Illinisteve25
- Champaign
Went to several open training camp practices and they spend a lot of time on forcing turnovers. They also spent time on the returning of said turnovers as well so it is not luck or any kind of turnover fairy gift..
TOs aren't a miracle, they are taught and practiced. You don't lead the nation in TOs by luck.
Did you observe Miles coaching at all? Care to share any details/thoughts?Went to several open training camp practices and they spend a lot of time on forcing turnovers. They also spent time on the returning of said turnovers as well so it is not luck or any kind of turnover fairy gift..
I'd actually take the win vs Northwestern at home. When we are winning the games we're supposed to win(along with toss ups) at home on a consistent basis, we'll be fully stable as a program. A loss to a FUGLY Northwestern squad, where we'll probably be two touchdown favorites, would be BRUTAL. I'd probably be physically ill. If we lose to Iowa, that's no fun, but they bludgeon teams at home. No harm done.Hypothetical: Would you take a win over Iowa if it meant a loss to Northwestern?
If you believe this, I have some swamp land to sell you in Florida.Robert from IB did an analysis on this and determined we were only +3 based on where should be based on TO margin assuming neutral "luck". Not that dramatic. We are just very good at forcing fumbles in the right places where we have opportunity to recover, and good at being in position for INTs. Will we regress to the mean somewhat? Sure, but no reason to think our turnover generating D won't continue to do its thing.
That 2.7M is only the city boundaries. If you include the Chicagoland area(suburbs), we're talking what....9M to 9.5M people?STL has 300k people. Chicago has 2.7 million. I imagine that has a lot to do with it.
This is what, probably the fifth week in a row that you've thought this? Iowa may win, just because they are really, really good, but getting turnovers in high volume are not a miracle. It's a taught trait. The Bears, under Lovie, must have had a lot of miracles because when he left....the new coaching staffs didn't experience that same divine intervention until Fangio came and the miracles returned.Time for everything to come crashing back to earth. The turnover gods don't hand out another miracle this week. Iowa by 20+.
Sorry to correct you - but its the turnover fairy...Time for everything to come crashing back to earth. The turnover gods don't hand out another miracle this week. Iowa by 20+.
Forcing fumbles is a skill (sometimes). Recovering fumbles is not.This is what, probably the fifth week in a row that you've thought this? Iowa may win, just because they are really, really good, but getting turnovers in high volume are not a miracle. It's a taught trait. The Bears, under Lovie, must have had a lot of miracles because when he left....the new coaching staffs didn't experience that same divine intervention until Fangio came and the miracles returned.
Read this article (specifically the "Yellow" section): https://illiniboard.com/story/2019/11/18/red-yellow-green/If you believe this, I have some swamp land to sell you in Florida.
Robert is right on the money, but the idea that Illinois has the skill to force fumbles in the right places doesn't make sense. Do they forget how to force fumbles in the backfield then suddenly remember 15 yards down the field?Read this article (specifically the "Yellow" section): https://illiniboard.com/story/2019/11/18/red-yellow-green/
Robert is right on the money, but the idea that Illinois has the skill to force fumbles in the right places doesn't make sense. Do they forget how to force fumbles in the backfield then suddenly remember 15 yards down the field?
You are correct that the recovery of the ball is not a skill. If anyone says that they know where an oblong, misshapen ball(keep it clean fellas) is going to bounce....they're lying. You're right about that.Forcing fumbles is a skill (sometimes). Recovering fumbles is not.
And you bring up the Bears. Did they forget how to force turnovers this year?
Here is another possible aspect. Once the ball gets past the LOS gauntlet, most players loosen up to get more speed or maneuvering. Also, a lot of our TOs are coming from blind side hits that create the shock factor. It seems to me that our D is flying to the ball a lot more this year. More orange helmets in the area means a higher chance of recovery. Just thinking out load. Now back to your show.Robert is right on the money, but the idea that Illinois has the skill to force fumbles in the right places doesn't make sense. Do they forget how to force fumbles in the backfield then suddenly remember 15 yards down the field?
The majority of tackles aren’t made in the backfield, but I wish our’s were.Robert is right on the money, but the idea that Illinois has the skill to force fumbles in the right places doesn't make sense. Do they forget how to force fumbles in the backfield then suddenly remember 15 yards down the field?
This may be the largest improvement in our defense. For the past several years I wish I had a nickel for every time I yelled "how can they be that wide open?" when our defense was on the field. This year, not as much.Robert from IB did an analysis on this and determined we were only +3 based on where should be based on TO margin assuming neutral "luck". Not that dramatic. We are just very good at forcing fumbles in the right places where we have opportunity to recover, and good at being in position for INTs. Will we regress to the mean somewhat? Sure, but no reason to think our turnover generating D won't continue to do its thing.
I think I’d have to take the safe bet. Beat NW at home and lose to Iowa on the road.
Losing to a top 25 team on the road is expected. Losing to a HORRIBLE NW team at home is not.
If we lost to NW, it would make me think that this amazing 5 game streak (the hypothetical Iowa win included) was a fluke and I’d be super anxious about the bowl game and the future.
I just want to meet expectations. Beating our peers (NW, PU, Rut) is expected. Losing to them (especially at home) is not.