Bret Bielema Is Unfazed by Illinois' Tackling Woes Entering Duke - But Should He Be?

Illinois coach Bret Bielema dismissed concerns about tackling becoming a long-term problem as his team heads into a matchup against Duke at Zuppke Field. After Illinois allowed 194 rushing yards to UAB in their opener, questions emerged about its ability to stop the run, especially with Duke running back Nate Sheppard entering the game on a strong early-season pace. Bielema said live tackling is limited by NCAA rules—teams can use only a couple of full scrimmages, with controlled tackle work elsewhere in practice. He argued that newer players are regaining fundamentals and noted examples of defenders adjusting technique during the opener. The broader issue, according to the article, is limited in-game experience among parts of Illinois’ defense.