The Illinois Football Coaching Search

[TMC999]

Not the best outcome, clearly. But we need to look at thru MAC glasses:
1) UB kicker was 0-2. On the year. So bad they stopped using him on 4th downs.
2) UB WRs had hands like linemen in the 2nd half. Killer drops when wide open
3) BSU 2 TDS were flukes. Scoop and score preceded by a Buffalo CB getting snipered for a free TD. That’s the difference. But they count.
it was like playing with weird rules.

Legit concerns: 1st half D in a big games. Bad tackling all game.

I still lean on his D3 crazy good record and UB record over the last 3 yrs in a football wasteland. I’m still mostly in but I’d sleep better with a 49-10 win. But we are Illinois so that would make it too easy. We should know that NOTHING will ever come easy for us

Please call Fickel one more time.

 

[trtl]

Not the best outcome, clearly. But we need to look at thru MAC glasses:
1) UB kicker was 0-2. On the year. So bad they stopped using him on 4th downs.
2) UB WRs had hands like linemen in the 2nd half. Killer drops when wide open
3) BSU 2 TDS were flukes. Scoop and score preceded by a Buffalo CB getting snipered for a free TD. That’s the difference. But they count.
it was like playing with weird rules.

Legit concerns: 1st half D in a big games. Bad tackling all game.

I still lean on his D3 crazy good record and UB record over the last 3 yrs in a football wasteland. I’m still mostly in but I’d sleep better with a 49-10 win. But we are Illinois so that would make it too easy. We should know that NOTHING will ever come easy for us

Please call Fickel one more time.

Maybe he should have recruited and developed a damn kicker. Seriously, what kind of Coach goes an entire season without a kicker? Get somebody from the soccer team if you have to. That is unacceptable.

 

[TMC999]

Not about McVay, of course not. I was more talking about Victory Illinois on twitter sucking people in with flightaware screen shots. One thing is for sure, flightaware will give you no insight into the coaching search. People before your post we’re speculating about who, legitimately, from LA could be a candidate. I was saying that is a waste of effort.

Not true, wet blanket. My cousin lives in LA and just saw JW and Urban playing quarters at a beachfront bar. It’s a lock. She said Urban was, however, lobbying for Bielema to be his QB coach...

 

[TMC999]

Maybe he should have recruited and developed a damn kicker. Seriously, what kind of Coach goes an entire season without a kicker? Get somebody from the soccer team if you have to. That is unacceptable.

Their women’s soccer team was shut down due to covid. He was out of options.

 

[GILL-INOIS]

First post on the board

My first choice is Luke Fickell and that would be quite a catch if we landed him.

That being said, my 1B is Jeff Monken. Just giving him some praise as think he could be a good fit. I know I know, most are scared if he would bring the same offense. It might not be fun to watch but I think we could benefit from it actually. Army runs it with smaller and less quicker guys that are quite disciplined. We might have some bigger and quicker guys but not like we are recruiting that well. It is all about ball management and running it effectively while keeping the defense rested. Army plays disciplined on all faucets of the ball. Only allowed 14.7 points a game this year on defense, one of the best teams in converting 4th downs on offense, leader in college football on special teams in blocked kicks, etc. How many years lately has Illinois had an effective QB that can throw the ball and more so on the current roster for next year? Peters had one good year passing(still couldn't keep him healthy either year), otherwise we have more athletic QB's that are very average at best in throwing the ball consistently.

During the Lovie Smith tenure

2016-2020

Offense QB total attempts/completions 809/1564 51.7% TD thrown 58 INT thrown 54


Defense Points Allowed/Game per year

2016 31.9
2017 31.5
2018 39.4
2019 25.4
2020 31.9


I think we might need to be reminded that watching Illinois football has been painful for many years now no matter what offense we have run. My main point is I think Monken can coach up the roster in place and utilize the strengths we do have. Not the most fun to watch, but running the ball effectively with time management will keep the D fresh and keep us in most games. Monken is an Illinois guy, great character and checks off a lot of boxes of what we are searching for.

I could care less about the Buffalo game tonight. If we are hiring a MAC coach, he better be an up-and-comer not a 56 year old. I really hope IL is not serious on BB.


Here is an interesting article from a few years ago about the Army old school offense and and 21st century analytics

Army combines old-school offense, 21st century analytics

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Every possession is precious for Army. Every play the Black Knights run is a well-choreographed, hidden-ball trick, designed to flummox and punish opponents who are almost always bigger, faster and stronger. But it's not just defending Army's triple-option that makes the...

apnews.com

 

[sacraig]

Not the best outcome, clearly. But we need to look at thru MAC glasses:
1) UB kicker was 0-2. On the year. So bad they stopped using him on 4th downs.
2) UB WRs had hands like linemen in the 2nd half. Killer drops when wide open
3) BSU 2 TDS were flukes. Scoop and score preceded by a Buffalo CB getting snipered for a free TD. That’s the difference. But they count.
it was like playing with weird rules.

Legit concerns: 1st half D in a big games. Bad tackling all game.

I still lean on his D3 crazy good record and UB record over the last 3 yrs in a football wasteland. I’m still mostly in but I’d sleep better with a 49-10 win. But we are Illinois so that would make it too easy. We should know that NOTHING will ever come easy for us

Please call Fickel one more time.

"You want your players to be succesful. We take out 10 plays in that football game, it's a different game."

"You take out 21 points on three plays and we’re in this football game."

Who said both of these gems?

 

[TMC999]

"You want your players to be succesful. We take out 10 plays in that football game, it's a different game."

"You take out 21 points on three plays and we’re in this football game."

Who said both of these gems?

In other words, scheme-wise, looked fine. One game.

But certainly not an impressive showing.

 

[Illinois_2_AZ]

"You want your players to be succesful. We take out 10 plays in that football game, it's a different game."

"You take out 21 points on three plays and we’re in this football game."

Who said both of these gems?

Sounds like Beckman to me.

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

I’m sure Leipold is a fine coach and he’d possibly workout well here. But there is no way you can fire up a fan base by introducing a 56 year old Mac coach who just got busted by the only decent team they played all year

I don’t know your definition of firing up the fan base or even what you consider “the fan base,” but do you really think any of the names that have been mentioned are going to do it? I don’t think BB would. Either one of the Monkens? No. Fickell probably would, but I don’t think any coordinator out there would. And Lovie’s hiring had some “splashiness“ to it and I thought I read that attendance went up only 10% in his first year. Bottom line is it will take winning to have any real impact. If JW thinks LL is the guy to do that at Illinois then he should hire him, and if not then don’t. But he shouldn’t be worried whether the announcement fires up fans. They’re not going to come back in any appreciable numbers until team starts winning.

 

[IlliniNash]

I don’t know your definition of firing up the fan base or even what you consider “the fan base,” but do you really think any of the names that have been mentioned are going to do it? I don’t think BB would. Either one of the Monkens? No. Fickell probably would, but I don’t think any coordinator out there would. And Lovie’s hiring had some “splashiness“ to it and I thought I read that attendance went up only 10% in his first year. Bottom line is it will take winning to have any real impact. If JW thinks LL is the guy to do that at Illinois then he should hire him, and if not then don’t. But he shouldn’t be worried whether the announcement fires up fans. They’re not going to come back in any appreciable numbers until team starts winning.

Or it won’t matter like nearly full stadium in Lovies first game and sellout in second game. Plenty of people fired up but it had little bearing on his tenure.

 

[illini0440]

JW blocks his flights from flightaware during coach searches and asks all candidates to do the same. No chance this flight had anything to do with football.

I’m back, don’t be so sure about that.

 

[TriangleIL]

GH, your table is ready!!

 

[illini0440]

GH, your table is ready!!

Lol not what I meant

 

[MarkyMarkTrestman]

Graham Harrell leaving the USC game

 

[illini80]

I was struggling to be excited about the likelihood of LL being our next coach. Tonight didn’t help. **sigh**

 

[Serious Late]

The Jeff Monken idea continues to grow on me. I'm not privy to the nuts and bolts of what it would take to modernize or enhance the triple option offense, but I suspect it wouldn't be so cut and dried to presume the team would be unwatchable with it (IF that system does make you shudder).

Take away that "ding" from him, and you are seemingly left with a candidate that checks every box. As always, the most important criteria is what comes from Whitman sitting in a room with him and ultimately judging if he has what it takes or not. I would venture to guess Whitman would be quite impressed after meeting with Monken.

Also, based on that, I find it close to unfathomable that Brett Bielema would sit with Whitman for an extended period of time and leave the same impression. Until proven otherwise, I refuse to believe Bielema makes the cut.

For the record, I have an unreasonable amount of trust in Whitman making the right call after meeting with all the candidates. I feel oddly comfortable and mostly relaxed with him leading this coaching search. I genuinely believe he will sell the vision, convince a strong candidate that he is a boss they will want to work for and ultimately make a great hire.

Sincerely,

A fan that believes Whitman made an intelligent hire in Lovie, while admitting it was a objective failure

 

[WeWillWhen]

Honestly, I’d prefer Monken over BB or LL.

 

[jrmarcus]

I say we get Tony Romo. He played at Eastern Illinois, that's pretty close to Champaign. Of course, he's getting $17 million a year at CBS...

 

[Illini1974Ever]

Just to be clear, they have to enter the portal, before we start the recruiting, right? At least, within the rules? I know the SEC motto, you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'.

I believe it's gonna be the Madden draft!!
Not by choice but were Illinois,Get your Cup's ready fellas !!

 

[Illini1974Ever]

Is BB rubbing his hands and laughing maniacally like a stereotypical villain right now?

Like a stinking "Badger!!"

 

[Illini1974Ever]

Lmao !!

 

[Illini1974Ever]

What are the chances Josh is watching this game, sipping a whisky, and thinking to himself, "I bet I could outcoach this guy"?

If Lovie can be his own DC, maybe Josh can be his own football HC. How's that for out of left field?

I bet TE would get to play!! Just saying lol

 

[Illini1974Ever]

“Hi Josh? It’s Lance. I’m not seeing anything in my inbox. Thought you said you’d send over that contract as soon as the game ended. I keep refreshing but nothing. Do you have my correct email address? Please call me back as soon as you get this. Excited to talk to you again!”

 

[FollowMeDontFollowMe]

The more I read about TM, the more I like. Really like. His offenses have been tops at most of his stops. He'd need to hire a average to above average DC, and we'd need some recruiters on staff, but I think I would really like this hire.

I feel like he would be the underwoodesque hire if he came; everyone potentially underestimating the local/home factor, initial success at new job, then add all of your comments and it seems comparable.

 

[Deleted member 29907]

Geez, if only he knew you should make your next coaching pick by looking at one game, Josh could have saved himself alot of time and effort and just stayed home with a bunch of TV screens in front of him. The guy really needs to get in touch with reality.

Reality check - we're not getting a top P5 coach taking this job. If we can get someone who got his team sniffing the top 25 with a school that does not self-recruit - we are upping our game 10x.

BB's last three games were losses - so I guess that would disqualify him as well using this methodology.