10/11 News & Notes

Dan · Oct 11, 2012, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Having A Plan

Which is why I was excited to hear Tim Beckman talk about his plan. The things he wanted to do to build a football program at the University of Illinois. The way his players would behave, the way his staff would recruit, the way his systems would be implemented. I was cautiously excited that we had finally hired a coach with a Plan.

http://alioneye.com/2012/10/11/having-a-plan/

Quote:

Tommy Davis transfers positive vibes to football team

"The biggest thing is you've got to keep playing; there's never a season that's over," Davis said.

Marcus Jackson

quhawks12 · Oct 11, 2012, 09:34 AM

Really enjoyed the Tommy Davis article. Good for him and it's good to have him on the team to try to get this turned around.

AHSIllini32 · Oct 11, 2012, 09:43 AM

Loved that ALE article as well...it's too bad that will fall on deaf ears for most.

quhawks12 · Oct 11, 2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Loved that ALE article as well...it's too bad that will fall on deaf ears for most.

Agreed. The fact that Beckman is still talking about the long term plan or blueprint is good. Hopefully that means the staff is all on the same page as well.

Interesting note I have been wanting to mention...I was talking to my buddy who is an assistant in the NFL (which rarely if ever happens in season) and I asked him about o-lines. And without mentioning Illinois I gave him the example of our OL being REALLY young not having a lot of the young guys stepping up or ready to play and moving guys around to just fill spots. And I brought up the fact that it's been rumored that the OL coach may be unhappy (total rumor have no clue if true or not).

His response was they need to make the OL coach happy (providing he is doing a good job). Because with how young the OL is to keep the same coach around to keep the cohesiveness of the entire group (position coach included) could mean a lot to how some of the guys develop.

Also, on the moving of guys around on the OL he was completely against. Then he asked an interesting question: "Who is moving around? Older guys or younger guys?" And the more I thought of it it's mostly Pocic and Heitz moving (actual positions not sides). He explained that the younger guys who aren't playing yet are probably sticking to 1 position in practice meaning tackle or guard (either side) to keep learning and develop at that position. The older guys they can move around because, no offense to them, they aren't in this for the long term of the program due to their eligibility.

Just thought I'd share that I found it pretty interesting when it comes to the OL which is where we see a lot of our issues.

illynifan34 · Oct 11, 2012, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quhawks12

Agreed. The fact that Beckman is still talking about the long term plan or blueprint is good. Hopefully that means the staff is all on the same page as well.

Interesting note I have been wanting to mention...I was talking to my buddy who is an assistant in the NFL (which rarely if ever happens in season) and I asked him about o-lines. And without mentioning Illinois I gave him the example of our OL being REALLY young not having a lot of the young guys stepping up or ready to play and moving guys around to just fill spots. And I brought up the fact that it's been rumored that the OL coach may be unhappy (total rumor have no clue if true or not).

His response was they need to make the OL coach happy (providing he is doing a good job). Because with how young the OL is to keep the same coach around to keep the cohesiveness of the entire group (position coach included) could mean a lot to how some of the guys develop.

Also, on the moving of guys around on the OL he was completely against. Then he asked an interesting question: "Who is moving around? Older guys or younger guys?" And the more I thought of it it's mostly Pocic and Heitz moving (actual positions not sides). He explained that the younger guys who aren't playing yet are probably sticking to 1 position in practice meaning tackle or guard (either side) to keep learning and develop at that position. The older guys they can move around because, no offense to them, they aren't in this for the long term of the program due to their eligibility.

Just thought I'd share that I found it pretty interesting when it comes to the OL which is where we see a lot of our issues.

As long as keeping Butkus happy isn't at the expense of the plan. I mean I am really worried about him coaching a spread OL.

Groundhogday · Oct 11, 2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quhawks12

Also, on the moving of guys around on the OL he was completely against. Then he asked an interesting question: "Who is moving around? Older guys or younger guys?" And the more I thought of it it's mostly Pocic and Heitz moving (actual positions not sides).

Very interesting. I've been very worried about all the position changes on the OL, but perhaps this does fit into the short vs. long-term OL development. The one exception to the rule is Heitz who is still pretty young and inexperienced to be moving from RT to LG. I'm also just not sold on him at guard in the future - just not very quick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by illynifan34

As long as keeping Butkus happy isn't at the expense of the plan. I mean I am really worried about him coaching a spread OL.

How much of this is Butkus not liking the spread and how much is it the frustration that comes with losing and poor OL play?

Groundhogday · Oct 11, 2012, 11:35 AM

Following up on the ALE article, I agree competely that a plan is essential. We have an inconceivable gap at CB because Zook failed to recruit CB two years in a row. We have a real problem at tackle because Zook just recruited the biggest OL he could find regardless of position. We too often pulled redshirts for freshmen OL out of desperation because we didn't have a plan. Unfortunately, we might be looking at several years before the effects of this plan can be seen on the field. Sigh.

quhawks12 · Oct 11, 2012, 11:50 AM

GHD - I agree I had not thought about this at all. I was glad he brought it up. Now, we can't see practice so we have no clue if these guys are all switching around at practice...hopefully not.

illynifan - I agree as well. Don't keep Butkus if it's at expense of the plan. BUT, I don't believe it would be. These rumors could very well be just frustration as well. Win a couple games and they could all disappear?

IlliniBob89 · Oct 11, 2012, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Following up on the ALE article, I agree competely that a plan is essential. We have an inconceivable gap at CB because Zook failed to recruit CB two years in a row. We have a real problem at tackle because Zook just recruited the biggest OL he could find regardless of position. We too often pulled redshirts for freshmen OL out of desperation because we didn't have a plan. Unfortunately, we might be looking at several years before the effects of this plan can be seen on the field. Sigh.

This has been of fear of mine for the next two years. It will be interesting to see if any patches (switching positions, JuCos, transfers, lightning strikes) are available. Patience (one of the key words in the Illini Football dictionary) will be needed to get over this next couple of years.

Pick any college FB coach and give them this OT & CB problem and see how they would do. (Shakes fist in air and screams "Guenther"). It's going to be a bumpy ride.

RonZookPhD · Oct 11, 2012, 02:43 PM

We finally made the waiting list for the ESPN Bottom Ten: http://espn.go.com/college-football/...gers-bottom-10

Illini Inn Mug Club Prez · Oct 12, 2012, 09:29 AM

I was tremendously encouraged by ALE's write-up on Beckman's plan for our program. I wrestled in HS for what at that time was the state of Illinois' foremost wrestling powerhouse. We were ranked #1 in AA (back when there was only AA and A) each of the 4 years I was there, and my senoir season we were ranked #1 nationally by USA today. But that wasnt always the case for that school, and someone had to build that program to where it was when I arived. The man that built that program up to what it was when I arrived there had never wrestled a day in his life, and the school had no wrestling program prior to him taking the job. So he had his work cut out for himself. But he had a plan on how despite these obstacles he was going to achieve success. He knew that he had to get all of the parents involved. He knew he had to recruit the best recently graduated college wrestlers to be his assistants. He knew he would also have to do some recruiting (private school) of athletes (at that time pretty uncommon for HS). He knew he would have to stay organized, implement ways to keep the kids motivated, get the faculty behind him, and many other aspects that were part of a bigger plan to build up a HS wrestling program, that previously didnt exist prior to him taking the job, into the most prominent HS wrestling program in Illinois. He had a plan and before he left that school he had become the first IHSA wrestling coach to win the State title in class A and then move up and win it in class AA also. So I have always been a huge believer in the notion that you can accomplish almost anything if you stay organized, work hard, and have a plan of attack. I find it very encouraging to hear that not only does TB have a plan for how he will build the program up to a level of consistent success, but also that this plan wasnt just put together this past January. Rather he has been forming this plan almost since the time he first started coaching college. I do question the coordinators we have. I think that for various reasons he was fairly limited in who he could get to come to Champaign, and getting the intricate details correct on the field is just as important seeing the big picture (the plan). Which is where your coordinators come into play. But ALE's write-up gave me an insight into TB that makes me more comfortable with the direction of the ILLINI football program for the long haul.

MitchFromAtwood · Oct 12, 2012, 10:05 AM

Hopefully the ALE article will put some things in perspective for those of us (myself included at times) who have the patience of a 5 year old when it comes to turning this program around. Dreading the near future, but excited to see where we might be in a few years.

Go Illini

Dan · Oct 12, 2012, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Illinois' Earnest Thomas (OLSM) honors late father on jersey and on field

When the texted photo appeared on her phone this year, Sonya Thomas had to catch herself.

Her son Earnest's Illinois jersey was there, but it looked a little different. The number was 9 instead of 24, and the name was changed.

"It was hanging in his locker, and it said Earnest Thomas III," Sonya said. "That just touched my heart so much."

http://www.freep.com/article/2012101...d-on-the-field

Oct 11, 2012, 11:35 AM	#7
Groundhogday Posts: 18,081	Following up on the ALE article, I agree competely that a plan is essential. We have an inconceivable gap at CB because Zook failed to recruit CB two years in a row. We have a real problem at tackle because Zook just recruited the biggest OL he could find regardless of position. We too often pulled redshirts for freshmen OL out of desperation because we didn't have a plan. Unfortunately, we might be looking at several years before the effects of this plan can be seen on the field. Sigh. __________________ ONLY ORANGE!

Oct 11, 2012, 09:34 AM	#2
quhawks12 Location: Hamilton County, IN Posts: 3,357	Really enjoyed the Tommy Davis article. Good for him and it's good to have him on the team to try to get this turned around.

Oct 11, 2012, 09:43 AM	#3
AHSIllini32 Posts: 6,986	Loved that ALE article as well...it's too bad that will fall on deaf ears for most.

Oct 11, 2012, 11:50 AM	#8
quhawks12 Location: Hamilton County, IN Posts: 3,357	GHD - I agree I had not thought about this at all. I was glad he brought it up. Now, we can't see practice so we have no clue if these guys are all switching around at practice...hopefully not. illynifan - I agree as well. Don't keep Butkus if it's at expense of the plan. BUT, I don't believe it would be. These rumors could very well be just frustration as well. Win a couple games and they could all disappear?

Oct 11, 2012, 02:43 PM	#10
RonZookPhD Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 19	We finally made the waiting list for the ESPN Bottom Ten: http://espn.go.com/college-football/...gers-bottom-10

Oct 12, 2012, 09:29 AM	#11
Illini Inn Mug Club Prez Location: Chicago Posts: 113	I was tremendously encouraged by ALE's write-up on Beckman's plan for our program. I wrestled in HS for what at that time was the state of Illinois' foremost wrestling powerhouse. We were ranked #1 in AA (back when there was only AA and A) each of the 4 years I was there, and my senoir season we were ranked #1 nationally by USA today. But that wasnt always the case for that school, and someone had to build that program to where it was when I arived. The man that built that program up to what it was when I arrived there had never wrestled a day in his life, and the school had no wrestling program prior to him taking the job. So he had his work cut out for himself. But he had a plan on how despite these obstacles he was going to achieve success. He knew that he had to get all of the parents involved. He knew he had to recruit the best recently graduated college wrestlers to be his assistants. He knew he would also have to do some recruiting (private school) of athletes (at that time pretty uncommon for HS). He knew he would have to stay organized, implement ways to keep the kids motivated, get the faculty behind him, and many other aspects that were part of a bigger plan to build up a HS wrestling program, that previously didnt exist prior to him taking the job, into the most prominent HS wrestling program in Illinois. He had a plan and before he left that school he had become the first IHSA wrestling coach to win the State title in class A and then move up and win it in class AA also. So I have always been a huge believer in the notion that you can accomplish almost anything if you stay organized, work hard, and have a plan of attack. I find it very encouraging to hear that not only does TB have a plan for how he will build the program up to a level of consistent success, but also that this plan wasnt just put together this past January. Rather he has been forming this plan almost since the time he first started coaching college. I do question the coordinators we have. I think that for various reasons he was fairly limited in who he could get to come to Champaign, and getting the intricate details correct on the field is just as important seeing the big picture (the plan). Which is where your coordinators come into play. But ALE's write-up gave me an insight into TB that makes me more comfortable with the direction of the ILLINI football program for the long haul.

Oct 12, 2012, 10:05 AM	#12
MitchFromAtwood Location: Newman, IL Posts: 136	Hopefully the ALE article will put some things in perspective for those of us (myself included at times) who have the patience of a 5 year old when it comes to turning this program around. Dreading the near future, but excited to see where we might be in a few years. Go Illini