Illinois DC Bobby Hauck Preps Defense for Balanced Ohio State Attack
The short version
- Illinois faces Ohio State on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
- DC Bobby Hauck praised freshman LB Cameron Thomas, who forced a fumble on a pass to the flat.
- Hauck cited inexperience at linebacker but said the group is smart and well-prepared; Robert Edmonson's return has helped.
- Hauck called Jeremiah Smith one of the best players in college football but stressed Ohio State's offensive balance.
- Hauck said the Buckeyes' quarterback reads the field early and is better than he gets credit for.
Bobby Hauck praised his young linebackers and called slowing Ohio State's offense a daunting challenge ahead of Saturday's game in Columbus.
Illinois defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck met with reporters this week, via beat writer Scott Richey, to assess his defense after three games as the Illini prepare to face Ohio State on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Hauck highlighted the benefit of getting reserve players meaningful snaps. He said live game reps are valuable both for morale within the group and for long-term player development. He singled out freshman linebacker Cameron Thomas, who broke on a pass thrown to the flat and forced a fumble, saying Thomas continues to show spark.
Turning to his linebackers more broadly, Hauck acknowledged their contributions rarely appear in the stat sheet. He explained that with the prevalence of run-pass option concepts in college football, that position sees less action than ever, but teams cannot win if they fail to hold up when plays do come into their area. He said the group is making its share of plays.
Inexperience remains a concern at the position. Hauck noted that Robert Edmonson's return has helped, but the room lacks veteran presence overall. He pointed out that much of James Kreutz's experience came on special teams rather than at linebacker. Even so, Hauck described the group as smart and urgent about getting things right, and credited their intellect and preparation for much of the unit's success.
Rotation along the defense has also been deliberate. Hauck said factors such as playing a high number of plays in 90-degree heat come into play, and that the players are also logging extensive work on special teams, which adds to their weekly workload. Keeping players fresh is part of the plan.
Looking ahead to Ohio State, Hauck called wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who wears No. 4, one of the best players in college football, an assessment he said is widely shared. But he stressed that the Buckeyes are not one-dimensional. He cited their balance, coaching, quarterback, run game, offensive front and running backs, saying they run the ball as well as they throw it and their rushing attack is among the best in the country.
Hauck said a defensive game plan cannot simply tilt entirely toward stopping Smith, even though Illinois must do its best against him. He called slowing the Ohio State offense a daunting task.
On the Buckeyes' quarterback, Hauck said he has watched him from afar and studied him in the offseason. He praised the quarterback's ability to read progressions early and identify things pre-snap, said his arm is better than he gets credit for, and described him as a smart player who finds open receivers.
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