Illinois Football: 4 observations from the Illini win over Penn State

2. The play calling, at times, was bad

Illinois had a tremendous running attack all game long. I mean, we finished with over 350 yards on the ground. The only reason we won the game was due to running the ball.

Despite the great running attack, Illinois would try pass plays that would not be conducive to winning. On the first drive of the game, the Illini were rolling on the ground until Art Sitkowski decided to throw an interception.

Late in the game, down just three points, Illinois tried a play-action pass and Sitkowski was hit immediately. He stayed up, though, and a defender came and knocked the ball out and Penn State recovered.

When the Illini got into overtime, the mindset of the offensive play calling was confusing. It seemed like every overtime possession, after the first overtime, was a pass play. Even when we got into the third overtime, when the ball was spotted at the three yard line, the Illini continued to pass the ball.

Listen, I know that going through the air and giving Art Sitkowski and Brandon Peters some options of running it in themselves or passing the ball is smart in most cases, but that isn’t the case for the Illini.

There was one run play for Illinois from the third overtime and beyond. It was a stretch play for Josh McCray. Why are we running with our biggest back to the outside? McCray is a monster and should just blast up the middle of the offensive line. He can gain three yards by just falling forward.

Illinois won the game, and I am excited that we got the victory. But I feel like our offensive play calling is not on point right now. Let’s run the ball, and when we pass, it must be short, quick, passes.