Tate: Illini offense could air it out
August 6, 2008 8:52 AM
In 25 football campaigns between the arrival of Mike White in 1980 and the 2005 takeover by Ron Zook, Illinois made vastly more yardage through the airways than on the ground.
Illinois was known far and wide as pass-first. White altered the old Gary Moeller style so dramatically that in his first three years, the Illini had nearly a 3-1 ratio as they passed for 9,879 yards and rushed for 3,512. Illinois pretty much stayed that way under the direction of NFL-taught aerial masters John Mackovic, early-90s coordinator Greg Landry and Ron Turner.
The spread formation instituted by Zook and coordinator Mike Locksley sent Illinois swinging back in the other direction. Last year's 9-4 club rushed for a school-record 3,338 yards, and passed for 2,187. With the best running QB in school history, Juice Williams, the Illini finished the regular season with rushing advantages of 448-95 at Minnesota, 260-180 at No. 1 Ohio State and 321-69 against Northwestern, finishing a deep 11th in Big Ten passing with 168 yards per game.
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