Illini must keep heads in the game

This is not a deep team. Attrition has seen to that, weakening what were once well-rated recruiting classes. Oh, Zook has a strong corps of running backs, but it'll be scary if anything happens to rookie quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase, the offensive line can't stand another injury like the one that sidelined Corey Lewis, and the tight end position seriously misses departed Hubie Graham. Defensively, the front four looks better than expected with Clay Nurse back and Akeem Spence improving, but ... well, put it this way, when the first-teamers go against the second-teamers, there is a notable difference. What does that say when the coaches insert reserves in close games?

Tate