10/2 News & Notes

[Dan]

#illini LB Jonathan Brown practiced today, Tim Beckman said.

#illini coaching staff is scaling back and simplifying the playbook on both sides of the ball bc of many moving parts and young players

http://twitter.com/WernerESPNCU

#illini RB Donovonn Young done with the pep talks. He just wants to get it done, he said Tuesday.

http://twitter.com/JohnSupinie

Check The Tape - Penn State

And on and on and on and on. Again, I feel for these offensive linemen. I really do. At a program that has recruited and built depth, these players would still be on the second string, learning the offense, getting stronger, learning the system, getting spot game experience as underclassmen and then starting as upperclassmen. Instead, we're relying on mostly sophomores (Cvijanovic, Hill, Heitz) and a freshman (Karras). And they’re having to learn on the job.

http://alioneye.com/2012/10/02/check...-penn-state-2/

[Dan]

Beckman says QB Nathan Scheelhaase really wasn't back to 100 percent until last week. Has only played a game and a half so far.

http://twitter.com/ESPN_BigTen

Beckman says he's proud of the way the team practiced today. Says the team is working on the things it can control. #Illini #B1G

http://twitter.com/B1Gfootball

[Dan]

Beckman says lack of physical play could be due to injuries they have, new faces in key spots. Will continue to stress it in practice.

http://twitter.com/ESPN_BigTen

#illini will move Teko Powell or Vontrell Williams up to 2nd team vs. Badgers. With lack of depth, he planned on playing one of them.

http://twitter.com/JohnSupinie

Beckman says his team hasn't been as physical over the last 2 games. Thinks practice showed players are willing to get better. #Illini

http://twitter.com/B1Gfootball

[Dan]

#illini practiced Jon Brown (ankle) and Mike Buchanan (ankle) on Tuesday.

http://twitter.com/JohnSupinie

Tim Beckman on LB Jonathan Brown and DE Michael Buchanan: "Both of them practiced today. They’re not 100 percent."

http://twitter.com/ESPN_BigTen

[illynifan34]

Is there something wrong with the strength and conditioning program? I was told "injuries happen, it is a rough game" a week or so ago, but come on, there seems to be a problem.

[dansaint]

Starts at about 5 minutes into the podcast:
http://www.illinihq.com/audio/2012-1...e-10-1-12.html

[Dan]

RB Donovonn Young on team morale: "We just got to get it fixed. I don't want to talk. I don't need a pump up speech. Let's go play."

http://twitter.com/FletcherPage

[Groundhogday]

Ah, the ol' let's simplify the playbook tact. Consider me cynical. I've rarely seen this mid-season tactic work. We've hear for the past 9 months that we were running simple, easy to implement systems on offense and defense. Yet the players have been confused (at least on defense).

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Ah, the ol' let's simplify the playbook tact. Consider me cynical. I've rarely seen this mid-season tactic work. We've hear for the past 9 months that we were running simple, easy to implement systems on offense and defense. Yet the players have been confused (at least on defense).

Yeah, when I saw that I was all like =

[Dan]

Bielema says Illinois RB Josh Ferguson is "very, very gifted, and explosive." Ferguson catches your eye right away.

Bielema: "The effort has been 100 percent. We’ve made progress. If it was going the other way, I’d be worried." Says team improved each week

http://twitter.com/ESPN_BigTen

Bielema says team has gotten better every week through 5 games. Says team is young and can rebound quicker than an older group. #Badgers

http://twitter.com/B1Gfootball

[Dan]

Bret Bielema says he pulled Michael Mauti aside during Big Ten media days to tell him how much he respected what he said during summer.

http://twitter.com/ESPN_BigTen

[quhawks12]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Ah, the ol' let's simplify the playbook tact. Consider me cynical. I've rarely seen this mid-season tactic work. We've hear for the past 9 months that we were running simple, easy to implement systems on offense and defense. Yet the players have been confused (at least on defense).

We run the same 4 plays on offense. Zone Read. Inside Crossing routes while x and z run verticals. A play action pass. And a half back pass. How much more simple can we get?

We really already had an extremely bland offense and now we are going to simplify it?? Good lord we might score negative points this week.

[illynifan34]

Bielema is an a$$ clown, I'm starting to really hate the big W.

[illinois_hustle]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Ah, the ol' let's simplify the playbook tact. Consider me cynical. I've rarely seen this mid-season tactic work. We've hear for the past 9 months that we were running simple, easy to implement systems on offense and defense. Yet the players have been confused (at least on defense).

I agree GHD.

I just can't get Beckman's admittedly low ACT score out of my head. First of all, why admit that ... second, working harder is great and all, but without the schemes (intelligence) to work with, it's like [insert clever analogy about how hard work can't overcome stupid]. Also, to say you're working harder at this level is kinda ridiculous, as all top program coaching staffs work hard, so the difference will be intelligence, creativity, smarts.

I'm not saying our coaching staff isn't football smart (yet), but when I see all the motivational stuff, and then the underwhelming, uncreative product on the field, I just can't shake that ACT score.

Any predictions on when we see the north side of .500 again? 2015?

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by dansaint

Starts at about 5 minutes into the podcast:
http://www.illinihq.com/audio/2012-1...e-10-1-12.html

Wow. Listen to Klee. This isn't taken out of context, he clearly thinks Beckman was a terrible hire.

[MitchFromAtwood]

Originally Posted by illinois_hustle

I agree GHD.

I just can't get Beckman's admittedly low ACT score out of my head. First of all, why admit that ... second, working harder is great and all, but without the schemes (intelligence) to work with, it's like [insert clever analogy about how hard work can't overcome stupid]. Also, to say you're working harder at this level is kinda ridiculous, as all top program coaching staffs work hard, so the difference will be intelligence, creativity, smarts.

I'm not saying our coaching staff isn't football smart (yet), but when I see all the motivational stuff, and then the underwhelming, uncreative product on the field, I just can't shake that ACT score.

Any predictions on when we see the north side of .500 again? 2015?

In order to be able to predict that we would first have to believe that Beckman is the right man for the job.... not one of those fire Beckman guys here, but I will say I'm nowhere close to convinced.

[I Hate Lemonier]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Wow. Listen to Klee. This isn't taken out of context, he clearly thinks Beckman was a terrible hire.

He couldn't have been more clear, and I feel worse than I did 5 minutes ago about this football program, and that is saying something

[Thacher_H_Guild]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Wow. Listen to Klee. This isn't taken out of context, he clearly thinks Beckman was a terrible hire.

Even for Klee, who is not afraid to express his opinion about Illinois sports, that is blunt.

[Illini Inn Mug Club Prez]

Originally Posted by illynifan34

Bielema is an a$$ clown, I'm starting to really hate the big W.

I emphatically second that.

[ctblaisdell83]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Wow. Listen to Klee. This isn't taken out of context, he clearly thinks Beckman was a terrible hire.

Same here - wow. Just finished the podcast. Klee was negative at the 5:00 mark...and two or three other places. He was critical of several aspects of the Beckman regime - scheme, play calling, prep, buy-in from players, probs a few more I'm forgetting.

Other thing I noticed was that the other on-air folks and 99% of the crowd was either unconvinced about Beckman or openly critical. I'm not local, so I don't see / hear the prevailing opinion from CU. But this was not a good review. Might be good the team is going on the road

Sad

[mattcoldagelli]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Wow. Listen to Klee. This isn't taken out of context, he clearly thinks Beckman was a terrible hire.

Whoa. I wonder if, since he's only pinch-hitting for football, Klee is being a little less guarded than he is for basketball.

I mean, I have to hope so - if that is with the Klee filter on, good God.

[pizzaman]

I didn't like the Beckman rah! rah! attitude at his initial press conference but that's just me. Now, I wonder if all the rah! rah! was bluster with nothing behind it. Where's the 6 tempos? Where's a defensive back when tight ends run freely across the middle? Beckman's plan isn't working and all the rah! rah! in the world won't fix it. I'm reminded of the Moeller years and that's painful.

[Illini Inn Mug Club Prez]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Ah, the ol' let's simplify the playbook tact. Consider me cynical. I've rarely seen this mid-season tactic work. We've hear for the past 9 months that we were running simple, easy to implement systems on offense and defense. Yet the players have been confused (at least on defense).

As long as this means we are going to make use of our FOUR highly talented RBs (4 including Davis), and actually try to play to our strengths, and run the ball. As opposed to running a passing offense that would only possibly work with our OL if we had a highly mobile and highly acurate QB, which we dont have.

I dont think Beckman is an awful hire, but I do think that his coordinators are possibly the worst in FBS football. But what kind of coordinators did we expect to get when right when Beckmen was trying to hire his staff Mike Thomas was actively trying to screw the previous coaching staff out of money owed to them. What quality coach would want to come work for a place that promises you a certain amount of pay and then tries to not pay you that amount because you didnt get it in writing. The ineptitude of our coordinators is a problem casued by Mike Thomas.

[Oskee Mayer]

It really looks like the local media are putting on their lifejackets.

[illynifan34]

Originally Posted by Illini Inn Mug Club Prez

As long as this means we are going to make use of our FOUR highly talented RBs (4 including Davis), and actually try to play to our strengths, and run the ball. As opposed to running a passing offense that would only possibly work with our OL if we had a highly mobile and highly acurate QB, which we dont have.

We don't run the ball well at all:

Illinois
Games 5
Attempts 184
Yards 653
YPC 3.55
TDs 5
Att/G 36.80
YD/G 130.60