Some Illinois offensive and defensive stats for you (compared to the 2018 version):
Offensive Comparison
Team YPG
2018: 412.2 (54th)
2019: 326.4 (111th)
Team YPP (yards per play)
2018: 5.9 (40th)
2019: 4.7 (105th)
Team PPG (plays per game)
2018: 70.3 (79th)
2019: 69.4 (79th)
Team Rushing YPG
2018: 244.0 (12th)
2019: 158.2 (71st)
Team Passing YPG
2018: 168.2 (111th)
2019: 168.1 (114th)
Defensive Comparison
Opponents YPG
2018: 521.8 (128th)
2019: 414.5 (75th)
Opponents YPP (yards per play)
2018: 7.0 (124th)
2019: 5.4 (59th)
Opponents PPG (plays per game)
2018: 74.5 (87th)
2019: 76.1 (104th)
Opponents Rushing YPG
2018: 261.6 (124th)
2019: 190.1 (90th)
Opponents Passing YPG
2018: 260.2 (105th)
2019: 224.4 (61st)
So we're passing about the same, but the running game is really down. The question is "why?". I've got some theories:
1) Big dropoff in OL performance despite a bigger, stronger more experienced unit, and better prepared depth. We're just not getting the holes for Corbin we did last year. I think a big part of this was Allegretti's leadership. He called blocking schemes, recognized the opponents fronts and as a result we had far fewer missed assignments. I'm not seeing anyone step up to his leadership role. He also was a great motivator when he saw there wasn't the intensity he and Butkus expected.
2) Fundamentals like footwork, especially for the tackles in pass blocking. They weren't great last year, but at least they kept some part of the pocket protected. Our 300# tackles are getting bull rushed by smaller DEs, and that shouldn't be happening that much. This is a coaching issue. I'd feel a lot better if we had an OL coach who at least had SOME previous P5 coaching experience....
3) It seems like the RBs aren't running as "smart" as they did under Ward. I know with less control of the LOS than last year it's tougher to pick the right gap, but it seems Corbin was much better at this last year. It also seems that Corbin is going down much easier than last year. Could this be due to his early season injury? It seems that quite a few times he gets past the LOS but stumbles after minimum contact when if he kept his feet he'd be scoring 6.
4) AJ Bush was a tremendous asset to the running game both in planned and broken plays. Many times he escaped when blocking broke down for big gains. You can't really count on that as a reliable part of your offense, though...
5) Downfield blocking seems to be down a bit this year. That results in fewer long gains, which was Corbin's forte.
6) Corbin was never the kind of runner that would reliably get 5-7 yards each carry. He'd be stopped a couple of times than periodically break a big run. If you only give him 10-15 touches, that's not enough carries for him to break a couple for big gains. His YPC are way down this year, and I think that's part of the reason...
Any other thoughts on this regarding the drop off in the running game??