Pregame: Illinois at Purdue, Saturday, November 4th, 11:00am CT, BTN

[Dan]

Illinois at Purdue
Saturday, November 4th
11:00am CT
BTN

Line: Purdue -14

 

[dub80]

Actually believe we can win this game

 

[JDHalfrack]

Based on what?

The best part of beliefs is that they don't need to be based on anything.

 

[dub80]

Based on what?

Based on our improvement on Defense....... Purdue while improved is still not on Wisconsin level.

 

[BananaShampoo]

The best part of beliefs is that they don't need to be based on anything.

LoL True story.

 

[Dan]

Line: Purdue -14

 

[KBLEE]

Line: Purdue -14

Based on recent experience, that means we should lose by a touchdown.

 

[RedRocksIllini]

Seems unlikely we'll see Cam Thomas this week as he recovers from an ankle injury. Also, Dudek, Green and Bonner are all questionable. Looks like another week of experience for anyone that is sorta healthy.

 

[Deleted member 631370]

Based on our improvement on Defense....... Purdue while improved is still not on Wisconsin level.

Wisconsin sorta sleep-walked through that game on Saturday. Not to take anything away from our effort, but that was hardly Wisconsin's A-game.

(not that I think Wisconsin is a legit top-5 team to begin with. Ohio State is going to beat them by 20+ in the Big Ten title game)

Purdue, at home, really needs a win to get the train back on track. This game will be worse than the Wisconsin game.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

LOL, seriously I think we can pull this one off. We seem to be getting better, and Purdue hasn't lit the world on fire. I wouldn't be shocked at a decent Illini fan turnout, either. My sister lives in Indianapolis now, and she said there is actually a somewhat decent Illini fan base in far western Indiana. Given the fact that we're usually a state whose borders are being invaded by the likes of Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, et. al., this put a smile on my face.

Illinois 21
Purdue 14

Let's do it, boys!

 

[Illiini]

Cautiously optimistic.

 

[Dan]

Lovie previews Purdue

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Lovie: Get the Cannon Back week. When you've lost as many games as we have, good to have something more to play for (trophy game)

Lovie: Improved in a lot of areas but not enough. Turnover margin hurt us. Wisconsin's a good football team.

Lovie: Dudek didn't finish the game. Will have more on him later in the week.

Lovie: We've had too many guys get thrown out of games. We need to learn what targeting is.

Lovie: Great opportunity. We hope to eventually get a win. It's been too long.

Lovie: Wisconsin beat us up front. They've beaten a lot of people up front. When you don't win that battle, it's tough.

Lovie: We're doing 2 QB system to win games, and we're not winning them. In ideal world, you want 1 QB

Lovie: Playing young player, it's built in that they'll make mistakes. Cam got later start. He took steps.

A lot of things he did running the football. Passing decisions must improve. He's responded well.

Lovie: Phillips and Harding added some stability to LB corps.

Just had a lot better discipline in our run defense.

Lovie: Stanley Green did a great job coming up in run support.

Lovie: Brohm is a good football coach. His record speaks for itself.

Lovie: Back end must be disciplined against Purdue

Lovie: I think we've seen this is a good recruiting class. They've grown. Now it's taking those improvements and winning.

Lovie: New football facility will be a "showcase" for recruiting.

Lovie: Suggested "a few things" for football facility. "Right, Warren (Hood)?"

Lovie: Whitman "identified the things we need to improve."

Lovie: Vision need to compete and succeed at this level. You have to keep up with what everyone else has throughout.

Lovie: You have to be realistic of where you are when you start and how long it will take when you get over the hump.

Lovie: We do trust the process. When you've been through it before, you know to trust it.

Lovie: We've lost some good players who aren't playing for us. We're missing some good players like everyone.

https://twitter.com/JWernerScout/

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[Ransom Stoddard]

Lovie: We've had too many guys get thrown out of games. We need to learn what targeting is.

This is really my only gripe with player development right now. Officials are giving no latitude on these calls and we wind up losing critical guys for at least a half of a football game. I would think this should be stressed to every player on D and ST from the minute camp starts.

 

[BananaShampoo]

If so many of our key players weren't injured or dinged up I'd say we take this one. Unfortunately that's not the case and lack of depth kills us in this one, I think. I'd love to be wrong.

Undue Perversity - 24
- 20

 

[IlliniJim20]

This is really my only gripe with player development right now. Officials are giving no latitude on these calls and we wind up losing critical guys for at least a half of a football game. I would think this should be stressed to every player on D and ST from the minute camp starts.

What makes you think it isn't? If players cannot see others get kicked out, what can you do?

I am a teacher. It boggles my mind sometimes when I see mistakes on tests of material we have covered, discussed, practiced and reviewed. Heck I have even at times told them " this will be on the test!" Yet, they still make mistakes..

Sometimes it is on the players, coaches can only teach, preach, emphasize so much. Players HAVE to know the rules. Most of the targeting calls are not borderline, but rather obvious.

 

[lexwaldez]

I think we have a lead by half time... that's all I'm willing to say.

 

[Dan]

Game Notes

BTN: Cory Provus & J Leman

http://www.fightingillini.com/news/2017/10/30/football-game-week-illinois-at-purdue.aspx

 

[RedRocksIllini]

I think we have a lead by half time... that's all I'm willing to say.

Would be our first lead at half in a conference game. Sounds like progress. I'll take it.

 

[illini80]

Until I see something from the offense that doesn't happen in the meaningless last few minutes of a game, I don't see us having a chance. Hopefully, another strong D performance gives us a shot.

 

[Illiini]

According to Facebook on Oct 31, 2009, at 10:20 a.m., I posted "wants to know why he's going to watch the Illinois game this afternoon."

Then at 7:11 p.m., I posted "is agog: Illinois 38, Michigan 13. Oskee-wow-wow."

As Herman's Hermits sang, "This door swings both ways."

 

[NScale]

Until I see something from the offense that doesn't happen in the meaningless last few minutes of a game, I don't see us having a chance.

Continuing this thought, perhaps someone can give an insight as to what our offense actually is. Let's see, run up the middle for 2 yards, JGJr throws high incomplete to the sideline, JGJr gets sacked, punt.

 

[BRucks]

What makes you think it isn't? If players cannot see others get kicked out, what can you do?

I am a teacher. It boggles my mind sometimes when I see mistakes on tests of material we have covered, discussed, practiced and reviewed. Heck I have even at times told them " this will be on the test!" Yet, they still make mistakes..

Sometimes it is on the players, coaches can only teach, preach, emphasize so much. Players HAVE to know the rules. Most of the targeting calls are not borderline, but rather obvious.

Smith won't let the kids tackle in practice. It is hard to learn to do something well if you aren't allowed to practice it.

 

[TownieMatt]

When you're 14 point dogs to Purdue...

 

[IlliniJim20]

Smith won't let the kids tackle in practice. It is hard to learn to do something well if you aren't allowed to practice it.

NOT Leading with your head, NOT hitting a wr in the head/helmet isn't really something that needs to be "practiced."

 

[Illiini]

NOT Leading with your head, NOT hitting a wr in the head/helmet isn't really something that needs to be "practiced."

Learning what not to do is a bad way to learn what to do. What the kids should learn is how to tackle without picking up a targeting penalty. Exactly where do you put your head to not target but still make an effective tackle: "Well, he missed that tackle, but at least he didn't target."

I'd rather be able to say, "Wow, did you see that tackle!" And not mention targeting at all. You want to get the player where he's tackling correctly without thinking about "not targeting."