Ron Zook didn’t blow up like you might have thought after Illinois’ season-ending 27-10 loss at Northwestern. His face didn’t turn red, and he didn’t lash out at a room full of reporters. He didn’t start a tirade about his team’s play or make any malicious statements. It was not one of those YouTube moments that we laugh about for years to come.

No, Zook simply went up to the podium and faced the music.

“There’s something that’s been missing,” he said as calm and as mild mannered as he has been all year. “Part of it is that we have an awful lot of young guys. There’s two classes, freshman and sophomore classes, that haven’t been through the tough times. What you need to do is go through the tough times to understand how hard this game is.”

While consistently strong programs like USC or Texas might disagree with Zook’s assessment, it still sounded like Zook was looking for an answer.

“We got to try to put our finger on why,” Zook said. “Everybody wants to know why and nobody wants to know why more than myself … it’s one of those things we may never find out.”

So as the coaching staff spends the coming months reviewing this past season’s game film in an attempt to figure what went wrong, I’ve decided to look the opposite direction and focus on the next nine months.

A few weeks ago I wrote a column taking a look at all the problems the 2009 Illini might face. Well, here are my solutions.

Get Eddie McGee more snaps at QB

I was a huge fan of Juice Williams at the beginning of the season, and I continue to support him now, but his nine interceptions over the last six games are troubling.

McGee offers a nice change of pace and will add a speedy threat under center for an Illini rushing attack that was nonexistent at times.

By moving McGee to wide receiver, the coaches are clearly signaling they want to get him on the field. Why not use him as part of a two-quarterback tandem? Obviously, Juice would still get the majority of the snaps throughout the season, but bring in Eddie at different points in the game to keep the defense guessing.

Eddie has shown he can make plays. Don’t wait until Juice graduates to use his ability.

Find an offensive philosophy

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not sure what Illinois was trying to accomplish with their offense. Were they a passing team trying to set up the run or a running team trying to set up the pass?

At times, it looked like offensive coordinator Mike Locksley was trying to do everything at once. He was running options and screens and deep routes, and I even think I saw an Annexation of Puerto Rico once.

While I trust that Locksley probably knows what he is doing, it looks like he was trying to give his players too much to digest.

Personally, I’m a fan of the “Give Arrelious Benn the Ball on Every Play” offense, but there should probably be a stronger commitment to the running game next season.

Find a full-time running back, recommit to the option as your offense’s centerpiece and spread the defense out to let the athletes in the backfield do what they do best: run.

Find defensive leaders

If you thought the Illini’s defense was bad this season, just wait until next year. I don’t even want to think about it.

Brit Miller, Will Davis and Vontae Davis are all leaving (most likely). So who’s left?

It will be imperative for the coaching staff to find playmakers and leaders early if the defense hopes to have any chance of being a positive appendage of this team. With so many young players on the defensive side of the ball, leaders are going to be needed.

While linebacker Martez Wilson seems like the natural choice, I’m looking at defensive back Dere Hicks and defensive lineman Josh Brent to step up. They both made solid plays throughout this year and they both should be leaned on heavily to be playmakers next season. Leaders by example.

Win field position battles

I’m sorry Anthony Santella, but you’re no Steve Weatherford.

I never thought I’d spend space on this, but Illinois needs a punter. How many times over the last few games (particularly against Ohio State) did Illinois’ punt team give opponents great field position?

It might not seem like a big deal, but small things like field position matter.

There were too many times when the Illini offense would stall and then the punt would barely cross midfield. Give your defense a chance.

Maybe Zook can pick up a five-star punter out on the recruiting trail this winter. Does such a thing even exist?

I could fill this whole sports section with remedies for next year’s team, but these are the major ones that might make the difference between a bowl game and staying home for winter break again.

Of course, if all else fails, the school could always fire Zook and hire a more X’s and O’s oriented coach to use Zook’s recruits to win a National Championship.

Hey, it worked for Florida.

Kyle Betts is a graduate student. He can be reached at [email protected].