Oct. 27—Illinois football's preparation for Saturday's game against Maryland is underway, with Illini coach Bret Bielema, offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. and
defensive play-caller Roger Cooper available Monday for their regular weekly press conference. Beat writer Scott Richey highlights what each had to say:
About that defensive coordinator opening ...
Illinois coach Bret Bielema specifically didn't use the title "defensive coordinator" — even on an interim basis — when he elevated Roger Cooper in the wake of Bobby Hauck's departure from the program just four weeks into the season. That might be the role Cooper is filling, but he didn't get the title. That leaves the future of the head of the Illinois defense as indeterminate, but it is something Bielema is contemplating.
"I've got to have a conversation with (athletic director Josh Whitman)," Bielema said. "When you're building a roster, it's so apparent now you have to have a scheme the players can understand quickly because you're going to have so many transfers. It's just different hiring a coordinator now than ever before. Coop, I told him, I said, 'Hey, I'm not going to promise you the job for next year, but I'll definitely give you an opportunity to show me what you've got.' Those guys have bought into it 100 times over."
Big Ten honors Clayton after Oregon win
Michael Clayton II was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday after leading Illinois to a 21-10 win against Oregon — the Ducks' first conference road loss since joining the league. Clayton completed 11 of 18 passes for just 84 yards, but second-half touchdown throws to Christian Abney and Collin Dixon were difference-makers. Saturday's win made Clayton just the third Illini true freshman quarterback to win a game as the starter, joining Juice Williams at Michigan State in 2006 and Kurt Kittner at Northwestern in 1998.
"I thought he did an admirable job in what he did for us on Saturday," offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. said. "We didn't have any real miscommunications. We have a lot of terminology. That's one thing you can take for granted. When you have as much terminology as we do, getting the call in and getting it correctly communicated — and clearly — to the team, that's a big deal. To do that as a true freshman in that moment, I thought he delivered very well in that."
Fillmore making most of limited snaps
Any opportunity to break into the Illinois secondary this season was going to be difficult with Matthew Bailey, Xavier Scott, Juice Clarke and Mac Resetich all returning. While Tanner Heckel appears to have supplanted Resetich at free safety, the second cornerback spot was the only real opening. That left dime package reps for Georgia State transfer Deuce Fillmore, who made a key tackle for loss Saturday against Oregon, snuffing out a key drive to end the third quarter of what was then just a 14-10 game in the Illini's favor.
"He's a scrappy little guy," Cooper said of Fillmore. "I like him a lot. He doesn't say much at all, but he comes in there and does his deal. He can cover anybody. He's sticky. That was a tough look. That was a screen they had a blocker for, and he slipped that guy and made a play on that tight end (Jamari Johnson) that has him by like 200 pounds. He made a great play."