Illinois Football: 5 observations from the Illini loss to Purdue

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – OCTOBER 13: Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Sam Mays (9) breaks through the Purdue Boilermakers defense during the Big Ten Conference college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 13, 2018, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Pass catchers were disappointing

As much as I blame Bush for the woes in the running game against Purdue, I believe the pass catchers for the Illini really let Bush down as well. He would put the ball where the pass catcher could catch it, but they would fail to do so way too many times.

I have liked the development of Trenard Davis at wide receiver this season, but there was a play yesterday where he quit running for a few seconds only to realize the ball was coming his way deep. He couldn’t catch up to the ball, but if he would have kept running it would likely have been a catch.

Ricky Smalling had a pass right on the money over the middle and gator-armed it. Yes, there were three defenders breathing down his neck, but you play football, so you have to come down with that and expect to be hit. He also had a deep ball where he could have adjusted to the ball being thrown a little off target but failed to do so.

There were a few times where I would see Carmoni Green drop key passes throughout the game. You can tell he is going to be special, but he needs to work on catching the ball. I also was upset with Lou Dorsey at times too. He dropped some big passes down the sideline.

The Illinois offense isn’t ideal, but they have the ability to move the ball. The wide receivers need to help Bush out, though. This offense could be a lot more potent if we could just catch the dang ball.

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