The Illinois football season, for a while at least, was pleasant. Through four games, the Illini had played above their anticipated capabilities, led by a resurgent Nathan Scheelhaase.

And now here we are. It’s more like home for Illinois fans, in all the worst ways.

At the halfway point now, we’ve seen the good and bad of the Illinois football team. Let’s break it down in another quarterly report.

Quarterbacks

Nathan Scheelhaase’s limitations have come to light in the past two games: His arm isn’t very strong, his footwork in the pocket resembles a drumroll, his running has become a crutch. But let’s not overreact to a couple of bad games against a couple of good teams.

Aaron Bailey has been brought along more and more and brings a genuine excitement into the game when he comes in. 

Grade: B- 

Running backs

Josh Ferguson has made defenders look really weak by taking them on and making them into supporting actors in his Oscar-nominated highlight film.

Donovonn Young has continued to improve, running effectively in limited action. The running game has gone away as Illinois has gotten behind. It’d be best to stick it out a little longer with on the ground.

Grade: B+

Wide receivers

Ryan Lankford hasn’t been the lightning bolt he was in the season’s early games. Martize Barr has cooled off from his hot start. Miles Osei is concussed. Illinois needs this group to frustrate secondaries with its variety instead of make them feel like they can cover receivers of all sorts of skill sets. The tight ends have been mitigated as well. 

Grade: C-

Offensive line

They haven’t been very noticeable lately, and that’s good. A killer penalty against Ted Karras cost Illinois big on its first drive against Wisconsin. A penalty like that has a butterfly effect on the rest of the game. It’s all about being solid for the O-line, and the guys up front have been fairly solid.

Grade: B

Defensive line

This unit has done a terrible job the last two weeks against good rushing attacks of Nebraska and Wisconsin. On each of Melvin Gordon’s three touchdowns, not a single tackle was missed, but rather the Wisconsin blocking so proficiently eliminated Illinois defenders that Gordon need not have shed a single defender.

Austin Teitsma, Jake Howe, Houston Bates and Tim Kynard have all been bullied. Illinois has just five sacks this season.

Grade: F

Linebackers

Jonathan Brown’s crew is steady, and they are trying. They pretty much have to be in the right place when the running back breaks through the trenches, otherwise it’s a big gain for the opposition. As bad as the defensive line is playing, the linebackers are probably the ones who are better for it.

Grade: C+ 

Defensive backs

Teams have run all over Illinois lately, but the door’s open on the pass as well. Illinois has been unable to defend opposing receivers and this group has just one interception. With V’Angelo Bentley now hurt, things are looking as bad as they have all season.

This unit’s struggles were veiled by victory. Now that two losses have brought Illinois fans back to reality, it’s unfortunate to have to forecast no improvement in the secondary this season, which is discouraging when your head coach and defensive coordinator were defensive backs in their day.

Grade: F

Special teams

Zalewski’s been better, and though the return game suffered two injuries Saturday, I’m interested to see what Lankford can do with the role. The punt returns have fallen off, but we know the players Illinois has back there are capable and dynamic.

Grade: B+

Overall

It’s been back to earth for Illinois fans these last couple games, but you have to keep in mind who Illinois is losing to. There’s no shame in getting run on by the Nebraskas and Wisconsins of the Big Ten. There’s nothing right now that says these last two games have been any worse than what Illinois showed itself to be capable of in the season’s early going. But the good vibes are gone, and the cold reality is here. 

They beat who they should have, and lost to who they should have. Any further-reaching conclusions are, for the time being, not entirely fair.

Grade: C

Semester grade: B

Eliot is a senior in Media. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @EliotTweet.