Illinois Football: Illini Team Grades Through 3 Games

There have been many issues on this football team through three games, but I think one of the biggest issues is quarterback play.

I like Wes Lunt as a quarterback at times, but this season he seems to be extremely timid.  He isn’t letting the ball fly.

Illinois Fighting Illini

Lunt’s stats show a solid start to the season.  What they aren’t showing is his fumbles in key situations and the lack of pop he is bringing to the offense.  These are the main reasons why he is getting such a bad grade this early into the season.

Of course, Lunt has a chance to resurrect his season and get this team back on track.  As a leader that is his job on the football field.

The examples that keep coming to mind when I think of Lunt and his fumbles come from the North Carolina game.

Early in the game, Illinois was up 14-10 over the Tar Heels bur then Lunt fumbled the ball at the Illinois 23-yard line.  This enabled North Carolina to score and it shifted momentum completely.

Then, Illinois drove all the way down to the one-yard line late in the third quarter and Lunt fumbled the ball and lost three-yards.

While the next play was a score, this could have cost the Illini the game.

On the next drive, Illinois gave the ball back to North Carolina on downs but in the middle of that series Lunt fumbled again.

These fumbles have to stop or they could cost Illinois the season.  There is still a bowl game in sight as long as the Illini tighten up their ball security.