After giving up 42 points to Ohio State on Saturday, 28 of them to Jeremiah Smith, Illinois is now out its defensive coordinator. According to Bret Bielema, Bobby Hauck approached him on Sunday and chose to leave the program and a defense that was one of the worst in the Big Ten.
Now, Bielema and his team will need to pick things up quickly as they take on Purdue back at Gies Memorial Stadium this weekend. This is the perfect game for the Illini because the Boilermakers have the worst defense in the Big Ten, giving up an average of 39.5 points per game to opponents.
This will be a big test for the Illinois defense to see how they respond to the tough criticism they received so far this season. If they struggle against a team like Purdue, then they could be in even bigger trouble than some thought. The Illinois offense, though, should have no trouble getting back on track after the Buckeyes held them to just 19 points, their lowest total this season.
Early odds for Purdue vs. Illinois in Week 5
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Spread
Purdue: +10.5 (-122)
Illinois: -10.5 (+100)
Moneyline
Purdue: +290)
Illinois: -375
Total
- O/U: 61.5 (-106/-114)
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Bret Bielema will put on his DC hate and get this defense back on track
With the sudden change at the defensive coordinator position, Bielema has elected not to share who will be the defensive playcaller this week, and no coaches or players on the defense will be available to the media. Bielema believes this will help them prepare for the game to the best of their ability.
With that said, Bielema used to be a defensive coordinator before becoming a head coach, so it would come as no surprise that he may be taking on some of those duties himself. Last season, Bielema stepped in to help former DC Aaron Henry with those play-calling duties, and the Illini were at least marginally better than they are now.
The Purdue game could not have come at a better time for Illinois, which is in desperate need of a Power 4 win. After falling to Duke and Ohio State this season, Illinois' only wins have come against UAB and Southern Illinois, and while Purdue may not be the highest caliber of team, a power conference win is a win.
This defense needs to get back to simplicity, something they didn't have in the 3-3-5 scheme that Hauck brought with him to Champaign. Bielema alluded to it in his post-game presser, saying that he would need to look at the tape to see if the Illini were doing "too much" defensively.
Illinois is already favored by over a touchdown over Purdue, and that line could continue to move in favor of Illinois as the week goes on. This should be a solid win for an Illinois team that desperately needs one right now.
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