Yeah I know Big Ten Media days got over Tuesday, and its already the weekend. I am just going to chalk this one up to extreme laziness, my bad.

Anyway, on to the goods. In case for some reason you had no idea, Ron Zook brought Juice, Benn and Doug Pilcher along with him for the media days, I actually got a chance to sit down with each of them and ask them some concrete questions about this upcoming season. Lets take them one at a time.

Juice

The face of the program for what seems like the 9th year in a row, Juice seemed more comfortable with the media than I had expected. He was certainly more relaxed than me.

He was asked how talented this team was compared to the 2007 Rose Bowl team he said "This team is more talented than the Rose Bowl team, it's not even close."

I have to agree with him on that one. As far as talent, speed and athleticism are concerned I don't think there is a question that the 2009 team has an advantage. What I worry about though, is that at key positions there is inexperience and especially on defense, there does not seem to be a real "leader." Say what you will about J Leman's athletic ability but he really did seem to make a difference to the players around him. I hope now as an upperclassman, Martez can assume that role.

Juice said he wasn't surprised that the Illini were not picked to finished in the top 3 in this season's preseason poll. Given the way that the season ended for the team last year, they need to prove that they can finish with the top tier of the Big Ten.

He roomed with Penn State QB Daryll Clark at the Elite 11 camp earlier this summer and said that the two of them are very similar as both players and people. I certainly hope that Juice can have a Daryl Clark like year. If he can keep his interceptions low the offense could easily be the highest scoring in the Big Ten

About those interceptions. Juice talked about how he was focusing more about making accurate throws and trying to put better touch on the ball this year. The INT's mostly resulted from mental errors on his part he said. If the team can keep from falling behind in games too early this year, Juice more than likely will have a better ratio because he will not be making as many desperation throws.

On what we should expect from Jarred Fayson. "He is almost like another Arrelious on the field." If that doesn't make an Illini fan, I don't know what will. People have grand dreams about Fayson being a Percy Harvin caliber weapon that can really stretch a defense. With the speed of Benn and Fayson paired with the size advantage that Cumberland and Uh-oh will enjoy, this will be a very difficult receiving group to defend.

More from Zook, Benn and Pilcher in the next installments....