April 24, 2024

Iowa looks to exploit porous Illini defense, end losing skid

By TERRY TOWERY

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz talks to the officials during a game earlier this season. The Hawkeyes play at Illinois at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. (Troy Hyde)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois offense can run, but its porous defense can’t hide. And Iowa knows it.

The Hawkeyes hope to slow the Illini running game and take advantage of one of the nation’s worst defenses to end a three-game skid when Iowa (6-4, 3-4 Big Ten) travels to Champaign on Saturday.

The Hawkeyes, which started the season 6-1 before the losing streak, will put its stumbling offense up against an Illini defense that’s given up an average of 532 yards per game this season.

“As you can well imagine, our first goal as a team is to win,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “And our secondary goals are to score points offensively and stop points on the defensive side. We spend a lot of time evaluating our team, looking at our team, watching them and then week-to-week trying to figure out what gives us the best chance to do those two things.”

Iowa is coming off a 14-10 home loss to Northwestern. Hawkeyes quarterback Nate Stanley threw for 269 yards, but the team only generated 64 yards rushing, including only 3-of-13 on third downs, with an average gain of eight yards.

What A Rush

Illinois (4-6, 2-5) makes up in rushing offense what it lacks in defense.

Yet even that bright spot is causing some concern. Star tailback Reggie Corbin left last week’s 54-35 loss to Nebraska with a foot injury. He’s expected to suit up and play Saturday against Iowa, although he may see limited carries. Corbin is crucial to the Illini offensive attack. He has rushed for 1,011 yards this season, averaging 8.9 yards per carry, and has nine touchdowns.

Running back Mike Epstein injured a foot earlier in the season and Smith said he doesn’t expect him back this year. Ra’Von Bonner and Dre Brown will rotate with Corbin in the backfield, he said.

At Quarterback

Iowa quarterback Stanley has been dealing with an injured thumb sustained three weeks ago in a loss to Penn State. Ferentz said he is “doing better.”

There was some concern the three-game losing streak might be affecting Stanley, which he brushed off during Tuesday’s press conference.

“I’m just making sure that I stay positive and help my teammates out as much as I can,” Stanley said. “There’s always room to do more.”