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Illinois Football: Has Lovie Smith done enough to compete in Big Ten West?

By Dante Pryor

COLLEGE PARK, MD - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field on October 27, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field on October 27, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – OCTOBER 27: Kasim Hill #11 of the Maryland Terrapins is sacked by Jake Hansen #35 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half at Capital One Field on October 27, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – OCTOBER 27: Kasim Hill #11 of the Maryland Terrapins is sacked by Jake Hansen #35 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half at Capital One Field on October 27, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

Defense has nowhere to go but up

The defense was bad last year, plain and simple. It’s sort of ironic that a defensive coach has one of the worst defenses in the country.

In defense of Lovie Smith and the Illini defense, scheme doesn’t make up for lack of talent. Not only that, they were one of the youngest defenses in the country last season.

They were last in yards per game, points allowed, run yards allowed per game and only Purdue was worse in pass yards allowed per game. They should be better on defense this season, however.

Smith is taking over duties as the defensive coordinator, and his son Miles will coach the linebackers.

They should be good upfront with Bobby Rountree and his 7.5 sacks coming back for a senior season as well as USC transfer and former five-star recruit Oluwole Betiku. They will also return their entire secondary.

With a defense as bad as this one, there’s nowhere else to go but up.

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