While they were idle on September 28, the Illinois Fighting Illini football program is still looking to get back on track following consecutive home losses to Eastern Michigan and Nebraska.

During this two-game skid, the Illini are just 8-29 on third down conversions, including a 1-11 effort vs. Nebraska on September 21.

Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Rod Smith addressed his unit’s struggles on third down with reporters on Monday in Champaign.

Here’s a snippet of Smith’s comments, via Jeremy Werner of Illini Inquirer:

After throwing just one interception in the team’s first two games, redshirt junior quarterback Brandon Peters has tossed a pick in each of Illinois’ last two games.

Throwing for just 78 yards in the loss to the Cornhuskers, Smith also commented on the team’s recent struggles passing the football.

In his second season on Lovie Smith’s staff at Illinois, Smith was the co-offensive coordinator under Rich Rodriguez at Arizona from 2012-17. He also worked on Rodriguez’s staff at Michigan as the quarterbacks coach from 2008-10.

Looking to get back above the .500 mark, Illinois travels to Minneapolis to face the Golden Gophers on Saturday (3:30PM ET, BTN).