Illinois Football: 5 Worst-Case Scenarios for 2011

Ron Zook led the Illinois Fighting Illini to a 7-6 finish in the Big Ten last season.

A year later, he enters the season minus his best offensive and defensive weapon from a year before.

For the Fighting Illini to succeed in 2011, players will have to assume their normal roles. They will also have to step up in order to replace these key missing pieces.

Here are the five scenarios that would keep the Fighting Illini from bouncing back this season:

An Injury to Nathan Scheelhaase

In 2010, Nathan Scheelhaase threw for 17 touchdown passes and ran for five more.

Despite leading the Fighting Illini to only seven wins over the course of the season, Scheelhaase proved himself to be a capable playmaker alongside since-graduated Mikel Leshoure.

In 2011, an injury to Scheelhaase would be catastrophic for Ron Zook's squad.

With Leshoure no longer an option as a workhorse, Scheelhaase will look to take the next step as a playmaker in Champagne.

An injury, whether short-term or long-term, would ruin any chances of an Illinois resurgence in 2011.

Failure to Replace Mikel Leshoure

Last season Mikel Leshoure rushed for nearly 1,700 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.

He proved to be a one-man wrecking ball in the backfield. His combination of speed and power made him a deadly slasher in the open field.

Heading into this season, Jason Ford will be charged with filling Leshoure's huge shoes.

Ford does have experience and actually saw the ball more than Leshoure in their first two years together at the university.

With his 235-pound frame, Ford has the size needed to run the ball in the Big Ten.

His success will be extremely important to the Fighting Illini's offensive production.

An Injury to A.J. Jenkins

In the midst of an Illinois passing offense ranked 111th in the nation in passing yards per game, A.J. Jenkins managed to emerge as a viable threat.

Jenkins caught 56 passes for over 700 yards. He also caught seven of quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase's 17 touchdown passes.

If the Illinois passing attack were to lose Jenkins, it would lose it's best playmaker in the air.

The offense would lose some of its ability to stretch the field vertically and even more pressure would be placed on Jason Ford in the backfield.

Jenkins needs to stay healthy and help Scheelhaase continue to mature in his sophomore season.

If he goes down, so does the offense.

Ian Thomas Struggles Without Corey Liuget and Martez Wilson

Ian Thomas is the top tackler returning for the Fighting Illini.

With 65 tackles in 2010, Thomas will need to improve on that mark in 2011.

The Fighting Illini will be without middle linebacker Martez Wilson and Corey Liuget at defensive tackle.

Whether or not Thomas can take his game up a notch could decide whether the Illinois defense sinks or swims.

Thomas will need to become the quarterback of the offense and will also need to stay healthy all season.

If not, the Fighting Illini could struggle in the blue collar Big Ten.

Illinois Fails to Make a Bowl Game

The Fighting Illini are a tricky team to gauge in 2011. They have few players who will make or break their season.

The worst possible scenario for the Fighting Illni—and for Ron Zook—is the failure to make a bowl game.

The Fighting Illini have made great strides in building their program and, under Zook, have hauled in a higher grade of fresh talent.

Failing to make a bowl game would most likely lead to the firing of Ron Zook and would leave questions concerning the direction of this program.

Any of the other four scenarios mentioned can be overcome with tactful coaching and good fortune, but the failure to make a bowl game would leave a sour taste in everyone's mouth.