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

4. It wouldn’t be a bad move to have Isaiah back at quarterback

I know that it sounds crazy, but I have been saying this for quite some time. Illinois is a running program, so let’s embrace the running game. We need to move Isaiah Williams back to quarterback.

The biggest argument against moving Isaiah to quarterback would be that defenses will load the box to stop the run because the threat of passing isn’t going to be there. But is the threat of passing there right now?

Everyone just witnessed the starting Illinois quarterback, Art Sitkowski, go 8-of-19 for 38 yards and an interception in regulation today. Those are horrific numbers. You can’t tell me Penn State was worried about the pass, yet the Illini running game produced 357 yards and a touchdown.

So, let’s go full running game. We need to put the running attack on display. With Williams at quarterback, Illinois can go with a heavy run-pass option offense that gives Williams the chance to hand the ball off, keep it himself, or dump the ball off on a quick pass.

Another bonus to having Williams at quarterback would be the fact a pass would surprise people even more than it would now. If Illinois is running it well with Williams, he then could do a hard play action and have someone like Luke Ford wide open over the middle.

People seem reluctant about being a running team. Who cares if other teams pass the ball? Let’s be leaders and zig when other teams are zagging.