The Walk Through

Hello from chillifying Champaign, Ill.

This stadium has some old-timey charm. It's not the big, freaky deathstar you'll find at Ohio State, but it probably fits. Then again, Illinois has been at about 72 percent capacity the last two years. So, fits.

— RB Jordan Canzeri is in today. He's missed the last two games with an ankle injury he suffered at Maryland.

Kirk Ferentz said this week that it's been sort of a lost season for Canzeri because of injuries, and it really has. It started in camp with a knee injury. There's been a heel and now a hip.

He has 219 yards on 54 carries. I think they believe in him. He started Ball State and Iowa State. They tried to make him a featured back, but his health wasn't along for the ride.

Still, a chance to match last season. It's going to be tough sledding obviously.

I will be looking at the notion of a big-time running back being a ticket to at least ride in the Big Ten West in the future. It is for sure this season.

— What about freshman RB Akrum Wadley? Maybe. Maybe he plays a lot, maybe a little. I think Iowa wants the complement to Mark Weisman.

— It's about 25 degrees here in Champaign and Memorial Stadium. There's no wind, which is the death punch to football on this gridded plain of fields and Steak and Shakes.

— The QBs are out.

The ESPN Gamefilm show did an excellent segment this week on Georgia QB Hutson Mason this week. The show spoke of cues in the passing game that Mason needed to be successful. Is it applicable to Iowa? Maybe. If you had to say one thing was missing, at least in the passing game, from Northwestern to Minnesota, you'd have to say it was overall comfort. There was no time in the pocket. Reads were distorted. Receivers didn't beat man-to-man.

What cues does Jake Rudock need on a throw? Remember the impeccable timing from Northwestern? I see more of that coming today. Illinois doesn't disrupt on defense. It also hasn't been great against the run. I expect Iowa to be balanced today.

Does C.J. Beathard play? Going off KF's answer this week, I don't think that's even a question. No.

— Canzeri is out there doing cross-overs.

— BTW, Weisman is looking for his first 100-yard game since Sept. 28 last season, when he went for 147 yards against Minnesota. That's a span of 17 games.

— Former Illinois LB J Lehman, BTN analyst for today's broadcast, just said Iowa 'isn't good enough just to show up. I think they realized that last week.'

He's exactly right.

— The Pinstripe Bowl is the only bowl here today. That pits the Big Ten against the ACC. It kicks off 3:30 Iowa time on Dec. 27 and is televised on, I don't, probably ESPN.

Sounds about right, no?

— Here's Illinois' injury list:

#28 Jaylen Dunlap – Out

#34 Mike Svetina – Out

#64 Steve Dumezich – Out

#68 Simon Cvijanovic – Out

#6 Carroll Phillips – Out for Season

#35 Sean White – Out for Season

#58 Kenny Nelson – Out for Season

#66 Scott McDowell – Out for Season

#69 Ted Karras – Out for Season

#93 Teko Powell – Out for Season

That's two starting O-linemen out today for the Illini. Cvijanovic is the left tackle. Karas was a guard. Both were hurt against Ohio State.

— Upright ribbons, I think that should be the name of @PlannedSickDays podcast, are barely moving. Saw Marshall Koehn kicking 45 yarders like butter (????).

Illinois FG kickers are 2 for 6 this year. They haven't made a field goal since Sept. 19. Illinois has needed every point, that's why they haven't been used.

I'll learn their names when I need to.

— Pinstripe Bowl is probably looking at the Hawkeyes. Illinois would have to win all three to win its way out of Detroit or Dallas. All the D cities.

— Looks like no WR Riley McCarron today. Probably Matt VandeBerg returning punts. Radio just confirmed this. McCarron out with an illness.

— LB Reggie Spearman is dressed and ready. He's missed the last two games because of suspension (OWI arrest).

— Let's check the starting lineup for Iowa. Going into team in a minute.

Jake Rudock is starter, with Weisman and FB Macon Plewa.

Iowa has four tight ends here, so George Kittle is in. He's missed a couple of games with an ankle injury.

— LB Travis Perry suffered an ankle injury and is out for the regular season. You already knew that.

— Canzeri is good to go.

— The second team OL was (left to right) Boone Myers, Ike Boettger, Eric Simmons, Sean Welsh and Cole Croston.

Second-team DL: Melvin Spears, Faith Ekakitie, Jaleel Johnson and Riley McMinn.

— I thought Canzeri looked OK, but Ed Podolak, Iowa's radio analyst, said he thought he looked a little tentative. Could be.

Iowa needs the counter to Weisman's short-yardage expertise.

— I have eaten 50 eggs today. I beat Cool Hand Luke.

— OK, game on in 15 minutes. Join me on Twitter for game coverage (@marcmorehouse).

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com