Illini Football 2019

[Deleted member 656517]

If you have pressure up the middle with the dt’s you’ve got nothing to worry about, especially if you have db’s you can trust. Lovie’s systems coming together. Line backers will run free make plays with speed, and we’ll enjoy the new found defense. Patience is a virtue. Whitman and Lovie aren’t idiots

 

[Deleted member 654622]

If you have pressure up the middle with the dt’s you’ve got nothing to worry about, especially if you have db’s you can trust. Lovie’s systems coming together. Line backers will run free make plays with speed, and we’ll enjoy the new found defense. Patience is a virtue. Whitman and Lovie aren’t idiots

I agree. I loved Urlacher just like most Bears fans. But I think Tommie Harris, before his injury, was the most important player on the Super Bowl team

 

[FiveStar]

I agree. I loved Urlacher just like most Bears fans. But I think Tommie Harris, before his injury, was the most important player on the Super Bowl team

Honestly I’ve been waiting for that person to show up for us, and be that force that pushes the guard and center so deep in the backfield they tackle the RB after the handoff. Without Roundtree, it needs to happen this year. Also without Roundtree, it makes it that much harder to happen. No chips needed from TEs/RBs and no doubles need from guards on any of our ends as far as I can see. Less 1on1 in the middle.

 

[Deleted member 654622]

Honestly I’ve been waiting for that person to show up for us, and be that force that pushes the guard and center so deep in the backfield they tackle the RB after the handoff. Without Roundtree, it needs to happen this year. Also without Roundtree, it makes it that much harder to happen. No chips needed from TEs/RBs and no doubles need from guards on any of our ends as far as I can see. Less 1on1 in the middle.

Tommy Harris was the first person I thought about when we signed Calvin Avery. Not very good reports at the beginning of camp about his weight had me feeling bad. But then he apparently went off and shown those glimpses of why he was rated so high. So MAYBE.
I also have high hopes for Lere and Woods
I loved Alex Brown's motor and Adewale Ogunlya's (I am not going to look up how to spell it) speed. But the push up the middle gave them such an advantage on their line of attack. Their numbers were better than their ability. If we can get that out of this group, maybe the DE's will have a productive year

 

[Deleted member 590820]

Teddy Greenstein of Tribune wrote a preview of Big Ten West 6 contenders. He mentioned he did not include Illinois because they are not contenders. Of course it’s an obvious slight as Terdy is prone to do against our Illini. I think he went out of his way to knock Illinois. Would it really kill him to write a 7 team preview no matter how lame it usually is? We certainly get more pertinent information from this site. Just another slap in the face.

 

[breadman]

Teddy Greenstein of Tribune wrote a preview of Big Ten West 6 contenders. He mentioned he did not include Illinois because they are not contenders. Of course it’s an obvious slight as Terdy is prone to do against our Illini. I think he went out of his way to knock Illinois. Would it really kill him to write a 7 team preview no matter how lame it usually is? We certainly get more pertinent information from this site. Just another slap in the face.

Here's hoping Lovie gives Teddy something to pay attention to this season. That is the only answer. Wins trump all slight. Watched ESPN's College Football Live show today and the O&B did did not get one mention. Wisky and Nebby, sure.

Look, for as little as I've watched Lovie interviews during this past off season, it appears to me that his demeanor has changed somewhat as if he knows he is ready to deliver this year. I believe he is expecting big things from his team this year. Can't wait to watch them deliver!!

 

[ivwilsoniv]

Caleb Reams injured today?

 

[Chukwuwumba]

Caleb Reams injured today?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1164326088585228291

 

[logjam]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1164326088585228291

Get healthy Caleb.

 

[logjam]

Up late, Illinois on B1G 10 network season preview.

 

[Joel Goodson]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1164326088585228291

Bummer about Reams. Washington has had a VG camp, especially for a true frosh.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Up late, Illinois on B1G 10 network season preview.

Nice to be featured, but kind of a paint-by-numbers deal. They virtually ignored our WR group. Dumb.

 

[Deleted member 654622]

Up late, Illinois on B1G 10 network season preview.

Watched it. I felt good after watching it. What I like the most was Howard saying he was proud of his alum after the visit.

 

[Soxfreak64]

I'm most intrigued by Lovie's outward confidence this year. He's normally pretty low-key, and was very "build, build, build" the last three years. This year, he's not shy about saying they're going to be way better.

Curious to see how the team lives up to that.

 

[Dan]

 

[BWBW]

I'm most intrigued by Lovie's outward confidence this year. He's normally pretty low-key, and was very "build, build, build" the last three years. This year, he's not shy about saying they're going to be way better.

Curious to see how the team lives up to that.

I am glad to see it. Part of the process I guess. Set the expectations so your team focuses on winning.

 

[ChiefGritty]

I'm most intrigued by Lovie's outward confidence this year. He's normally pretty low-key, and was very "build, build, build" the last three years. This year, he's not shy about saying they're going to be way better.

Eh, he's always said that. Which is to his credit, IMO. Lovie is not an excuses guy.

 

[Soxfreak64]

Eh, he's always said that. Which is to his credit, IMO. Lovie is not an excuses guy.

Really? I guess I never noticed, easy to tune out a head coach who's 2-10!

Changing the conversation a little bit...Let's have some fun and assume there's a significant upset this year. Who does Illinois upset? What's the story of that theoretical upset? The turning point?

I'll go first. If there's a significant upset, I think Illinois gets Michigan State, 17-14. MSU will be awesome on defense again, but I think Illinois will be able to break a big play or two to score. And I still don't trust that MSU offense, even if Lewerke is healthy. They have turnover problems, and I think that's how it ends—a FF as MSU is driving to take the lead, Illinois scores on the following drive to seal the deal.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Eh, he's always said that. Which is to his credit, IMO. Lovie is not an excuses guy.

He isn't. This season he's made several references to having "a bigger stick." That's definitely new.

 

[BWBW]

Upset? Nebraska, 35-31. 4-0 to start.

Teddy G. Begs for an interview and gets the cold shoulder.

 

[ChiefGritty]

Both the pessimism for football and the optimism for basketball among the national press seem to be getting excessive to me.

 

[Greensboro]

I’ve seen quite a bit of positive press for Betiku. They say he is raw, but tenacious and will have ups and downs, but I imagine we will see some good things from him. Toward the end of week 2, he was starting to get some push through of our nfl caliber tackles.

Werner yesterday had a segment (late in 1st hour) on the radio on freshman redshirts that I thought was interesting, he mentioned Seth Coleman as a likely redshirt candidate, but that he might find a role as a passrusher...but sort of buried in there & other Werner comments is the concern over pass rush.

 

[illini2019]

I’m curious what impression was left by IW during camp. Does anybody have any insight on that? I heard Werner saying positive things early on but haven’t heard much since

 

[Deleted member 654622]

I’m curious what impression was left by IW during camp. Does anybody have any insight on that? I heard Werner saying positive things early on but haven’t heard much since

Werner and Trotter did an "emergency" podcast yesterday where they talked on this subject. Basically that Isaiah was having trouble making the easy passes (screens and slants) but his athleticism is awesome. He needs to sit, learn and adjust is the takeaway I get from everyone's reports

 

[Franklin Delano Bluth]

Werner and Trotter did an "emergency" podcast yesterday where they talked on this subject. Basically that Isaiah was having trouble making the easy passes (screens and slants) but his athleticism is awesome. He needs to sit, learn and adjust is the takeaway I get from everyone's reports

So does this mean that he is more likely to redshirt in an effort to play QB his entire time here? What are the chances that they put some packages together to get the ball in his hands at least a couple times a game at RB or WR? If he has game-changing athleticism, I don't think Lovie and co. can afford to have him on the sidelines - especially in a make or break season like this one.