Illinois will get a very different Duke team on Saturday than the one it saw a year ago.
Last season’s meeting in Durham turned into a shootout on the Blue Devils’ side of the ball, with quarterback Darian Mensah throwing for 334 yards and two touchdowns. Illinois survived that game by creating chaos everywhere else, forcing five turnovers and turning a tight contest into a 45-19 win. This time, though, the rematch in Champaign, Ill., comes with Duke leaning hard into a new identity.
With Mensah now at Miami, Duke has shifted from a pass-first look to a run-heavy attack built around sophomore Nate Sheppard. At 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, Sheppard is off to a massive start, leading the nation in rushing after gaining 227 yards and scoring twice on 35 carries in Duke’s 17-3 victory over Tulane. The Blue Devils ran it 49 times and threw only 28 passes in that game, almost the exact opposite of how they approached Illinois last year.
“They were vastly different -- both personnel and schematically -- from a year ago,” Illinois defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck said. “Same offense.
A lot of the same concepts. But they're drastically different in how they're going at it, so we're going to have to figure out where we're going to lean.”
That decision starts with Illinois’ run defense, but it doesn’t end there. The Illini are also trying to clean up their tackling after allowing UAB to move the ball far too easily in a 42-23 win on Sept.
- Illinois gave up 413 yards on 79 plays, including 194 rushing yards against Hauck’s new 3-3-5 defense.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema said the tackling issues were no accident.
“I made a conscientious effort that we just did not tackle very much (in the fall),” Bielema said. “I knew that tackling was going to be a little bit of an issue.”
Duke’s defense brings a different kind of problem. The Blue Devils have made pressure part of the routine, and they kept that up in the opener by holding Tulane to 54 rushing yards. Defensive end Bryce Davis was named the ACC’s Defensive Lineman of the Week after finishing with three tackles for loss and two sacks.
That front will be tasked with bothering Illinois quarterback Katin Houser, who looked sharp in his first game for the Illini. Houser completed 13 of 17 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns against UAB, then added a fourth score on the ground.
“Their quarterback is really efficient with the ball out of his hand,” Duke defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke said. “Great timing throws.
Has good arm strength. His feet can get him out of trouble in the pocket.”
In Other News...
Illinois Has A David Mirkovic Decision That Could Shape The Season
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For an Illini team trying to build off a Final Four run, Mirkovics status matters because his availability could shape both the frontcourt rotation and the way the roster settles early in the season. Underwood has not put a timetable on the return, which leaves Illinois balancing optimism with patience as it waits to see how quickly Mirkovic can get fully healthy. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Transfer Already Added Some Edge To A Crucial Season
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There is real pressure attached to that fit, because Illinois kept several starters in place and also brought in a five-star freshman, giving the group the look of a legitimate contender if the pieces come together. Vaaks does not need to be the headline, but he does need to be one of the reasons this season feels different, and his early edge suggests he is ready for that responsibility. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Can Make An Early Statement Against Illinois In One Key Area
Illinois spent Week 1 answering an uncomfortable question about its run defense after UAB found plenty of room on the ground, leaving defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck with an issue that has to be cleaned up fast. For a program that prides itself on stopping the run, that kind of performance only sharpened the focus on the basics, especially after Bret Bielema pointed to tackling as a key reason the defense had so much trouble.
Now comes a Duke offense that can test that weakness in a hurry, and the Blue Devils have already shown they are willing to lean on the ground game. The matchup puts Illinois in a spot where one missed tackle can turn into a long afternoon, and it will be worth watching whether the Illini can answer the early pressure before the game starts to tilt in Duke's favor. [Read more 🡒]