Last week’s loss to Penn State was the latest chapter in a season that has raised plenty of concerns about the Illinois defense. What was once considered to be the team’s strength heading into the year is instead ranked near the bottom in many of the Big Ten’s defensive statistical categories. Dan Disch, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, spoke with the Daily Illini during this week’s practice about the run defense, tinkering with playing time and comparing the Wolverines to Penn State.

Daily Illini: How has practice been going this week?

Dan Disch: Well, the guys are working hard, they came back to work on Monday ready to go, and that’s all you can ask them to do, really.

DI: What’s the most important thing to improve upon this weekend?

DD: If we’re going to have any chance on defense, we’ve got to slow down the running game. We have not done a great job of stopping the run, and so we’ve got to continue to work on being disciplined and being assignment-conscious and taking care of our responsibilities, all the things that add up to controlling the running game. Everything after that takes care of itself.

DI: What about the changes in playing time?

DD: Right now, we’re just going to go with the guys that we’ve got. The guys that are making the most plays, obviously, will continue to play the most. There’s a few guys that are going to get some chances. It’s not that we’re demoting anybody, we’ve just got to give some other guys a chance to play and see what they can do. There are some guys that have been working hard and deserve a chance to play, and we’re going to give them a chance.

DI: What do you guys know about Michigan? (Running back) Sam McGuffie’s had a couple of big games so far this season.

DD: Yeah, you know, Michigan’s Michigan. They’ve got the same players they’ve always had. The coaches might have changed, but they’re still a good football team. Obviously, with the spread (offense), they present some different problems than they have in the past, so we’ve got to be real disciplined and take care of your responsibilities, and hopefully, we can come into the park ready to go.

DI: How do they compare with Penn State offensively?

DD: Well, offensively, they’re more like we are as far as scheme goes. They spread you all over the field, and they run a lot more option stuff than Penn State. They’re similar in that they have a spread attack, but Penn State is a little less option. Michigan’s a little more option game, more quarterback run, that kind of thing.