Barry Lunney Named Illinois Offensive Coordinator and QBs Coach

#76      
Top player in Arkansas for next class is a TE, just outside of the top 100. Already committed to the Razorbacks. Any chance Lunney can work some magic? Only other guy currently listed is a big OL from Bentonville.
Hard to see a recruit living in Arkansas breaking his commitment to a successful program to come to a program that didn't make a bowl game.
 
#80      
I maintain that the TP hire was made under the assumption a OC with previous P5 experience could have a decent floor for a couple seasons and Bielema and Walters could mold the defense together.

Obviously the O was abysmal this year so it didn't work out but I believe Bielema thought his first hire should be a "safe" one.
 
#81      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
I maintain that the TP hire was made under the assumption a OC with previous P5 experience could have a decent floor for a couple seasons and Bielema and Walters could mold the defense together.

Obviously the O was abysmal this year so it didn't work out but I believe Bielema thought his first hire should be a "safe" one.
Petersen having been a co-OC for Glen Mason's Minnesota during the George W. Bush administration before the iPhone had been invented really isn't relevant to anything.

I confess I don't think I'll ever understand why Petersen was the first guy, but I am certain his work with Asad Abdul-Khaliq wasn't it. There was nothing "safe" about the hire, there kind of inherently isn't with an OC.
 
#84      
The thought the the ā€œplanā€ was to hire TP as a one year stop-gap isā€¦.. asinine.
I think the timing of this OC change confirms this. Why else would they wait weeks after the season ended to do this? My thought is that the Petersen firing is only partially due to the poor offensive performance this year. The larger problem is that Petersen didn't have a plan to fix the QB situation going forward. The best he could get from the portal was a one year stopgap who was previously benched, and then another transfer is needed for 2023. Either that or there were disagreements on QB evaluation for the 2023 class
 
#85      
Petersen having been a co-OC for Glen Mason's Minnesota during the George W. Bush administration before the iPhone had been invented really isn't relevant to anything.

I confess I don't think I'll ever understand why Petersen was the first guy, but I am certain his work with Asad Abdul-Khaliq wasn't it. There was nothing "safe" about the hire, there kind of inherently isn't with an OC.
@illini0440 said Petersen was first because the the real top options didnā€™t work out. It would be interesting to know who those other options were to compare to Lunney now.
 
#86      
@illini0440 said Petersen was first because the the real top options didnā€™t work out. It would be interesting to know who those other options were to compare to Lunney now.
I was more interested in who the defensive coordinator options were before Lovie named himself. There had to be a stack of resumes on somebody's desk.
 
#88      
No one. There was interest but Lovie had no interest in hiring anyone.
That's what makes me sad. I know Lovie felt the need to circle the wagons and insulate himself, but how can any coach feel that increasing the amount of work you have to do day to day can be beneficial to your success. I am happy it appears BB has learned his lessons from his mediocre time at Arkansas and then his time in the pros that a HC needs to be able to think big picture and delegate details. Fully think that when Lunney became available BB saw a guy that could better handle the details of the big picture than TP.

In regards to TP, I think the benefit bod hiring him was that you were guaranteed that he wasn't going anywhere and the initial diagnosis is that our offense could be better if we just had consistent approach and stability, but we found an upgrade and are likely able to run a power running offense all be it from a more RPO spread look.
 
#89      
That's what makes me sad. I know Lovie felt the need to circle the wagons and insulate himself, but how can any coach feel that increasing the amount of work you have to do day to day can be beneficial to your success. I am happy it appears BB has learned his lessons from his mediocre time at Arkansas and then his time in the pros that a HC needs to be able to think big picture and delegate details. Fully think that when Lunney became available BB saw a guy that could better handle the details of the big picture than TP.

In regards to TP, I think the benefit bod hiring him was that you were guaranteed that he wasn't going anywhere and the initial diagnosis is that our offense could be better if we just had consistent approach and stability, but we found an upgrade and are likely able to run a power running offense all be it from a more RPO spread look.
Will be in shot gun a little more I'd assume but I think think we see a lot of I formation
 
#90      
Will be in shot gun a little more I'd assume but I think think we see a lot of I formation
From talking to some UTSA fans on Reddit they did run some I in red zone and short yardage and they said he played a lot of pistol formation to still have the QB back but to have that power running game.

I'd fully expect us to develop more I formation with Lunney and am excited to see what we get. Have a feeling option read off the RPOs are going to go down and the QB will run less than UTSA did (QB ~20% or rushing yard there).
 
#93      
Now just get us a QB.
AMEN to that

Honestly same could be said about QB and Offensive Coordinator. Unfortunately we have been using the quantity but not quality take for way to many years now. I have all the confidence in the world BB will turn this thing around and do like this hire. It would be a nice change to lose an offensive coordinator due to another team hiring them away for a coaching position. We have had some real duds since Locksley. It actually looks like we might have an offensive coordinator stay 2+ years now....verdict still out with the list of current QBs on the roster.
 
#94      

Illinivek23

Gurnee
Another two Olinemen would be nice also. We got a huge guard, a center and a tackle would go nice now. Still lots of big bodies uncommitted in the portal.
Are you referring to the JC transfer Isaiah Adams as the huge guard? I figured he would be an OT.
 
#98      
From talking to some UTSA fans on Reddit they did run some I in red zone and short yardage and they said he played a lot of pistol formation to still have the QB back but to have that power running game.

I'd fully expect us to develop more I formation with Lunney and am excited to see what we get. Have a feeling option read off the RPOs are going to go down and the QB will run less than UTSA did (QB ~20% or rushing yard there).
This is good stuff. My hope is that Bielema doesnā€™t get too involved in offense and impose ground pound game but rather let Lunney create and adjust game plan accordingly based on what he sees.