Throw a football and catch it.

Completing a pass is really simple.

Drunken fraternity boys do it on their lawns before every game.

Sure things get in the way: Defenders, disguised coverages, 100,000 fans screaming at you.

Then there is making sure you’re running the right route. Or making the right read on the cornerback.

But still, it comes back to throwing a football and catching it.

Illinois hasn’t done it for two weeks.

If Illinois is to win a game – any game – the passing game needs to come around.

And everyone is to blame.

The receivers aren’t always getting open. The quarterbacks aren’t always putting the ball where they should. The offensive linemen aren’t always picking up the blitzes.

Put it all together and Illinois has thrown for 208 yards in its last two games.

That is as sexy a passing stat as Carmen Electra’s head on a high school gym teacher’s body.

“We have to give the receivers a chance to make a catch one-on-one,” said Illinois sophomore quarterback Chris Pazan. “When the plays are there, get the ball in (the receivers) vicinity.”

Ron Turner runs a complex offense, but it comes with Cliff’s Notes.

One-on-one coverage: If a wide receiver – especially junior Kendrick Jones – has one defender on him toss him the ball. Give them a chance to make a play.

Single coverage fills the dreams of quarterbacks, receivers and offensive coordinators all over the country.

At least they don’t dream about Carmen Electra – at 400 pounds with a whistle.

Senior quarterback Jon Beutjer looked hesitant against Michigan State about throwing down field. Pazan couldn’t connect when he tried.

Hence, we are in another quarterback controversy.

And by looking at the stats you would have never guessed it.

I was interviewed on a radio program a few weeks back and the radio hosts felt the Illinois quarterbacks were playing as well as anyone in the conference.

All three Illinois quarterbacks have completed more than 50 percent of their passes and have thrown only three interceptions all year.

Those stats are great.

Seven total touchdown passes.

Not so great.

The quarterbacks have had to settle for throwing the short, easy-to-complete, tough-to-intercept passes.

These passes can move the chains, but they don’t grab people’s attention like a 40-yard touchdown catch to the corner of the endzone.

Or like Carmen Electra – sans the gym teacher body.

It doesn’t help the quarterbacks that the Illinois receiving corps can’t stay on the field for a second year in a row.

Sophomore Lonnie Hurst has a torn ACL. Sophomore tight end Melvin Bryant is suspended for violating unspecified team rules. Senior wide receiver Ade Adeyemo has a broken fibula.

I don’t care if it is pass-happy Purdue, losing three receivers – who have all started over the last two years – will clip-the-wings on any aerial attack.

“Getting Ade out of there hurts,” said Turner. “He is a great speed guy. He’s got speed and having Kendrick and Ade (together) we had two speed guys on each side.”

Jones – with or without Adeyemo – has done a tremendous job this season. He has morphed from an inconsistent enigma to Illinois’ first receiver to have back-to-back 100-yard games since Walter Young in 2002.

How did it happen?

Jones just caught the football that was thrown to him.

It’s that simple.

Bobby La Gesse is a senior in communications. He can be reached at [email protected]