CHAMPAIGN — The general consensus about Chayce Crouch's performance in Illinois' season-opening win against Ball State? He'll be better Saturday against Western Kentucky.
Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said he felt Crouch learned from the Illini's comeback 24-21 victory against the Cardinals. Nerves perhaps played a part.
It was the redshirt junior's first home start, first time hearing his name announced as starting quarterback and first time to experience those emotions at Memorial Stadium. McGee also said he thought Crouch missed on some techniques. The skillset he had shown for five weeks of training camp and practice — looking downfield, seeing the entire field and getting his feet set — didn't happen enough.