After win over Maryland, Illinois continues to trend in right direction

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — They say follow the numbers. If you follow the numbers from Illinois’ performances over the last two week’s you’ll know Illinois is trending towards a successful month of November. A “November to Remember” is what Illinois head coach Bret Bielema calls it. It’s been something Bielema and the rest of the coaching staff emphasize, according to safety Matthew Bailey.

Here are a couple of numbers:

Illinois has only allowed 19 points in the last two games.

Illinois has rushed for 200-plus yards in the last two games.

Illinois wide receiver Hudson Clement has caught three touchdowns and 156 yards over the last three games.

Those are only a few of the numbers that Illinois has infused in its big wins over Rutgers and Maryland. While these are games Illinois has been favored in, they’ve done so in emphatic fashion both times. An encouraging sign as the season winds down over the next two weeks.

More bend, not break… with significantly less break

It was no secret Illinois’ defense would be a bend-not-break unit coming into the season; that notion further crystallized itself when Illinois lost its star corner Xavier Scott.

Chaos ensued in the early part of the season, highlighted by the unit’s no-show performances at Indiana, a highly anticipated matchup and at Washington, a game that needed to be more competitive. Couple that with a crooked performance at Purdue that did not cost the program a win and you have fans calling for people’s jobs.

Since Washington’s disastrous performance, the defense seems to have refocused. They’ve been able to limit explosives and have come up with pivotal stops. The only potential shift has been bringing more pressure.

The unit has played with an edge when it matters.

“I think bringing awareness to the fact that we have to be on the attack, and we have to go get what we want, it’s not just going to happen,” Bailey said. “ Seek opportunities to get better and to play faster.”

They’ve scratched their way back to a tough, smart, dependable identity. As cliché as it sounds.

Illinois’ offense had failed to extend a 21-6 lead in the third quarter. The offense was stopped on fourth-and-goal at Maryland’s one. Illinois’ defense was put in the perfect position, with Maryland needing to travel 99 yards if they wanted a sniff at a touchdown.

The unit allowed Maryland to go 90-plus yards with a chance to cut the lead to a one-score game. But instead of giving up a touchdown, although it took 96 yards, the defense got a pivotal stop on fourth down.

“We always talk about four quarters in all of our workouts,” Bailey said. “All of that prepares you for that kind of thing. When you’re tired, mentally, it’s easy to lack details and not pay attention to things. I think all of that prepared us for a moment like that.”

Hudson Clement’s connection with Altmyer

It’s grown. Clement joined the program over the offseason as a transfer from West Virginia. The expectations were high for a wideout who led his old program in receiving yards last season. As the season began to unfold, he had zero touchdowns and was held under 30 yards in five out of his first eight games as an Illini.

Throughout the season, Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer and Clement had been close to connecting on big plays. They didn’t connect. But in the past two weeks, the two seem to be in lock step.

“It’s been a lot of hard work, a lot of meetings, trying to get on the same page with Luke,” Clement told TCR. “It’s the little details, you know, I might know the right, but [Altmyer] might want it a little bent, or coming down a little bit more. It’s just a lot of details.”

The wideout room is crowded, with several reliable weapons, with Hank Beatty one of the top Big Ten wide receivers and Collin Dixon as the leading voices in the room. Clement found himself battling another transfer receiver, Justin Bowick, for key targets.

“Reporters, media people would ask me, ‘Who’s the guy we should watch out for?’ It was always Hudson, special talent, special player, he’s out there, the ball just hasn’t found him early in the season, but he’s done well.” Altmyer said after Illinois’ win over Maryland.

Altmyer is using his legs

With Saturday afternoon’s performance, Altmyer tied Juice Williams for the second-most TD passes in an Illinois career, tied with Juice Williams.

A significant boost in production was aided by the offensive coordinator’s insistence on utilizing Altmyers’ legs. Altmyer. The quarterback ran for 64 yards on Saturday night.

“he gets really fiesty. The good part is that he’s playing really good football. The bad part is that he’s in his final phase of playing for us,” Bielema said.

Altmyer will play his final two regular-season games against Wisconsin and Northwestern.

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