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Illinois missed 16 tackles against UAB according to the article's cited PFF count, and Bret Bielema acknowledged that limiting live tackling to protect preseason health contributed to an execution problem Bobby Hauck still needs to correct.

Illinois is installing Hauck's new 3-3-5 defense with extensive pre-snap movement, and communication broke down when deliberately late substitutes did not receive calls relayed from the press box through sideline assistants.

Illinois linebacker Ean Rhea can work inside or outside and is described as a candidate to take most middle-linebacker snaps ahead of Mason Muragin, but the article does not report a finalized change to that rotation.

Illinois coaches praised the defense's effort and pursuit against UAB and expected a sizable second-game improvement, but better tackling and communication remain expectations rather than demonstrated fixes before Duke.

Duke's offense emphasized different personnel and schematic elements against Tulane than it had the previous season, according to opposing coordinator Bobby Hauck, although he said the underlying offense retained many of the same concepts and had not established exactly what Illinois should expect next.