INSIDE SLANT

Faced with Illinois’ oddest schedule in modern annals, Ron Zook has decided to carry out the rest of the 2009 schedule unconventionally.

First, the weird (yet symmetrical) schedule. Illinois opened with two non-conference games, had its first bye week, played all eight Big Ten games on consecutive Saturdays and now faces its second bye week. When the Illini return from their three-day weekend on Sunday, they’ll prepare for a Nov. 27 trip to No. 5 Cincinnati as they wrap up their schedule with two non-conference games.

But since Illinois achieved far less than anyone anticipated during its first 10 games, the season-ending battles with Cincinnati and Fresno State have no bearing on their season. For the seventh time in eight years, the Illini won’t be going to a bowl. No game, no bonus 15 practices to get a jump-start on next year.

With that in mind, Zook has decided to treat the last few weeks as his team’s bowl practices. While youngsters like redshirt freshman quarterback Jacob Charest will get his share of reps, senior Juice Williams will start at Cincinnati because Zook says he gives the Illini the best chance to win.

“We’re going to get a chance to have some bowl practices, which is something you don’t get to do when you end the week before Thanksgiving,” said Zook, referring to the Big Ten’s customary practice of wrapping up the regular season on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. “We’re at least going to be able to prolong the season a little bit and go from there.

“We’ve got good kids. They’re going to hang in there. Is it easy for them? No. But it’s up to us as a coaching staff to do some things to get them where they can compete against each other and make a little bit more fun than just the drudgery of just going out there and just preparing.”

NOTES, QUOTES

• When senior quarterback Juice Williams sat out Saturday’s game with Northwestern due to a sprained left ankle, it snapped his streak of appearing in all 46 games since he arrived on Illinois’ campus in the summer of 2006. Williams backed up Tim Brasic in his first three games, then made 38 consecutive starts before being moved to the bench for the Oct. 10 loss against Michigan State. Williams then returned to the lineup for four games (setting the school record for career QB starts) before missing last week’s game.

Head coach Ron Zook says Williams will start at No. 5 Cincinnati on Nov. 27, which should enable him to become the first Illini to crash the 10,000-yard barrier. Williams owns 9,978 career total yards with 50 passing TDs and 17 rushing TDs. He leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 10 on the NCAA’s active list for career yards.

• Virtually since junior slot receiver Arrelious Benn signed with Illinois, it has been assumed he’ll renounce his final year of eligibility and put his name into the 2010 draft. That plan probably remains in effect even though Benn has suffered through an injury-plagued season. Between injuries to his ankle and shoulder and thigh and head, Benn has settled for 33 catches, 370 yards and one TD this season. In his first two seasons at Illinois, Benn piled up 121 catches for 1,731 yards and five TDs.

“It’s just a combination of things,” Zook said. “Is he frustrated? Absolutely. As I’m sure we all are. It’s one of those things, I guess.”

Next Game:   On Nov. 27, Illinois visits No. 5 Cincinnati in a nationally televised game that can give the Illini a chance to change their reputation as one of the nation’s most underachieving teams. The Bearcats rank among the nation’s top seven teams in passing offense, total offense and scoring offense—which isn’t a good match for an Illini defense that ranks last in the Big Ten in pass-efficiency rating (135.3 points with just four INT this year). Cincinnati’s defense leads the nation in tackles for loss and Illinois’ offensive line, with the exception of RG Jon Asamoah and C Eric Block, is definitely a work in progress.

This Week  ‘S MISSION: Illinois practiced Monday to Wednesday before getting three days off. The coaches will fan out to get ahead on recruiting because their weird schedule, with games the next two weeks, messes with their usual routine. Ron Zook is trying to keep his team focused on finishing this year strong in order to go into 2010 with some momentum. Historically that hasn’t been easy. Illinois has won its final game of the season just once in the last nine years.

Post-thanksgiving At A Glance:   Since Illinois doesn’t have a bowl to get excited about, perhaps it will put all of its energy into ruining Cincinnati’s run toward the Bowl Championship Series. The Bearcats will be no worse than No. 5 in the BCS rankings when the Illini travel there for a Nov. 27 date. Illinois then wraps up its season with its latest home game in school history—a Dec. 5 visit from Fresno State that will be repaid in 2010.

Quote To Note:   “It’s not like it was four-and-a-half or five years ago. We still have a pretty good foundation. We may not be at the summit, but we’re definitely at Camp Three or Four. We’ll get another surge of energy and take it to the top.”—Illinois coach Ron Zook assessing his program’s prospects in 2010 and beyond with the Chicago Sun-Times.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Looking Good:   When the Big Ten reveals its all-conference teams on Monday, there aren’t going to be many Illini with expectations. Senior RG Jon Asamoah might be the only legitimate contender for all-league honors as Illinois’ other top talents have either been too inconsistent or too injured to merit consideration. Sophomore RB Mikel Leshoure, who ranks fifth in the league in rushing with 536 yards, is the team’s highest-ranked player in any individual category. That disguises the general effectiveness of Illinois’ running game. Leshoure and fellow soph RB Jason Ford have shared carries most of the year (with occasional help from senior Daniel Dufrene and QB Juice Williams) and the team ranks second in the league with 4.7 yards per carry.

Still Needs Work:   Illinois’ young linebacking corps has been inconsistent at best, which one might expect from a group loaded with players who are in their first full year of action. Illinois’ secondary features veterans such as three-year starting CB Dere Hicks and senior safety Donsay Hardeman, but it has been picked apart more often than not. Then there are the struggles with the kicking game. K Matt Eller has missed 6 of his last 7 field goals and lost his job.

Star Watch:   Junior WRs Arrelious Benn and Jarred Fayson were supposed to be the leaders of the Big Ten’s finest receiving corps—while senior QB Juice Williams was even described by a few folks as a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate. Benn suffered a high ankle sprain on Illinois’ first series of the year to trigger an unending chain of injuries, Fayson missed three games with a knee injury and Williams was miscast as a “game manager” quarterback by head coach Ron Zook and new offensive coordinator Mike Schultz. Juice was asked to focus on high-percentage passes and eschew the use of his rocket right arm and strong running skills. Benn owns just 33 catches for 370 yards and one TD, Fayson has 14 catches for 151 yards and one TD and Williams has accounted for just nine total TDs after entering the season with 58.

Critical Decision:   Ron Zook has to choose between the welfare of his veterans and the future of the program. With Illinois out of the hunt for a bowl, Zook can stick with his veterans in hopes of building momentum for 2010 or giving his youngsters more time to accelerate their development. The most obvious conundrum is at quarterback, where Zook says he plans to start senior Juice Williams and keep redshirt freshman Jacob Charest in a reserve role. Charest started and played three quarters of last week’s loss to Northwestern.

Roster Report:  

• QB Juice Williams (sprained ankle) sat out the Northwestern game, his first miss in his 47-game career. Coach Ron Zook says he expects Williams to practice during these two weeks and start on Nov. 27 at No. 5 Cincinnati.

• TE Michael Hoomanawanui (high ankle sprain) has sat out the last three games. Zook says he expects “Uh-Oh” to play at Cincinnati, but he’s been saying that for two weeks now.

• WR Arrelious Benn sat out the final 10 minutes of Illinois’ loss to Northwestern after getting “dinged in the head,” according to Zook. It’s the second ding for Benn this year, but he keeps coming back and starting every week.

• S Donsay Hardeman “tweaked his neck” in the Northwestern game according to Zook. Since Hardeman missed two games earlier in Big Ten play after injuring his neck at Indiana, look for Illinois to be particularly careful with the senior.