Illinois practiced today from 9 a.m. to around 11:20 today at Memorial Stadium. Full pads.
Out today: Jamal Milan (knee), Kenyon Jackson, Bennett Williams, Dylan Wyatt (knee).
Practice on Saturday at 3-5 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, followed by fan appreciation day.
OFFENSE
* AJ Bush is the starter. He was sharp on Friday, probably his best day of training camp so far, going 4-4 on his first drive and connecting on some big plays throughout practice. Bush still makes some negative plays that are drive-killers, however. He's going to have to cut down on those. He can be dynamic on one drive, then make an ill-advised throw on the next. He threw a pick-6 to LB Del'Shawn Phillips on a ball that he should have thrown away. But overall, a good day for Bush. He's good on deep balls, back shoulder throws, and he's throwing much better on the move. What I worry the most about with Bush is his decision-making when he's pressured. We won't know for sure how that's going to go until they play real games.
* It's a 3-way battle for No.2 quarterback between MJ Rivers, Matt Robinson, and Cam Thomas. Rivers clearly had the edge today. He made two throws that showed his potential; a rope over the middle to walk-on WR Donny Navarro, then a deep ball over the top to Justice Williams for a 40-yard TD. Matt Robinson was good during 7 on 7, but didn't do much during team. They change the play-calling when Cam Thomas is in the game - mostly running plays. Coran Taylor got one series at the end of the day, and he made a great throw deep down the sideline. Taylor has raw tools, just needs time.
* They worked on a lot of red zone stuff, especially the passing game. I really like the formations and combinations of routes that Rod Smith throws out there in the red zone. They create some mismatches and guys are breaking open in the end zone.
* RB Dre Brown probably had his best day of camp. He brings an off-tackle guy to the offense and some straight ahead speed. He's not a quick-cut athlete, but he accelerates pretty well and gets yards after contact. Brown is still battling for carries, but he took a step forward on Friday.
* The Illini use Griffin Palmer at H-back in the red zone. Freshman Daniel Barker has also seen his playing time increase. He's a big, physical kid. He actually needs to cut some weight.
* Other standouts were Ricky Smalling, Justice Williams, Sam Mays, and Mike Epstein.
DEFENSE
* 1st team defense: WDE Isaiah Gay, DT Tymir Oliver, DT Lere Oladipo, SDE Bobby Roundtree, MLB Del'Shawn Phillips, WLB Jake Hansen, NB Sydney Brown, CB Tony Adams, SS Delano Ware, FS Stanley Green, CB Cameron Watkins or Nate Hobbs.
2nd team defense: WDE Ayo Shogbony, DT Calvin Avery, DT Jamal Woods, SDE Owen Carney, MLB Dele' Harding, WLB Kahlan Tolson, NB Christian Bobak, CB Nick Walker, SS Kerby Joseph, FS Kendall Smith, CB Jartavius Martin.
* Hobbs should be the starter at the field-side corner over Watkins, but it remains a mystery why he isn't playing more. Green will move back to SS when Bennett Williams is back.
* Freshman CB Jartavius Martin also got some first-team reps. They obviously wanted to see what he can do against the 1st team offense. Martin should be the rotation this year.
* DT Calvin Avery gets more reps every day, especially with Milan and Jackson both out. Avery should be in the rotation along with Tymir Oliver, Lere Oladipo, Jackson, and Milan. He's a future star at Illinois and an NFL guy down the road.
* The other nickel is James Knight. He's getting very few reps as he works his way back from an injury.
* Woods moved inside a few days ago. Things weren't working out for him at strong-side defensive end.
* Good day for Verdis Brown, who also got 2nd team reps at DT. He was very good in one-on-ones, then had a batted ball during 11-on-11 and couple of QB hurries.
* They blitzed the nickel a lot today, and Sydney Brown had a couple of sacks.
* Other standouts on defense were Owen Carney and Del'Shawn Phillips
Out today: Jamal Milan (knee), Kenyon Jackson, Bennett Williams, Dylan Wyatt (knee).
Practice on Saturday at 3-5 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, followed by fan appreciation day.
OFFENSE
* AJ Bush is the starter. He was sharp on Friday, probably his best day of training camp so far, going 4-4 on his first drive and connecting on some big plays throughout practice. Bush still makes some negative plays that are drive-killers, however. He's going to have to cut down on those. He can be dynamic on one drive, then make an ill-advised throw on the next. He threw a pick-6 to LB Del'Shawn Phillips on a ball that he should have thrown away. But overall, a good day for Bush. He's good on deep balls, back shoulder throws, and he's throwing much better on the move. What I worry the most about with Bush is his decision-making when he's pressured. We won't know for sure how that's going to go until they play real games.
* It's a 3-way battle for No.2 quarterback between MJ Rivers, Matt Robinson, and Cam Thomas. Rivers clearly had the edge today. He made two throws that showed his potential; a rope over the middle to walk-on WR Donny Navarro, then a deep ball over the top to Justice Williams for a 40-yard TD. Matt Robinson was good during 7 on 7, but didn't do much during team. They change the play-calling when Cam Thomas is in the game - mostly running plays. Coran Taylor got one series at the end of the day, and he made a great throw deep down the sideline. Taylor has raw tools, just needs time.
* They worked on a lot of red zone stuff, especially the passing game. I really like the formations and combinations of routes that Rod Smith throws out there in the red zone. They create some mismatches and guys are breaking open in the end zone.
* RB Dre Brown probably had his best day of camp. He brings an off-tackle guy to the offense and some straight ahead speed. He's not a quick-cut athlete, but he accelerates pretty well and gets yards after contact. Brown is still battling for carries, but he took a step forward on Friday.
* The Illini use Griffin Palmer at H-back in the red zone. Freshman Daniel Barker has also seen his playing time increase. He's a big, physical kid. He actually needs to cut some weight.
* Other standouts were Ricky Smalling, Justice Williams, Sam Mays, and Mike Epstein.
DEFENSE
* 1st team defense: WDE Isaiah Gay, DT Tymir Oliver, DT Lere Oladipo, SDE Bobby Roundtree, MLB Del'Shawn Phillips, WLB Jake Hansen, NB Sydney Brown, CB Tony Adams, SS Delano Ware, FS Stanley Green, CB Cameron Watkins or Nate Hobbs.
2nd team defense: WDE Ayo Shogbony, DT Calvin Avery, DT Jamal Woods, SDE Owen Carney, MLB Dele' Harding, WLB Kahlan Tolson, NB Christian Bobak, CB Nick Walker, SS Kerby Joseph, FS Kendall Smith, CB Jartavius Martin.
* Hobbs should be the starter at the field-side corner over Watkins, but it remains a mystery why he isn't playing more. Green will move back to SS when Bennett Williams is back.
* Freshman CB Jartavius Martin also got some first-team reps. They obviously wanted to see what he can do against the 1st team offense. Martin should be the rotation this year.
* DT Calvin Avery gets more reps every day, especially with Milan and Jackson both out. Avery should be in the rotation along with Tymir Oliver, Lere Oladipo, Jackson, and Milan. He's a future star at Illinois and an NFL guy down the road.
* The other nickel is James Knight. He's getting very few reps as he works his way back from an injury.
* Woods moved inside a few days ago. Things weren't working out for him at strong-side defensive end.
* Good day for Verdis Brown, who also got 2nd team reps at DT. He was very good in one-on-ones, then had a batted ball during 11-on-11 and couple of QB hurries.
* They blitzed the nickel a lot today, and Sydney Brown had a couple of sacks.
* Other standouts on defense were Owen Carney and Del'Shawn Phillips
