Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
Media team is killing it.
First, like JFGs said, media team is really killing it. Second, I really hope BB and staff can find the right transfers this off season to keep the ball rolling. This season has been so much damn fun. Another up year, even if it doesn’t meet the heights of this year, is going to pay such huge dividends for in-state recruiting — as well as nationally. We may likely never match Ohio State’s recruiting, but getting to a point similar to what BU has done in bball where more often than not we can win recruitments of the players BB and staff prioritize will be huge — and fun.
I'd have never guessed your heritage based on your picture.agree
he's the real deal
I've shared on here before that Im of dutch heritage. Bielema is of dutch heritage. Prophetstown is a dutch communnity . Many such towns exist all over the midwest states. His resemblance to my dad (r.i.p. 2-1-2020 at age 88) and about 1/2 my cousins is uncanny. Same face, same barrel chested body type. I laugh to myself all the time about this.
So glad hes on our sideline and in the head coach's office at the Smith Center. The perfect hire for us, in December 2020. Seriously
Dutchland had always been a melting potI'd have never guessed your heritage based on your picture.
Dutchland had always been a melting pot
Thanks Gritty!!Sure.
If our offensive line play drops below a certain level we don't have a competitive team anymore. That's BielemaBall. Even with a great defense, if we're just punting all the time because we can't move the ball we're finished.
Our year 1 OL had some players who were recruited to a different system and in some cases didn't have ideal BielemaBall size and length, but were very, almost unprecedentedly because of the Covid rules, experienced and played quite well. And we faced the prospect of replacing a ton and bringing back very little experience.
I foresaw an offensive line that just wasn't capable of what we needed, and was probably going to be stuck playing a lot of unready players, maybe with bright futures, but who were going to be overmatched in 2022. Think Vederian Lowe as a freshman, or Kendrick Green as a freshman. I thought we were going to be forced into a step back in 2022 to build forward for 2023.
The way OL's work is that you add one good player, especially a tackle, and all of a sudden all 5 positions look better. Isaiah Adams is suddenly a guard. The mystery box of Zy Crisler now has Jordyn Slaughter for cover. The true freshmen are suddenly off the two deep. And so on.
The return of Palcho made me feel like we had a meaningful chance to play real football and to do the things Bielema wants to do. That 2022 could involve progression rather than just taking our lumps in the name of "development". And while it's hard to say he's the difference between 7-1 and 1-7, I do feel like that has made a big big difference and had that cascading effect across the line and across our run game.
Credit also to Crisler who was a way overweight mystery Juco with no offers at the same time Palcho was a projected undrafted NFL free agent. Those have been two of our five best offensive players, arguably.
I'll simplify this a bit - we have had positive surprises in a lot of places - the O-Line, WR and DE's in particular. However, what we have done this year comes down to one guy, and that's Tommy DeVito. If Art is our QB, we are 4-8 or maybe 5-7 this year.Sure.
If our offensive line play drops below a certain level we don't have a competitive team anymore. That's BielemaBall. Even with a great defense, if we're just punting all the time because we can't move the ball we're finished.
Our year 1 OL had some players who were recruited to a different system and in some cases didn't have ideal BielemaBall size and length, but were very, almost unprecedentedly because of the Covid rules, experienced and played quite well. And we faced the prospect of replacing a ton and bringing back very little experience.
I foresaw an offensive line that just wasn't capable of what we needed, and was probably going to be stuck playing a lot of unready players, maybe with bright futures, but who were going to be overmatched in 2022. Think Vederian Lowe as a freshman, or Kendrick Green as a freshman. I thought we were going to be forced into a step back in 2022 to build forward for 2023.
The way OL's work is that you add one good player, especially a tackle, and all of a sudden all 5 positions look better. Isaiah Adams is suddenly a guard. The mystery box of Zy Crisler now has Jordyn Slaughter for cover. The true freshmen are suddenly off the two deep. And so on.
The return of Palcho made me feel like we had a meaningful chance to play real football and to do the things Bielema wants to do. That 2022 could involve progression rather than just taking our lumps in the name of "development". And while it's hard to say he's the difference between 7-1 and 1-7, I do feel like that has made a big big difference and had that cascading effect across the line and across our run game.
Credit also to Crisler who was a way overweight mystery Juco with no offers at the same time Palcho was a projected undrafted NFL free agent. Those have been two of our five best offensive players, arguably.
Touchdown Tommy....as we call our QB around these partsI'll simplify this a bit - we have had positive surprises in a lot of places - the O-Line, WR and DE's in particular. However, what we have done this year comes down to one guy, and that's Tommy DeVito. If Art is our QB, we are 4-8 or maybe 5-7 this year.
This is our best chance to win the west and beat Michigan....you play the guys who give you the best shot of doing that whether is burns a redshirt or not.Hot take: Redshirt McCray at this point. Play him against Purdue and in the bowl game. Bring him back next year as a redshirt freshman.
If you believe Love and Hayden can shoulder the backup roles then maybe, but I do think a healthy McCray adds another dimension to this team and allows Brown more rest.Hot take: Redshirt McCray at this point. Play him against Purdue and in the bowl game. Bring him back next year as a redshirt freshman.
This is our best chance to win the west and beat Michigan....you play the guys who give you the best shot of doing that whether is burns a redshirt or not.
only if he's noticeably well shy of 100% healthy. BB should have no problem bringing in RBs the next few years. It's more important to keep the momentum going and play him if he's healthy than worry about 3 years from now.Hot take: Redshirt McCray at this point. Play him against Purdue and in the bowl game. Bring him back next year as a redshirt freshman.
I liked both of these contradicting posts , but agreed. However, I have to think that a QB transfer is watching BB has going on in Champaign and getting VERY interested ... with the right transfer class and our schedule next year, we have a non-zero chance of winning the West next year!This is our best chance to win the west and beat Michigan....you play the guys who give you the best shot of doing that whether is burns a redshirt or not.
I am both interested by the hypothetical of how Lunney would have been able to adjust what we do without TDV and incredibly grateful that we haven't had to find out in real life.I'll simplify this a bit - we have had positive surprises in a lot of places - the O-Line, WR and DE's in particular. However, what we have done this year comes down to one guy, and that's Tommy DeVito. If Art is our QB, we are 4-8 or maybe 5-7 this year.
I don't know if McCray has an NFL future, but if he does he's going to leave at the first available opportunity because RB's are stupid if they don't. And you can't redshirt someone's NFL draft eligibility clock.Hot take: Redshirt McCray at this point. Play him against Purdue and in the bowl game. Bring him back next year as a redshirt freshman.
Agreed. And Josh would have to be on board with BB trying to redshirt him. If he’s 100% healthy and worked this hard to get back to be more of an integral part of this team’s success, pulling the rug out from underneath him for no other reason than to save a year of eligibility could well leave a bad taste in his mouth.only if he's noticeably well shy of 100% healthy. BB should have no problem bringing in RBs the next few years. It's more important to keep the momentum going and play him if he's healthy than worry about 3 years from now.
With the transfer rules being what they are no coach is going to redshirt a guy who can help him win this year.I am both interested by the hypothetical of how Lunney would have been able to adjust what we do without TDV and incredibly grateful that we haven't had to find out in real life.
I don't know if McCray has an NFL future, but if he does he's going to leave at the first available opportunity because RB's are stupid if they don't. And you can't redshirt someone's NFL draft eligibility clock.
Also,
It’s certainly the simplest analysis mathematically. Well done!I have applied my great power of deduction
Illinois 12
Michigan 9
It’s certainly the simplest analysis mathematically. Well done!