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Illinois Football: Illini Team Grades Through 3 Games

By Rees Woodcock

Sep 10, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; (left to right) Illinois Fighting Illini offensive line coach Luke Butkus, head coach Lovie Smith, and back judge Jim Biddle watch the replay board during the 4th quarter at Memorial Stadium. North Carolina beat Illinois 48 to 23. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; (left to right) Illinois Fighting Illini offensive line coach Luke Butkus, head coach Lovie Smith, and back judge Jim Biddle watch the replay board during the 4th quarter at Memorial Stadium. North Carolina beat Illinois 48 to 23. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 10, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA;Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Wes Lunt (12) is protected by offensive lineman Austin Schmidt (57) as he blocks Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Parker Hesse (40) in the fourth quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa beat Illinois 29-20. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA;Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Wes Lunt (12) is protected by offensive lineman Austin Schmidt (57) as he blocks Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Parker Hesse (40) in the fourth quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa beat Illinois 29-20. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

OL. 2.67 SPG (95th), 6.67 TFL (92nd). OFFENSIVE LINE. D+.

The offensive line has experienced talent that can be great at times, but when the injury bug occurs things can go south pretty quick.

Illinois has had some issues keeping offensive linemen healthy this season.

Center Joe Spencer missed the first game of the season against Murray State.  That left a gap in the offensive line and it made a true freshman start in Darta Lee.

And then during the North Carolina game, starting guard Gabe Megginson got rolled up on and injured.  He missed the rest of that game and the following game against Western Michigan.

Due to this injury, Illinois had to start Jordan Fagan in place of Megginson and that didn’t go so well.

These injuries have really taken a toll on the Illinois football team.  Without a healthy offensive line, nothing operates well.

Illinois is No. 95 in the nation in sacks allowed with 8 in just 3 games.  That is an average of 2.67 sacks per game.

The offensive line also allows an average of 6.67 tackles for loss per game, which ranks No. 92 in the nation.

With all of this taken into consideration and the fact that Illinois had a total of 3 yards rushing against Western Michigan, I have to give the offensive line a grade of a ‘D+‘.

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