There could be a silver lining in this loss. Our coaches should know now who to get the ball to on offense, and we got some nice prep against a lefty qb for UVA
UTSA 37, Illinois 30 Postgame
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
The O didn't give up 37. That said, I agree that it wasn't a halcyon moment for Peterson. Plenty of blame to go around.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
It will take several seasons for BB to get the team where we all want it to be.
For the first time in 30 years we have a head coach who's the complete package. He's grounded in the college game. He understands the primacy of consistent recruiting, developing a complete team, and he has excellent NFL coaching experience to augment that. He seems mature, seasoned and having good judgment, particularly compared with earlier in his career. He is a native Illinoisan and is focusing on recruiting the best in the state as well as from around the nation. He has and is further developing the networks to do both. He is very intelligent and can manage a large staff effectively. When he speaks he exudes competence, authority, confidence (but not arrogance), and charisma. He reflects well on the university.
We haven't had all of that in one package since White and Mackovic in the '80s. Both had been D-1 head coaches, White having great success at Cal and Mack as a HC at Wake Forest. Both had solid NFL experience, too, particularly with QBs. (After leaving Cal, White coached under Bill Walsh at SF in the late '70s. Mack was QB coach under Tom Landry and then head coach of the Chiefs.)
No one since then has had that complete package of experience and skills. Not Tepper. Not Turner (many years as a college asst and only one year as a head coach before heading to the Bears.) Not Zook (ace recruiter but not a bright guy, clearly a lightweight, and unable to develop a complete team... recall the many talent gaps and the special team debacles we had under him.) Lasagna: embarrassing. Lovie... retired in place; 12 yrs as a college assistant, which ended 30 years before he took over at Illinois.
This is why I'm more optimistic than I've been in literally decades. BB can get this done. We need more and better talent. We need top QBs. I watched Wisc-PSU yesterday. There's no reason we can't have the quality of players that the Badgers have, or better. But it will take a while. Compared with every coach we've had since 1991, however, I'm highly optimistic.
In the meantime it will probably suck but we'll see regular glimpses of genuine hope and enjoy a rational projection of increasing success. I'll take that.
For the first time in 30 years we have a head coach who's the complete package. He's grounded in the college game. He understands the primacy of consistent recruiting, developing a complete team, and he has excellent NFL coaching experience to augment that. He seems mature, seasoned and having good judgment, particularly compared with earlier in his career. He is a native Illinoisan and is focusing on recruiting the best in the state as well as from around the nation. He has and is further developing the networks to do both. He is very intelligent and can manage a large staff effectively. When he speaks he exudes competence, authority, confidence (but not arrogance), and charisma. He reflects well on the university.
We haven't had all of that in one package since White and Mackovic in the '80s. Both had been D-1 head coaches, White having great success at Cal and Mack as a HC at Wake Forest. Both had solid NFL experience, too, particularly with QBs. (After leaving Cal, White coached under Bill Walsh at SF in the late '70s. Mack was QB coach under Tom Landry and then head coach of the Chiefs.)
No one since then has had that complete package of experience and skills. Not Tepper. Not Turner (many years as a college asst and only one year as a head coach before heading to the Bears.) Not Zook (ace recruiter but not a bright guy, clearly a lightweight, and unable to develop a complete team... recall the many talent gaps and the special team debacles we had under him.) Lasagna: embarrassing. Lovie... retired in place; 12 yrs as a college assistant, which ended 30 years before he took over at Illinois.
This is why I'm more optimistic than I've been in literally decades. BB can get this done. We need more and better talent. We need top QBs. I watched Wisc-PSU yesterday. There's no reason we can't have the quality of players that the Badgers have, or better. But it will take a while. Compared with every coach we've had since 1991, however, I'm highly optimistic.
In the meantime it will probably suck but we'll see regular glimpses of genuine hope and enjoy a rational projection of increasing success. I'll take that.
illiniswish09
- Northwest Suburbs
I agree it’s a waste of a take. Couldn’t help but post it though because I really do believe this staff is different
I’m just as disappointed as everyone with the loss. However this team is going to take time to build, we could have/should have won and we’re within 7 points
I’d wager last year we would have lost this game by 20 points.
The loss sucks, but we are looking like a team with a solid staff and the kids are going to learn from this - and so is the staff.
I still think this is a 6 win team, but we do need our running backs healthy and need to get a decent passing game going for that to happen.
In years past, I’ve been embarrassed watching Illinois Football, I was disappointed today, not embarrassed.
I’d wager last year we would have lost this game by 20 points.
The loss sucks, but we are looking like a team with a solid staff and the kids are going to learn from this - and so is the staff.
I still think this is a 6 win team, but we do need our running backs healthy and need to get a decent passing game going for that to happen.
In years past, I’ve been embarrassed watching Illinois Football, I was disappointed today, not embarrassed.
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
This year's success seems built on TOP, solid running game and play action passing game. When 3 of our most experienced RBs aren't available, hurts all of the above.
Seemed they are still looking for the best combo of LG and RG between BJ, JB and AP. Wonder if Pearl will get more PT and if they would consider sliding Palcho inside to one of the spots.
Adjustments in game and between games are always really interesting and looking forward to what we do at VA
Seemed they are still looking for the best combo of LG and RG between BJ, JB and AP. Wonder if Pearl will get more PT and if they would consider sliding Palcho inside to one of the spots.
Adjustments in game and between games are always really interesting and looking forward to what we do at VA
Running plays called last week and again this week featured Epstein up the middle. Stuffed every time. Even knocked backwards yesterday. Whereas running plays to the outside gained ground. Yet we continue to call runs up the gut with no effect. Seems like the coaches want to create Wisconsin Junior by doing that. It ain't working. And as I commented recently, we underutilize our tight ends. What happened when we threw to the TEs the last 2 games? Great things.
Thus:
1. Run to the outside
2. Throw to the tight end
Thus:
1. Run to the outside
2. Throw to the tight end
I agree. This staff definitely adapts.
The interesting comment I heard was that Illinois had no film to scout while they scouted us.
However, with the in game and halftime adjustments, you could see this staff is always rethinking the game plan dynamically and has the team thinking the same (I liked the audibles to change the formation to protect against blitzes).
I think we are fine at corner. Once we figured out how to bump off the line we were ok.
offense with the tiny receivers is our weakness, imo.
They did adapt, but it took too long for them to see that we were playing too soft on their receivers. We also can't run it down a good teams throat if they don't have to respect our passing game.
Probably true, but Jim Brown would have had trouble working behind that OL last night. They were consistently stuffed at the line of scrimmage.
Folks,
We are rebuilding. Perhaps for 2 (Two) years or more.
Fill that stadium and cheer as much as you can. The program needs your $$ and loud voice
We are rebuilding. Perhaps for 2 (Two) years or more.
Fill that stadium and cheer as much as you can. The program needs your $$ and loud voice
Illinois was competitive in this game. Had a chance to tie at the end…that was the goal for year1. Obviously better opponents (better???) coming up.
would like to see 2TE sets…defense with more LBs and run defense then pass. Or vice versa, split out tes. Run play action!
hooefully staff tries out pearl at LT and palcho at guard. Worth a try to see if it brings stability.
team seemed not confident 1st quarter. Need to build up confidence, just go for it right from the start. Be fearless. Hopefully success on offense can carry over.
would like to see 2TE sets…defense with more LBs and run defense then pass. Or vice versa, split out tes. Run play action!
hooefully staff tries out pearl at LT and palcho at guard. Worth a try to see if it brings stability.
team seemed not confident 1st quarter. Need to build up confidence, just go for it right from the start. Be fearless. Hopefully success on offense can carry over.
I would keep your wife's birthday party going and not cut it short to watch games for the next two years
Remember we have a ton of super seniors this year. Imagine where we would be without them (this year)
Next year fully expect the numbers to tank some - less of those Whitman bear hugs (NO super seniors and ave 22 recruits)
We need to see how BB does in 2023 and even more so in 2024 recruiting
IF we break the bank I think it will be in 2025, not earlier
So it seems. Due to Super Seniors. Once they (and this year's seniors) leave fully expect to manage your expectations
I think everyone needs to realize that with all the experience we have on the line they are still only 2 games in to a completely new scheme and are most likely asked to do something counter to what they have learned for the last 2 years under the previous O-Line coach. We don't have the road graders that they had at Wisky YET. McClain wanted quick/agile linemen that could get upfield on screens and such. These boys are being asked to do things much differently than the last few years. There will be a learning curve. The big run Epstein had last week was right off tackle then he bounced it outside for 44 big yards. I find it hilarious that some people expect our o-line to block like Bama just because they have a little experience. Gonna take some time fellas but we will get there. Let's revisit this conversation 4 years from now when coach Millers recruits are Juniors and in Tanks weight program for 3+ years.
illini80
- Forgottonia
I think the most surprising thing was that they were more physical than we were. I listened to enough things this week to have serious doubt about a win, but I didn’t expect the O-Line and secondary to struggle as much as they did. I hope it results in some adjustments or we just wrote the script for our opponents the rest of the season.
Depth is almost always a problem for us because we don’t have the talent to go 3-4 deep without a significant drop. We needed to stay healthy to have a really good season, and we’re not a good track for that. Injuries happen. I just hoped Tank had them in a better position to withstand the wear and tear and it would show on the injury list. Another loss or two at critical positions could really derail the season. This is my biggest concern going forward.
Depth is almost always a problem for us because we don’t have the talent to go 3-4 deep without a significant drop. We needed to stay healthy to have a really good season, and we’re not a good track for that. Injuries happen. I just hoped Tank had them in a better position to withstand the wear and tear and it would show on the injury list. Another loss or two at critical positions could really derail the season. This is my biggest concern going forward.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
The lack of a consistent pass rush was disappointing to me..........The play calling wasn't very good either....Running Epstein on that slant towards the middle of their line late in the game was very puzzling........
The Oline play hasn't been up to the expectations being said in staff interviews..........Zero sacks is a little misleading ....I thought the tackle on BP when he hurt his shoulder was a sack......
It's gonna be a long year , but not as long as if Lovie was still here....It was his time to go and it is BB's time to resurrect the program....I will give him a long leash as much damage has been done to the program from Lasagna boy and the white bearded one.....
I've been an Illini fan for 60 + years....I see no reason to stop now .........
GO ILLINI
The Oline play hasn't been up to the expectations being said in staff interviews..........Zero sacks is a little misleading ....I thought the tackle on BP when he hurt his shoulder was a sack......
It's gonna be a long year , but not as long as if Lovie was still here....It was his time to go and it is BB's time to resurrect the program....I will give him a long leash as much damage has been done to the program from Lasagna boy and the white bearded one.....
I've been an Illini fan for 60 + years....I see no reason to stop now .........
GO ILLINI
But it would be nice to watch some winning football before we have to watch with the angels.
Deleted member 747867
D
Guest
OLine wasn't awful all day. ILL averaged about the same yards per carry as UTSA. But UTSA had the more explosive RB. ILL's RBs are not as quick to and through the holes. And you cannot expect every hole to be gaping. Sometimes it's just a momentary crease that the RB has to hit. If he's a step slow, then it's no-go. Plus UTSA's DL ran stunts all day, so the OLineman had to flow with stunting DL, which meant they were not able to peel off to chip the LBs that were fast and running free all day.