I think they wanted the ball on the left hash. Pinton seemed to have a bit of a draw on his kicks. That 2nd FG from the right hash barely hooked enough to be just inside the right post.
Illinois 9, Iowa 6 Postgame
I think they wanted the ball on the left hash. Pinton seemed to have a bit of a draw on his kicks. That 2nd FG from the right hash barely hooked enough to be just inside the right post.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
This is all fair but let me clarify.
Art isn't good enough to play quarterback at this level. He's a good kid who is trying his best and I hope he can piece together enough to help us, but he can't hit the broad side of a barn and that is never going to change and we ultimately shouldn't have brought him in. It's not a system fit thing, except to the extent that the higher demands on QB timing and touch in the Lunney system causes even bigger problems.
Call it Tony Petersen's mistake. It is what it is.
And you're right, it's not as if another Tommy DeVito-level player was a reasonable possibility this offseason. Art was going to be QB depth we were stuck with.
But where I get frustrated is that the bizarre game of make-believe that was our "quarterback competition" this offseason, which Bielema and Lunney insisted on playing with a straight face, then seemed to carry over to the scenario in which he actually had to play. They're STILL bluffing with this guy.
They let Art lose the game for us twice on Saturday. Thank the heavens we got away with it. We will not continue to. The bluff has been called, we're stuck, we're out of quarterbacks, the way we play needs to be totally different until we can get TDV back. And then this offseason needs to get very creative ensuring we improve our options in that room.
Probably right on that, it was just a frustrating play lol.
if Tommy is back we win. if Art is our QB we lose. its simple. i wonder if Johnson is better than Art.? big time D3 numbers if i remember right.
all of that doesn't mean you put the ball in the hands of your back QB who a penchant for coughing it up.
I’ll give you half of your “bluffing.” I agree that the play calling in Saturday’s game should have better reflected Art’s strengths or at least not asking him to do things he’s not capable of. Can’t call the game like he’s TDV. Possibly they felt they were better off going with what had been taught and practiced all week, but as you point out the “bluffing” almost cost them the game. Hopefully with a week to prepare, they can put Art in better situations to succeed. But as to the “off-season bluffing,” what were they supposed to do, just say, “yeah, we got no real option at QB2”? Don’t see the harm in calling it a competition. Maybe they thought it would help hone both of them. Maybe they were worried that Art might transfer if he at least didn’t have a chance (or appear to) start. Who knows. You make it sound like some nefarious plot to dupe the fans/media.
As a complete side note, it is kind of interesting that it seems your main point of contention (or at least high up there) with the Bears/Fields situation is that new regime isn’t being truthful (some might even call it bluffing) about its feelings/plans for Fields and a future with Bears. Not sure what it means, but kind of interesting.
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good to know. i'm grasping for something.
is there any idea about Tommy's condition? i heard somewhere that he reinjured/banged an existing bruise and was walking around after the game pretty good?
another comment that it might be a high ankle sprain.
another comment that it might be a high ankle sprain.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
The funny thing about the Bears is that everyone is getting mad at Luke Getsy for designing his offense to compensate for a QB who can't do things NFL QB's need to be able to do.As a complete side note, it is kind of interesting that it seems your main point of contention (or at least high up there) with the Bears/Fields situation is that new regime isn’t being truthful (some might even call it bluffing) about its feelings/plans for Fields and a future with Bears. Not sure what it means, but kind of interesting.
Two very different situations with very different quarterbacks, but Lunney needs to have Getsy-like flexibility.
Art will occasionally make a good play (eg the pass to Hightower) that gives the impression that with some time and development he can become a serviceable QB. It just doesn't work that way. He looks the part of a QB and has the arm of a QB, but his decision making and execution are not there and never will be there. He seems like a good guy, but should never see the field outside of when you are up or down 42-0. If IW is healthy, we'd be better off having him QB
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
It all seems clearly consistent with an ankle sprain. And him not being able to go back in after what looked like a fairly innocuous play is definitely consistent with it being a lingering sprain he's been playing with. Once you hurt it it's much easier to re-tweak it.
Which then doesn't really point to any clear or awesome answers. You're just kinda managing it at below 100% under any scenario. That's football.
so, rub some dirt on it...lets go!
I think part of it is the playcalling and routes and part of it is the athleticism. Iowa really put on a clinic on how to get your tight ends open and finding gaps in coverage. That said, both Laporta and Ragaini needed to win their 1 on 1 matchups and they both did that quite well. They seemed fast and had great awareness and route running. When we look at both Ford and Reimann both seem to be slow coming out of their cuts and getting to gaps in the coverage. And when they do get a ball thrown their way, they look stodgy going up to get it. And if you can't win your 1on1 matchups or run clean routes with great cuts, and you don't have that individual athleticism or hands that allows you to catch anything thrown in your vicinity, it's going to be a struggle out there. From what I've seen, the only TE we have that looks good running routes is Marchese. I think sadly that Ford at this point is pretty much entirely a blocking TE.
Re-aggravated an ankle injury from the UTC game....also the same ankle he had surgery on at 'Cuse
Even the Sitkowski sneak was a bad choice. It should have gone to Brown
I guessed 50,000 from my seat in the horseshoe. But I know the approximate capacity. My wife on the other hand thought it was a huge crowd. Which is a good thing regarding the feel and excitement for the fans and the team. The crowd was fabulous. We were lucky to be sitting behind and in front of great and knowledgeable fans. We could discuss what was going on and comment reasonably (for the most part). But we were all rooting like crazy and having so much fun. I am as happy that we were there as I am that we won. Driving home on Sunday my wife said, "We should go more often like we use to". (that would have been the 70's-90's). I said with a big smile, "Got It!"
Wish I could have been there, but couldn't make it. Looked really full on TV at least, only one section I saw during the broadcast that was pretty sparse. Would love to sell out games consistently but it looked way better than it normally does, and way better than the bowl games no one cares about.
Agreed on the TV crowd appearance. I would have guessed at least 50-52K based on how the crowd looked on TV vs other games.
Art was a pretty high recruit and won the Rutgers starting QB job as a true freshman before losing it as a Sophomore. He is probably a pretty good practice player.
Yeah, overall he was put into a tough situation at Rutgers, and was a highly acclaimed recruit, but his performance there was pretty horrible, completing just 54.5% of his passes with 2,031 yards, eight touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
Great summary. Based on the time stamp, you must have started writing immediately after the game? I don't see this as doom and gloom. You nailed many realistic points. It is realistic not negative. I agree and I'm excited for the possibilities. But making adjustments may be required and are done by good teams. I also wondered that regarding Pinton vs. Griffin. Good work.
You saw that like apparently many fans. The guys sitting around me (not people that I even knew) and I kept saying what is with some of this play calling. How can so many fans know the situation, vibe, game scenario, etc. and the coaches don't. I know they are making decisions very quickly, but leading up to a situation they had to have experienced before, you would expect better decisions would be made. I know Iowa had a reputation for defending the goal line against the run, but Illinois was on the way to 200 yards rushing. At a minimum, lineup with TEs in a running formation and play action pass to one of then. Its a very safe play that at worst ends up with an incompletion. The defense has to respect the fake to Chase.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
Im fine with letting Griffin doing kickoffs.
But field goals and XP's has to be Pintons job for awhile at least - unless he starts to suck. How can you take that away from him ?