CHAMPAIGN - Ron Zook said last week that no matter what happened in the Illinois-Missouri season opener Saturday night, he'd at least have a better idea of where his football team stands.

On Sunday, one day after Missouri won 52-42 in a game that produced 13 touchdowns and 1,081 yards of offense, it was clear the Illini football coach will be taking a close look at his defense.

Zook took some of the blame for the defensive play, saying he told his defense to use caution in the first half due to the scrambling ability of Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel.

"I still believe our defense is one of the strengths of our football team, maybe the strength, but I was concerned about those guys flying up field and creating big running lanes so (Daniel) could scramble for first downs.

"I might have taken a little of (the defense's) fight away from them. But I've learned the other way what can happen when you turn them loose against a guy who can run around and make things happen.

"Maybe we should have just let them fly around and let them play."

Illinois managed just one quarterback sack against the elusive Daniel and although only 38 of the points allowed can be traced to the defense (one touchdown came on a kickoff return, another on an interception return), the 549 yards surrendered is way more than Zook would have imagined.

"Part of it was that we may have put a little too much on our guys in terms of (adjustments), trying to do the right things. When we had mental errors, it was because some guys would (adjust) and others wouldn't. And there was poor tackling.

"We said we couldn't give up big plays and we did. We said we had to be solid in the kicking game and we weren't.

"And defensively we were on the field more than we wanted in the first half and got worn down a little," Zook said. "Then they were out there more than they wanted in the second half and they got worn down.

"Cramping was an issue for both teams."

It's the reason Illini receiver Rejus Benn (7 catches, 92 yards) limped to the sideline in the second half.

"I am trying to change his diet," Zook said of Benn, who along with defensive back Vontae Davis pride themselves on eating low-fat, low carbohydrate diets.

"They try to eat so well but early in this year like this it's hot and they need to get more carbohydrates.

"We had two meals where we just forced carbohydrates into them."

Zook agreed he would have felt good about Illinois' chances if he knew before the game that quarterback Juice Williams would throw for 451 yards and five touchdowns. "You would think we would win the game, obviously, and the defensive guys stood up and told the team that after I was done talking, which I liked. But it's a team game and we need everybody. "I was excited to see Juice myself. Although he didn't play great, he did play pretty well."

Williams' favorite long-ball target was 5-foot-8, 163-pound senior Will Judson, who in two seasons with the team had caught six passes for 30 yards.

On Saturday, Judson had five catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns. How did he earn an increased role?

"He is blocking better, No. 1, and that's the thing that has kept him off the field," Zook said. "He has cut down on mental errors. He was on the field quite a bit (Saturday) and as long as he doesn't jump into the stands he'll be on the field more."

Judson was flagged for a 15-yard penalty when, after hauling in his second touchdown pass, he jumped up toward some Illini fans beyond the Edward Jones Dome end zone.

He took a tongue lashing from Zook on the sideline, but will be back out there at 11 a.m., Saturday when the Illini host Eastern Illinois.

"You are going to reward the guys who show you they can do it in practice and the biggest thing is that (Judson) is blocking better, blocking more physically and cutting down on mental errors."

It also doesn't hurt that the transfer from Florida A&M is a former track sprinter and one of the fastest players on the Illini team. Extra points

In his first game since taking over for J Leman as Illinois' starting middle linebacker, Decatur's Brit Miller led the team with 12 tackles. Fellow linebacker Martez Wilson was second with 11 including Illinois' only quarterback sack. . . . Despite a slow start, tailback Daniel Dufrene ended up with decent numbers. He carried 13 times for 75 yards and had six receptions for another 50 yards. He did not receive high marks, however, when he allowed a pass to be ripped from his hands and returned for a touchdown.

mtupper@herald-review.com|421-7983