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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Ron Zook (2nd season, 2-9) 2005 record: 2-9 Big Ten finish: 0-8 (11th) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 47th (158.2 ypg) Passing: 87th (196.5 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 117th (234.0 ypg) Passing: 76th (235.3 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 Eastern Illinois Sept. 9 at Rutgers Sept. 16 Syracuse Sept. 23 Iowa Sept. 30 at Michigan State Oct. 7 Indiana Oct. 14 Ohio Oct. 21 at Penn State Oct. 28 at Wisconsin Nov. 4 Ohio State Nov. 11 Purdue Nov. 18 at Northwestern Depth Chart: Offense 9 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 21 Kyle Hudson So. 28 Jacob Willis Jr. WR 4 Derrick McPhearson So. 3 Marques Wilkins Fr. WR 29 Jody Ellis So. 8 DaJuan Warren Jr. LT 69 Akim Millington Jr. 57 J.J. Simmons Sr. LG 64 Martin O’Donnell Jr. 69 Ben Amundsen Jr. C 60 Ryan McDonald So. 62 Eric Block So. RG 67 Matt Maddox Sr. 79 James Ryan Jr. RT 76 Charles Myles Sr. 68 Jim LaBonte Jr. TE - Michael Hoomanawanui Fr. - Jeff Cumberland Fr. QB 15 Tim Brasic Sr. - Isiah Williams Fr. RB 30 Pierre Thomas Sr. 26 E.B. Halsey Sr. Depth Chart: Defense 9 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 91 Derek Walker So. 81 Will Davis So. DT 65 Josh Norris Sr. 85 David Lindquist So. DT 96 Chris Norwell Jr. 56 Sirod Williams So. DE 98 Xavier Fulton Jr. 95 Doug Pilcher Fr. LB 47 J Leman Jr. 43 Sam Carson So. LB 44 Brit Miller So. 45 Rodney Pittman So. LB 40 Antonio Steele Jr. 51 Anthony Thornhill Jr. CB 22 Sharriff Abdullah Sr. 28 Dere Hicks Fr. CB 18 Alan Ball Jr. - Vontae Davis Fr. SS 42 Kevin Mitchell Jr. 32 Justin Harrison Jr. FS 25 Justin Sanders Jr. 32 Justin Harrison Jr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 13 Jason Reda Jr. P 37 Kyle Yelton Fr. KR 30 Pierre Thomas Sr. PR 26 E.B. Halsey Sr.

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Ron Zook is not a patient man. He doesn't have time for long voicemail messages, traffic jams or slow service at restaurants.

But the hyper-energetic Illinois coach finds himself at a place where patience is a must. A college basketball coach can turn around a team with a great player or two. It takes a dozen -- at least -- to fix a wayward football team. Going into his second season, Zook sees progress in his team both physically and mentally. Coming off 1-11, 3-8 and 2-9 seasons, the mental part might need the most work.

"When your confidence level is down, nothing good happens," Zook says. "The mental part is the big part. There's going to come a point and time this year when we're going to have to make a decision. We're going to have to do it. We're going to have to get over the hump. I hope it happens sooner than later."

The second he stepped foot on the Illinois campus, Zook said the team can win consistently. Nothing he saw his first year has changed his opinion.

"We know what our job is," Zook says. "There's no reason why the University of Illinois shouldn't have as good a football program as anybody in the country. There's a lot of work to do."

OFFENSE

Ask Zook what his offense's biggest problem was last season, and he comes up with a quick answer: "No question, our offensive line has got to improve," Zook says. "And there's no question in my mind they'll be much improved."

Despite having all five starters back, the line has been revamped. Former right tackle Ryan McDonald is moving to center, and last year's center, Matt Maddox, is going to right guard. Oklahoma transfer Akim Millington, who impressed coaches during the spring, takes over at left tackle. Converted defensive lineman Charles Myles, a late-season revelation, will be at right tackle. The only player in the same spot will be left guard Martin O'Donnell. Former starting tackle J.J. Simmons will be a factor, as well.

Starting quarterback Tim Brasic got into some academic difficulties in the spring and was suspended for a week. But Brasic returned to the unit and should hold his job going into the opener. A 61 percent passer in 2005, Brasic needs to throw for more touchdowns (11) and throw fewer to the opponent (11). Brasic's biggest challenge will come in August, when highly touted freshman Isiah "Juice" Williams joins the team.

The running game is in good shape with returning seniors Pierre Thomas and E.B. Halsey. Thomas is the better runner of the two, taking the ball between the tackles for six-yard gains. Halsey is more of a receiving threat, leading the team in 2005 with 38 catches.

Receiver, a major concern going into 2005, has a chance to be a strength for the Illini in 2006. Four returnees caught at least 13 passes last season, led by sophomore Kyle Hudson.

DEFENSE

After the team finished last in the nation in rushing defense and near the bottom in scoring and total defense, Zook felt he needed to make a change. Out went two-year coordinator Mike Mallory. In came former Colorado assistant Vince Okruch.

Zook tried to help Okruch, bringing in three defensive players in January and moving tight end Will Davis to defensive end. Offseason gains in the weight room should also help a unit that returns nine starters.

The team finished near the bottom of the national statistics with 12 sacks in 2005. Okruch will be looking for a bigger push from his front four, starting with ends Xavier Fulton and Derek Walker. The two combined for just 1.5 sacks last season.

Bad sign for a defense -- when three of the four leading tacklers are from the secondary, including a cornerback. Safeties Kevin Mitchell and Justin Harrison are team leaders, though Harrison's starting position is in jeopardy. Alan Ball is the top cornerback.

SPECIALISTS

Placekicker Jason Reda made improvement from his freshman year, hitting 13-of-20 field goal attempts, with a career-best 52 yarder. Kyle Yelton takes over as punter from four-year starter Steve Weatherford, one of the best in school history. Yelton graduated high school early and participated in spring practice.

FINAL ANALYSIS

In Okruch, Zook has found a good personality fit who could be a spark for the 10th-ranked defense in the Big Ten. Zook has added speed on both offense and defense, plus some muscle with offensive lineman Millington. The schedule is manageable, with winnable non-conference games against Eastern Illinois, Syracuse and Ohio. In the Big Ten, the Illini will be underdogs in every game, not a surprise considering the team is 1-23 the last three conference seasons.

Offensively, Zook needs Brasic to keep up his academics while improving his touchdown-to-interception ratio. The running game is solid and should be helped by an improved offensive line. Receiver, a question mark in '05, is turning into a position of strength. The defense returns most of the starters from '05, which might not be a good thing. Zook has added enough players so that no one will feel too comfortable.

The Illini should be able to surpass last season's win total. To do any more than that, they will need big contributions from a handful of talented newcomers.