Pregame: Illinois vs Minnesota, Saturday, October 29th, 11:00am CT, BTN
- Status
Lovie also said how the improvement from first game to second game is important and that Junior is a cocky guy (Where did he get that from!) Hahaha!
Thats cool though because you gotta be cocky to be a big time qb.
I think you are right in reading the tea leaves
I still think that if Wes Lunt wants his shot at the big show that this is the game that he needs to get in for and put on a showcase. If they are giving him acupuncture for his back, then double even triple the needles! Make him look like a porkypine! If they are going with massages, then get the Swedish Massage Team down here stat!
Hahaha! Thats exactly what I thought when I saw that little statue of Red Grange. Reminded me of when I was a kid and there were models of everything. And they all had to be painted.
Nowadays they just give em stickers
and we wonder why our kids cant paint!
Crouch sounds like he might be done for the year; Matt Daniels said in the News-Gazette that his injury is serious. Hopefully Lunt's ready to go on Saturday.
I would love to be optimistic here, but I just can't. George and Crouch just are not Big Ten caliber quarterbacks, just what it is. Really hoping for a JUCO or 5th year transfer. Crouch may allow for some sporadic success with his legs, but he cannot throw downfield. Jeff George was a 2 star grayshirt recruit for a staff desperate to get commitments from anybody. They are just over matched at the level we play at. I even like Crouch's guts and grit, but he is going to be constantly banged up at best with the way he plays and we will be forever handcuffed by his inability to throw downfield. I want George to prove me wrong, just do not see how Beckman and his clown staff found a "diamond in the rough" and somehow out-evaluated all the staffs in the Midwest by offering him, when no one else did.
Judging JG Jr. by his performance at Michigan on Saturday and proclaiming him a bust is ridiculously premature. What would Lunt have done besides crumble in a heap under the barrage of pressure?
I prefer JG Jr. I've seen enough of Lunt, and know what he is. A great 7 on 7 QB. We need a gamer and right now that is JG Jr. I'll bet he looks better at home v. Minnesota in his second start than he did at Michigan in his first start.
I prefer JG Jr. I've seen enough of Lunt, and know what he is. A great 7 on 7 QB. We need a gamer and right now that is JG Jr. I'll bet he looks better at home v. Minnesota in his second start than he did at Michigan in his first start.
:thumb:
The Rutgers qb threw for 220 yds and 3 tds
The Indiana state qb threw for 237 yds.
I would love to see Wes eat up this defense. They got a good record but they don't have the same stout defense you expect from minny. And they haven't played anything like the schedule we have played.
I'm sure Lovie will make the right call.
Based on not just no evidence, but evidence expressly to the contrary.
It wasn't solely his fault, but he was a mess out there last Saturday.
Jeff's a good kid, and a legacy in the program. He's also a fourth-string two star recruit who doesn't fit the offense. The only reason he should see the field ahead of Wes Lunt is if Lunt is physically unable to play.
FT35
- Naperville
Well I prefer a chance to win and that would be Lunt. What exactly is a gamer anyway?
This!! Lunt is the best QB on the roster by a ton. I don't want a "gamer"-which seems to be the term for a tough kid who tries hard, I want a legitimate QB. We have one on the roster and we should all hope he can play ASAP. I don't think we have a chance in another game without Lunt at the helm.
So I know people keep saying Lunt is our best chance to win, but why? I'm not rooting for backups, and I'd like our RS Senior QB to be good but the last game he played was against Purdue. With him in, we were stagnating and getting FGs while Purdue was getting TDs.
Crouch came in and helped us score and even take the lead. I know Crouch is out so its a moot point but I am truly curious as to why Lunt is our BEST chance to win. We were down 14-6 when he went out and the offense just didn't seem right.
I guess we will never know if Lunt would have won us that game but it sure didn't feel like it was heading that way.
Maybe if people were saying, Lunt gives us the best chance at throwing an accurate pass to a particular spot on the field, I'd believe that. But even then, that requires an o-line that can block long enough, being able to move in the pocket, and the receivers being able to catch the ball.
Defenses don't have to spy the QB and can blitz like crazy knowing Lunt isn't mobile. We also have a depleted WR corps so the passing game is hurting. In order to have multiple threats, we need a solid running game and a mobile QB to keep defenses honest (since we really only have one receiver) and Lunt is not that guy. So I am truly curious as to why many people think Lunt is our "best chance" to win. I'd say Crouch (I know he is out) or Jr (my opinion might change depending on how he plays against Minny) give us a better chance since Lunt's true strength is degraded by a weak o-line and a depleted WR corps with butter fingers.
I'm not saying those guys are better than Lunt, but only that Lunt can't actually shine with the conditions he is in and therefore lowers our chances of winning.
Crouch came in and helped us score and even take the lead. I know Crouch is out so its a moot point but I am truly curious as to why Lunt is our BEST chance to win. We were down 14-6 when he went out and the offense just didn't seem right.
I guess we will never know if Lunt would have won us that game but it sure didn't feel like it was heading that way.
Maybe if people were saying, Lunt gives us the best chance at throwing an accurate pass to a particular spot on the field, I'd believe that. But even then, that requires an o-line that can block long enough, being able to move in the pocket, and the receivers being able to catch the ball.
Defenses don't have to spy the QB and can blitz like crazy knowing Lunt isn't mobile. We also have a depleted WR corps so the passing game is hurting. In order to have multiple threats, we need a solid running game and a mobile QB to keep defenses honest (since we really only have one receiver) and Lunt is not that guy. So I am truly curious as to why many people think Lunt is our "best chance" to win. I'd say Crouch (I know he is out) or Jr (my opinion might change depending on how he plays against Minny) give us a better chance since Lunt's true strength is degraded by a weak o-line and a depleted WR corps with butter fingers.
I'm not saying those guys are better than Lunt, but only that Lunt can't actually shine with the conditions he is in and therefore lowers our chances of winning.
Last edited:
WiscIllini
- Madison, WI
If it were between Crouch and Lunt, I think a case could be made for Crouch. But JG Jr is basically a less-talented Lunt at this point, and does not deserve to start if Lunt is healthy and ready, imo.
I didn't get to see Jr in action so I'm just going off the reports from other folks. So, if this truly is the case, I would agree.
Although there is still the case of playing the youth to get experience. Can Jr ever become a serviceable B1G QB? And better yet, can be adapt to make plays with his feet every once in awhile and is he durable? If the answers are yes, lets build for the (possible) future with him instead of Lunt.
If the answer is no, start Lunt and try to win a few games to help recruiting.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
JG may become a serviceable QB, but he doesn't have the skills to run McGee's offense. I don't see much difference between the skillsets of Lunt and JG other than ability level.
Exactly what I've been trying to say all season. How many BIG games has Lunt won in his three seasons here? Answer: 2 Last year home vs. Nebraska (lucky that Coach Riley gave us the ball back) and at Purdue. Reilly O'Toole won when Lunt was out a few years ago!
JG Jr. showed poise in the pocket, unlike Lunt. When Lunt is in the game, the opposing DC stacks the box to shut down the running game and sends pressure at Lunt so that he fades back away from the LOS or he falls to the ground in a heap.
If JG Jr. stinks it up at home v. Minnesota than I will change my tune, but he had no time at Michigan and still hung in there. His passes were inaccurate, but I'm not writing him off yet.
And a "gamer" is one is performs well in games, not just practice which is what Lunt is, a practice player.
We'll all know more on Saturday.
I'm not sure we watched the same game. Poise in the pocket? If that means backpedaling as fast as possible and launching weak-armed throws off your back foot then yes. I get it, when a team is playing worse than expected the back-up, or in this case the 3rd string quarterback becomes very popular among the fan base and it often seen as a real solution to lots of problems. But George is not the answer, there is a reason we gray shirted him instead of offering him a regular scholly. He had nowhere else to go, we could risk offending him with the gray shirt, and if he did not commit that was ok because he was recruited for QB depth. Think of it this way-we did not offer him a regular scholarship with a staff that was getting extremely sub par talent that was desperate for any type of offensive difference maker. To be successful in college football you need more than that. I think Crouch's limitations are also problematic, but even I see the argument for playing him given our o-line issues and his mobility, but if McGee is going to try to run a real offense, it has to be Lunt. By real offense I mean one with the semblance of a downfield passing threat.
FT35
- Naperville
If Lunt is healthy, he should and will be playing. He wasn't just randomly selected to be the #1 QB.
We know what his limitations are and we know he's not a fit for this offense. However, he is a 5th year Senior with a lot of game experience who doesn't turn the ball over a lot.
He an accurate passer and just needs someone besides Turner to step and catch the ball.
I haven't really seen anything that would warrant him getting benched, unlike other Seniors. He's out because of an injury and if he's healthy he will be playing, so the argument is moot.
We know what his limitations are and we know he's not a fit for this offense. However, he is a 5th year Senior with a lot of game experience who doesn't turn the ball over a lot.
He an accurate passer and just needs someone besides Turner to step and catch the ball.
I haven't really seen anything that would warrant him getting benched, unlike other Seniors. He's out because of an injury and if he's healthy he will be playing, so the argument is moot.
Dan
Admin
Homecoming 2016 = Gray Ghost unis...with a twist.
Saturday will mark the debut of the navy blue Gray Ghost helmet.
https://twitter.com/IlliniFootball/status/791373545314119680
https://twitter.com/IlliniFootball/status/791374097179668481
Saturday will mark the debut of the navy blue Gray Ghost helmet.
https://twitter.com/IlliniFootball/status/791373545314119680
https://twitter.com/IlliniFootball/status/791374097179668481
Yeah, I think I called that once upon a time. The blue helmet fits with the overall color scheme of the uniform better.
- Status