When Billy Dicken & Co. carry Purdue's first national ranking in 13 years into Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon, it would be inappropriate to consider this an aerial circus. And it's certainly not a "touch football" team.

Yes, the Boilermakers spread three or four receivers in all directions, and they often go without a set back behind Dicken. But the heady quarterback completed just 16 (of 22) passes in sinking Wisconsin 45-20 Saturday as tailback Ed Watson and the Boilermakers added 204 yards and three touchdowns with an explosive ground game.

In averaging 33.5 points this season, a total offense figure of 476 yards is divided between 298 passing and 178 running.

Dicken is himself a striking runner and particularly dangerous on the quarterback draw, the fifth-year Bloomington product averaging 5.6 yards on 40 carries this season. His agility is such that opponents show just nine sacks in six games.

That puts it squarely in the lap of Illinois' troubled front four Saturday. While much of the blame for a 0-6 season has been heaped on the UI secondary, the defensive line has been anything but healthy and productive.

On Sept. 27 at Iowa, it was inevitable that Tavian Banks would have a big day (191 yards in 25 carries). One Illini tackle (Mike McGee) was gutting it out with a hand that has been heavily bandaged all season, and the other (Garrett Johnson) was slowed by a gimpy ankle. Both defensive ends, Rameel Connor and Ryan Murphy, were sidelined, and the UI relied on a converted linebacker (Jeff Weisse) and two redshirt freshmen (Fred Wakefield and Karleton Thomas). Iowa rushed for 219 yards. Then came Penn State with 276 yards, and Wisconsin with 318. All three league rivals ruled the trenches and did pretty much as they pleased.

Thankful for a week off

What followed, thankfully, was a Saturday of leisure.

"The week off meant a lot to us," UI coach Ron Turner said. "Seth Tesdall (sub tackle) wouldn't have been able to play last week. Garrett Johnson got some rest and he's more healthy. And we have Ryan Murphy back.

"We face a Purdue team that is as good as anyone we've played this season. They thrive on the big play. They had 93- and 89-yard pass plays against Minnesota. They led Wisconsin 21-0 in the first quarter. When they see the big plays we've given up, they'll be licking their chops.

"If they were a team that spread the field and just passed, we'd know what to expect. But they run the ball and they execute at a high level. They have a lot of seniors (seven starters on offense) and they've picked up (Joe) Tiller's offense real well. They screen and they run and they attack all areas."

Johnson remains upbeat

Johnson, irrepressible in the face of persistent disappointment and two years of debilitating injuries, appeared at Monday's press conference with an attitude that the Illini can still "turn it around" in the last five games.

"Purdue is looking at a bowl bid. One more win and they qualify. They've turned things around. That's the type of team we can be. We need to build momentum for next season."

Johnson, a junior, concedes he "was limited" for several weeks, but is running hard again. He'll lead the charge against the elusive Dicken, who sidestepped Wisconsin's defensive rush and didn't allow a sack Saturday.

Turner intends to move Murphy back ahead of Weisse, and will start Kankakee's Thomas "because he's played best among our defensive ends in recent weeks."

With all these players returning, Turner has the makings of a front four for the future.

"We'll still have to get bigger and stronger," Johnson said. "Our defensive ends have 300-pound tackles coming down on them. And I need to bulk up. I'm down to 270 and I need to get up to 280.

"McGee is doing better. I'd have trouble if I could only grab with one hand. But he doesn't seem to."

Still, McGee's numbers don't indicate he's all the way back. In six games, the last three as a starter, he has accumulated only six solo tackles and 10 assists.

Johnson has done only slightly better with 11 solos and five assists. Combined, the starting tackles have one sack. The Illini need better production from the front four, and particularly from two athletes as highly regarded as Johnson and McGill.

Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette.