The DI catches up with ESPN analyst Kirk Herstreit at Media Days
The following was written by DI Senior Writer Daniel Johnson
CHICAGO–One of the last people to see Illinois’ loss to USC at the Rose Bowl was ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit. The former Ohio State quarterback was announcing the game for the network and was in Pasadena and Los Angeles for the week leading up to the game.
Herbstreit was also at Big Ten Media Days getting a glimpse of both coaches and players. The Daily Illini spoke with him on Thursday morning about Illinois and the Big Ten.
Daily Illini: Since you last saw Illinois at the Rose Bowl, what has changed most for the team in your eyes?
Kirk Herbstreit: I think it’s the experience of that game that has changed them the most. It’s funny, people are saying, ‘Well, Illinois got killed,’ and I’m like, ‘If you really go back and study that game, USC was on their way to blowing out Illinois, but they started to make some stops. All of the sudden (Rashard) Mendenhall gets loose on a couple of plays, then they get the ball back and they just start driving up and down the field at will, and they’re inside the 10-yard line. If they score that touchdown (instead of Jacob Willis fumbling,) it’s a seven-point game. But (Willis) fumbles going, SC on the next series fumbles themselves, but Joe McKnight being Joe McKnight picks it up and goes 75 yards and it’s pretty much over.
But I think what’s going to change the team is that experience of that is only going to strengthen them when they go to play Chase Daniel in Missouri. They’re not going to be like, ‘Wow, this is a big game,’ they’re going to be like, ‘Let’s go do this.’ The natural maturation of the program is kind of on the incline.”
DI: When you look at Illinois playing Missouri last year versus this year, what do you think is the different between the mindset of the players?
Herbstreit: I think there’s nothing more important to this team, a frustrated and young team, than focus on the next year, after having a great year, in its first game. If you’re playing a 1-AA team or a MAC (Conference) opponent, it doesn’t grab the players’ attention, but when you play Missouri and they’ve got Chase Daniel and they’re going to be a preseason top 5, top 7 team. It’s easy for (strength and conditioning coach Lou Hernandez) and Coach Zook to have the team ready for (Missouri,) because they know it’s coming.DI: With Rich Rodriguez coming to Michigan and changing the culture there from their traditional pro-style offense to a spread, what’s the difference going be in Ann Arbor?
Herbstreit: I think it’s bigger to the fans, guys like me and you are so used to seeing Elvis Grbac, John Navarre, Todd Collins; close your eyes and you envision a 6′4″ or 6′5″ just lumbering on the scramble, like a Tom Brady. I think for the casual fan it’s going to be like ‘wow, that’s weird,’ but the players will be fine, players adjust. But, it’s going to take some time, you don’t go from a power-running game to spreading them out and throwing. They did it some in the bowl game, but they had (Chad Henne) that started 40-some games. Now, you’re going to have a quarterback not prepared, I think this year’s going to be a tough year, they’re going to have to find a quarterback to run that system. They’ll adjust, but the spread is the kind of way of life now in college football, not just in Michigan, it’s every where.
DI: What role do you expect Terrelle Pryor to play in Ohio State’s offense this year?
Herbstreit: He’ll be a situational player, at most, a situational player. You have to go back and look who the head coach is, Jim Tressel. Jim Tressel is a senior guy, he’s a leadership guy. Todd Boeckman is the quarterback, there’s no discussion. Now, if Terrelle Pryor shows up to camp and shows a willingness to study tape, understand the offense, to understand the defense; he’ll be in there. He’ll be in there third and short to run the spread look. It’s not just college football, at this level, just, ‘Wow, he’s really fast, he can really make a guy miss.” That works on a punt returner, not in running the offense. If he’s willing to learn, and it sounds like he is, he’ll play, but I think it will be very similar to (Tim) Tebow two years ago and what (Ryan) Perrilloux did last year at LSU.”
DI: Did it surprise you at all that Pryor went, not only to a Big Ten school, but going to Ohio State?
Herbstreit: I thought, just looking at him, watching him, this kid has a chance to play for Michigan, but listening to him it sounds like he’s looking at the NFL and the offense that Ohio State runs, in his mind, give him the best shot at it. I think that’s the knock right now, the coaches that are recruiting against Michigan are saying, ‘Hey, do you want to be Pat White? Do you want to be Dennis Dixon? Or do you want to be like out guy and get a shot at the NFL?’ It sounds like that, at the end of the day, why (Pryor) chose to go to (Ohio State.)”
DI: What player, from Illinois or any other school, do you think might have a breakout season this year?
Herbstreit: I think someone on the fringe that is Martez (Wilson.) Instead of Illinois fans saying, ‘I know who he is,’ it’s going to be ‘Holy cow, this guy is a freak.’ I think he’s going around and making plays.
DI: Who are your offensive and defensive preseason Big Ten Players of the Year?
Herbstreit: I think Beanie Wells (from Ohio State) is about as good a back as I have ever seen in a long time. I think that, defensively, you look at James Laurinaitis and Malcom Jenkins.
But when you look at a player like Vontae (Davis,) he’s at a point in his career to recognize this kid’s got ability, and this is probably the year that he goes from being pretty good to being great. So, he could be a name that jumps out, too.
DI: Do you think that, barring something derailing him, that he is a lock as a first-round draft pick?
Herbstreit: I definitely think so, he’s what you’re looking for. He can run as quick as a cat, he’s got that swagger you have to have as a player. If he has the kind of year I think he’ll have overall in my mind, he’ll be one of the top corners in the draft.
DI: Finally, were you upset at all that College Gameday is not going to be at the Missouri-Illinois game?
Herbstreit: I wish, we’re going to be at the Clemson-Alabama game. I was hoping to go to the (Illinois) game.