Alioneye: 90 Most Important Illini

[Groundhogday]

I don't know about putting five defensive guys at the top of the list. Pocic is as important to the team as Spence.

Personally, I think the most valuable defensive player is Brown, followed by Akeem Spence and Buchanan.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by ncoillini

Really rooting for Heitz. Small town farm kid that works hard. If he continues to progress like he should, Heitz will have a great career as an ILLINI and be in the NFL.

Sorry to sound like TheKid!

Heitz is on a nice trajectory.
Year 1: Redshirt.
Year 2: Played before he was ready.
Year 3: Solid starter.

Michael isn't a great athlete, but he isn't a slug either and it wouldn't surprise me to see him get some sort of all-conference recognition as a senior.

[quhawks12]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Heitz is on a nice trajectory.
Year 1: Redshirt.
Year 2: Played before he was ready.
Year 3: Solid starter.

Michael isn't a great athlete, but he isn't a slug either and it wouldn't surprise me to see him get some sort of all-conference recognition as a senior.

I agree with the trajectory. Obviously year 2 you would like for him to not be thrown to the wolves but in the end I think these next 3 years he will be a positive for us. Especially next year when we lose Pocic and Thornton.

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

I don't know about putting five defensive guys at the top of the list. Pocic is as important to the team as Spence.

Personally, I think the most valuable defensive player is Brown, followed by Akeem Spence and Buchanan.

I think a pass-rush will be more important than Brown mopping up anyone who comes through the line. If opposing QB's are allowed to sit back there and throw the ball comfortably then, as is the base with most defenses, the backfield will be stressed.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

I think a pass-rush will be more important than Brown mopping up anyone who comes through the line. If opposing QB's are allowed to sit back there and throw the ball comfortably then, as is the base with most defenses, the backfield will be stressed.

Brown is going to be rushing the passer. He was a very effective blitzer last year. He will most likely be our leading tackler by a substantial margin (the other LB are far less experienced). And he is going to be the guy calling defenses this year, a really important job in any scheme. I think you are severely downplaying his role in suggesting that he is just going to "mop up" guys coming through the line.

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Brown is going to be rushing the passer. He was a very effective blitzer last year. He will most likely be our leading tackler by a substantial margin (the other LB are far less experienced). And he is going to be the guy calling defenses this year, a really important job in any scheme. I think you are severely downplaying his role in suggesting that he is just going to "mop up" guys coming through the line.

Let me explain, by "mop up" I meant kill, destroy, demolish. It was meant as a compliment but I should have chosen a different word. I fully understand he will be blitzing and that when he diagnosis a running play he's into the backfield before the OL know where they're going. The guys a tackling machine there's no doubt.

However, one of the main reasons our D was so good last year was because Whitney was setting pass rushing records. Yes Brown having TFL's and over 100 tackles were big as well but I just think Whitney getting to the QB as often as he did helped the D more.

Both guys are immensely important for this team this year though.

[illiniobserver22]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Let me explain, by "mop up" I meant kill, destroy, demolish. It was meant as a compliment but I should have chosen a different word. I fully understand he will be blitzing and that when he diagnosis a running play he's into the backfield before the OL know where they're going. The guys a tackling machine there's no doubt.

However, one of the main reasons our D was so good last year was because Whitney was setting pass rushing records. Yes Brown having TFL's and over 100 tackles were big as well but I just think Whitney getting to the QB as often as he did helped the D more.

Both guys are immensely important for this team this year though.

I'm kind of with you that in general give me an elite pass rusher at DE over an elite LB, and I think most coaches would be too, especially as the game continues to shift toward passing. But that said Brown, Spence and Buchanan are all super vital to what we want to do and it's tough to choose any of them as more important than the others.

As GHD said, Brown will be the leader of the defense and just consistently makes more impact plays than anyone else (maybe in the league). At the same time we absolutely need Spence to eat up blockers to key our run defense, especially against bigger teams like Wisconsin. And like Whitney showed us last year, an elite pass rushing DE makes you tough to throw against.

How about a 3 way tie for #2, behind Nate?

[GilThorpe]

Nate , as starting QB, really has to be our #1 player. He just has too many opportunities to make or break a game for us, that no one else on O or D has that kind of influence.

As for #1 on D ? Buchanan, Brown and Spence all are going to have to be right up there. Not sure if one is more important than the other. Hawthorne's important too, but admittedly not as important as those three.

[illiniobserver22]

Here's a very quick and rough prediction of the remaining 8 names:

1. Nate Scheelhaase
2. Michael Buchanan
3. Jonathan Brown
4. Akeem Spence
5. Terry Hawthorne
6. Josh Ferguson
7. Hugh Thornton
8. Darius Millines

Knowing Robert, I bumped up Hawthorne a little higher than I would have him, and he may be even higher still on the actual list. I put Ferguson 6 because I think he gets the most touches out of all our skill guys.

[Kramer116]

Scheelhaase will be #1 ranked by ALE until the day he plays his last game.

I can't wait to see him this year... he is finally in an offense (spread) that fits his skills the best. He did perform well for being put in a more pro style offense that he did not really fit into best.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by Kramer116

Scheelhaase will be #1 ranked by ALE until the day he plays his last game.

I can't wait to see him this year... he is finally in an offense (spread) that fits his skills the best. He did perform well for being put in a more pro style offense that he did not really fit into best.

As he should be. I couldn't believe that publication listed our QBs as 6th or 7th best in the conference. It is a real luxury to have a RS-junior at QB with two years as a starter. Toss in his intelligence, leadership, athleticism and accuracy and we have a terrific player at the most important position. The offense performed poorly down the stretch last year and that has damaged Nate's "brand." I would say he is seriously undervalued by writers and fans outside of Illinois.

[GilThorpe]

#8 Darius Millines

http://alioneye.com/2012/08/24/the-9...rius-millines/

[Dan]

#7: Hugh Thornton

#6: Josh Ferguson

[Kramer116]

Originally Posted by illiniobserver22

Here's a very quick and rough prediction of the remaining 8 names:

1. Nate Scheelhaase
2. Michael Buchanan
3. Jonathan Brown
4. Akeem Spence
5. Terry Hawthorne
6. Josh Ferguson
7. Hugh Thornton
8. Darius Millines

3 for 3 so far Observer

[illiniobserver22]

Originally Posted by Kramer116

3 for 3 so far Observer

The more I think about it, he may have gone Hawthorne over Spence, so my streak might end tonight. Actually he may have Hawthorne even higher than that since he did these rankings when we thought Black Cat was going to be spending significant time on offense and returning kicks...now that it looks like he'll be mainly on defense I like where I have him, but I shouldn't underestimate Robert's opinion of him.

[Dan]

#5: Michael Buchanan

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by Dan

#5: Michael Buchanan

I'm predicting Hawthorne next, followed by Spence (a top DT is so critical), Brown (best defensive player) and Scheelhaase.

[Calvin]

I don't have a problem with a defensive guy being #1 on a college team. I think in the college game, the mantra defense wins championships still applies.

[illynifan34]

Originally Posted by Calvin

I don't have a problem with a defensive guy being #1 on a college team. I think in the college game, the mantra defense wins championships still applies.

Scheelhaase is the team leader, the entire team, he is the most important Illini.

[DaytonIllini]

For me to be the most important guy suggests the team would take the biggest hit if you were out and had to be replaced. So a guy that is the best player on the team but who has a very good backup would be less valuable than a lesser but still very good player that has no adequate backup.

For me that makes Spence the most valuable. If he goes down, I think the team takes the biggest hit. Nathan goes down? I think we take a hit but I think ROT can lead the team successfully.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by DaytonIllini

For me to be the most important guy suggests the team would take the biggest hit if you were out and had to be replaced. So a guy that is the best player on the team but who has a very good backup would be less valuable than a lesser but still very good player that has no adequate backup.

For me that makes Spence the most valuable. If he goes down, I think the team takes the biggest hit. Nathan goes down? I think we take a hit but I think ROT can lead the team successfully.

By that criteria Brown and Spence are both more important than Nathan because there is a huge drop off to their backups.

[DaytonIllini]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

By that criteria Brown and Spence are both more important than Nathan because there is a huge drop off to their backups.

Agreed.

[Dan]

#4: Akeem Spence

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Robert hinted that the top of his list will probably be all defensive guys.

I'm guessing the top 5 are:
5) Brown
4) Spence
3) Hawthorne
2) Scheelhaase
1) Buchanan

Though it was tough for me not to put Nate #1.

Well I clearly lose because my #1 choice came in at #5 but I did get Spence's spot right!

[Dan]

#3: Jonathan Brown