Early success feeds current drought for Illinois defense | Contents

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Illinois has rocketed to the top of the national leaderboard with eight takeaways in its first two games.

The impact of two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in the season opener against Eastern Illinois probably only turned a comfortable win into a 45-0 rout. Knocking down Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels three times and recovering another fumble a week later was far more significant in a 23-17 victory and the first of two ranked victories for the Illini.

The takeaways have declined over the last three games. Xavier Scott got the better of Central Michigan quarterback Joe Labas three weeks ago in Champaign. Torrie Cox Jr. had one of the most incredible defensive plays of the season two weeks ago, snagging an interception in the end zone against Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola.

And that’s it.

A single takeaway against the Chippewas and Cornhuskers was enough. A zero Saturday night in State College couldn’t have made the difference in a tight, low-scoring game. It was for Penn State, which turned a late Luke Altmyer interception into a game-winning touchdown in its 21-7 victory before 109,911 fans at Beaver Stadium.

Miles Scott had an interception in Illinois’ first two games this season. From his position in the back of the Illini defense at free safety, the redshirt junior has seen a shift in expectations for opposing offenses over the past three weeks compared to what has actually happened.

“Man, after the teams recorded the first two games, they were throwing the ball down the field, but when they played us it was just a bunch of wild, weird stuff that they don’t really do,” Miles Scott said. “Of course Penn State does that, but they didn’t try to shoot down the field like they did in previous games. We just have to find a way to get takeout in different ways.”

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar rarely puts the ball in danger anyway — he has a career touchdown-to-interception ratio of 37:3 — but he rarely tested the Illinois defense Saturday night. The Nittany Lions junior averaged 17.7 yards per completion in his first three games. Against the Illini, it was nine yards per completion as he completed 15 of 21, a season-low 135 yards.

“The QB just made smart decisions,” Miles Scott said. “They didn’t really try to throw the ball down the field. They tried to keep everything pretty conservative. … It was difficult to create a snack. All we could really do was force fumbles.”

The Illinois free safety nearly scored early in the fourth quarter after ripping the ball out of the hands of Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton. A single bright spot for the Illini against the Nittany Lions’ rushing attack, allowing Allar to rein in the passing game.

But a brief bright moment. A replay revealed that Singleton was on the ground before the ball was successfully ripped free.

“That was the closest snack bar we had,” Miles Scott said. “The offense came on the field and then they told us the defense on the field. That was frustrating. That would have definitely changed the game. We just have to find a way.”

Illinois will go back to the drawing board next week. No game on the schedule means you have enough time to turn your focus inward. To further emphasize takeaways. And in solving a core problem from Saturday night’s game, in which Penn State rushed 44 times for 239 yards and three touchdowns.

“Our defensive guys take care of it,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema said. “I think the part we really need to look at is that some of the things they did to run the ball were very unique. They made some tackle flexes where they were lined up as wide receivers. What we need to do is recognize the ability to adapt as the game progresses. That last touchdown. You can’t snap the ball, rush 4 yards, and score a touchdown. I think we had a moment there where we had to bend a little bit.”