As the Fighting Illini begin their preparation to play Ohio State on Saturday, several Illinois coaches and players met with the media on Monday to look ahead to this week's matchup with the Buckeyes.
Illinois head coach Lovie Smith, offensive coordinator Rod Smith, quarterback Brandon Peters, wide receiver Donny Navarro, left guard Kendrick Green, running back Mike Epstein and defensive end Owen Carney Jr. all participated in Monday afternoon's press conference, and here's a sampling of what each of them had to say relevant to their upcoming game against the Buckeyes:
HC Lovie Smith
- On preparing for Ohio State: “We're getting ready to play who a lot of people would say is the best team in college football ... Ohio State's been one of the best teams in our conference for a long period of time.”
- “We're playing a good football team ... every week they play, you see that. We're excited about playing a good football team.”
- Smith said he believes Illinois played its best football of the season against Nebraska, and pointed out that the Illini beat Nebraska in similar fashion to Ohio State, so they have faith in themselves and are not spending much time thinking about being an underdog.
- “Justin Fields is as good a player as there is in college football. He's an excellent thrower, he can make all the throws and he so happens to be one of the best athletes in college football, also.”
- Smith said he thinks Chris Olave “is one of the best (receivers) around.”
- Smith confirmed that Brandon Peters will continue to be Illinois' starting quarterback going forward. Illinois started four different quarterbacks in its first four games, but Peters returned to the starting lineup against Nebraska after missing three games due to a positive COVID-19 test.
- Smith said the Nebraska game was the closest Illinois has come to having its entire football team on the field. “Now the challenge for us is to take that, we set the bar last week, and see where we can go from here ... You have confidence when you're playing your best ball.”
- On Ohio State offensive tackles Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere: “Great players. I think you say that on a lot of Ohio State's (players).”
- Smith said that even though Ohio State's run defense has been stronger than its pass defense, that's not going to change Illinois' philosophy on offense. “We want to establish the run ... we're not going to throw the ball 70 times a game.”
- Smith said he has known Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs since he was recruiting one of Coombs' players at Colerain High School (Jefferson Kelley), and he considers Coombs to be an “outstanding” football coach.
- Asked how Illinois would try to make Justin Fields uncomfortable, Smith replied, “You want me to tell you that right now?” Reiterated, though, that Fields is one of the best players in college football and he's tough for anyone to defend.
- On playing at home without fans: “There's no home-field advantage, I don't think, that's really worth talking about.”
- Smith said both Illinois and Ohio State players and staff will be able to have family in the stands at Illinois on Saturday.
OC Rod Smith
- If Brandon Peters had to throw the ball 50 times against Ohio State, would you still have confidence you could win? “We're going to do what we think we have to do to win.” He says balance is being able to run or throw when needed, and that's what Illinois is trying to achieve.
- He acknowledged that Illinois doesn't have the same kind of depth that Ohio State does, so it's important for the Illini to be healthy for this week's game.
- “You can see why they're one of the best teams, if not the best team, in the country.” He said “there's not a weak spot anywhere” on Ohio State's defense. (Ohio State fans might disagree with that assessment after this past weekend.) He said Illinois has to find ways to create favorable matchups in space.
- Smith worked with Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson at Indiana. “He's as good of a coach as I've been around.”
QB Brandon Peters
- Does playing Ohio State mean anything more to you since you're a Michigan graduate? “To me, it's another game.”
- “Ohio State's a great team, great defense, great program. They have been for awhile.” But that doesn't mean the Illini can't make plays against the Buckeyes, they just have to execute.
- Peters said Ohio State's defense is “very disciplined ... They're in the right place at the right time ... For us this week, we just gotta have a great week of preparation.” He believes Illinois has momentum going into this game after winning its last two games.
- “I don't think there's been a game since I've been here that we haven't been underdogs to a Big Ten team, so that's nothing new for us. That's just the way it goes when people think about Illinois football.” He said that does “put a chip on your shoulder,” knowing that people don't think you can win.
- Peters on Ohio State's defense: “The defensive front seven, I think, is their strong suit.” Said he played against Pete Werner in high school, and Werner and Tuf Borland are both “tough, talented football players.”
WR Donny Navarro
- “There's nothing drastic that we need to change coming into this week ... at this point, it's just kind of polishing that up, going with what we think works best and executing it.”
LG Kendrick Green
- Green said he believes Illinois has “a full head of steam” going into this week's game against Ohio State because of its back-to-back wins.
- On Illinois' mindset entering this week's game: “We're going to go in there and we're going to steal this one. That's how we're looking at it.”
- Green said defensive tackles Tommy Togiai and Haskell Garrett and middle linebacker Tuf Borland are among the players who stand out to him on Ohio State's defense. He doesn't think the Buckeyes do anything crazy on defense to try to fool opponents, they just have really good players.
- On Ohio State: “They're probably the best team in the country, to be honest.” Green said he enjoys watching the Buckeyes when he's not playing against them, so he's excited for the chance to go against them. “I want to do more than hold my own, I want to go out there and take it to them.” Said he's gonna bring his A-game and “play like my hair is on fire.”
- Green says Illinois isn't change what it does just because it's playing Ohio State, it's going to do what it does best, and running the ball is a big part of what Illinois does best.
RB Mike Epstein
- Epstein said “the vibes in the building are better” after Illinois won back-to-back games, and “we don't really need any extra juice now for playing one of the best teams in the country.”
- On playing Ohio State: “We try to treat every game the same, but I think this probably adds a little more excitement.”
- Epstein said he thinks Ohio State's defensive front is “solid,” but he thinks Illinois needs to stick to its scheme. He thought Illinois had a great game plan for running the ball against Nebraska, so he's confident his coaches will have a good game plan again for the Illini to have a chance to run the ball against the Buckeyes.
DE Owen Carney Jr.
- Carney said he thinks mental preparation is key for getting ready for Justin Fields. He said “the little things” have been the keys to Illinois' success in its last two games, and the Illini can't get away from doing those little things well even though they're playing Ohio State this week.
- He said Ohio State likes to leave its running back and tight end in the pocket in order to protect Fields, so that's something that stands out to him as a defensive end because it means more blockers to deal with.
- Carney said he and his fellow defensive linemen are “trying to put everyone on notice that we're a dominant group.”
- On playing Ohio State: “This is a great game for our team. If you want to see what type of team you have, this will be the game to know.” He knows a big game for him against the Buckeyes could be “life-changing“ for him as an NFL prospect.
