Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
I share your concern. Our OL should've dominated. Lack of running success can't be attributed solely to our top 2 RBs being out. Need a much better performance next week.
Illinois 31, UConn 23 POSTGAME
I share your concern. Our OL should've dominated. Lack of running success can't be attributed solely to our top 2 RBs being out. Need a much better performance next week.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
VG analysis (IOW, I wholeheartedly agree, lol).
They want the defensive player to tackle with his head up. He can't lead with the crown. If head is up, it doesn't matter what the offensive player does. Obviously that makes it harder to make a diving tackle.
I pray this is sarcasm.
Deleted member 29907
D
Guest
Really love what Ricky is doing this year - aggressively attacks the ball, hands are like glue, good YACs and (if i am seeing it right) is blocking really well. Look at the block for Bonner's TD at 30 secs in the highlights - outstanding anticipating block.
Other than getting a win in a game where we saved Reggie Corbin, there isn’t a positive light from yesterday. Our path to 6 wins is so tight, thinking that our defensive secondary can play the way they have thus far and get us over the bump against Purdue, Nebraska, Northwestern or Minnesota is little more than a pipe dream at this point.
Deleted member 29907
D
Guest
It's nearly impossible to do and probably more dangerous for the defender to try to keep his head up on a diving tackle. He was going for the letters with his arms out and the receiver started to lower from the other hit. There is no way this was targeting by any sense. The refs are supposed to take into account how the offensive player's body moves. The announcers were clear homers and called Kerby's play last week as less of a target - which was strange. Neither met the intent of the rule.
Regardless of anyone's opinion, I do wish Lovie would defend his players to the refs more. The refs called some crazy calls on us including Barker's 3 sec dance (I am not sure how that dance is any different than someone running around in celebration and chest bumping for the same amount of time).
Deleted member 654622
D
Guest
24 hour rule (close enough)
1. Peters needs to be better at anticipating when a receiver will be open, not waiting till he is. And stop STARING down Rickie
2. Our once most talented group RB, has quickly become...I don't want to say weak considering they were selling out to stop the run, so not a strength.
3. I think the Jamal's are doing a good job clogging the middle for runs and helping Wole get those angles for sacks
4. I am glad we got our first road game out of the way before we went to Min. I REALLY want to kick Fleck's a$$
5. The reason why I believe Lovie's defense can work was perfectly showcased on Dele's int. The QB was rushed, and threw it before the receiver could clear the LB's dropping in coverage.
6. The reason why I believe Lovie's defense is going to fail this year was perfectly showcased for the majority of this game. The QB had enough time for his WR's to clear the LB's dropping in coverage. I think players with little experience, such as Wole and Woods, will improve as the season progresses due to actual game reps. However, without an impact DE opposite Wole, the pass rush will not be disruptive enough come B1G play. I think the statement that losing your best player has impacted the team negatively is a huge understatement in this particular situation. Good news, there seems to be a ton of talented lineman on that sideline. Bad news, they wont be ready this year.
7. I still think we can win 6 games. The defense needs to capitalize on ANY mistake from opposing QBs and Peters needs to be above average
Deleted member 29907
D
Guest
Let me try (other than the win):
1. Peters / Bebe - really nice two touchdowns (a first and second for Bebe) - basically a very athletic additional tight end out there causing match up problems
2. Dre B and his special teams play - very positive
3. Our run D performed pretty well for the most part - 10 yards net for Uconn?
4. Sacks - 5 - nice.
5. Win away from home with 3 fumbles, 1 Int (pick 6) and 9 penalties (some boneheaded) for 98 yards - priceless
Many fixable things and/or missing components - specifically :Corbin, Brown (hopefully back), and hopefully not having to rely on a 4th string safety
Deleted member 654622
D
Guest
respectfully disagree even though I see where you are coming from.
1. Defense is stacking the box.
2. Our WRs/TE athleticism
3. 3rd-5th string RBs
4. Our Olineman talent
5. QB who you have confidence in
All those points means you throw the football. I don't think you game plan for Peter's to stare down receivers or Stampley to fumble a handoff. Those are basic issues that will ruin any strategy. Those don't happen and we would have put up at least 14 more points, emphasis on at least.
Deleted member 654622
D
Guest
respectfully disagree even though I see where you are coming from.
1. Defense is stacking the box.
2. Our WRs/TE athleticism
3. 3rd-5th string RBs
4. Our Olineman talent
5. QB who you have confidence in
All those points means you throw the football. I don't think you game plan for Peter's to stare down receivers or Stampley to fumble a handoff. Those are basic issues that will ruin any strategy. Those don't happen and we would have put up at least 14 more points, emphasis on at least.
Deleted member 654622
D
Guest
100% this
I remember we had a 4th or 3rd and short in the 4th Qrt and the DE/OLB just crashed hard with no regard for the QB keep. We didn't get the 1st down. Peters pulls that and it was at least 5 yrds
I tried to screenshot but my phone wouldn’t let me. Green went in at the receivers waist level. He goes any lower and he either busts the guys knee or gets hurdled. It was about 35 minutes into the game on my YouTube recording.
I will revise my statement and add Betiku’s performance. 3.5 sacks, 5 to start the season, that’s above and beyond what we would have reasonably expected and he’s been very close on others. He’s made the big plays when we’ve needed them, he’s played the run extremely well, he’s been more phenomenal.
The rest? Eh. A bowl team with the caliber of transfers we have added against a program as void of talent as the University of Connecticut shouldn’t be celebrating what is essentially just 3 other points of positivity that all, frankly, should be expected.
Last edited:
Deleted member 654622
D
Guest
I don't disagree but as far as discipline, were talking about a 3 sec dance and a linebacker that might be a senior, but he wasn't a starting last year.
On the fumble, I think Peters shares equal blame there. Seemed to be some odd miscommunication and to me, both players seemed very lackadaisical about what was happening on that play.
Deleted member 654622
D
Guest
Leads the nation in sacks. Don't care about opponent, everyone is playing cupcakes for the most part. This is cool even if it is just week 2 right
Probably leads the nation in "most holds against" NOT called by the officials.
1. First off all congrats to UCONN, you can only be kicked like a dog by national media for 6 days. before you come out fighting and them kids played pissed all game.
2. I like the poise, dont panic attitude after getting down by 13 points. I cant think of the last time a Illini team that was mentally tough enough to do.
3. Thank you Brandon Peters for giving this team a passing game, as the year goes on it will be harder and harder to defend us when everybody on the team believes their getting the ball at the snap of the play.
4. Ricky Smalling thank you for your obvious hard work over the offseason to become the leader of this much improved receiver group.
5. The size and physicality difference on this team is very noticeable from the last several years.
2. I like the poise, dont panic attitude after getting down by 13 points. I cant think of the last time a Illini team that was mentally tough enough to do.
3. Thank you Brandon Peters for giving this team a passing game, as the year goes on it will be harder and harder to defend us when everybody on the team believes their getting the ball at the snap of the play.
4. Ricky Smalling thank you for your obvious hard work over the offseason to become the leader of this much improved receiver group.
5. The size and physicality difference on this team is very noticeable from the last several years.
I don’t want to see IW until there are only 4 games left in season. If the plan is to red shirt him, there are too many scenarios where they “get him a series or two” in a game or three and then because of injuries he has to play in a game or two and ends up burning red shirt year. If Peters were sucking then a different story, but he’s not. I’m looking forward to seeing IW in the future, but when he’s ready to start not just play a series or two.
I was at the game with great seats on the 50 yard line in the top row. Great except that we were completely surrounded by UConn fans who pre-excused their performance...and then that happened. We turned it around and they quieted down, but in the fourth they were moving the ball, it seemed like five yards every play. And they were able to get loud again. So it's hard to be equanimous.
But it was hard to watch our run plays hit a solid wall, especially when we'd throw something outside and that would be covered too. Maybe going deeper would have helped. Their being able to consistently move the ball was disheartening as well, whether running up the middle or passes to completely open receivers. Was that freshman QB all that good?
It's hard to believe that UConn was that good, barely edging Wagner (who?) who then lost to PSAC East Stroudsburg University that went 2-9 last season and is being led by a brand new head coach to three or four years ago was QB for ESU.
Hey, I drink O&B Koolaid by the jug, but this game leaves me concerned. I'll call it an anomaly for now. But I'll be at the next two games and I'm going to expect to see better play that, despite the coachtalk, that should come from a team with the alleged bounceback ability that this 2019 Illinois team is reputed to have.
Go Illini.
But it was hard to watch our run plays hit a solid wall, especially when we'd throw something outside and that would be covered too. Maybe going deeper would have helped. Their being able to consistently move the ball was disheartening as well, whether running up the middle or passes to completely open receivers. Was that freshman QB all that good?
It's hard to believe that UConn was that good, barely edging Wagner (who?) who then lost to PSAC East Stroudsburg University that went 2-9 last season and is being led by a brand new head coach to three or four years ago was QB for ESU.
Hey, I drink O&B Koolaid by the jug, but this game leaves me concerned. I'll call it an anomaly for now. But I'll be at the next two games and I'm going to expect to see better play that, despite the coachtalk, that should come from a team with the alleged bounceback ability that this 2019 Illinois team is reputed to have.
Go Illini.
Holding is one of the most subjective, miscalled penalties in the game and we’ll all be called biased for complaining about it, as maybe we should but there were two of the most blatant holds I’ve ever seen on ole 47 in the 4th quarter that weren’t called. He had the edge on both plays.
I’ll try to take a stab at this:
First shot looks like it is going to be targeting for sure. However, Just before this the WR was higher and SG aimed for chest/shoulder height.
This shows the WR kept dropping but what you can’t tell is SG actually has turned his head and made initial contact with his shoulder and his head actually hit the WRs shoulder first.
Eventually, their helmets do hit but they are side to side. I don’t think it’s targeting but I GUESS it could be considered 50/50.
Another look. Make your own judgement because when slowed down, I can sort-of see either way.
I was at the game with great seats on the 50 yard line in the top row. Great except that we were completely surrounded by UConn fans who pre-excused their performance...and then that happened. We turned it around and they quieted down, but in the fourth they were moving the ball, it seemed like five yards every play. And they were able to get loud again. So it's hard to be equanimous.
But it was hard to watch our run plays hit a solid wall, especially when we'd throw something outside and that would be covered too. Maybe going deeper would have helped. Their being able to consistently move the ball was disheartening as well, whether running up the middle or passes to completely open receivers. Was that freshman QB all that good?
It's hard to believe that UConn was that good, barely edging Wagner (who?) who then lost to PSAC East Stroudsburg University that went 2-9 last season and is being led by a brand new head coach to three or four years ago was QB for ESU.
Hey, I drink O&B Koolaid by the jug, but this game leaves me concerned. I'll call it an anomaly for now. But I'll be at the next two games and I'm going to expect to see better play that, despite the coachtalk, that should come from a team with the alleged bounceback ability that this 2019 Illinois team is reputed to have.
Go Illini.
I haven’t read each post, but has anyone acknowledged the motivation they had in knowing their head coach’s mother passed away? That combined with getting railed against last year and last week led to a much improved performance. Not shocking at all.