Training camp - Practice #15 - BTN Tour Bus Day

[Dan]

The BTN's Illinois Preview Show filmed at today's practice will air tomorrow-

BTN Illinois Preview Show - Saturday, August 18th, 9:00pm CT, BTN

BTN Tour Bus checks out @IlliniFootball 2day. For updates, follow @BTNDaveRevsine @GerryDiNardo @HowardGriffith @BTNTomDienhart @BTNStatsGuy

http://twitter.com/BTN_Illinois

The BTN bus is at Illinois practice today. Here's a quick preview of what @BTNTomDienhart want to see: http://bit.ly/TJQ9KC

http://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork

Big Ten Network will be rolling into #Illini FB practice Friday. They'll get interviews. The local media, however, will not be allowed to.

http://twitter.com/AaronB_WCIA

[Dan]

The @BigTenNetwork is on campus today for their #Illini preview show. It airs tomorrow at 9 pm CT. http://instagr.am/p/OcCcxvjJhA/



http://twitter.com/IlliniFootball

[Dan]

Coach Beckman chats with @BTNDaveRevsine @gerrydinardo & @HowardGriffith on the #BTN set. #Illini http://pic.twitter.com/SrF0AoKz



http://twitter.com/IlliniFootball

[Dan]

#Illini @scheelhaase2 signs the @BigTenNetwork tour bus. #B1G http://instagr.am/p/OcIuokjJl5/



http://twitter.com/IlliniFootball

[TheChiefRises]

Very cool. Seems like a poor choice for a paint job though.. Having to redo it every 2-4 years.

[DrewD007]

Wow, looks like a beautiful day in Chambana! Can't wait for September 1st!

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by TheChiefRises

Very cool. Seems like a poor choice for a paint job though.. Having to redo it every 2-4 years.

This is a bus vinyl semi-transparent "wrap" so it can be easily applied and removed.

[Jabber Jabber]

Originally Posted by DrewD007

Wow, looks like a beautiful day in Chambana! Can't wait for September 1st!

Agreed! It almost looks like they painted those clouds into the perfect blue sky.

"And this little wisp of cloud is a happy little mistake. That'll just be our little secret."

[Dan]

#Illinois No. 1 offensive line today is LT McDowell; LG Pocic; C Feldmeyer; RG Hill; RT Heitz. #B1G

Tight end is a deep position for #Illinois. Three are being used liberally today: Davis, Wilson and Viliunas. #B1G

No. 1 #Illinois RB today is Josh Ferguson. I will say this: fellow RB Donovonn Young is a marvelous specimen. #B1G

http://twitter.com/BTNTomDienhart

[Dan]

Young, Hull, Church, Ferguson among those working as kickoff return men for #Illinois #B1G

#Illinois true frosh K/P Ryan Frain is booming the ball. I bet he wins one of the two jobs. #B1G

http://twitter.com/BTNTomDienhart

Tough not to like the look of the #Illini defense - among the most physically impressive we've seen.

http://twitter.com/BTNDaveRevsine

[Dan]

#Illinois CB Terry Hawthorne told me before practice that he hasn't been working as a WR in camp. #B1G

Illinois co-OC Chris Beatty will work in the booth and call plays. Co-OC Billy Gonzales will be on the field. #B1G

http://twitter.com/BTNTomDienhart

[Dan]

#Illini DLine is really athletic - along the lines of what we saw at Purdue. This group will be tough to deal with.

http://twitter.com/BTNDaveRevsine

[ILLINITIM33]

#Illinois No. 1 offensive line today is LT McDowell; LG Pocic; C Feldmeyer; RG Hill; RT Heitz.??????

Did Thornton get hurt?

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by ILLINITIM33

#Illinois No. 1 offensive line today is LT McDowell; LG Pocic; C Feldmeyer; RG Hill; RT Heitz.??????

Did Thornton get hurt?

I'm guessing that Thornton was sitting out a practice for injury or discipline. Until we hear otherwise, I'm going to assume he will be ready to go for the first game. Otherwise it looks like the OL hasn't changed since Rantoul.

[KJKobs]

D-line Glenn Foster has found his Mojo. He set to have a big year. #IlliniNation #illini #BTN

Wr. Kenny Knight is putting in work today! #IlliniNation #illini #BTN

https://twitter.com/HowardGriffith

[Kramer116]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

I'm guessing that Thornton was sitting out a practice for injury or discipline. Until we hear otherwise, I'm going to assume he will be ready to go for the first game. Otherwise it looks like the OL hasn't changed since Rantoul.

He tweaked something or is slightly nicked up.

He is in pads but not practicing today.

[mdonsbach]

Ladies and Gentlemen I think we have our place kicker:

https://twitter.com/IlliniFootball/s...00037386366976

#Illini practiced kicking field goals as rest of team tried distracting the FG unit. @immekick_37 nailed all 3.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by mdonsbach

Ladies and Gentlemen I think we have our place kicker:

https://twitter.com/IlliniFootball/s...00037386366976

Nick the Kick has been extending his hold on this position for a while. The interesting battle at this point is for punting where Frain is giving DuVernois a battle. I get the sense that at some point this season Frain will be on the field.

[Dan]

#Illinois DTs Spence and Foster (on left) look good. Future pros. #Illinois star DE Buchanan not taking part in drills. http://pic.twitter.com/vAVZbD1E



http://twitter.com/BTNTomDienhart

FWIW - Scheelhaase consistently the 1st QB in drills - but it's clear nothing has been decided. Nate says he and o'Toole splitting 1 reps

WR is not a position of strength. Plenty of capable guys - but there's no one out here who looks like he can have A.J. Jenkins type season

#Illini look great at TE, though. We've seen what Evan Wilson can do, and Jon Davis looks like a playmaker

#Illini True frosh RB Dami Ayola looks good. Would not be surprised if he plays. Very comfortable catching ball - good for spread RB

Pocic at LG, Feldmeyer at C on 1st OL during team drills. Rest of 1 OL - McDowell LT, hill at RG and Heitz at RT.

Standard disclaimer if you haven't heard it before - it's just 1 practice

Hugh Thornton not going today - has gear on - Staff says it's just a minor tweak. Obviously he fits into that OL picture #Illini

Nate Scheelhaase has really looked good today. Very comfortable in #Illini offense - suits him perfectly

http://twitter.com/BTNDaveRevsine

DuVernois and Lankford working out at punter. #Illinois #B1G

2nd team #Illinois o-line today is: LT Cvijanovic, LG Sands: C Durkin; RG Karras; RT Nowicki. #B1G

2nd team #Illinois WRs: Hardee; Osei; Knight; TE LaCosse. #B1G

http://twitter.com/BTNTomDienhart

[Groundhogday]

Interesting OL news... it looks like they have flip-flopped Nowicki and Cvijanovic, at least for this one practice. IF so....

LT: Thornton, McDowell, Cvijanovic
LG: Pocic, Sands
C: Feldmeyer, Durkin
RG: Hill, Karras
RT: Heitz, Nowicki

If Cvijanovic was going to be the backup tackle on both sides of the ball (I think ALE suggested this possibility), one would think he would replace Thornton with the first team in this situation. Based upon very limited information, it might be that Nowicki and McDowell have both passed up Cvijanovic (a bit of a surprise given that he started out camp on the 1st string).

[Dan]

BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI This doesn't appear 2 b a drastic coaching change in either style or X/O's Brady @ UM, JK @ Minn KW @ IU was this isn't

BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI Offense looks similar to Illinois's off in 2009 but maybe more like Northwestern last year w Persa May b a pass first O

http://twitter.com/gerrydinardo

#Illinois co-OC Chris Beatty told me he spent some time at North Carolina in the offseason studying Larry Fedora’s offense for ideas. #B1G

Good-looking #Illinois True frosh: WR Justin Hardee; K Ryan Frain; RB Dami Ayoola; DB V'Angelo Bentley. Am told all will play. #B1G

If there is more versatile player in #B1G than Miles Osei of #Illinois, let me know. He will pass, run, catch, return kicks, hold for FGs.

http://twitter.com/BTNTomDienhart

[Dan]

BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI Coach Beckman tells us about their “Tempo" offense - they 6 different "Tempos” Might b PSU/MSU b 4 we see traditional O

http://twitter.com/gerrydinardo

[Dan]

BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI RB very much involved in the passing game - Dami Ayoola very impressive frosh RB

http://twitter.com/gerrydinardo

[Dan]

BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI Jon Davis looks like he may have special opportunities in this offense - He may line up as TE/SE/RB

BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI Perfect non-conf schedule - 1 BCS opponent and 3 non-bcs opponents. Home B1G schedule are match ups PSU/IU/Minn/PU NICE

http://twitter.com/gerrydinardo

BTN Bus Tour Stops By & De-Striper Update



Newcomers who have been "de-striped"
DB Taylor Barton - 8/16 morning
RB LaKeith Walls - 8/16 morning
DT Teko Powell - 8/16 evening
OL Robbie Bain - 8/17

http://www.fightingillini.com/blog/2...er-update.html

[Dan]

BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI LB group impressive Brown/Bates/Cooper - T.J Neal frosh LB who was impressive and looks like he'll play

http://twitter.com/gerrydinardo