Illini coach Ron Turner carries good vibes about his new punter.
Steve Fitts, an athletic freshman from South Carolina, boomed his first six punts for a 45-yard average in Saturday night's scrimmage at Rantoul High School before a "poocher" pulled his average down.
That's the good news. The bad news is Fitts was needed so often.
In a replay of last season, the UI's No. 1 offense didn't produce. Paired against a veteran No. 1 defense that is familiar with their plays – except, apparently, the tight end over the middle – quarterback Mark Hoekstra's unit didn't so much as threaten until the 11th and last opportunity of the evening.
That's when Hoekstra found Brian Hodges, a large converted quarterback, running free down the center of the field for a 35-yard touchdown pass. That marked the 12th time in 11 possessions the regulars made first-down yardage and boosted Hoekstra's aerial production to 156 yards on 13-of-25 passing.
In a replay of 1997, the regulars began by failing on third and 1, sustained sacks on the next two series and were later denied by errant passes, drops and a stagnant ground attack.
Actually, the passing game showed positive signs with hot new receiver Connie Moore finding some openings, but Garrett Johnson and Jeff Weisse spearheaded a defensive line that gave Hoekstra little time and completely throttled the running game.
Consider that the top two running backs Steve Havard and Jameel Cook rushed 23 times for 60 net yards, barely keeping the overall ground game on the plus side when 42 yards in sacks and a failed end-around were figured in.
Saturday's most impressive rusher was diminutive Chicago freshman Rocky Harvey, who sparked the second unit against the No. 2 defense, clicking off a 17-yard run early and a 45-yarder late. But it is pure conjecture how he might have fared against Johnson, Weisse and the hungry regulars.
Hiestand: They got under our pads
Analyzing the blocking and the overall play in the trenches, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand said:
"We did OK, but from our perspective, we expected more. We didn't play as well as we can. I thought the defensive guys played low and strong, and they got under our pads. We'd make a good play here, and then something would go wrong there.
"We've been banging through two-a-days, and I thought it was a great idea to come over here and play under the lights in a gamelike setting. It's been a hard training camp, and we're sore and tired. But that's no excuse. We have to suck it up."
Hiestand says the return of Tom Schau at center (injured last season) has solidified a line of 300-pounders featuring twin Ryan Schau and Marcus Sullivan at the tackles and Ray Redziniak and J.P. Machado at the guards. It is improved, even if it wasn't apparent Saturday night.
"It's been going back and forth," Johnson said. "The defense was on tonight. We have a little advantage because we go against them every day, and we pretty much know what they're doing. We held up pretty good tonight even though we permitted a few first downs we shouldn't have."
That's the difficult aspect of judging preseason scrimmages: If the offense scores, that means the defense fails. And vice versa.
Fitts, Moore are good additions
Basically, here's what we learned:
– Fitts has a live leg, just as Turner promised.
– Moore is something special and has the best chance of taking a pass or a punt for a long gainer. And the tight end is clearly back in the offense.
– Hoekstra was OK, and freshman Kurt Kittner did some good things, but neither moved around in the backfield with the dexterity of Kirk Johnson, who in his brief appearance directed the third unit on a 16-play TD drive against the third defense.
– Mike Gusich moved back into the secondary and could be the steady hand coach Tim Kish needs to solidify his experienced defensive unit. Once again, linebackers Danny Clark, Eric Guenther and Michael Young appeared good enough to win with.
But based on Saturday, the Illini can't expect to survive close games unless they can develop a more formidable running attack, avoid possession-killing sacks and figure out a way to cash in on short-yardage situations. There was too much of 1997 on the offensive side.
Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette.
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