1. Right now, how do you feel about where the Illini are as a team?
I actually feel pleased, even though they are at this point in the season where I predicted them to be win wise, they have demonstrated improvement from week to week that we haven't seen here in Champaign for a few years now. The offensive line has held together much better after a really bad opening week, and the defense while not exactly lock down has improved in its coverage and tackling.
2. With Juice gone, Who's the key guy, the player that they have to build around to win games?
Mikel Leshoure, who has gone over 100 yards in four straight games now is the centerpiece of the offense. He has explosiveness in the open field that we haven't had since Rashard Mendenhall and he is finally getting the ball 20 plus times per game. If we can get him going we will keep the game at least closer than maybe many expected.
3. What has to happen for Ohio State to beat Illinois, and vice versa?
The defense to vaaaastly improve their pass coverage. The weakness of the team is the secondary which is plagued by injury and inexperience. Tressel would be wise to go deep and often to challenge those players.
4. Do you think the Illibuck matters to fans anymore?
If for no other reason than it means we have likely beaten a highly ranked opponent it does. Besides with the new Land of Lincoln trophy and the somewhat lame Purdue Cannon, this is the best trophy we have right now, and it is by far one of the cooler looking ones anyway.
5. How will Illinois finish the season? (W/L, Bowl game(?))
I had this team at 6-6 at the beginning of the year, and that is where I see them staying, it should be enough to get them to a bowl game and it will be more than enough to keep Zook around for another year. If the Illini can come back to play Purdue and Indiana well after going against OSU PSU and MSU in consecutive weeks, there are enough wins left on this schedule to make a bowl.
6. You guys have yet to beat Pryor, how do you contain him?
Pass rush up the middle is the best antidote, you need a strong and disruptive DT to cause havoc at snap. I am not sure that Liuget is really quite up to that yet though.
7. Do you think Zook should be fired after the season?
I don't know about should, if he takes this team to a bowl it should be rewarded I think, if for no other reason than he assembled a much better coaching staff around him after last year's train wreck. I also know that he is probably still too expensive to buy out, so whether I like it or not he will be here for the next season or two.
8. Ron Zook may be on his way out, what do you think of Tressel?
When Jim Tressel speaks the sound of four million locusts rubbing their wings and decimating crops fills the air, the earth quakes and the mountains shudder, women weep and men despair. Then the liberated Old Ones would teach them new ways to shout and kill and revel and enjoy themselves, and all the earth would flame with a cataclysm of ecstasy and freedom. Also I think he gives dumb nick names to his running backs, Boom and Zoom? Kind of lame right?
9. Who do you want to replace Zook? (If not, tell who would do good there)
Kind of moot, as i mentioned before I don't think the University has the cash to buy out his contract.
10. Finally, who wins and why?
