With the start of the Illini 2008 season just two weeks away, the question is, will this team have what it takes to be one of the top teams for a second season in a row? Can head coach Ron Zook lead his team back to the Rose Bowl after last year’s devastating loss? The success of the Illini will depend on a few things this season.

The main focus will be offense. The improvement of QB Juice Williams and the replacement of RB Rashard Mendenhall are key to the success of this team. With a tough schedule facing them, the Illini will need to show us what they're made of.

The development of junior QB Juice Williams will play a major role in the success of this team. Williams will need to step up the passing game. He will have to have a better pass completion total with last year’s being under 60%. Williams will need to make smart plays and avoid turnovers. If Juice Williams plays to his full potential, it could be what the Illini need to drive them to the top.

There's no question that the Illini suffered a hit with the loss of superstar RB Rashard Mendenhall to the NFL. Replacing the leading rusher in the Big 10 is no easy task, but it is one that is vital to the survival of this team. Experienced Junior RB Daniel Dufrene will need to step up his game in place of Mendenhall. Troy Pollard, Mikel LeShoure, and Jason Ford will also be taking over at running back.

Probably the biggest hurdle for this team will be a tough conference schedule, beginning with the season opener in Missouri. If this team can hold strong for the first five games of the season, they could be right back up at the top of the standings this year. But that won't be easy facing Missouri, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State in the first five games of the season.

This team definitely has the talent to be great, but the key to their success is going to be the improvement and development of the offense. With a strong offense, there is no where this team can't go.

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Zachary Stovall said:

Good article. The word "if" goes through my head when I think about the Fighting Illinoiseans. Losing a running back like Mendenhall is devastating for more reasons than just ground-production; you lose an entire dimension of offense. They won't respect the run, and they won't respect the Juice either. It's another big "if" to see whether or not Juicy can hold up when he doesn't have Mendy in the backfield. It's a tough call right now; let's see if Zook is as big of an "if" as the rest of the team this year. -Zack Stovall

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August 18, 2008
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Chicago Sporting said:

	Couldn't agree with you more. However, the Illini will have a great slew of talent coming up just off of their Rose Bowl bid. So, if they're not good this year, expect things to pick back up moving forward.
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