Pregame: Illinois at Wisconsin, Saturday, October 6th, 2:30pm CT, ABC or ESPN2

[Dan]

Dang

Confirmed Illinois DE Michael Buchanan, shaken up a bit vs PSU, will play Saturday at Wisconsin. LB Jonathan Brown (leg) game-time decision.

http://twitter.com/ESPN_BigTen

[AHSIllini32]

Goodness gracious...we are going to be playing with a team full of true-freshman by the time this over...

I was walking back to my car with my wife and buddy about an hour and a half after the game ended through the tailgates and JB had just walked up to one with a bunch of people wearing stuff with "Brown" on the back and he was noticably limping but was still laughing and taking time to play with the kids around the tailgate. Class act but you could tell he wasn't right.

[OlivetNaz]

Originally Posted by Dan

Dang (injury tweet)

[AHSIllini32]

I mean honestly, there couldn't be a much worse scenario right now. There were about 5 guys coming into the year that we HAD to keep healthy, in no particular order:
1) Nate
2) Pocic
3) Hawthorne
4) Buke
5) JB

Welp, all of those guys have missed AT LEAST a part of one game or multiple games. Take that back actually, TH hasn't missed any part of a game yet but he's been hobbled all year. You could even put Sanni and/or Thornton in there too and both of them have missed significant time as well. It's just unfortunate that this had to happen in Beck's first year, there's enough obstacles to overcome without injuries.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

I mean honestly, there couldn't be a much worse scenario right now. There were about 5 guys coming into the year that we HAD to keep healthy, in no particular order:
1) Nate
2) Pocic
3) Hawthorne
4) Buke
5) JB

Welp, all of those guys have missed AT LEAST a part of one game or multiple games. Take that back actually, TH hasn't missed any part of a game yet but he's been hobbled all year. You could even put Sanni and/or Thornton in there too and both of them have missed significant time as well. It's just unfortunate that this had to happen in Beck's first year, there's enough obstacles to overcome without injuries.

I would suggest that we also HAD to keep Foster and Spence healthy (really no capable backups). Knock on wood, neither of those guys has been dinged up or things could get really ugly (e.g. Zook's first year ugly).

[Jeffers_10]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

What in the world makes you think that a pro-style offense doesn't need an offensive line?

And do you seriously think a college team can install a completely new offense mid-season and be successful?

The reason I said that, is because, normally, in a spread offense, you don't have traditional tight ends on the line to help block. We've seen a bunch of different looks in this offense.

And no, I don't expect them to be able to do anything, which is why this season is already lost. Unfortunately.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by Jeffers_10

The reason I said that, is because, normally, in a spread offense, you don't have traditional tight ends on the line to help block.

You also have fewer guys in the box to block in a spread offense with everyone flexed out. And we have made extensive use of the TE or H-back to block for the run out of the spread.

[bleed orange]

Originally Posted by OlivetNaz

The starting QB in 2013 is most likely Scheelhaase. He will be a RS senior next year. It is possible that a current or incoming QB will demolish competition in spring and fall camp next year, but I have seen nothing out of O'Toole or Osei that indicates they will do such a thing.

I'm not driving two hours up to Bolingbrook to watch some random high schooler. So, unless Bolingbrook winds up playing the HS I went to (they used to be in the same conference when I was in HS) at my HS, I'm not going to go through the effort and expense of travelling north for a HS football game.

well you must not have seen any practices in rantoul or the Osei drive vs ASU in his first offcial drive as a college QB. That is what the offesne can look like eventually. Also if you have not seen bailey throw you may not want to until he gets here. When otoole is a senior in 2014 and if osei still has eligibility if he redshirts next year baily will not demolish either one of them. You will see when you see him throw a football.

[bleed orange]

"random high schooler" That is the kid illini is putting their future in.... So to call him random is wierd to me. You said he would be the starter in 2014 and you have not sen him play one snap. I just pray we recruit some guys to make this offense go. Some how Louisana Tech did. Asu surely did. They have two. The next two classes of QB need to be gems....

[illynifan34]

Originally Posted by bleed orange

well you must not have seen any practices in rantoul or the Osei drive vs ASU in his first offcial drive as a college QB. That is what the offesne can look like eventually. Also if you have not seen bailey throw you may not want to until he gets here. When otoole is a senior in 2014 and if osei still has eligibility if he redshirts next year baily will not demolish either one of them. You will see when you see him throw a football.

Osei vs ASU, 2 ints, 4/10 for 47 yds?

[Illinigirl]

To add to AHS last comments, I don't know how we could possibly expect a team this injured to play well, especially when it's a new system. I just went back and looked up ALionEye's top 10 coming into the season. They are:

1. Hawthorne
2. Scheelhaase
3. Brown
4. Spence
5. Buchanon
6. Ferguson
7. Thornton
8. Millines
9. Pocic
10. Davis

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe all but Davis & Spence have missed time for injury (except maybe Hawthorne who hasn't missed the time but is obviously playing with an injury). Very difficult to play consistently well when 8 of your top 10 are injured.

[OlivetNaz]

Originally Posted by bleed orange

"random high schooler" That is the kid illini is putting their future in.... So to call him random is wierd to me. You said he would be the starter in 2014 and you have not sen him play one snap. I just pray we recruit some guys to make this offense go. Some how Louisana Tech did. Asu surely did. They have two. The next two classes of QB need to be gems....

First: I never said he would be the starter. I was going off of the implication from Jeffers' post that he would be the starter when he referenced changing the offense "until Bailey gets here." JEFFERS claimed that Bailey would start, not myself - and even that was only implied. I don't know whether or not he will be the starter, and would appreciate it if you do not put words in my mouth.

No, I haven't seen him play one snap. I'm not about to spend money to go watch a high school game 2 to 3 hours away just to watch one kid who may or may not ever put on an Illini jersey (verbal commits are worthless - sign the paper, then I'll believe you are coming here). For those who live near Bolingbrook that want to do that, fine. I've no problem with it. I do NOT live near Bolingbrook; therefore, criticizing me for not going to see him play is borderline insane.

[OlivetNaz]

Originally Posted by bleed orange

well you must not have seen any practices in rantoul or the Osei drive vs ASU in his first offcial drive as a college QB. That is what the offesne can look like eventually. Also if you have not seen bailey throw you may not want to until he gets here. When otoole is a senior in 2014 and if osei still has eligibility if he redshirts next year baily will not demolish either one of them. You will see when you see him throw a football.

I saw plenty of practices in Rantoul. I call this the "remotes" concept. "Good against remotes is one thing. Good against the living...that's another." (Han Solo, Star Wars).

Good in practice is one thing. Good in game is another. So far, Osei has shown in his limited opportunities that he can't get it done in the game.

Even with our OL troubles, the way he threw those 2 interceptions in 10 passes is just not good. The particular circumstances of those INT's is concerning, as it showed some poor decision-making on his part. One of those should never have been thrown because he'd locked onto his receiver the whole play, and the other he should have tucked and taken the sack.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by Illinigirl

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe all but Davis & Spence have missed time for injury (except maybe Hawthorne who hasn't missed the time but is obviously playing with an injury). Very difficult to play consistently well when 8 of your top 10 are injured.

Davis has been injured. I think he has played in most games but has been very limited since the first game.

Spence is the only top 10 player not to have missed time or been hampered by injuries.

[Dan]

The @illinifootball equipment truck has arrived in Madison. #Illini http://pic.twitter.com/XFqtp0k3


Camp Randall Stadium. Showdown at 2:30pm tomorrow. #Illini http://pic.twitter.com/Pssgrp37


http://twitter.com/AaronB_WCIA

[Illinigirl]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Davis has been injured. I think he has played in most games but has been very limited since the first game.

Spence is the only top 10 player not to have missed time or been hampered by injuries.

Thanks! - So 9 out of top 10 hurt - unreal!

[Dan]

Camp Randle here come the #illini !! http://pic.twitter.com/WYBHrlrK


http://twitter.com/coachcreamer21

The #Illini have arrived at Camp Randall Stadium for walkthrough. @ESPNCFB #FridayFocus #ILLvsWIS http://pic.twitter.com/ecl5xHfq


http://twitter.com/IlliniFootball

[CARPET]

kinda looks like our stadium empty only they have red seat covers

[HsvIllini]

Originally Posted by Illinigirl

Thanks! - So 9 out of top 10 hurt - unreal!

I still don't understand - why so many injuries this year so early??

[Groundhogday]

Watching the UW-UNL game on ESPN3, and I'm thinking that if we weren't so bad this game would be one of our best opportunities to take UW on the road. They aren't that good. Unfortunately, Wisky has a solid defense and that will probably be enough to keep us from scoring.

[Illinir1]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Watching the UW-UNL game on ESPN3, and I'm thinking that if we weren't so bad this game would be one of our best opportunities to take UW on the road. They aren't that good. Unfortunately, Wisky has a solid defense and that will probably be enough to keep us from scoring.

Agree. If you got to www.bigten.org and look at all of the B1G team stats, you'll be surprised at how even these two teams are in all phases. I'll be in Camp Randall tomorrow wearing the Orange proudly. Hoping for a competitive showing by our guys.

[Bergs]

The injuries *have* to be on the S&C program, right? I mean, it's their job to ensure flexibility in the right places and stability everywhere else. When joints are flexible that should be stable and vice versa, very bad things happen. I'm not going to blame them for our offensive line, but we'll see in a few years when they get older - if we're still not blowing people across the line of scrimmage, then that's the S&C folks too.

[HsvIllini]

Originally Posted by Bergs

The injuries *have* to be on the S&C program, right? I mean, it's their job to ensure flexibility in the right places and stability everywhere else. When joints are flexible that should be stable and vice versa, very bad things happen. I'm not going to blame them for our offensive line, but we'll see in a few years when they get older - if we're still not blowing people across the line of scrimmage, then that's the S&C folks too.

I would think that has to be at least part of it.

[ILLWKU]

Wisc- 13
Illini- 2

[quhawks12]

Originally Posted by Bergs

I'm not going to blame them for our offensive line, but we'll see in a few years when they get older - if we're still not blowing people across the line of scrimmage, then that's the S&C folks too.

Why? How would you know if its just the football staff recruiting bad OL?? Maybe this staff struggles with evaluating OL talent while excelling at finding playmakers?