Bielema still mum on who is calling Illini defense

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Oct. 2—CHAMPAIGN — As is his right, Illinois football coach Bret Bielema kept reporters in the dark on Thursday as to who is taking over as his team's defensive play-caller.

He did talk about how it is going so far.

"Defensively, our guys have really locked into the moment, the transition," Bielema said. "I think our guys have really used it as a rallying point to come together in one voice."

Here is what else we know:

* Walking off the field after last Saturday's 42-19 loss at Ohio State, Bielema didn't plan to make a change at the top after four games with Bobby Hauck as the Illini defensive coordinator. But …

"I knew things were going to have to change," he said.

* The new defensive coordinator is someone from within the walls of the Smith Center, presumably a current defensive assistant.

I again asked Bielema if he brought in someone not currently a part of the program.

"No," Bielema said. "In a game week, I don't think you can do much like that."

* The new defensive coordinator will be a first-time play-caller … at Illinois.

One clever reporter asked Bielema, "Does this play-caller have prior play-calling experience" and the sixth-year Illini coach responded: "Great question" without answering.

* Hopefully, the new defensive coordinator will be part of Monday's weekly press conference. Bielema, offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr., and the defensive coordinator speak for about 15 minutes each. That will likely be the first chance for media members to hear from the new guy. Unless Bielema changes his routine — doubt it — assistant coaches won't be available to the media after the Illinois-Purdue game ends on Saturday evening.

The logical choice to me is inside linebackers coach Roger Cooper, who was already in the game day play-calling operation.

Cooper is in his first year on the staff, joining the Illini after four seasons with Hauck as co-defensive coordinator at Montana. The Port Orchard, Wash., native starred at linebacker for Montana State, where he became Big Sky Conference Defensive MVP his final season.

If not Cooper, the next logical choices for defensive coordinator are first-year secondary coach Ronnie Bradford or outside linebackers coach Archie McDaniel.

Bradford played a decade in the NFL and is a former defensive coordinator at Montana.

McDaniel is in his third year on the staff and might have a better handle on what Bielema is looking for with the defense. He is a former co-defensive coordinator at Texas State.

Simple goal

Illinois fans don't really care about who runs the Illinois defense. What they care about it whether it works. At the moment, the answer is "no."

Ohio State exploited the Illinois defense, throwing four touchdown passes to Jeremiah Smith. Understand, he is the best receiver in the country and NFL-ready right now. But the Illinois defense didn't put up a fight. Didn't give itself a chance to slow him down.

If Smith wins the Heisman Trophy — and he is the leader right now — Illinois' defensive ineptitude helped make it possible.

Whoever takes over the defense has to direct the team to force more turnovers and increase pressure on the quarterback. If Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne is able to sit in the pocket and fire passes to open receivers, it will be long day for the home team. And the Cannon might be going back to Indiana.

Browne, who had a monster game in Champaign two years ago, is hitting 71 percent of his attempts with a 7:1 touchdown to interception ratio.

Browne ranks among the national leaders in completion percentage and passing efficiency. Plus, he will be uber-confident after his 415-yard effort in the 2024 game, a 50-49 Illinois squeaker in overtime. Browne threw for three touchdowns in that one.

Numbers don't lie

Illinois currently ranks No. 101 nationally in scoring defense and No. 111 in total defense. The team is allowing 26.5 points and 391 yards per game.

That is not getting it done. In the Big Ten, Illinois ranks 16th in both categories.

Unless the defense makes dramatic gains, the season could get away from Illinois.

The team struggled mightily against Ohio State, one of the top offenses in the country. But there are others on the way.

In the final eight games, Illinois faces Oregon (No. 12 offense), UCLA (17), Nebraska (19), Maryland (44) and Iowa (48). Purdue ranks No. 58 in total offense, one spot ahead of Illinois.

The lone bottom 50 offense Illinois goes against in the final two months is the Oct. 10 game at Michigan State. In Pat Fitzgerald's first year back in the Big Ten, the Spartans are No. 122 nationally in total offense as the calendar has flipped to October.

Bob Asmussen is a college football reporter and columnist for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at 217-393-8248 or .

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