Sherrone Moore’s Assessment of Illinois

No. 24 Michigan football (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) travels to Champaign this week to try its hand against No. 22 Illinois (5-1, 1-0). The Fighting Illini are coming off a 50-49 overtime win over Purdue in which it allowed 40 points in the second half.  The Wolverines are coming out of a bye and looking for their first road win of the season after coming up short 27-17 in Washington in week six.

What Stands out on Offense?

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said the Illinois offense has a strong foundation. 

“Coach Bielema just does an outstanding job building a program,” Moore said. “Physicality, toughness, detailed. And what they do offensively, Luke Altmeyer, their quarterback, he’s gotten so much better. He’s just progressed from last year to this year. You could see him being in the system for another year, and they’ve got skill guys all over the place, with the receivers and the two backs are really good.”

Junior Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer is having the best season of his college career. Following a season with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, Altmyer has 14 touchdowns and just one interception so far this year, and he’s on pace for almost 3,000 passing yards. 

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How Does the Defense Play?

Prior to the second half onslaught by Purdue on Saturday the Illinois defense hadn’t given up more than 24 points in a game. Moore said the Fighting Illini defense will make it tough in the trenches. 

“Defensively — tough, physical front,” Moore said. “They’ve mixed up the coverages in these past games. Played a little bit more quarters last game, and that could have been of who they were playing, but they’re mainly a one-high team that will go to two-high stuff. But physical defense, and we gotta be ready for that challenge.”

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