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The good,

the bad and the ugly:

WHAT WENT RIGHT

   1. Defensive line: Aggressive UI pass rushers kept bigger

offensive linemen back on their heels throughout the session.

   2. Michael Young: St. Louis rookie had an interception

and five tackles to lead the crackling young linebacker corps.

   3. No injuries: The UI''s two-unit squad emerged intact

and primed for a summer of running and extensive weight training.

WHAT WENT WRONG

   1. Passing game: Dropped passes contributed to a shoddy

attack, starting QB Mark Hoekstra erratic in going 6 for 23.

   2. The score: A 50-0 defensive romp won''t entice fans

who left Memorial Stadium thinking, "Oh, my, here we go again."

   3. No Holcombe: The excitement that accompanies the Illini

backfield star was absent as he rested a minor shoulder bruise.

   Can''t sugar-coat this one. Can''t slide over the shortcomings.

   Place your thumb and forefinger on each side of your nose, crinkle your nose, close your eyes and let it go:

   "Peuwwww."

   That was the unfortunate evaluation Saturday of an Illini football offense that, with only 14 sessions to unlearn Paul Schudel''s system  11th and 10th offensively in his two Big Ten seasons as offensive coordinator  the attacking unit didn''t attack.

   Accepting the fact that the 50-0 "defensive romp" was partly assisted by a weighted and highly unusual scoring system, and impacted by the absence of top offensive players Robert Holcombe and Matt Cushing, a Memorial Stadium wag noted: "They fired the offensive coaches but they kept the players."

   How could the defense beat the offense 50-0?

   "The defense capitalized," said Ron Turner, more aware of the rebuilding job he faces as new head coach.

   "We had protection breakdowns, dropped balls, misreads, blocking failures and missed assignments. It was a combination of things. I''m disappointed for our fans and our team for not putting points on the board or sustaining some drives. Every time we started to get going, a negative play happened.

   "On the positive side, we came here trying to establish an attitude, a philosophy and a work ethic, and I''m pleased in that regard."

   Under the special scoring system, three consecutive first downs meant points on the board. It never happened.

   Starting QB Mark Hoekstra was a shaky 6 for 23 with a long strike of 14 yards. Rookie Tim Lavery went 3 for 3 but was sacked three times and couldn''t handle a misdirected snap (recovered by ever-alert Eric Guenther) after parlaying two first downs.

   "I was a little nervous," second-teamer Lavery said. "I don''t understand it because those plays worked in practice. I''m sorry we couldn''t put on a better show. This was unacceptable. I couldn''t get into any rhythm. I showed some flashes early, at the beginning of spring ball, but nothing since."

Still too early to tell

   Is it hopeless?

   No, it''s much too early in the Turner scheme for such thoughts. The offense has, during mid-week skirmishes, moved the football.

   But Turner sent out worry waves when he said:

   "I have two major areas of concern. First is our punting game, both the protection and the consistency of the kicking. Second is our passing game. It''s not where I hoped we''d be. I''m not pleased with the production of the receivers. They must mature. I''ve talked to them, and they know how I feel."

   Well, if the passers and catchers are behind the paper-thin lineup of blockers, then check the wrinkles in my forehead. Holcombe, who sat out Saturday with a minor shoulder bruise, is just about all Turner has to hang his offensive hat on. Hoekstra''s performance had folks yearning for Scott Weaver, an interested spectator at Saturday''s abbreviated event.

   "My play was not where I wanted it to be, but I''m not discouraged," Hoekstra insisted. "We competed, but not to the ability we can. You''re always coming at it from a different angle when you start a new offense. We made mistakes. At the same time, we did some good things that went unnoticed.

   "This is not a difficult offense to comprehend. What we need is confidence in one another. Right now, we''re short. Now that we know what to expect, summer will be a time when we can work as a unit."

Tate''s tidbits:

    Al Martindale''s spring injury report was remarkably positive. The Illini trainer will evaluate all minor ailments in the coming days and determine what is necessary, but there is nothing of major consequence among members of the first two units. Martindale is even optimistic about senior linebacker David James'' achy knees.

    Lavery, who now weighs 188, said he''ll play for the Danville Dans this summer but will attend Dans games only on the days he pitches. Otherwise, he''ll be training with the football team and tuning up between starts in the bullpen on campus.

    Nonseason ticket purchasers will be able to acquire single-game Illinois football tickets beginning May 1 at the Assembly Hall.

    Turner will be 1 of 7 Illini football coaches in Chicago on May 5 when they embark on a blitz of their primary recruiting area.

   Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette.