Illini football quick hits | Game Week: Penn State, Part III

Defensive assistant coaches and players were available Wednesday as preparations continued for No. 19 Illinois ahead of Saturday’s game at No. 9 Penn State. Here’s some of what was said, courtesy beat writer Scott Richey :

Keeping up the pressure

Seth Coleman left Lincoln, Neb., following Friday’s win against then-No. 22 Nebraska with four tackles and a quarterback hurry. By Tuesday afternoon, the veteran Illinois outside linebacker also had a sack and a forced fumble. A late-stat correction after he took Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola to the ground and knocked the ball loose. While Coleman has gotten plenty of pressure in opposing backfields this season, the sack on Raiola was his first of the season after he produced six last season en route to earning All-Big Ten honorable-mention status in 2023.

“Not really frustration,” Coleman said about not turning his consistent pressure on quarterbacks into sacks until last week’s game. “Really and truly you just keep pushing. They’re going to come. Sacks come in bunches. You see Alec (Bryant). He had a great game. He had two sacks. Gabe (Jacas), twice he’s had a sack and a (forced) fumble. They just come in bunches. You have to keep playing.”

Staying hands off

Corey Parker had his cornerbacks in oven mitts and boxing gloves during training camp. A reminder from the first-year Illini assistant about how much they could still do defensively without their hands. A necessary reminder given how often the Illinois cornerbacks were flagged in 2023 on pass-interference calls that led to Illinois giving up points on those penalty-extended drives. Parker still brings out the mitts and gloves, but the message has been received with just two penalties called facing nearly 130 pass attempts so far.

“They have learned how to truly trust their eyes and their feet,” Parker said. “I’ve got to continuously talk to them when we’re in one-on-ones against Pat Bryant and (Zakhari) Franklin on how to cover these guys without grabbing and holding. Those are two of the best receivers in our daggone conference, I believe. Shoot, if we can cover them without grabbing and holding them, we may have a shot against the opponent.”

Providing solid backup

The number of snaps TeRah Edwards has proven he can play through four games doesn’t always lend itself to extensive opportunity for his backups. It’s the same life Edwards lived playing behind Calvin Avery in 2022 and Denzel Daxon in 2023. But when the Illinois nose guard needs a breather, Jeremiah Warren has been the guy. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound redshirt freshman showed promise last fall, and has now jumped into the Illini’s defensive front rotation.

“We knew from a talent standpoint he had the ability to play for us from the line of scrimmage on third down and in special situations,” Illinois defensive line coach Terrance Jamison said. “We wanted to keep him coming along. He’s a guy that prepared the right way in the offseason, spring ball. Executed the calls. He’s a guy that just needed more snaps. We’re willing and eager to put him in those situations. He’s just a consistent player. If you’re dependable, you’re going to play.”