Pregame: Illinois at Penn State, Saturday, October 23rd, 11:00am CT, ABC

[blackdog]

People upset about his comments don't understand that there's no one even on the team these comments are really directed at. They're all gone and didn't end up in better opportunities than playing B1G football.

I think everyone needs to read the article I posted before to really understand the full context of what he was saying. There has been 1 player recruited from 2018-now that are on the 2 deep of the O-line that has actually played. Most of the rest have either transfered to lower level schools or changed positions. The O-line is 5 seniors a rs-junior and a rs-soph. Hes not calling out current players he is saying we literally have nobody to develop right now and that's a problem.

 

[KevinC]

He’s known all along. Bit his tongue. And this is what he is talking about…the development of the players by the previous staff was non existent along with the recruiting players that weren’t big 10 caliber. You weirdly are agreeing with what he said yet trying to argue against it.

Those players weren't developed for BB's system. That is entirely different than saying they weren't developed. If there was no development, how are guys getting any shots at all in the NFL? They would still be at a high school level.

 

[KevinC]

I think everyone needs to read the article I posted before to really understand the full context of what he was saying. There has been 1 player recruited from 2018-now that are on the 2 deep of the O-line that has actually played. Most of the rest have either transfered to lower level schools or changed positions. The O-line is 5 seniors a rs-junior and a rs-soph. Hes not calling out current players he is saying we literally have nobody to develop right now and that's a problem.

With the Super senior situation, not many were going to get an opportunity unless they were pretty well established. He and his O-line coach ran the players that they could have been developing away. I have seen numerous guys in the NFL that could not see the field in one system, become All Pros in another. Somehow, someone magically must have snapped their finger.

 

[DocMorgan]

Media is ridiculous. They feel if enough of them call something "unacceptable" they can steer the narrative and ruin peoples careers. Sad truth is it works half the time. Cancel culture at its finest. It makes nipple in the mouth babies feel as if they have power. Bullies on the keyboard. They don't care if its true or not, just better not hurt anyones feelings. Driven by emotion void of facts.

Deadspin is a clown show. I am only surprised that Julie Dicaro was not the author of the article.

 

[blackdog]

With the Super senior situation, not many were going to get an opportunity unless they were pretty well established. He and his O-line coach ran the players that they could have been developing away. I have seen numerous guys in the NFL that could not see the field in one system, become All Pros in another. Somehow, someone magically must have snapped their finger.

They had all of spring and fall practices to evaluate them and obviously decided they were not going to be good fits for the program in the future. As Robert pointed out in the article if they max out the recruiting class this year then that means something like 22-23 players are going to have to transfer. Everything now is auditions.

 

[derrick6]

He’s known all along. Bit his tongue. And this is what he is talking about…the development of the players by the previous staff was non existent along with the recruiting players that weren’t big 10 caliber. You weirdly are agreeing with what he said yet trying to argue against it.
Let me spell it out. His timing to mention this is the only weird thing. It’s like, let me cover my butt before a smack down.

You have also, blind follower like, put extra words to what he said by saying the development of players is the issue. How do you know it isn’t the recruits? That’s why I say he is wrong, until he can show that he can develop what he has.

I also say he’s wrong because play calling, like not going for a 4th and 1, bit us early. That’s on him and staff, so why blame the depth for that? Or in fact he never blamed his conservative smash mouth style.

You see, my opinion is that he is wrong to point out player development of the two and three deep, but praise (indirectly) the starters. Our starting QBs stink! Our starting OL is ok.

So yeah, he’s wrong putting it all on one thing.

 

[KevinC]

They had all of spring and fall practices to evaluate them and obviously decided they were not going to be good fits for the program in the future. As Robert pointed out in the article if they max out the recruiting class this year then that means something like 22-23 players are going to have to transfer. Everything now is auditions.

Agree. Was disagreeing with the earlier statements that implied that they had no talent. Their talent may not have fit BB's system or what the Oline coach was looking for.

 

[wma500]

Those players weren't developed for BB's system. That is entirely different than saying they weren't developed. If there was no development, how are guys getting any shots at all in the NFL? They would still be at a high school level.

A good lineman, is a good lineman. Take Doug Kramer as an example. Players can adapt to new systems, it's doable. If you're not a good lineman, you're just not going to see the field and it's time to move on.

 

[spotter]

Hosts on The Score today have been having kittens over BB's comments from yesterday.

 

[spotter]

In one of Zook's first five games in his first year, and the Illini lost decicively. On the network post game interview just a few minutes after the game, he commented about some aspect of the game that the team never got going.

When Brian or Kurt asked him what's the solution to improving that aspect of the game, Zook responded, "Recruit."

Of course that was before Twitter, so officially it didn't happen.

 

[spotter]

And one more thing before we pass the offering plate. When the AD hires/fires a coach and comments that the recruiting needs to improve, doesn't that indirectly bus toss the team? Saying recruiting needs to improve indirectly says, "Fired coach was bad at recruiting, so we are stuck with these should-be-playing-in-the-MAC scrubs."

 

[OffseasonFanatic]

With Jake Hansen out for year (sad ending to great Illini career), it would be good to see what Cooper can do at ILB

 

[wma500]

And one more thing before we pass the offering plate. When the AD hires/fires a coach and comments that the recruiting needs to improve, doesn't that indirectly bus toss the team? Saying recruiting needs to improve indirectly says, "Fired coach was bad at recruiting, so we are stuck with these should-be-playing-in-the-MAC scrubs."

Have fun with it this way...the AD is implicating himself....he hired the wrong damn guy in the first place. Recruiting chops are 1A, 1B and 1C in the top priorities of finding a good coach.


That, and clock management ha.

 

[Old.Edgy]

2 of those losses could/should have been wins if he would have gone for it on 4 and short. Imagine how differently we would feel right now if we had 4 wins right now insread of 2.

Truthfully speaking: '2 of those losses could/should have been wins if he would have gone for it on 4 and short' AND MADE IT ! You left that part out...

 

[Old.Edgy]

With the Super senior situation, not many were going to get an opportunity unless they were pretty well established. He and his O-line coach ran the players that they could have been developing away. I have seen numerous guys in the NFL that could not see the field in one system, become All Pros in another. Somehow, someone magically must have snapped their finger.

Just curious... could you name 3 or 4 ?

 

[Deleted member 747867]

Yet even the best QB can’t work miracles if the O-line is a sieve. Or if the O-line can’t split the defense for a bit of daylight for the RB’s to run for.
And did our defense just get pushed back four or five yards any time Wisconsin decided to go up the middle.

The O-line has not been the problem, by and large. The unit suffers from undersized guards--who play hard (I might add), but simply struggle against Big Ten D-linemen. Doug Kramer is really good at center, but he has been playing hurt or out altogether. The makes it tough slogging running inside, where BB likes to establish the ground game. The tackles are experienced, but they are not All-Big Ten types. All that said, the O-line has done a respectable job this year. In fact, there has not been one false start called on the O-line all year! That shows they are a disciplined group.

Furthermore, Illinois has struggled at RB. Chase was hurt and limited the first few games. He didn't show he was back to full speed until the past couple of games. And his speed and vision are missed when he is not playing healthy. RBs have to hit the hole -- or the crease -- when it opens, and the Illini RBs have missed the hole either due to lack of speed or lack of vision many times this year. One need only have watched the UTSA game to see the stark difference between a quality RB that explodes into the hole versus RBs that flat miss it for one reason or another. In the BIg Ten, one cannot expect gaping holes to be opened every play.

As for pass protection, the O-line has struggled at times, but again, that is not all their fault. At times the QB has held the ball too long, at other times the TE or (more often) the RB has failed to pick up the blitz, while at other times the TEs/WRs have not gained adequate separation on their routes, causing the QB to hold the ball longer than his protection could withstand the pressure.

Bottom line: The O-line may be at fault at times, but many times other elements are the primary cause for a breakdown. As a unit this O-line has been decent, especially given its athletic limitations. And it's been disciplined - which reflects good coaching.

 

[Dan]

 

[oldman]

After reading the recruiting boards two and three years ago, are we really surprised this is a problem?

 

[RedRocksIllini]

Hosts on The Score today have been having kittens over BB's comments from yesterday.

Isn't that pretty much what they do every show? I think they have a cat adoption event after every episode.

 

[pvaughn8]

After reading the recruiting boards two and three years ago, are we really surprised this is a problem?

It was obviously trash, but we were trying to convince ourselves that Lovie found some kind of loophole

 

[Dbell1981]

He’s known all along. Bit his tongue. And this is what he is talking about…the development of the players by the previous staff was non existent along with the recruiting players that weren’t big 10 caliber. You weirdly are agreeing with what he said yet trying to argue against it.
Let me spell it out. His timing to mention this is the only weird thing. It’s like, let me cover my butt before a smack down.

You have also, blind follower like, put extra words to what he said by saying the development of players is the issue. How do you know it isn’t the recruits? That’s why I say he is wrong, until he can show that he can develop what he has.

I also say he’s wrong because play calling, like not going for a 4th and 1, bit us early. That’s on him and staff, so why blame the depth for that? Or in fact he never blamed his conservative smash mouth style.

You see, my opinion is that he is wrong to point out player development of the two and three deep, but praise (indirectly) the starters. Our starting QBs stink! Our starting OL is ok.

So yeah, he’s wrong putting it all on one thing.

As Robert pointed out in the article, some hate his guts now for simply not going for it on 4th and 1. Have fun playing madden football boys. You guys got it all figured out.

 

[Dbell1981]

Just curious... could you name 3 or 4 ?

Crickets

 

[sinmyp1]

Truthfully speaking: '2 of those losses could/should have been wins if he would have gone for it on 4 and short' AND MADE IT ! You left that part out...

True, and the first one was a maybe you do, maybe you don't. The second one was a no brainer. So, lets say we split. This season would look a lot better with 3 wins instead of 2.

 

[derrick6]

As Robert pointed out in the article, some hate his guts now for simply not going for it on 4th and 1. Have fun playing madden football boys. You guys got it all figured out.

Way to go extreme. I like our coach. Just disagreeing with the timing of his statement.

 

[Dbell1981]

Everyone else is. Thought I'd join the party