Illinois Fighting Illini 23, Western Michigan 20: An Ugly Win Is Still A Win I Suppose

The Fighting Illini are 4-0 for the first time in 60 years, but today lots of people are reigning in their expectations. A 23-20 win over a MAC team, albeit a very good MAC team, is probably a sign we need to temper our hopes on just how good this Illini team could be this year.

The Illini showed last week that they have the talent to play with anyone in the Big Ten, but at the very least this week they showed that they may not have the discipline to.

Five penalties for 55 yards at home, including an ejection from the team's best offensive lineman. Three trips to the redzone that ended in field goals, three failures on fourth down, a fumble. With so many self inflicted wounds, it is hard to see how the Illini actually edged out the Mustangs.

The fact is though, they did edge them out. Something the Illini have failed to do in close games of recent vintage, including the losses to Minnesota, Fresno State and Michigan last year. Where the Illini fell short to get that one last stop in those games, they managed to get it on Saturday. It can be said that it doesn't matter how you win, but that you win, and when it comes to bowl eligibility and conference standings that certainly is the case. Games like this, ones that are decided by field goals and last minute drives, can mean the difference between a trip to the Capital One bowl or the Texas Bowl, or no bowl at all. 

It certainly wasn't a pretty game for the defense, who gave up an unusually high 17 first downs and allowed WMU to convert on 4th down three times. The hurry up offense is one that has always given the Illini trouble, and Mustangs quarterback Alex Carder and WR Jordan White filled out their stat sheet to the brim against the Illini secondary, mostly on quick slant routes. White caught 14 balls for 132 yards and a touchdown, while Carder amassed a burly 300 passing yards completing 30 of 48.

The WMU offense was entirely one dimensional, gaining only 35 yards on the ground, but the Illini defense still seemed to be beaten on the quick routes. Players like Steve Hull and Terry Hawthorne were being stretched to the limit, and the secondary, while playing admirably on the final drive, seemed to be exposed as still vulnerable.

But the real reason that this game was so close was the offense. Nathan Scheelhaase looks ever more comfortable making plays with his legs, but seemed to shy away from the passing game, going back to a one read check and scramble approach. Scheelhaase completed 14/20 for 133 yards, and ran for 40 more, but at no point did he seem truly comfortable, which is concerning.

The first half was a train wreck for the offense, with the O-line completely unable to open any running lanes, and Jason Ford not being able to do anything with the lanes they did manage to open up. Ford had 8 carries for 23 yards, and a fumble, and seemed to lack the punch and extra push that gave him those extra yards in previous games. In the second half, we only seemed to see Ford in for pass protection.

The success the offense had in the second half came largely from the option game, a throw back to the pre-Petrino days. Scheelhaase seemed more comfortable, and Troy Pollard and Donovonn Young got heaps of yards from their offset I formation. Pollard has become a success five years in the waiting, as he ran for his second 100 yard game of the season, and made plays that were key in eating clock and grabbing first downs that secured the victory.

Also showing well was Donovonn Young, who got his first 100 yard effort, and had a larger load than ever before. He is fast and agile but still very raw and careless at times, as he nearly ended a 59 yard long run with a lost fumble. I expect him only to become more important to the offense as the year moves on.

One thing that absolutely has to be fixed from this week is the Red Zone execution. The Illini had to settle for three field goals in spite of three huge momentum turning plays. If even one of those misfires was a touchdown rather than a field goal, this game would have inspired a lot less heart burn on my part. Nonetheless, I have to tip my cap to Derek Dimke, who nailed all three of his attempts and whose 39 yarder was the difference at the end of the game.

Also, whatever it is that is going on in the punting game had better be fixed, or else field position is always going to favor the opposition, and the defense is fighting enough of an uphill battle already.

Next week is homecoming, Northwestern, and the possible return of Dan Persa. We will see how well the team bounces back when conference play finally starts.