New offensive coordinator Petrino determined to 'feed the studs'

Illinois head coach Ron Zook introduced newly hired offensive coordinator Paul Petrino at a Monday press conference.

Petrino comes from the University of Arkansas, where he held the same position, leading a Razorbacks offense that ranked eighth in the nation in scoring.

“I think there’s nothing but improvement to be made on the offensive side of the ball,” Petrino said. “I’ve been here all morning watching the talent, and I’m very excited.”

Petrino replaces Mike Schultz, who was relieved of his duties as Illinois’ offensive coordinator on Friday. In his first year with the program, Schultz and the Illini offense stalled early on before averaging 35.4 points per game in the season’s last five contests.

Petrino will bring with him a pass-heavy pro-style offense different than the option-spread that Illinois has used since Zook took over the program in 2005.

“If you had to watch a pro football team and say who our offense is similar to, it’d be the (New York) Giants,” Petrino said. “I would definitely say it’s a pro-style offense. The tight end will be really involved.”

Petrino said the offense will feature more multiple personnel sets and formations, with more two-back packages with the quarterback under center as opposed to the shotgun-heavy offense Illinois has run. Petrino also introduced a personal philosophy of relying heavily on his playmakers, which he calls “FTS.”

“One of the things that we believe in is FTS, and that stands for ‘feed the studs,’” Petrino said. “We’re going to get our best players in position to go make plays.”

At Arkansas, Petrino served under his older brother, current Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino. The younger Petrino has 19 years of coaching experience, including a year working with the Atlanta Falcons as their receivers coach in 2007. Before that, Petrino was the offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Louisville from 2003 to 2006. His teams at Louisville averaged 41.1 points per game during his four seasons, including a 2006 squad that won the Orange Bowl and finished ranked No. 6 in the nation.

“We won’t always be in shotgun or with one back,” Petrino said. “You’ll see two backs in the backfield or the quarterback under center. You’ll probably see more multiple personnel groups and formations than you’ve seen in the past.”

Petrino will take over an offensive unit that will lose at least five starters to graduation but returns sophomore running back Mikel LeShoure, who Petrino only referred to as “No. 5.”

“I think it all starts at the running back position,” Petrino said. “I’m sorry I don’t have all the names down and don’t know how to pronounce them, but No. 5 can really play.”

The offense may also lose junior wide receiver Arrelious Benn to the NFL draft, but Petrino has already been doing his part in trying to persuade Benn to stay for his senior year.

“Of course I tried to sell everything I could,” Petrino said. “I tried to sell the FTS. I tried to sell him that we’re going to get him the ball. He needs to see where he’s at, and if he’s not there, he needs to come back and lead the country in catches and receiving yards.”

With Schultz being dismissed last Friday, Petrino made the difficult decision of leaving his brother’s coaching staff during the weekend.

“My 12-year-old son probably helped me more than anything,” Petrino said of his son Mason. “He went on the computer and pulled up all the facilities and looked at everything.”

“He’s fired up. By the time he gets here he’ll know everyone’s names,” Petrino continued. “I said to him, ‘What are you thinking?’ and he said, ‘Well, I like the size of our O-line, dad.’”