, build both your lines and figure out what kind of quarterback you will win with...do that and the rest will fall into place.
*Reason to be optimistic about Illini football in 2022-Defensive coordinator Ryan Walters one of the best in college football...excellent defensive backs coach/schemes with the best of them....great indicator of a top coordinator is how well his scheme attacks o-line blocking schemes/rules....Walters with his game plan/in game adjustments consistently putting pressure on the offense/o-line blocking schemes....my view, Walters right up there with Lou Tepper and Vic Koenning best Illini defensive coordinator recent history.…..remember Walters talent level inherited nowhere near talent those two walked into....Tepper had Gardner, Agee, Brownlow and an NFL secondary 1988...Koenning 2010 nine players that played in the NFL on defense including two first round picks in Whitney Mercilus and Corey Liuget.
*Key to the defense-Former Illini head coach Love Smith's defense was good when his 3-technique defensive tackle and middle or weakside linebacker were top notch...think Warren Sapp/Derrick Brooks when Smith was d-coordinator Tampa Bay....Tommie Harris/Urlahcher/Briggs with the Bears....for Walters, having two productive interior linemen at nose/2-tech/experienced robber safety key to Walters schemes....Illini now have eight bodies at those two interior d-line spots and Sydney Brown back as that robber/strong safety to scheme with....again talent to develop/work with at key positions.
*Let's talk offense-O-line and QB....Illinois lost Lowe/Kramer two key starters at tackle/center...big losses…..Hall of Fame o-line coac/late Joe Moore's theory about the line, 'gimme me a good center, two tackles and I will find a couple of guards to get in the way enough to have a good line'....how I look at that position….Palcszewski/Pearl back experienced tackles center?…..still looking and the transfer portal might have to provide the answer to that position...trust o-line coach Miller can develop a couple of guards....Illinois out of spring ball below.
*Quarterback-Cuse' transfer Tommy Devito(#3) been better than thought he would be this spring....NFL scout I know after watching Devito at an Illini practice, 'he looks like he did at Syracuse early on before Dino (Babers) lost confidence in him'....that's a good thing....Devito lost confidence in his O-line at the Cuse' leading to poor play/being benched/moving on.....OC/staff has to make it easy for me…..has to be adequate/game manager not think he has to be the difference maker at the position which hurt Devito at Syracuse thinking he could make every throw (negative-spring game still looked like he had that can make every throw mentality)...lean on the o-line as the difference maker....QB doesn't make the critical mistake....doubt any Illini fans that pay attention want to see Sitkowski starting QB next fall...all on Devito's shoulders.
*Running back-plenty of talent at position.
*Wide receivers-Illini don't have that 'Alpha Dog' top receiver who can make the tough catch on 3rd and 7 to pick up the first down....Bielema pumps up Isaiah Williams tires as a difference maker type at the position but I don't see him as that 'Alpha Dog'....in a perfect world, would like to see Williams as a 'Deebo Samuel’ type/7-to-9 touches in a specific package for him but without much talent at the position….Williams has to run pass routes/clearly Devito’s security blanket receiver this spring.
*Tight end-Like Tip Reiman....Luke Ford is serviceable, never live up to the recruiting hype but again serviceable...and a bunch of freshmen.
*Offensive line-Smart....again Bielema has thrown a lot of resources/scholarships at the offensive line....go by the Andy Reid theory on o-line play/evaluatoin….first step direction you are going...2nd step 'starts the fight' hitting your target the key that 2nd step...3rd step 'finish the fight' finish the block....spring observations on some Illini o-linemen...if they stay healthy.....Illinois can trot out four Big Ten level linemen next fall (Palczewski/Pearl/Adams/Slaughter).
Alex Palczewski(#63) senior started at right tackle-solid.
Zy Crisler(#72) JC transfer started at right guard spring game...huge 360-plus pounds...a year away, has talent but still so raw....has to continue to turn baby fat into muscle, improve technique....2nd year sophomore so has time....probably don't want to go into 2022 season with Crisler as your starting right guard but got a lot of reps this spring with first unit big positive for the future.
Alex Philstrom(#75) 6-foot-6 300-pound senior started at center-no issues with the deep snap/line calls..... majority of time engaged the defender with his 2nd step but too upright losing leverage/balance getting beat...best reps were against an out of gas d-lineman in Avery/young guys still learning technique.....try hard type...Illinois needs to continue to search the portal for a veteran to help out at center come fall.
Jordyn Slaughter(#66) junior started at left guard-massive man coming off injury....majority of time hit a downfield defender on running plays....strength is being a straight ahead mauler run blocking.....50 dollar Uber ride to get around pass blocking...maybe cause of injury but didn't show the agility to be a tackle.
Isiaih Adams(#78) junior started at left tackle-JC transfer.....run blocking ahead of his pass blocking which is to be expected....excellent pull and pin type that can make a downfield block....too many times pass blocking Adams didn't synch his punch with his feet leading to him lunging/losing balance and wasn't going against pass rushers with 2nd moves....if Julian Pearl (junior) shows he can play left tackle (missed spring with a hand injury)....Illinois can move Adams inside to guard where he might fit better next fall
Josh Kreutz(#64) 2nd year center-took majority of 2nd team reps at center....similar to former Illini Eric Block, not quite as big/quick as you would like...size/size potential always going to be an issue...under-sized scrapper/reliable back-up at the position.
*Defensive line-Eight bodies inside at interior tackle/nose guard to rotate...transfers inside from Northwestern/Vanderbilt to bolster that group...interior Illini d-line's job is to 'block the blockers' keep the o-line off the Illini linebackers/strong safety allowing them to run free to the ball....moved sophomore Evan Kirts(#57) from offensive to defensive line and on Thursday, didn't look out of place...Bryant/Pate/Holmes/Woods/Coleman/Cooper to work with in the two deep at the defensive end/outside backer' position.
*Linebackers-Hart and Barnes back with young backups....again Bruh/Kane excellent assistants coaching this group.
*Defensive backs-Devin Witherspoon as a man cover cornerback perfect mix of confidence with a short memory doesn't let getting beat affect the next play....Walters/Aaron Henry coaching this group...always well prepared..
*Special teams-new kicker and punter....that's always an adventure.
*Positive out of spring-Devito, plenty of bodies to rotate in out on the defensive front.
*Still up in the air-wide receiver and center
*Final-Illinois can wins games next fall in the Big Ten West......with their schedule, Illinois should be a bowl team in 2022 Why? Serviceable quarterback and my new ‘catch phrase’ competent coaching staff....(best staff in Champaign since John Mackovic left town in 1991)....very 'bullish' as Guenther would say on this team next fall and the future of Illini football.
Thanks, Jeff, for your insight. One player I noticed watching the spring game was Kendall Smith, playing the part of Kerby Joseph. I was blown away by the improvement in the defense last year, how Walters took all of Lovie's guys and made a huge jump with them. I hope we can do the same on offense this year.