Illinois Football: 4 observations from the Illini loss to Purdue

2. The offense isn’t rolling, and it starts with Brandon Peters

I am going to pick up where I left off with the previous slide. When Illinois’ defense gives up 20 or fewer points, the team should win those contests. That hasn’t happened the past two games, and it all falls on the shoulders of the offense led by quarterback, Brandon Peters.

Peters only threw a few passes in the opening game against Nebraska before getting injured. He then had his first full game of action against Maryland. Since it was his first full game, there were going to be some struggles under a new coaching staff. Peters ended the game with 185 yards and one interception. He only completed 38.5% of his passes as well.

A poor performance by Peters against the Terrapins cost us the game. But he got another chance by the program against Purdue. What was the result? The same thing. Peters threw for just 100 yards and couldn’t get the ball in the end zone.

I think it is blatantly obvious that it is time to make a change at the quarterback position. The ball is just not moving with Peters under center. He has averaged 142.5 yards per game through the air as a starter this season. Let’s compare that to his backup, Art Sitkowski, who has averaged 203.6 yards per game passing, and he didn’t even start game one.

We have to switch things up. Continue pounding the rock, but let’s move to Sitkowski at quarterback. Something has to change with the offense for us to win games moving forward.