Pregame: Illinois vs USF, Saturday, September 15th, 2:30pm CT, BTN
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I get that but not sure it is doing much for the culture of losing that is on the minds of the alumni/season ticket holders. Jmho
I do not understand much of the negativity surrounding the season so far. The Kent State game was bad, but the 28-7 second half victory showed that everything we wanted and could have reasonably expected for this season is still out there for the taking. The first quarter against WIU was also really bad, but they won 34-14 when Vegas only expected a 7 point victory and fans on here weren't predicting much better. They are 2-0, they have gained a ton of experience for players that *hopefully* will be relegated to depth roles soon, the playbook on both sides of the ball has been incredibly vanilla so far, and they are still missing 5-7 key players that will be back soon. This last point includes five of their top eight players - Williams, Smalling, Dorsey, Milan, Hobbs.* Even getting Pate and Oladipo back will be helpful. I just named seven of the top twenty players on this team, and they should all be back within the next 2 games!
This USF game will teach us a lot about this year's team. If they even keep it respectable without the suspended/injured players back, then there is no reason they cannot be competitive in every game we expected them to be competitive in. If the suspended players are back, I expect Illinois to lose or win a close ball game. I am still predicting five wins for this year and think that the attitude surrounding the team (aka from all of us) will substantially shift by the end of the season.
*I would round out the rest of the top eight with Epstein, Hansen, Phillips.
This USF game will teach us a lot about this year's team. If they even keep it respectable without the suspended/injured players back, then there is no reason they cannot be competitive in every game we expected them to be competitive in. If the suspended players are back, I expect Illinois to lose or win a close ball game. I am still predicting five wins for this year and think that the attitude surrounding the team (aka from all of us) will substantially shift by the end of the season.
*I would round out the rest of the top eight with Epstein, Hansen, Phillips.
Our lines have looked bad against MAC and FCS opposition, we've already lost one of our best players for the season, our secondary has looked as inexperienced as it is, and we might very well have a QB controversy on our hands, albeit among a couple of guys who have looked decent.
This team, playing like this, would be at least a touchdown underdog in every game remaining this year. Possibly excepting Purdue.
Now, we have major personnel reinforcements coming, and that along with improved play and development should have us playing better soon. Much better? Better enough? I hope so. It's possible. But I don't fault the pessimism of others based on what we've seen.
If the suspensions hold I would lay -9.5 and take USF. UI v WIU -7 was a gift and as bad a line as you will see - no I didn't bet it but it made no sense. Hope I'm wrong and this program is on the upswing.
And if you sell out on your own principles and building the culture you want by bringing those guys back, and still lose, then what?
I also predicted five wins this season, and with USF as one of them. I think we'll get a few players back this week and immediately see the difference.
ILL 35 - 31 USF
Honestly screw this suspension stuff. If they aren't in trouble with the law or academically, let em freakin play. We are in no position to keep talented players off the field, no matter what "message" we are trying to send.
The suspensions aren't arbitrary and the length is pre-determined based on the violations. Yes, I want them on the field too, we all do. But think about what type of message that sends to the rest of the team if you say certain rules/punishments dont apply to certain players. That's only going to cause more harm than good imo.
No player is above the team, no matter how talented they are. Lovie and Whitman both know this. Hopefully we get all them back for PSU, but I don't think us fans are in much of a position to challenge Lovie/Whitman on this, especially without knowing what they did.
I get where you're coming from though. Bennett, Dorsey, and Hobbs are 3 difference makers we all want to see play
Was gonna say the same need all hands on deck or I dunnno
I sure hope all suspensions are lifted or not good
I think if longer then 2 games might be something that needs to be made public!!
Definitely putting the team at a disadvantage which maybe it's warranted ??
But after 2 games that's getting to be a pretty big deal just my opinion..
Great answer. It is possible to be pessimistic about this year but excited for the future. O-line is still really young with the exception of Alegretti so the future looks bright. Not so much this season though. People are saying 19 for a big turnaround but I'm not expecting fireworks until 2020. Gotta give these boys time to become men. This next class will be nice but I'm not gonna hang my hopes on a bunch of freshmen next year although it would be a pleasant surprise to see Beason and Williams take the BIG10 by storm!
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Yes, we demand it! /s
Airing one's dirty laundry is never a good look. Keeping it in-house builds accountability, responsibility and culture.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
By now, it is probably part of their recruiting pitch. "Sign with us and you'll be seen on BTN, throttling Illinois."
Deleted member 29907
D
Guest
I've heard it has to do with making their beds in the morning - still don't have the "hospital corners" down yet....
I'm surprised I haven't seen a prediction of "126-2 and Lovie sets his headset down in middle of the 2nd quarter and walks away forever" after reading the first couple of pages of predictions on here. Woof!
I don't know that we have the fire power to win the game, but if we clean up some penalty stuff we should be able to keep it from getting ridiculous. The team looked better than I expected for the majority of the game against WIU and the defense actually made a few plays...
I don't know that we have the fire power to win the game, but if we clean up some penalty stuff we should be able to keep it from getting ridiculous. The team looked better than I expected for the majority of the game against WIU and the defense actually made a few plays...
Illinisteve25
- Champaign
ILLINI 21 USF 35 Hard to tell exactly how good/bad we are until we see the whole team. Could see this being closer if we get players back from suspension and injuries..
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I haven't seen a line on the game, but ESPN's Matchup Predictor has USF at a 65.7% chance of victory. With that in mind, I would honestly be pleased with the following:
1) Draw at least 45,000 fans. We drew ~47,000 for #19 Washington in 2013, and it at least looked fairly full in (the right) pictures, LOL. I figure that is the attendance mark we need to hit to make it not look embarrassing. With some nice weather, hopefully some Chicago area fans will treat it as more of an event than a football game and show up.
2) Keep it within two scores and have a TRUE chance at evening it up in the second half. I will be extremely disappointed if we simply fold.
1) Draw at least 45,000 fans. We drew ~47,000 for #19 Washington in 2013, and it at least looked fairly full in (the right) pictures, LOL. I figure that is the attendance mark we need to hit to make it not look embarrassing. With some nice weather, hopefully some Chicago area fans will treat it as more of an event than a football game and show up.
2) Keep it within two scores and have a TRUE chance at evening it up in the second half. I will be extremely disappointed if we simply fold.
I agree a true assessment of this team cant be taken until the suspended players are back. Having a walkon start at safety is terrifying. He redeemed himself, but there were plays that better teams would've picked him apart.
Anyone not worried for the rest of this year should be. Sure QB play is improved, as is RB and LB. The lines still looks very bad, against very bad competition. That is the number one thing that must change if we want to be a successful team, and that hasn't changed since Lovie took over. I'll hold out hope for a few more games hoping the suspended players (who I fully believe are 3 or 4 of the best guys left on the team) to mesh and perform, but the likelihood we end with 2 wins, is much much higher than ending with 4+, IMHO. Anyone who finds more positives in the KSU and WIU games than negatives is fooling themselves.
This USF game will be very very telling. Afterwards, I think the bar will be about as set as it possibly can be.
Anyone not worried for the rest of this year should be. Sure QB play is improved, as is RB and LB. The lines still looks very bad, against very bad competition. That is the number one thing that must change if we want to be a successful team, and that hasn't changed since Lovie took over. I'll hold out hope for a few more games hoping the suspended players (who I fully believe are 3 or 4 of the best guys left on the team) to mesh and perform, but the likelihood we end with 2 wins, is much much higher than ending with 4+, IMHO. Anyone who finds more positives in the KSU and WIU games than negatives is fooling themselves.
This USF game will be very very telling. Afterwards, I think the bar will be about as set as it possibly can be.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Pollyanna here, we really don't know what we have, so, I will hope for the best. Defense surprises to the good (2+ takeaways), QB position continues to make progress, Smalling comes back and performs well, Epstein goes crazy (team rushes for 250+), and special teams do well. Good guys win. Next week, people begin making plans for their winter break in Nashville, Detroit, San Fran, or some other non-descript bowl location.
I think people are significantly overrating USF. A few obervations:
1. They did beat GT, but they also gave up nearly 600 (400 rushing) yards to GT.
2. They got 2 Kick Return TDs. 264 total KR yards from their dynamic frosh Horne.
3. They won turnover battle 3-1.
While we are a completely different offensive style than GT - we should seemingly be able to move the ball on the ground against GT especially if Bush is 100%.
The little I watched of game - Barnett reminds me a little bit of the Kent St in quarterback in skill-set, maybe not as much of battering ram and better pure passer. But really made a difference with his legs especially late in game.
Ligs can show his worth by scheming around this dangerous kick returner... McLaughlin has been pretty consistently kicking the ball out of end zone.
With all that said - there will be a significant talent disparity on the field - but I don't think we get as badly rolled as last year. I think we likely hang around for one half and fade to the tune of 41-28 or something like that.
1. They did beat GT, but they also gave up nearly 600 (400 rushing) yards to GT.
2. They got 2 Kick Return TDs. 264 total KR yards from their dynamic frosh Horne.
3. They won turnover battle 3-1.
While we are a completely different offensive style than GT - we should seemingly be able to move the ball on the ground against GT especially if Bush is 100%.
The little I watched of game - Barnett reminds me a little bit of the Kent St in quarterback in skill-set, maybe not as much of battering ram and better pure passer. But really made a difference with his legs especially late in game.
Ligs can show his worth by scheming around this dangerous kick returner... McLaughlin has been pretty consistently kicking the ball out of end zone.
With all that said - there will be a significant talent disparity on the field - but I don't think we get as badly rolled as last year. I think we likely hang around for one half and fade to the tune of 41-28 or something like that.
SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
This hand-wringing over the suspensions is incredible. I'm imagining the Alex Jones/Cliven Bundy-ish portion of the fanbase in their bunker, cooking up crackpot theories about how Lovie intentionally held out his most talented players to justify a losing season.
Dan
Admin
Charlie on Illinois: “This is one of those games I’d call a trap game.” (Just after all the GaTech hullabaloo) #USF
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