In the opinion of Illinois coach Ron Turner, “the biggest challenge” in Saturday’s game at Wisconsin is “to stop the run.”
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Turner believes that task has become more difficult now that Anthony Davis will be back in the Badgers’ lineup after missing three games because of an eye injury.
“All their running backs are good, but there’s good and there’s a cut above,” Turner said. “He’s one of the best in the country. He has special qualities–he’s so quick and so explosive, he has great vision and the quickness to hit the hole.”
Another defensive area of concern is a vulnerability to the short passing game.
“We have to come up and play tighter,” Turner said. “Against Purdue, on 37 of the 48 passes we charted the ball was in the air less than 10 yards. They can throw those, that’s fine, but we have to come up and make tackles for no yardage after the catch instead of letting them have 8-, 9- and 10-yard gains.”