10/23 News & Notes

[dsg]

Remember "Lanes to Lucas"?

I am not a Beckman fan. I haven't been one from the start. I went to the meet-n-greet when they were here and all I got was the feeling he was trying to sell me something. Too many gimmicks and cute catch phrases for me, but that is just me. I have no choice but to give him a chance and ride this out through thick and thin whether I like it or not.

The similarity in these two articles tells me that Beckman is too busy focusing on the "big picture" and not enough on the important details that it takes to get there. Granted the injuries and lack of depth has played a big role, but there are also many things we have seen on the field that imply this also, let alone what has been reported and/or speculated about the players "not buying in". From the players comments, perhaps this is the most important change we need right now.

Hopefully Beckman has talked to the new head coach at Toledo to find out how they have been so successful, and if he has, it may appear he is listening.

Beckman, Illini football team looking to new approach

“Win the day,” said Beckman, who has asked players and coaches to take a measured approach to the remaining weeks. “We’re taking it one day at a time.”

In retrospect, at least some of the players wish “win the day” had been the mantra all along, rather than the well-intentioned wrist bands worn since training camp that are stamped with the date “12-1-12.” That’s a reference to the Big Ten Conference championship game that Illinois once dreamed of playing in.

UT focused on next game, not championships

When former Toledo head football coach and current Illinois head coach Tim Beckman was leading the Rockets the past two seasons, he would talk about how, with each Mid-American Conference victory, his team was one step closer to its goal of appearing in the MAC Championship at Ford Field.

Dubbed “Operation Ford Field” by Beckman and his staff during the 2010 season, UT players even wore wristbands bearing that slogan as a constant reminder of what they were striving for on a week-to-week basis.

“I feel like the team is more upbeat this year,” junior center Zac Kerin said on the difference between playing under Campbell and Beckman prior to facing Coastal Carolina. “A lot of the pressure last year was, you know, ‘We’ve got to get to that MAC Championship.’

“This year, it’s a lot of emphasis just on the next game, taking the next step, and I think that keeps the players focused on the task at hand and not worried about [what happens] in the long run.”

[Dan]

Eleven Adjustments #7: Live A Little - http://tinyurl.com/98g5hq4 - #Illini #FB

http://twitter.com/ALionEye

[Dan]

Asked how much he's involved with the offense, #illini Beckman said "a lot." Watches film with off coaches, tells them defensive tendencies

Asked Beckman if he switches anything up with his routine/superstitions, he said, "Yeah I do. I'm very superstitious," but kept them secret.

Tim Beckman: "I think (Indiana coach Kevin Wilson) is in the process we are." Playing JUCO players and "youngsters."

http://twitter.com/WernerESPNCU

Indiana fun fact: Since the beginning of the 1995 season, Indiana has won six Big Ten road games. Six. In 17+ seasons. Six.

A stat, by the way, that will do doubt cut very deep if we lose on Saturday.

http://twitter.com/ALionEye

[Dan]

Illinois' Tim Beckman: Bye week came at a good time to get healthy, re-evaluate what they've been doing after first half of season.

Beckman: Indiana offense a challenge. Very fast-paced, get plays off between 10-20 seconds. Tried to simulate it for defensive players.

http://twitter.com/ESPN_BigTen

Beckman on bye week - got players healthy, evaluated what we've been doing, focused on correcting, ready for Homecoming weekend.

Beckman on LB Brown - played through grit last 2 weeks, game will project further as he continues to learn, good player for us.

http://twitter.com/B1Gfootball

[Dan]

Beckman says Illinois must be better on first down to stay out of so many third-and-long situations.

Beckman: "The players realized...the teams we've lost to are playing some pretty good football." Illini know they haven't been good, though.

http://twitter.com/ESPN_BigTen

Beckman on QB Scheelhaase - he's been great, cleared to practice, been full speed in every practice

http://twitter.com/B1Gfootball

[Oskee Mayer]

I have to admit that an accusation of someone being "too focused on the big picture" is a new one on me. Does this make him a macromanager?

Also, I think that the chance of him asking the new Toledo coach for some pointers are nil.

[Shenanigans]

It would be nice to see Beckman comment on his teams inability to tackle and block the correct way. If Beckman is going to be successfull, he's going to have to get back to the basics and scrap this joke of an offense for a traditional offense. I would love to see Donovan Young run out of the power I or pro about 15-20 times a game.

[quhawks12]

Originally Posted by Shenanigans

I would love to see Donovan Young run out of the power I or pro about 15-20 times a game.

Good luck with our OL. You'd see 15 carries for about 20 yards.

[Dan]

[Dan]

Beckman took page from Jim Tressel, told his team story of "burn the boat," about how there's no turning back rest of way. "Win or perish."

Beckman had a lot of praise for Penn State LB Michael Mauti. Called him the most intense player he has seen in Big Ten.

IU's Wilson: "We're right there. We're doing things winning teams do. We're not playing like losers." Not making critical plays to win.

Wilson recruited Nathan Scheelhaase to Oklahoma. Wilson recruited Kansas City area and Rockhurst HS ("the school you went to").

Wilson says Illinois has "five losses to five good teams." Has the athletes, especially on defense. Really impressed with M Buchanan.

http://twitter.com/ESPN_BigTen

[derekholcomb]

Originally Posted by Dan

"The 9/11 year."

No, he couldn't not know it......

[Shenanigans]

Originally Posted by quhawks12

Good luck with our OL. You'd see 15 carries for about 20 yards.

Lineman are more comfortable blocking moving forward rather than moving backward. Give them some tight ends and a fullback to block with and some nicely designed trap plays and pulls, I believe we would be better than what we are right now. There is a reason a lot of good teams are moving away from the spread. It puts your defense on the field the entire game, and good defenses have figured it out.

[quhawks12]

Originally Posted by Shenanigans

Lineman are more comfortable blocking moving forward rather than moving backward. Give them some tight ends and a fullback to block with and some nicely designed trap plays and pulls, I believe we would be better than what we are right now. There is a reason a lot of good teams are moving away from the spread. It puts your defense on the field the entire game, and good defenses have figured it out.

You didn't watch last year did you? Other than Alabama and LSU...name them.

[illynifan34]

Originally Posted by quhawks12

You didn't watch last year did you? We tried to block that way then and it didn't work, why would it work this year

Corrected for what I thought you were going to say.

[quhawks12]

Originally Posted by illynifan34

Corrected for what I thought you were going to say.

Thanks I got distracted by the "teams moving away from the spread offense" comment :laugh: