9/26 News and Notes

[Groundhogday]

Illinois football’s offensive line looking to overcome injuries

Butkus’ offensive line have its hands full trying to stop the Nittany Lions front seven, led by senior linebacker Michael Maunti. With recent injuries to center Graham Pocic and left tackle Hugh Thornton, the offensive line’s job will be all the more difficult.

“Are we banged up a little bit? Yeah,” Butkus said. “But everybody is. That’s the way it is. It’s a physical, aggressive, rough game. You’re going to have nicks and bruises, and you’re going to get hurt. We’ve got to fight through it.”

Daily Illini

Protecting the rock. The big takeaway from Saturday’s loss to Louisiana Tech was the six turnovers the Illini committed. Taking care of the football has been an emphasis early this week in practice, and it all goes back to the basics.

“One of the things we always talk about here, and we made a huge emphasis on it in camp up at Rantoul and when we got back, is getting back to fundamentals. It’s no different than anything else,” co-offensive coordinator Billy Gonzales said. “They’re not doing the fundamentals like they’re supposed to do. They’re not carrying the ball high and tight; they’re swinging the ball loose. Each coach will do it in their individual drills, and we’ve got stations where we’ll come out together and work on it. It’s got to happen in practice, and we have to be overly aggressive as coaches to make sure there’s no balls on the ground.”

Marcus Jackson

(Jackson leads with a discussion of Fuller leaving, but nothing new on that front.)

A game circled in red by Penn State

Based on the venom expressed by senior Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti during the Big Ten media day gathering in July in Chicago, Illinois’ decision to come to State College to meet with potential transfers is considered an unforgivable breach of sportsmanship.

Illinois ended up accepting one transfer, offensive lineman Ryan Nowicki, a redshirt freshman who was born in Elgin, who knew Illini coaches and who contacted Illinois to let them know he wanted to leave Penn State.

Illinois was no doubt hoping to snag more than just Nowicki, which is why they arrived like storm troopers in their attempt, sending eight coaches toting Illini logo bags through the airport just as O’Brien was preparing to board his own flight.

Tupper

[Groundhogday]

Kickers could decide Illini vs. Penn State

Like last season’s 10-7 finish that ended with Illinois’ Derek Dimke missing a 42-yarder with snow balls flying toward him, this game could come down to placekickers, and that’s where it gets interesting.

With first-stringer Nick Immekus out because of injury, the Illini will go with Taylor Zalewski, a walk-on who began the season as the kickoff specialist. He’s 2-for-2 on the season, hitting a 47-yard against Charleston Southern and a 26-yarder vs. Louisiana Tech. But he’s not made a pressure kick because he’s not even attempted one.

Meanwhile, Sam Ficken is the Penn State kicker who missed an extra point and four field goals in the one-point loss to Virginia in the second week of the season.

Supinie

I didn't really want to be reminded of how last year's game ended.

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

I didn't really want to be reminded of how last year's game ended.

Boy no kidding. I was watching it with a couple buddies at their place with a couple other people and when we scored that TD I just didn't think we would lose. Then when we drove down and got in FG range I didn't think there was any way Dimke would miss it. Then, as much as I didn't want to admit it, I knew that was probably going to cost us much more in the coming weeks.

[Dan]

Stephon Morris says the secondary is looking forward to Illinois game as a chance to show how much they have grown since Ohio game.

http://twitter.com/PSUSTRETCH

[Dan]

Both Steve Hull and Supo Sanni will play this weekend, according to DC Tim Banks. #Illinois

http://twitter.com/FletcherPage

#illini DC Tim Banks said safeties Steve Hull & Supo Sanni will play vs PSU. Hull missed last 2 games. Sanni dressed, didn't play vs LaTech

http://twitter.com/WernerESPNCU

[illynifan34]

[Dan]

Hull and Sanni back at safety for #illini, Banks said. Hull may spend time at WR.

http://twitter.com/JohnSupinie

[illynifan34]

That's just craziness (Hull going from not playing at all, to possibly playing both ways), but great that they will play, I think that will help our secondary quite a bit.

[illinidarrin]

Maybe they should just keep him at WR.

[Dan]

Lanes to Lucas!

Beckman: "Every game is, as we say, the Lanes to Lucas. You're trying to win each one of your football games..to get yourself to Lucas Oil."

http://twitter.com/WernerESPNCU

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by illinidarrin

Maybe they should just keep him at WR.

My thinking as well.

[Dan]

#illini DC TIm Banks: "We definitely want to become more aggressive, make sure we have guys that can cover back there. We feel like we do."

http://twitter.com/WernerESPNCU

[AHSIllini32]

Sounds like Banks might be taking what the players are asking for to heart and may be making a few changes schematically. Glad to hear it...and that Hull and Sanni are coming back.

[BigStan97]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Sounds like Banks might be taking what the players are asking for to heart and may be making a few changes schematically. Glad to hear it...and that Hull and Sanni are coming back.

having Hull and Sanni back would be great to have full health and depth on the back end...maybe Banks would be more comfortable now having JB45 around the LOS more where hes most effective and relying on our starting Safeties to make the right calls and do their assignments correctly...

[BoyIllini]

Interesting article:

"According to people I've talked to at Illinois, arguments busted out on the sideline between players and coaches. It was the worst home loss for the Illini since PSU blasted them 62-10 in 2005. Unfamiliar psyches are tested and blame gets placed in such situations.
Though there's still time, it doesn't look like Beckman has his guys bought in. The telltale sign is the juniors and seniors. The defensive front seven in particular, with NFL-quality junior Akeem Spence at nose tackle bracketed by two seniors and junior Jonathan Brown at middle linebacker, is athletic and experienced and should have been the centerpiece of the team. It isn't showing up.
Part of that has to do with the style of the opponents who ripped the Illini. Arizona State and Louisiana Tech are built for speed, high reps and quick strikes. Both are tough matchups for standard, cold-weather, ground-n-pound Big Ten defenses. And Illinois, led by an inexperienced coordinator in Tim Banks (Cincinnati, Central Michigan) whose main experience is as a position coach, simply could not cope with the frequency and speed of each team's no-huddle spread."



http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefoo...rasts_two.html

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by BoyIllini

"According to people I've talked to at Illinois, arguments busted out on the sideline between players and coaches. It was the worst home loss for the Illini since PSU blasted them 62-10 in 2005. Unfamiliar psyches are tested and blame gets placed in such situations.
Though there's still time, it doesn't look like Beckman has his guys bought in. The telltale sign is the juniors and seniors. The defensive front seven in particular, with NFL-quality junior Akeem Spence at nose tackle bracketed by two seniors and junior Jonathan Brown at middle linebacker, is athletic and experienced and should have been the centerpiece of the team. It isn't showing up.
Part of that has to do with the style of the opponents who ripped the Illini. Arizona State and Louisiana Tech are built for speed, high reps and quick strikes. Both are tough matchups for standard, cold-weather, ground-n-pound Big Ten defenses. And Illinois, led by an inexperienced coordinator in Tim Banks (Cincinnati, Central Michigan) whose main experience is as a position coach, simply could not cope with the frequency and speed of each team's no-huddle spread."

http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefoo...rasts_two.html

I agree some of this, but Banks is not inexperienced. He has been a D1 defensive coordinator for 5 years. That said, our defensive staff have almost no experience working together. Clink, Ward and Beckman have coached together, but Banks coached with Beckman for one year over 10 years back and Gilmore hasn't coached with anyone else on the staff. It might take a while to get everyone on the same page. I also don't think we have a "standard, cold-weather, ground-n-pound Big Ten defense." The front seven have a great deal of speed and athleticism.

[Dan]

It was 63-10.

Carry on

[KJKobs]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

I didn't really want to be reminded of how last year's game ended.

Agreed. I made the trip out there last year. While it was a tailgate I will never forget (about 8 inches of snow fell that day), the fourth quarter of that game is something I wish I could forget.

[BoyIllini]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

I agree some of this, but Banks is not inexperienced. He has been a D1 defensive coordinator for 5 years. That said, our defensive staff have almost no experience working together. Clink, Ward and Beckman have coached together, but Banks coached with Beckman for one year over 10 years back and Gilmore hasn't coached with anyone else on the staff. It might take a while to get everyone on the same page. I also don't think we have a "standard, cold-weather, ground-n-pound Big Ten defense." The front seven have a great deal of speed and athleticism.

I totally agree with your remarks about our D front, but I think the article portrays an interesting perspective about "buying in" to Banks and Beckman as a whole. Coach Vic had that inept ability to get kids to buy in to the scheme and play hard for him. Granted, Banks has only had 9 months and 4 games to tackle this (no pun intended) so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt as we talk here today. As I'm sure you do, I truly miss coach Vic. He was one of the better coaches to come through Champaign in sometime. Nevertheless, it's time to move on and hope coach Banks can right the ship.

[Dan]

Tim Beckman said tackling and giving up big plays have caused the #Illinois defense the most trouble in the two blowout losses.

The tackling, Beckman said, is improving. The defense had an 88% tackle efficiency rating against La Tech -- the goal each week is 90%

http://twitter.com/FletcherPage

[Dan]

Weeeeeeeeeee!!!!



http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2012...8/weeeeeeeeeee

[kgwasmyfavorite]

Our tackling percentage may have been better...but our suck rating was at 100%.

[illinidarrin]

check this out.

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by kgwasmyfavorite

Our tackling percentage may have been better...but our suck rating was at 100%.

Actually the first half was pretty decent but carry on.

And I find it interesting that a penn st. website would be "reporting" on sideline instances and guys not buying in.:rolleyes:

[chief78]

I really did not think LT played nearly as fast as ASU did. The Illini just got beat on defense, especially one on one in the secondary. Sure hope they are aggressive this weekend.