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| Sunday, August 12 Updated: August 13, 10:36 PM ET Lloyd's return makes offense very dangerous By Jeff Potrykus Special to ESPN.com |
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Illinois Fighting Illini 2000 record: 5-6 (2-6). Coach: Ron Turner (5th year, 16-29). Starters returning: 7 offense, 6 defense, 2 kickers. Outlook: With the entire starting offensive backfield returning, the offense will again be the heart of Turner's team. Senior quarterback Kurt Kittner struggled at times last season, but he still completed 58.8 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. He has passed for 42 touchdowns with only 13 interceptions in the past two seasons. With Kittner and the backs protected by three returning starters on the offensive line, there is no reason the Illini shouldn't flourish offensively. Defense, which was the team's weakness in 2000, will again be a major area of concern. Injuries and academic problems forced the Illini to use four true freshmen linemen last season. After the Illini finished ninth in the Big Ten in total defense, Turner fired defensive coordinator Tim Kish and hired Mike Cassity to take over. Will Cassity fare better than his predecessor? With few true playmakers on defense, it seems unlikely. Keep an eye on: Sophomore wide receiver Brandon Lloyd. Lloyd returns after missing all of last season with a broken leg and no one will welcome him back with more glee than Kittner. Two seasons ago, Lloyd caught 30 passes for a school freshman record 511 yards and two touchdowns and provided the team with a legitimate deep threat. Without Lloyd last season it is no wonder Kittner struggled at times. Key game: Although Illinois fans are hungry for revenge against Michigan in the conference opener on Sept. 22, the home game against Minnesota on Oct. 6 will prove more critical. Upsetting Michigan in Ann Arbor, a la 1999, isn't likely. So a victory over Minnesota, which whipped Illinois by 34 points last season, will be essential. It's a good year if... Illinois makes it to a bowl game. Two years ago the Illini capped a surprising season by routing Virginia in the Micronpc.com Bowl to finish 8-4. A horrid defense and an inability to win close games ruined a 3-0 start in 2000. After going 2-1 in games decided by seven or fewer points in 1999, the Illini fell to 2-3 in those games last season. This season the defense must hold up its end to provide Kittner and his friends a chance every Saturday. A return to a bowl game -- any bowl game -- would be a step in the right direction for the program. Jeff Potrykus covers the Big Ten for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. |
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