Chicago Bears coach John Fox said it best in explaining why scoring touchdowns in the red zone is so difficult.
“As the field gets shorter, all advantage goes to the defense,” Fox said, “whether it’s the run game with the safeties coming up or the pass game with the windows a lot tighter.”
Illini interim coach Bill Cubit doesn’t have to be reminded. That has become as much a headache as how to make a yard on third down. You might say, with the Illini becoming competitive in the Big Ten’s West Division, it’s the difference between success and failure.