"Illinois Mike"

Looks like Michael Hoomanawanui (known affectionately to Illini fans as "Uh-oh") is making a name for himself on the big stage.

Loved this tidbit from Peter King's MMQB column:

"It's Ho-OH-ma-NOW-uh-noo-ee.''-- St. Louis rookie tight end Michael Hoomanawanui, explaining to me the correct pronunciation of his last name in the locker room Thursday night.

Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo calls him "Illinois Mike,'' because, as he says, "I have no chance at that name.'' He'll have to call him something. Hoomanawanui caught two touchdown passes against the Patriots and has been one of the big stars of Rams training camp.

As I wrote this morning to my advisors J.J. Geleaux, Tam O'Flannell, Father D.P. McGillicutty, and Tatt Mareeco, "Illinois Mike" looks like the third Illini pass-catcher from last year's squad who is making his presence felt in the NFL. Both Arrelious Benn, a second-round pick, and Jeff Cumberland, an undrafted free agent who looks to make the Jets team, are also getting strong reviews in the preseason. The fact these three guys are capable of playing at the next level but never broke through in a big way with the Illini, underscores the futility of the '09 Illinois team.

I don't know if the blame lies with Juice Williams, or one-and-done offensive coordinator Mike Schultz, or maybe just the Zooker, but last season was a mess.

A new year, and a new team, gets down to business this Saturday.

Illini Travel To Indiana To (Hopefully) Administer A Beatdown

Last season the Illini rolled over Indiana 55-13 in Champaign, with Juice completing 16-22 passes for 271 yards and 3 TDs, Benn catching 7 passes for 130 yards, and then true freshman Jason Ford rushing for 173 yards on 19 carries.

What are the odds any one of those things happens tomorrow when the Illini head to Bloomington?

I'd say slim and none based on what I have seen from the offense to this point in the season.

But I remain optimistic.

Get r dun, Juice.

I Have No Idea What Will Happen In the Illinois - Ohio St. Game

That's right. I have absolutely no clue about what will happen today when the Illini play Ohio St. at the Horseshoe.

First of all, it seems like forever since the Illini have played a game. They lost the opener to Mizzou, then came back a week later and won against Illinois St., a game that can't be considered a real contest. I didn't watch that game, and just read about the injury to Juice on the first play from scrimmage, the up and down play of Eddie McGee and the questionable defensive play, even against an ISU offense that is objectively terrible.

Secondly, even though the Illini are coming off a bye week, injuries raise a big question mark. Juice has the quad (or is it a hammy?) issue, and Benn has the sprained ankle he suffered against Mizzou. Martez is out for the season and a redshirt freshman, Evan Frierson, is starting in his place at middle linebacker. If Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes can't exploit that matchup, they aren't worthy of their AP #13 ranking.

All that said, the Illini have a lot of talent and have won in Columbus recently, against a better Ohio St. team no less. Here are the few keys I see for the Illini to be competitive:

1. the defense - especially Sirod, Josh Brent, Doug Pilcher and Corey Liuget on the D Line, and Evan Frierson and Ian Thomas in the linebacking unit - must contain Pryor when he leaves the pocket as he so often does;

2. Juice needs to complete a few passes downfield to Benn, Jeff Cumberland, Jarred Fayson or one of the other guys in the receiving unit, in order to open up the option run that Juice ran to perfection in 2007;

3. Juice needs to throw no more than 1 pick;

4. the DBs - I'm looking at you Donsay Hardeman - need to prevent Pryor from making a big play deep and, almost as important, avoid making foolish late hit personal foul penalties; and

5. the Illini can't give up. Against Mizzou they clearly were outclassed in terms of heart, drive and will to win. If the Buckeyes smack the Illini in the face early today, which they may very well do, the Illini need to stand right back up and throw a stiff forearm shiver right across the jaw of the Buckeyes. That's what a man would do, and that's what the Illini need to do today.

I'm looking forward to this.

Juice And Rejus And The Boys Aren't Ready

Objectively speaking, that was the worst Illini performance - in every single facet of the game - since the 33-0 drubbing the team took at Rutgers in September 2006.

I have nothing more to say about that.

Juice And Rejus And The Boys Are Ready

It's not often - at least in Illini country - that your favorite squad brings back two legitimate superstars that are leaders, that have experience and that have the talent to absolutely dominate the league. No one in the national media is mentioning it, but both Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn are Heisman capable. Rejus Benn will be a top 10 NFL pick next season and Juice, by the end of this season, will hold every single relevant quarterback record in the history of Illini football.

What. A pair. Of beasts.

But the Illini don't stop there. Zook has given new offensive coordinator, Mike Schultz, a stunning array of depth on offense. At QB, if something were to happen to Juice, Eddie McGee and Jacob Charest are waiting in the wings, Eddie with proven ability and Jacob, by all accounts, a kid with a big-time arm.

At running back, the Illini go at least four deep: Daniel Dufrene (who may be out today against Missou), Troy Pollard, Mikel Leshoure and Jason Ford, will all get carries and all have big game skill. True frosh Justin Green is a pure burner that may be the best of the bunch. No shortage there.

Receiver is an embarrassment of riches. It starts with Benn but #2 guy, Jerred Fayson, the Florida transfer, is another stud who has been waiting patiently for a year to step on the field and make plays. You can't double team Benn because of Fayson and that's going to open up some huge plays. Let's not forget A.J. Jenkins, Jeff Cumberland, Jack Ramsey, Fred Sykes, Chris Duvalt, Cordale Scott and tight-end Michael Hoomanawanui. All are monsters and make up one of the deepest receiving units in the country. Juice just has to decide where to throw and the rest will take care of itself.

The O-Line returns 3 starters and is filled with big guys with experience: Jon Asamoah, Ryan Palmer, Eric Block, Randall Hunt, Jeff Allen, Jack Cornell, Corey Lewis, Craig Wilson and Graham Pocic. All are capable of moving mountains. All are mountains. Juice should have time to throw and room to run all season.

I like the defenese too. The D-Line has some legit, albeit young, talent. Josh Brent and Corey Liuget could be first team all Big Ten. Doug Pilcher and Sirod Williams add upper-class experience. Then you toss in Clay Nurse and Antonio James, and you have a solid core group. A lot is riding on these guys to plug the middle and put pressure on opposing QBs. If Brent and Liuget are as good as I think they are, this unit will surprise people.

Linebacker might be the key to the entire season. If Martez Wilson - taking over the MLB position from Brit Miller - plays like the Simeon Rice-type athlete he is, then all will be good in Illini-land. He has the strength and moves to get to the QB from anywhere on the field and the speed and quickness to track down running backs from sideline to sideline. The rest of the LBs - Ian Thomas, Aaron Gress, Nate Bussey, Russell Ellington, Evan Frierson - are all pretty young and lack extensive playing experience. Their developing maturity and playmaking skill, as I wrote above, may be the key to the defense's success or failure this season.

The secondary loses Vontae but may be improved overall. It's a shame that Miami Thomas went down and is out for a second straight season, but the unit still has talent. Tavon Wilson, Donsay Hardeman and Dere Hicks have playmaking skill. Highly rated frosh Terry Hawthorne, recruited by many as a wideout, has good hands and good speed and may get playing time at DB. Frosh Joelil Thrash also impressed coaches in training camp. One or both of those guys will have to contribute for the DB unit to succeed on the field.

As for today against Missou, I see a few keys to the game for the Illini:

1. Juice must limit his picks. If Juice has two or more TD passes than he does picks, the Illini will win. My guess is he will have 4 TD passes and 1 pick today. I can live with that ratio.

2. Martez has to make some tackles in the backfield. If Martez gets to the Missou running backs a few times behind the line, that should set the tone for the defense the entire season.

3. The DBs need to show they can cover the Missou wideouts. Chase Daniel carved up the Illini last season, and the new QB, Gabbert, also has a big arm. Someone in the Illini defensive backfield has to make a play today.

Overall, I say the Illini win 42 - 24.

Get r dun Juice and Rejus.