I'm fine with 6 wins, improved recruiting, and improved point differential.
I'm fine with 6 wins, improved recruiting, and improved point differential.
At this point, I feel like Iowa would beat us in Kinnick with half of their guys suspended.
Let me make the case for our best chance at a surprise W being the one we (probably) would enjoy the most: Michigan at home. For one, I refuse to expect us to jump up and bite someone on the road. It's just outrageously hard to do, especially for a team that has next to no experience, you know, winning football games. Plus, Michigan has Iowa before us and travels to Penn State the next week.
Oh, it's possible. Worse teams beat better teams all the time. Heck, we almost did versus South Florida. I'd give it a less than 10% chance, though. I'll just be looking for us to keep it fairly competitive and not get blown out. We should be able to move the ball on them at the very least. Some fluky bounces go our way and almost anything can happen.I think there is no conceivable way that we beat Michigan (as a bubble team. If we win 8, which I don’t think we will, maybe we could be playing well enough to beat um
What about Epstein? Is he back as well?I know we are the Illini and don't expect good things, but this news may be the most under appreciated of the year. Reggie Corbin is returning. Over 1,200 yards of total offense averaging 11 yards per catch and 8.5 per carry behind 4 of 5 starters from last year on O-line.
I like the rational...but I think it's MJHere's my logic. If we're really trying to win, I just have a hard time seeing IW being capable of being a full time passing QB right away, especially as he's not enrolling early. I'm sure we will use him as a wildcat-type at times and try to get him on the field in different ways.
And Rivers' lack of foot speed just makes our run game less threatening. It makes us easier to defend. I think he and Robinson were pretty close at that #2 spot last year, and Robinson will remain the better runner and will have developed his passing and understanding of the offense to a higher level now then when he'd only been here for a month.
To put the most positive spin on it, if Rivers keeps that job, it's going to be because of outstanding development as a passer. But my money is on the one dual threat we've got who projects to truly threaten the defense in both aspects.
Bold Prediction: Matt Robinson will be our starting QB next year.
Other than the Gritty part, solid post!Very long time lurker. First time poster. Finally the combo of boredom at work and excitement/nervousness about our programs has made me consider posting. Preface this to say I actually would probably consider my views strongly aligned to most of what Gritty posts (sorry rest of Loyalty). I wasn't thinking my first post would be about the QB battle, but what the heck. I think it's going to be Rivers, and it's not gonna be particularly close IMO. I mean it will be talked about as an open competition, but I think his experience and raw talent is something unmatched by the rest of that QB room. He has the most experience, strongest arm, biggest frame, and honestly looked about as confident and comfortable as a true freshman with a poor supporting cast could. I also think his running ability is vastly under-appreciated. He's not nearly the speed demon that IW or Bush are, but he impressed me with his option reads and ability to find holes for good chunks of yards. If someone else wins the job, I will be pleasantly surprised, because to me, that means someone outperformed a very solid Rivers.
I have doubts about IW as a full time QB. Ultimately I see him as having a small package at QB nearly every game, but primarily becoming a potential NFL slot receiver. I just can't shake the barely 50% completion percentage at the high school level, at a powerhouse with multiple D1 receivers. Don't get me wrong, he will be our most explosive offensive weapon, I just don't see it as a full time QB.
so , by the new NCAA rules, is every freshman player granted automatic redshirt status for 2018 if they played in less than 4 games , or did it have to be the first four games ? who were our redshirts from 2018 then ?
Here's my logic. If we're really trying to win, I just have a hard time seeing IW being capable of being a full time passing QB right away, especially as he's not enrolling early. I'm sure we will use him as a wildcat-type at times and try to get him on the field in different ways.
And Rivers' lack of foot speed just makes our run game less threatening. It makes us easier to defend. I think he and Robinson were pretty close at that #2 spot last year, and Robinson will remain the better runner and will have developed his passing and understanding of the offense to a higher level now then when he'd only been here for a month.
To put the most positive spin on it, if Rivers keeps that job, it's going to be because of outstanding development as a passer. But my money is on the one dual threat we've got who projects to truly threaten the defense in both aspects.
Hence the word "surprise"
Bold Prediction: Matt Robinson will be our starting QB next year.
Bold Prediction: We still have a 5th horse in the running? Pretty interesting tweet on Tate from AZ today
Very interesting. Could be a lot of moving parts. Arizona is supposedly in play for Hurts.Bold Prediction: We still have a 5th horse in the running? Pretty interesting tweet on Tate from AZ today
Huh, I wonder where he could transfer to and not have to learn a new offense over night?
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