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Illinois' Matthew Bailey Makes Honest Admission About Defense's Woes vs. Duke
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- Illinois' Matthew Bailey Makes Honest Admission About Defense's Woes vs. Duke
The Illinois Fighting Illini dropped a 31-27 home game to the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday that came with plenty of defensive hiccups, particularly in their efforts to tackle and cover opposing players.
The game cast doubt over the effectiveness of new defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck 's defense, which gave up 376 total yards including 206 passing yards to QB Walker Eget and the Blue Devils .
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Star safety and team captain Matthew Bailey spoke about what went wrong after the game, which caused his team to drop to 1-1 on the season. He made an honest admission that highlighted where Illinois needs to improve with Southern Illinois headed to Champaign, Ill. for a game this coming weekend.
Sep 12, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive lineman Pat Farrell (52) brings down Duke Blue Devils quarterback Walker Eget(2) during the first half at Gies Memorial Stadium. Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Bailey Fields Key Question on Illinois Defense
Bailey was named one of six Illinois football captains before the season began and is now putting his leadership abilities to the test after his defense gave up 31 points in a losing effort.
He was asked by reporter Glenn Kinley of WCIA-3 Champaign if the defense has an understanding of what they are trying to do or if they are simply not executing.
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Bailey took on a contemplative mood as he pondered how best to answer the question. He seemed to indicate both statements were true.
"Do we have a good understanding of what we want to do, or we're just not executing? Ummm, I think today you could say that," Bailey said after Saturday's home loss.
"Yeah, I think there were areas that we needed to play better as players on the field, 100 percent, and so, whether that's mental errors or not communicating well or that's missing tackles or that's not taking advantage of the opportunity that you're given in a moment or in a play, yeah, I think we could have executed way better."
Duke Outclasses Illinois on Offense
Duke averaged 6.6 yards per play, one more per play than coach Bret Bielema 's Illinois offense, while 206 passing yards and 170 rushing yards.
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The Fighting Illini possessed the ball for more than six minutes longer on offense, but Duke made the most of its opportunities en route to the big road win.
Illinois' usually opportunistic defense did not force a fumble or an interception one week after they had a pick-six against UAB that changed the complexion of the game.
Hauck was brought in to help lead a defense that appears short on difference makers in the front seven, particularly the front four, by Bielema's own admission. Illinois has the defensive backfield to cause problems for any team, led by Bailey, Xavier Scott and others, but they can't cover opposing teams forever down the field.
Illinois had just one sack against Eget and needs to work on pressuring the quarterback better this week in practice. Bailey is enough of a team player to pin the blame on his shoulders, but the Fighting Illini need to put more pressure on the quarterback or it could be another long day against the Salukis this weekend, and an even longer day against Ohio State on Sept. 26, if things don't change soon.
