Deleted member 29907
D
Guest
I think they are correct that Illinois football is going to be very bad. I think every single year, in both basketball and football, people try as hard as they can to find a means to discredit the national tone around our programs. I think almost every year the national tone around our programs is closer to reality than our homer views at the start of practices.
I hope beyond hope that Lovie can somehow miraculously lead us to a bowl game, but I expect losing double digit games more of a reality than going .500. Just because one tries to best understand what is most probable for the season ahead and realizes that in all likelihood this team is going to be one of the worst teams in P5 football, does not make that person a bad fan or anti-Illini. Illinois football is bad right now. There are glimmers of hope, but there is a long road ahead. I just hope that a bad season this year doesn't kill any momentum Lovie has right now with the program.
To take it a step further, is there a single position group that we can say for certain is above average in the B1G? Any group that an unbiased 3rd party would say for certain Illinois has an edge at relative to the average B1G team? I honestly don't know, but if the answer is "no" or "maaaaaaaybe this group", then that would in and of itself point to the incredible odds Illinois has to overcome this season.
My point is I think its still too early to call and while maybe an optimist at heart, I'd rather wait and see as opposed to listen to a third party group that in no way has the time or resources to make a valid call before all of the hand-wringing.
And I don't know enough about the other teams to make a judgement call. Sounds like our LB crew is a step up. Our RBs are another year older, and our secondary is coming along. One of our big issues last year was the gaping holes in the D and I am hoping that is much improved from last year. In a very quick view I think we are net up in QB, RBs, LBs, WR, and secondary? this year. And overall ability to run a more varied Q (Crouch vs Lunt of last year).