'We’re going to know exactly where we are'

Illinois won't have to wait long to find out how good it is, with Saturday's season opener against No. 6 Missouri, Illini coach Ron Zook said Tuesday.

The Tigers beat Illinois last year in the annual rivalry game, 40-34. But the Illini bounced back, finishing the season 9-4 after a Rose Bowl loss to USC.

Missouri has Heisman Trophy candidate Chase Daniel back for his senior season at quarterback, and a talent-heavy cast around him. Missouri and No. 20 Illinois play Saturday night in St. Louis.

"We're going to know exactly where we are," Zook said. "We'll find out about our defensive line. We've talked about them having a chance to be the strength of our football team."

Zook said junior quarterback Juice Williams has improved in the off season. Williams is more confident and a better passer, at least in practice, he said.

"He's confident," Zook said.

"If you remember back his freshman year, he didn't like football a lot," Zook said, referring to the Illini's two-win 2006 season. "I worried about that with him."

Williams was knocked out of last year's game and watched backup Eddie McGee try to rally the Illini. The quarterback said it was tough to watch from the sidelines when he couldn't help his team.

He has waited anxiously since January for this game, Williams said.

"To spend all off season, you're just so thrilled to go out there and show the world what you can do," he said.

Williams' favorite target, sophomore Arrelious Benn, said the quarterback is a much better passer this fall than last, something the Illini are likely to need without running back Rashard Mendenhall.
The Big Ten's leading rusher last season, Mendenhall passed up his senior season for the NFL draft.

"(Williams has) got so much better," Benn said. "He's been labeled as an option quarterback, but now he's a passer."

Williams was the team's second-leading rusher last year with 755 yards, but he threw for just 1,743 yards — 134 a game and last among Big Ten starting quarterbacks.