I do think this was our best shot at winning in the short run (and I thought it when BB was hired). It’s not the system he wants to run so this is probably best in the long run.
Wisconsin 24, Illinois 0 Postgame
Wiskys run defense is tough but clearly the passing game wasn't working...
There were 5 runs called in the first half. Taking out the 2 out of an our own end zone, the other 3 runs netted ~30yds.
If you take out the sacks, we averaged 3.5 yds in a small sample size, chase averaged 4.4. McCray only had 3 carries.
Felt like a weird time to lose our identity when the run game was actually more successful in small numbers
There were 5 runs called in the first half. Taking out the 2 out of an our own end zone, the other 3 runs netted ~30yds.
If you take out the sacks, we averaged 3.5 yds in a small sample size, chase averaged 4.4. McCray only had 3 carries.
Felt like a weird time to lose our identity when the run game was actually more successful in small numbers
Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
Yes, happy with the D. On O my assumption is you install your go forward scheme now and get people used to it, even if it is not optimized to win today. It’s not a win now situation, and if I’m bb I’d rather set up for success in the future. Blame the last guy is real thing. Now, doesn’t excuse some poor play calling perhaps, and not sure about our OC, but winning an extra game is less important than changing for the future.
blackdog
- Champaign
20+ of those yards were on 1 run so take that and its not good. Still 34 pass attempts and we only handed the ball off 11 times. I know Wisconsin is a great rushing defense but that still doesn't seem like a winning formula for this team.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
You mean feeling treated like that concrete monolith on the album cover, and not simply embodied by the song title?
My sentiment is that the first regular season basketball game is exactly one month from today. Thank goodness.
Worst since 1977.
RedRocksIllini
- Morrison, CO
If you watch any of it, you'll want to claw your eyes out. Soooo...if you like your eyes...
Right, but that's also kind of the point. The commentators literally talked about the Wisc defense allowing only 1 run play greater than 10yds this season then Brown hits for 20+.
But agreed, would have been nice to see shift in the approach at some point
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Undoubtedly this is the worst Illini offense I’ve ever seen in my four decades.
And that’s saying something.
We’ve got some talent at some skill positions and I feel awful for those players.
This is just so much worse than I imagined this year and I didn’t have high expectations.
And that’s saying something.
We’ve got some talent at some skill positions and I feel awful for those players.
This is just so much worse than I imagined this year and I didn’t have high expectations.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
At the end of the day it's just really really important that Tony Petersen is fired this coming offseason rather than the next one.
That, our transfer portal search for our next QB, and Tank Wright's ability to drive results from our S&C program are the critical levers toward progress.
That, our transfer portal search for our next QB, and Tank Wright's ability to drive results from our S&C program are the critical levers toward progress.
Nothing to see.
And when they did run it was just about the same damn play…
Don’t bother watching. My dog and I fell asleep…
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
If Ryan Johnson has anything at all it should be him. But I'm not inclined to get my hopes up about a D2 transfer.
It's hard to believe how much worse Peters is than the last couple years. Points pretty suggestively to the source of the problem.
Why would you trust the guy that hires an OC you think needs to be fired after 6 games to make another hire?
I expected a lot more from an offensive line with this much experience.
illini80
- Forgottonia
I think Art showed why he hasn’t been the starter. When the offense is that inept, the OC is certainly fair game, but he did try a lot of different things and none of them worked. And if they could have worked, someone missed a block or the pass was overthrown or behind. The defense could not stop the same plays over and over. They had a couple nice turnovers that somewhat kept the score respectable-ish but that’s about it. Wisconsin could have easily racked up 40 points.
My one positive is the lack of penalties. It shows discipline at least. That’s a start. A very small start, but a start. Glad we have a week off. Maybe they can figure a few things out. Penn St. will not be fun.
My one positive is the lack of penalties. It shows discipline at least. That’s a start. A very small start, but a start. Glad we have a week off. Maybe they can figure a few things out. Penn St. will not be fun.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Oh relax, nobody's firing Bielema after one year.
It was a gigantic mistake of a hire, obvious the very moment it happened that it was going to be a big problem for the growth of this administration.
But those things are always going to arrive at some point. It's about how you recognize and correct them.
It's not as simple as just firing the laughably unqualified and overmatched Petersen, you need to absolutely nail the next hire, who needs to be compatible with the way this program is driving towards playing.
illini80
- Forgottonia
That’s been the single most disappointing thing and I don’t understand it. Martin kept saying they weren’t communicating. That shouldn’t be a big issue for guys that have played this much football and much of it with each other.
The 2009 game at OSU saw the Illini not get past the OSU 35 I believe. 30-0.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Yeah he's not a college QB. Nowhere close to capable of delivering strikes, just like at Rutgers.
If he's even a meaningful contender for the job next year the Bielema era is over before it starts. Chayce Crouch part deux.
illini80
- Forgottonia
I didn’t like the hire either, but I’m also not sure anyone would have had success with this group. They are not being asked to do super complicated things it doesn’t appear and they are not executing. From the qb to the line to the wr’s. A couple nice running backs and decent TE’s aren’t going to make an offense run.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
So again, my question is - what have you seen from Bielema that would lead you to believe he'll go from "gigantic mistake, obvious from the very moment it happened" to a great choice that will turn things around?
If I believed that his choice OC was "laughably unqualified and overmatched" I wouldn't want him making a meaningful decision about the program ever again.
I will never understand this mentality.