The Illinois enter Saturday's game 1-3, but feeling a bit better after competing vs. Nebraska — and leading 16-10 — after three quarters on Saturday.

Now, the Fighting Illini host Purdue. We talked to Doug Bucshon, the publisher of OrangeandBlueNews.com to get his take on the matchup.

GoldandBlack.com: Illinois was able to compete against Nebraska until the fourth quarter, but ended up losing, 31-16. How is Illinois feeling at 1-3?

Bucshon: "They’re disappointed, especially with the loss against Western Michigan in Week 3. That was a team people thought they could beat, and it is a win the team really needed to help get to bowl eligibility. After that, they had a bye week and that helped them prepare for the Nebraska game. The coaching staff made some personnel changes and changed a bit of their strategy. They came out and played well for three quarters, but wore away in the final quarter. They couldn’t stop the run and Nebraska used that to put them away in the end of the game.

"They played pretty well overall, and I think there are some positives to look at moving forward.

GoldandBlack.com: This deal with the fourth quarter has been an issue throughout the season, right?

Bucshon: "Yeah they need more drives and need to make a few more stops. Wes Lunt needs to make a few more plays near the end of games. Lovie Smith and his staff are disappointed with the way the team has been finishing. That is one thing he talked about in the press conference this week."

GoldandBlack.com: What is the deal with Lunt? He has been around for a long time, but there are people who feel that he could be doing a bit more.

Bucshon: "Yes and that’s the feeling you get from him. He’s got the skill package: He’s a classic pocket passer, he’s tall and has a strong arm, and he can make all of the throws. It just seems like the intangibles aren’t there at times, especially with his decision-making on third downs. That’s where offensive coordinator Garrick McGee really wants him to step up and make plays. He has been dumping the ball off to running backs a little too quickly, and he isn’t keeping his eyes down field to see the big plays. It has been something the staff has talked to him about and he made some strides last week. At the end of the first half, he made a big run on third down to set them up for a field goal. He got better last week, but they still want him to continue to improve and make plays."

GoldandBlack.com: Are there enough skill position guys?

Bucshon: "The wide receiver core has had trouble all year with getting separation. Malik Turner has been the one guy who has been a go-to receiver this year. He had a big game against Nebraska and played well.

"With receiver Mike Dudek out for the second year in a row with a torn ACL, they’ve lacked guys who can create separation in the passing game.

GoldandBlack.com: What is the situation at running back? Ke’Shawn Vaughn hit Purdue pretty hard on the ground last year, but last week he only had one carry.

Bucshon: "Well, it is running back by committee right now. You’ve got Kendrick Foster and Reggie Corbin who got the majority of the carries against Nebraska. They’ve shown a bit more ability and explosion than Ke’Shawn Vaughn. He has struggled with his vision and is running into the back of the offensive line and not finding the hole. They were not happy with the way he played in the first few games of the season and looked at the game film, and Corbin and Foster ended up getting all those carries. I would expect that to continue into this week."

GoldandBlack.com: What are they doing defensively?

Bucshon: "The back seven is not very experienced. They put a few new guys back there last week and they played a little better. Up front, they have a very experienced defensive line lead by Dawuane Smoot. They haven’t really made many plays though, either. They rush the quarterback and get some tackles for loss, but haven’t been able to stop the run.

"Adding Hardy Nickerson from Cal has really helped at the linebacker position. He is playing well, but he can’t do it by himself. A lot like Purdue, they can’t seem to stop the run, so it will be interesting to see two similar teams go at it on Saturday."

GoldandBlack.com: Purdue has had some trouble with its offensive line. Does Illinois hope that its defensive line can go from "close" to actually making some defensive plays?

Bucshon: "Overall, I think it is a game where Illinois has to do what it needs to, to win. They are catching Purdue in a down period and it is at home, and it is a game they have to win if they want to get to six wins. They definitely want to play better and they are aware of the situation with Purdue’s O-line. I think if the defensive line is going to break out and live up to preseason expectations, this is the game to do it in."

GoldandBlack.com: And Illinois' secondary scheme ...

Bucshon: "They play the Tampa 2, which is the Lovie Smith defense, but on running downs they will play press-man and jam everybody up tight. Then on passing downs, it is a Cover 2. Overall on early downs, they almost exclusively play press coverage."

GoldandBlack.com: Has Smith already put his stamp on the program with what he does in terms of style?

Bucshon: "Yes, they are a bit more aggressive in their identity. The are flying around a little more and forced two turnovers last week. They’ve been trying to rip the ball out, which has been a staple of Lovie Smith defenses. Definitely a completely different team. Different on offense, and then on defense they are more aggressive. Tim Beckman defenses were more conservative and would sit back in order to bend but not break."

GoldandBlack.com: Is Illinois still in the Honeymoon phase with Josh Whitman and Smith? It also announced a stadium renovation that has people excited, but from football fan’s perspective is this a game against Purdue that they have to win?

Bucshon: "No doubt it is an important game. Looking back at the North Carolina game, it was a night game against a top-20 opponent in a sold-out stadium, but then they show up and kind of get blown out. It took the wind out of the sails and that might have been the end of the Honeymoon right there. The fans are still excited about Lovie Smith and him building something, but it is going to take three or four years of good recruiting classes.

"The way they adjusted and competed against Nebraska, I think they will get a bit of a bump from the fans. They won’t sell out like they did for North Carolina, but hopefully it is a good turnout."

GoldandBlack.com: Other notes, injuries?

Bucshon: "Personnel-wise, Hardy Nickerson and Dawuane Smoot are the playmakers. Carroll Phillips, the other defensive end, injured his knee against Nebraska and he actually leads the nation in tackles for loss. Lovie said it was not a long-term injury, but he hasn’t specified whether he is playing on Saturday or not. He is their best pass-rusher."

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