2013-14 Football Previews – (Big 10) – Fighting Illini
To say that Tim Beckman’s first-year as head coach of the Illinois football program was a disappointment is a massive understatement. It was a disaster!
Beckman has had past success, and he’s back for another chance, but the Fighting Illini’s miserable season in 2012 won’t be tolerated for too long by the athletic department here.
Big 10 Conference 2012-2013 College Football Previews: Illinois Fighting Illini (Team Link)
Head Coach: Tim Beckman
2012 Record: 2-10
Illinois Gambling Odds to win BCS Championship (Part of Field): +2,000
Illinois Gambling Odds to win Big 10 Leaders Division: +5,000
Illinois Gambling Odds to win Big 10 Conference: +17,500
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
The truth is this team still has quite a bit of solid talent. Ron Zook brought in some big name recruits during his tenure at the school, and the Fighting Illini had been a factor in the Big Ten race several times in the past few years. Last year, Illinois wasn’t even competitive in a very weak Big Ten Conference. The Fighting Illini went 0-8 in the Big Ten, and hardly any of the games were even close. Something needs to change in a hurry in Champaign!
Team Strengths:
Nathan Scheelhaase wasn’t good in 2012, but he showed enough in 2011 that he has to be considered a potential star for this team. The offensive line play was brutal last year, and Scheelhaase didn’t seem to pick up the new system very quickly. He should be much better this year with a year under the belt. He is a very athletic guy with a strong arm.
The single biggest strength of this team is clearly the group of linebackers. Jonathan Brown is a star who could play at the next level soon. He was dinged up for much of last year, and I expect a much better season from him in 2013. Sophomore Mason Monheim has the all the tools necessary to become a major force at linebacker for this team as well. Look for this group to make some nice plays in the season ahead.
Team Weaknesses:
The entire offense was abysmal last season. Against FBS level teams the Fighting Illini simply cannot score. Illinois hasn’t scored more than 24 points against an FBS team since scoring 41 points in a win over Indiana 18 games ago. Illinois finished second to last in all of college football in both yards and scoring last season. The offense isn’t going to be become a powerhouse overnight. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The defensive front is among the worst in the Big Ten, and that isn’t good news in a league like this one. There are a lot of good offensive fronts in the Big Ten, and Illinois’ defensive line is going to get shoved around on a frequent basis this year. Opponents will likely consistently attack the middle of this defense with the run and force them to show they can slow it down.
Illinois has been getting bullied on both sides of the ball of late, and they really need to be able to play a more physical game. At this point, you have to wonder where the psyche of this team is after such a brutal 2012. They’ll have to be 100 percent in it or they’ll get beat up again in 2013.
2013-2014 Illinois Football Prediction: 2-10
Look for more of the same from the Fighting Illini this year. There’s a real chance they could be unable to win a Big Ten game again this year. There’s nothing to get excited about in Champaign, that’s for sure. There will be plenty of ugly football and very few bright spots.
Unless I’m way off with this prediction, Tim Beckman will likely be out at the end of the season.
2013 Illinois Schedule
8/31/13 TBD SOILL
9/7/13 12:00 PM ET CIN
9/14/13 6:00 PM ET WASH
9/28/13 TBD MIAOH
10/5/13 12:00 PM ET @NEB
10/19/13 8:00 PM ET WISC
10/26/13 3:30 PM ET MCHST
11/2/13 TBD @PENST
11/9/13 TBD @IND
11/16/13 TBD OHIST
11/23/13 TBD @PURD
11/30/13 TBD NWEST
