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Title: Squeezing Juice and Taking Turtles
Category: high
Blog Entry:   [br] [br] Not only do the Buckeyes get to make the trip  to Champaign to take on the Illini and give them a healthy dose of payback this week - they are also playing to take the back Illy Illibuck - the wooden turtle trophy" presented to the winner of the game. I guess back when the tradition began in 1925 the "trophy" was a live turtle, picked for its long life expectancy as a symbol of the long life of the rivalry. Since the original turtle died two years later nine wooden replica Illibucks have been carved. The Illibuck is the second oldest trophy passed between Big Ten programs.  [br] [hr] [br] The quest to reclaim the Illibuck (even though we would not get it back until next season since the trophy is presented to the winning school at halftime the following year) begins with stopping the Illinois offense.  Even though highly erratic and inconsistent – Juice Williams (#7) has followed up his breakout season on 2007 with a  statistical binge throwing for over 1000 more yards than last season and racking up 20 TDs.  But he also has thrown 14 INTs and been sacked 18 times.  Without a doubt he remains one of the most dynamic players in the Big Ten; however this season he has not had the support of a dominant running game like he had last year with Mendenhall.  This year the focus has been all on and around him – he has had some unbelievable games and some very poor ones as well – so as Juice goes the Illini offense goes.  In the backfield with Williams is last year’s backup #22 Dufrene who is the team’s second leading rusher behind Williams but has never gone over 20 carries per game and does not have a rushing TD this season.  Although the senior has found the end zone as a receiver where he has been a fairly consistent option hauling in 19 catches this year.  Much like the rest of the offense - Dufrene has had some strong performances like his 75 yards against Missouri and 96 yards against Penn State but also some very ordinary days like the 36 yards against Minnesota.  Backing him up are two freshman bruiser backs with #21 Ford getting the majority of the work, especially in the red zone.  Ford also can rack up the yards as evidenced by his 172 yard 3 TD performance against Wisconsin.  On the outside is the ever dangerous sophomore #9 Benn who is on pace to go over 1000 yards and 70 catches for the season.  He is tall with good size and speed making him difficult to slow him down and most opponents have not been able to stop him at all.  The Buckeyes will need to bracket him all day to make sure he doesn’t get going.  The number two receiver is senior #13 Judson who brings veteran experience to the receiving corps and the third spot is by committee with freshman #82 Sykes getting most of the reps lately.  Also seeing action are #15 Duvalt, junior #17 Cumberland and freshman #8 Jenkins.  The group combines to form a deep corps with a nice mixture of size, speed, veteran presence, youthful enthusiasm, and large yard-per-catch averages.  Also as a receiving option is the huge TE #16 Hoomanawanui – at 6’5” and 274 lbs is a mauling run blocker that also possesses good hands and can find the seam down field.  The Illini O line is a stout group led by a group of veterans. Senior#68 Fulton at left tackle was All Big Ten last season and has had 23 consecutive starts.  Two other seniors #62 Block at left guard and #60 McDonald at center who is a solid candidate for all conference this year as well as being on the list for the Rimington Award.  At right guard is junior #52 Asamoah who has started every game since last season and at right tackle is the rising star freshman #71 Allen.  The offense overall has piled up yardage on the ground and through the air but that has not translated into the similar success as they had in 2007.  Whether or not they will have the same success against the Buckeyes this year remains to be seen. [br] [hr] [br] The Illinois defense has struggled this year in trying to replace some of the seniors that departed last year’s unit.  This season co-defensive coordinators Disch and Mallory (who is a TSUN alum) have tried to field a similarly aggressive, play-making 4-3 but have ran into some growing pains with the loss of emotional middle linebacker Lehman and first team all Big Ten free safety Mitchell.  They are ranked 6th in the conference for total yards, 7th in rush defense giving up 142 YPG on the ground, and 7th in the conference in pass defense.  When you consider that the conference only has eleven teams – being ranked 7th is not that great.  Comparatively speaking the Buckeye defense is ranked 2nd in points allowed, total yards, rush yards and 1st in pass defense. [br] [br] Up front the Illini are led by two senior returning starters.  At left end #91 Walker who is a nice combination of size and speed but has been inconsistent at times; although he does have six sacks, an interception and two fumble recoveries this season.  The other senior is DT #94 Lindquist who at 6’3”/293 lbs is not the typical D line anchor but moves extremely well for a man his size.  At the other tackle is sophomore #92 Brent – a highly touted recruit that brings the bulk to the front four and makes offensive lineman work hard for their blocks.  On the other end is junior #95 Pilcher.   Also there are several other players that work in and out of the rotation.  At linebacker senior #44 Miller has replaced the graduated Lehman and filled his shoes quite well.  Miller has a body ready for the NFL and very good speed which makes it easy to see why he is the teams leading tackler.  The strong side linebacker position which was held by Miller last year is now filled by sophomore #2 Wilson who brings great size ands quickness.  On the weak side is senior #42 Pittman who brings good size and speed but by far is the best option to attack among the group.  In the secondary the Illini have their version of Jenkins – junior CB #1 Davis.  The All Big Ten selection has great cover skills and can deliver the big hit as well.  On the other side is junior CB #28 Hicks who although being a decent all around defender has struggled with some of the better WRs he has faced.  At strong safety is sophomore #31 Bellamy who is built more like a corner so will be able to stay with about anyone in coverage, but as a run support option will struggle against a strong runner like Beanie.  At free safety is JUCO transfer junior #4 Hardeman – bringing good size and speed as well as being a bit of a ball hawk.  Overall this defensive unit has talent at every level but has struggled with getting off the field and giving up points.   [br] [hr] [br] The Illini followed up their trip to the Rose Bowl last year with a season of doing their best Jekyll and Hyde impression.   They are truly a team at a crossroads that needs to win one of their next two games in order to become bowl eligible – so expect a highly motivated that is going to play aggressive because they are desperate to salvage their season.  Illinois has always played us tough - last year they came in and got the upset, the year before in a windy Champaign it was a tight one even with T Smith and the boys, in the NC season of 2002 we went to overtime, etc.  What is also strangely good about this week is also that a couple of the most memorable games in my life have been against the Illini - the 1984 comeback when Byars ran out of his shoe, and  Eddie's 314 yards that locked up the 1995 Heisman.  Another crazy stat is that Illinois has won three of the last four games in the Shoe, but the Buckeyes have won six straight in Champaign.   [br] [hr] The Buckeyes strategy on defense is easy - shut down Juice.   With the effort that has been coming from the defensive side of the ball I think this is possible.  As for offense - it would be great to get Beanie going early to help keep Juice off the field.  Plus it is supposed to be windy and cold again, but that didn't seem to effect Pryor's passes last week so I think that we can also take our shots.  Hopefully the line will be able to show up angry and bring a little more attitude.  Motivation for the whole team should be there - we need to deal them a serious beating for their dance last year and everyone should know that with a win it is one step closer to at least a share of a fourth Big Ten title.  Oh yeah - and we need to get back the Illibuck! [br] [br] GO BUCKEYES!!