Outside noise not a concern for Illini defensive coordinator

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Nov. 26—CHAMPAIGN — I look forward to Mondays in the fall for a lot of reasons. Near the top of the list: We get to talk to Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry.

For those of you fortunate enough to have met Henry, no need to report he is always interesting and engaged. He doesn't have pre-planned talking points. Instead, he listens and answers.

The Illinois defense this season has some high points: a shutout against Western Michigan, giving up just six in a Big Ten win against Maryland. But it also gave up 63 points against Indiana and 42 at Washington.

Statistically, the Illinois defense ranks 39th nationally against the run, 60th in total yards allowed and 87th against the pass ahead of a 6:30 p.m. kick on Saturday in the regular-season finale for the Illini (7-4, 4-4 Big Ten) against Northwestern (6-5, 4-4) at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Not great, but not "everyone must go" levels, either.

The bigger issue for Illinois is the inability of the defense to get off the field. The team is 100th in turnovers gained and 125th in third-down conversion defense. And the defensive pressure hasn't been reliable despite the presence of one of the top sackers, Gabe Jacas, in program history.

"It's frustrating," Henry said. "My high school ball coach used to always tell me, 'A play ends in either a touchdown or tackle.' I can always put guys in better positions to make some of those plays. Third down is a microcosm of first and second down."

So, there is the situation. With word that part of the fan base is grumbling about the defense.

I asked Henry on Tuesday if he is aware of the outside criticism. And how he responds.

"There's outside criticism?," Henry said.

He was joking, I think.

"I'm sure there is outside criticism," Henry said. "I would be remiss to even think about that or ever say that.

"I'm sure there is, but honestly, I don't care. Dude, we've got guys in here that are going through things that are way deeper than people can imagine. At the end of the day, the goal is to win games, change these young men's lives, and hopefully, they can be better citizens and humans once they leave this place."

Henry understands it is a results-oriented business.

"Do we want to win games? Absolutely. Big Ten title? Absolutely. We're going to continue to beat down that door and do things here that's going to put us in those positions."

Back to the outside pressure question …

"I go home to two twin girls," Henry said. "I couldn't care less about outside criticism, respectfully. I embrace the criticism. Whether it's criticism or people praising you, I try not to hear any of it. It doesn't matter. What matters is the opponent we're playing. What matters is Northwestern is a really, really good football team. What matters is Wisconsin is a really good football team."

Henry gets it.

"At the end of the day, I know what our fans want," the Illinois defensive coordinator continued. "Our fans want us to have a good football team. They want us to successful. They want to have something to cheer for. We've got to continue to give them something to cheer for. When we don't have success, I understand their frustration."

Thinking big

Illinois entered the season with dreams of qualifying for the College Football Playoff. Maybe even hosting a game in the opening round.

"We all want to go and play in the College Football Playoff," Henry said. "It's always going to be a work in progress. Just like winning games is going to be a work in progress. Just like getting to the Big Ten title game is going to be a work in progress. It takes a high level of focus consistently. I think if you put enough of those wins together, you can find yourself being in that position."

Trouble spots

Henry isn't happy about the struggles and accepts the blame when there is a defensive failure. Like what happened with 9:40 left in the third quarter at Madison: Wisconsin's Darrion Dupree raced 84 yards for a touchdown.

"That's all on me," Henry said. "I've got to do a better job putting the guys in the right position to make those plays and giving them a chance to have success. That was a huge, huge, huge momentum swing for them. I thought they had life, but they got even more life after it happened."

Henry doesn't mind the lessons. He just wishes they came attached to a win, not a 17-point loss.

"It sucks for our seniors," he said. "It sucks for the guys who obviously put all the work in during the course of the year."

The best news: the defense has another game. Against bitter rival Northwestern on Senior Night.

"I'm trying to remind these guys: 'You've got to bring your hard hat and lunch pail every single game," Henry said, "because these teams are all going to play inspired."

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos