Summarizing what defensive coordinator Joe Rossi said during their weekly press conference ahead of the Gophers matchup up against Illinois
ROSSI:
- Illinois has multiple good backs and are really good
- Really impressed with what they did in the Penn State game with the running game and OL
- Got some younger guys that got some snaps along the interior DL on Saturday
- Positives and negatives from the DL performance on Saturday
- Tackling was good at times, sloppy at other times
- Missed tackles come down to space and what happens afterwards
- We can be better in that area for sure
On Illinois' OL:
- They are unique, which creates a challenge
- Triple option creates a challenge
On MJ Anderson:
- Flashes there
- Has a high ceiling
- Does things that gets you excited, other times he makes mistakes
- Just needs to continue to work on the details
On Illinois' passing game:
- They want to create shots downfield
- Created explosive plays in the pass game against Rutgers where they got in the end zone
On prepping for Derik LeCaptain as a running back:
- Awesome kid, phenomenal person
- He'll do anything he's asked to do
- Big, physical kid that is going to run really hard
- That's Illinois' problem to deal with on how to defend him
- Always looking to be the best we can be and we can be way better
- We're always harping on detail
- Have to get better every week because it gets harder to win football games as the season goes on
- If you are not at your best on defense, you will get beat and get beat quickly
- Staying on top of the details is the difference
On Jordan Howden:
- He's bigger, more physical
- More confidence in defending the run and in tackling
ROSSI:
- Illinois has multiple good backs and are really good
- Really impressed with what they did in the Penn State game with the running game and OL
- Got some younger guys that got some snaps along the interior DL on Saturday
- Positives and negatives from the DL performance on Saturday
- Tackling was good at times, sloppy at other times
- Missed tackles come down to space and what happens afterwards
- We can be better in that area for sure
On Illinois' OL:
- They are unique, which creates a challenge
- Triple option creates a challenge
On MJ Anderson:
- Flashes there
- Has a high ceiling
- Does things that gets you excited, other times he makes mistakes
- Just needs to continue to work on the details
On Illinois' passing game:
- They want to create shots downfield
- Created explosive plays in the pass game against Rutgers where they got in the end zone
On prepping for Derik LeCaptain as a running back:
- Awesome kid, phenomenal person
- He'll do anything he's asked to do
- Big, physical kid that is going to run really hard
- That's Illinois' problem to deal with on how to defend him
- Always looking to be the best we can be and we can be way better
- We're always harping on detail
- Have to get better every week because it gets harder to win football games as the season goes on
- If you are not at your best on defense, you will get beat and get beat quickly
- Staying on top of the details is the difference
On Jordan Howden:
- He's bigger, more physical
- More confidence in defending the run and in tackling
