- Plainfield
Josh Whitman said he wanted to see us establish an identity for Illinois football. We now have that - Lovie ball. There’s only two stats that matter: Big plays and turnovers.
That’s also the concerning part. Where are we going to find ways to win games when we DON’T force our opponent to turn the football over? Iowa, for instance, has given the football away only 8 times all season long. How do we go into their stadium and beat them if they aren’t coughing up the ball?Josh Whitman said he wanted to see us establish an identity for Illinois football. We now have that - Lovie ball. There’s only two stats that matter: Big plays and turnovers.
Wisconsin was tied for 9th fewest turnovers per game heading into the game vs. Illinois. Just an FYI.That’s also the concerning part. Where are we going to find ways to win games when we DON’T force our opponent to turn the football over? Iowa, for instance, has given the football away only 8 times all season long. How do we go into their stadium and beat them if they aren’t coughing up the ball?
This is more of a 2020 thing but the point remains.
Double post: Also, Wisconsin has currently only turned the ball over 10 times through 8 games. Three of them were to Illinois.Wisconsin was tied for 9th fewest turnovers per game heading into the game vs. Illinois. Just an FYI.
And we, while at home, got them to turn it over. That’s fantastic. Now, what happens when (Not IF, when) we don’t? How do we win that game?Wisconsin was tied for 9th fewest turnovers per game heading into the game vs. Illinois. Just an FYI.
I know... But I just choose to live in a dream land of 3 to 4 turnovers per game generated by our defense.And we, while at home, got them to turn it over. That’s fantastic. Now, what happens when (Not IF, when) we don’t? How do we win that game?
Again, this is a 2020 question but that’s what we need to morph into, a team that doesn’t live and die by the strip.
Which is more than reasonable, as we’re gonna have more games where we force our opponent to turn the over at our per game average (2) than we will where we get skunked. The worry, however, is clear. How do we win a ball game (Especially a road game) against a good football team without forcing 2+ turnovers? That’s where things get fuzzy.I know... But I just choose to live in a dream land of 3 to 4 turnovers per game generated by our defense.![]()
The identity this team has taken on is one that that will run the football, punch you in the mouth, punch you in the mouth again, play solid defense and special teams. Wisconsin has made this work for two decades now.And we, while at home, got them to turn it over. That’s fantastic. Now, what happens when (Not IF, when) we don’t? How do we win that game?
Again, this is a 2020 question but that’s what we need to morph into, a team that doesn’t live and die by the strip.
?The identity this team has taken on is one that that will run the football, punch you in the mouth, punch you in the mouth again, play solid defense and special teams. Wisconsin has made this work for two decades now.
Now, we've seen two different teams this year. Team A(2-4) and team B(3-0). What is our run vs pass ratio the last three weeks vs prior and what are our defensive statistics the last three weeks vs prior??
Wisconsin averages almost a full yard more per carry than we do. We’re merely 9th in the conference in that category which is problematic. Wisconsin can also throw the football, whereas we are tied with Rutgers in the cellar in passing yards per attempt.
That’s an odd example. We don’t play anything like Wisconsin and we don’t put up similar results, amazing win this season aside. We would have to morph into a completely different team next season (Without Reggie and Dre) in order to mimic that program.
The answer is we have to get better offensively for 2020 to be sure. Yes we can’t rely on the defense to score 14 points every game. But it is an important part of our identity, an important part of every game, a tool to recruit with and exciting for the fans and players.And we, while at home, got them to turn it over. That’s fantastic. Now, what happens when (Not IF, when) we don’t? How do we win that game?
Again, this is a 2020 question but that’s what we need to morph into, a team that doesn’t live and die by the strip.
Bc EMU and Nebraska had running QBs in a spread offenseNow, we've seen two different teams this year. Team A(2-4) and team B(3-0). What is our run vs pass ratio the last three weeks vs prior and what are our defensive statistics the last three weeks vs prior?
I'm trying to figure out how this team let up 40+ (and 600 yards)to Nebraska and how they lost to EMU and went down to the wire vs UCONN.
Irresistible force. Immovable object.Iowa, for instance, has given the football away only 8 times all season long. How do we go into their stadium and beat them if they aren’t coughing up the ball?
*Unstoppable force. Immovable object.Irresistible force. Immovable object.
Offense needs to find more consistency. I would say specifically the passing game. I'm not talking big 30+ yard plays, but those 7-10 yard catches need to be there (and capitalized on) more often. Partly the QB, partly the WRs, and maybe partly the coaching philosophy... getting the RB more involved in the passing game. Dre Brown has the most catches by one our running backs this year, at 5.And we, while at home, got them to turn it over. That’s fantastic. Now, what happens when (Not IF, when) we don’t? How do we win that game?
Again, this is a 2020 question but that’s what we need to morph into, a team that doesn’t live and die by the strip.
Add to that the ability to handle the blitz. Peters HAS to recognize and adopt - he continues to think he has time to sit in the pocket. Either he's not recognizing it, our receivers are not (and not running hot routes) or a combo of both. I'd be happy if he just bailed out left or right to buy himself time - he throws on the run pretty well.Offense needs to find more consistency. I would say specifically the passing game. I'm not talking big 30+ yard plays, but those 7-10 yard catches need to be there (and capitalized on) more often. Partly the QB, partly the WRs, and maybe partly the coaching philosophy... getting the RB more involved in the passing game. Dre Brown has the most catches by one our running backs this year, at 5.
That's a great point. You're saying that the defensive success is a derivative of the the opponents style? Would we let up 30+ again to EMU in your opinion? Would we let up 600+ yards to Nebraska? If the answer is yes, then the conversation is completely different.Bc EMU and Nebraska had running QBs in a spread offense
You are not alone. I for one though he might be Chief Gritty for a couple months last year.Is it just me or does Mark Dantonio look like he's miserable at all times? He doesn't look like a fun coach to play for.
Great question. Assuming these last three games are truly who we are, the best case comparison I can make are the Pat Narduzzi defense’s during his time at Michigan State (He runs basically the same scheme now but isn’t recruiting the same type of athletes, unfortunately) which were, obviously, fantastic. Heavy Cover 4 over scheme, they finished 3rd in the nation that season in points allowed per game, 5th in yards per play. That team didn’t have a premier pass rusher but still had a sack total in the mid 30s if I remember right, they had lots of guys who could pressure the QB and were somewhere in the top 5 of the nation in INTs. They averaged an interception and a half per game that season, crazy.Now, we've seen two different teams this year. Team A(2-4) and team B(3-0). What is our run vs pass ratio the last three weeks vs prior and what are our defensive statistics the last three weeks vs prior?
I'm trying to figure out how this team let up 40+ (and 600 yards)to Nebraska and how they lost to EMU and went down to the wire vs UCONN.
You can take the current season stats(and rankings) and throw them out the window if you believe the team you've seen these last three weeks is the product you'll see going forward.
Who would you best comp this team to(assuming this current play is who we are)?
I wish I knew! I think Lovie's defense lends itself to be more effective against more traditional offenses, especially now that we've been playing a 4-3 most of the time. The only real spread offense we've played recently was on a flooded field with a backup QB and multiple injuries... With that said, I don't think(?) we would perform as poorly if we replayed those teams. Or at least I'm pretty sure? I do think we have clearly improved over the year, and like BZuppke said, it's likely a combination of the 2 factors. Iowa beat us 63-0 last year and they run a more traditional offense, so clearly we have improved.That's a great point. You're saying that the defensive success is a derivative of the the opponents style? Would we let up 30+ again to EMU in your opinion? Would we let up 600+ yards to Nebraska? If the answer is yes, then the conversation is completely different.
Phenomenal post, 100% correct.Offense needs to find more consistency. I would say specifically the passing game. I'm not talking big 30+ yard plays, but those 7-10 yard catches need to be there (and capitalized on) more often. Partly the QB, partly the WRs, and maybe partly the coaching philosophy... getting the RB more involved in the passing game. Dre Brown has the most catches by one our running backs this year, at 5.