Trees are nice. Sprinkling in some coeds from Ole Miss wouldn't hurt either.I wish we’d add more trees in Grange Grove itself to make it … an actual grove. Would it be in the strict “practical” interests of the allotted space for tailgating lots? No. Would it add immeasurably to the atmosphere and charm? You tell me….
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Illini Football 2023
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MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
Hotty ToddyI wish we’d add more trees in Grange Grove itself to make it … an actual grove. Would it be in the strict “practical” interests of the allotted space for tailgating lots? No. Would it add immeasurably to the atmosphere and charm? You tell me….
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TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
Wyoming was terrible at qb, and Toledo has a very dynamic qb. Our front 7 needs to dominate and our lb's be disciplined on the eye candy and we should take care of business.
2023 odds to win the B10 West (from fandual):
Wisconsin +130
Iowa +250
Minnesota +450
Illinois +650
Nebraska +1500
Purdue +2000
That basically amounts to 13.3% odds that Illinois wins the West. Seems like a fairly solid value bet if I've seen one (I'd put Illinois odds at 25% at minimum). I also think with the coaching change and the up for grabs nature of the West, Nebraska looks undervalued as well. Really looking forward to this year and hoping for a magical run of 10-2 with a trip to our first ever B10 Championship Game.
Wisconsin +130
Iowa +250
Minnesota +450
Illinois +650
Nebraska +1500
Purdue +2000
That basically amounts to 13.3% odds that Illinois wins the West. Seems like a fairly solid value bet if I've seen one (I'd put Illinois odds at 25% at minimum). I also think with the coaching change and the up for grabs nature of the West, Nebraska looks undervalued as well. Really looking forward to this year and hoping for a magical run of 10-2 with a trip to our first ever B10 Championship Game.
Caveats aside- new QB, new starting RB, new center (did I miss any 
?), any thoughts on what to expect from the offense?
Thinking more philosophy in year 2 of the system.Will we push the ball downfield more? What are Altmeyers strengths (or perceived strengths in light of not a ton of reps) vs DeVito last year?
?), any thoughts on what to expect from the offense? Thinking more philosophy in year 2 of the system.Will we push the ball downfield more? What are Altmeyers strengths (or perceived strengths in light of not a ton of reps) vs DeVito last year?
TentakilRex
- Land O Insects between Quincy-Macomb-Jacksonville
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
NW does not show up on this list, and they are always undervalued going into the season (see previous years of defying odds).
On second thought:
NW is going to be outright terrible this year and their odds are justified.
Watched some tape on Altmyer including the Sugar Bowl he played in:Caveats aside- new QB, new starting RB, new center (did I miss any
Thinking more philosophy in year 2 of the system.Will we push the ball downfield more? What are Altmeyers strengths (or perceived strengths in light of not a ton of reps) vs DeVito last year?
Pros: Good mobility in the pocket, keeps eyes downfield, mechanics look fundamentally sound (looks the part of a 4* talent), good arm strength and can make the throws that all P5 starting QBs have to be able to make (saw once really nice throw on a near hash out pattern under pressure), leadership traits
Cons: Just not enough experience to project consistency at this level (lots of inconsistency on broken plays where he holds the ball for too long, telegraphs some throws), smaller stature so won't be much of a dual threat
I think a lot depends on how well the receiver room progresses. Need more guys to be able to run a bigger route tree and get separation. I think we will see some younger guys do well in this regard. I'm pretty sure the coaches are looking at our stats on 3rd and 6+ from last year and understand that we need to be a bit more aggressive on these passing downs, even if it leads to a few more INTs with a first year starting QB.
I'd be happy if we got something like 2200 yards, 60% completion, ~14 TDs, 7-8 INTs out of Altmyer this year.
BZuppke
- Plainfield
Did anyone predict 8-4 last year?
Is that based on a Gaussian distribution?
If he has only 14 tds and 7-8 INTs we are in trouble!!! You would be putting too much pressure on the defense to bail the offense out every game. Hell the third string qb can put up those numbers!! Dam you really have a low bar for our offense and our qb
i know where you're coming from, but if we take these as a hard cut offs -Illini QBs to post 2200yds, >/= 60% completion, 14TD/7INT (2:1)- here's the list that have accomplished that here since 2004:
2022 DeVito 2650yds 69% completion 15TD/4Int
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yep, that's it.
some others were close but not quite all criteria and that's been almost 10 yrs-
2015 Lunt 2761 yds 56% 14/6
2014 Lung 1763 yds 63% 14/3
2013 Scheelhaase 3272yds 67% 21/13 (1.6:1)
2011 Scheelhaase 2110yds 63% 13/8 (1.6:1)
i would love Altmyer to exceed those numbers but if he did it would be a 2nd historic season of QB play at Illinois. the good thing is, i don't think he will need to exceed those numbers for the team to be successful.
(also, it's hard to underestimate how unbelievable Tommy DeVito was for us last year. literally had a record setting season in his only year here.... if only we could have gotten a waiver to run it back one more time...)
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The only thing that you did was highlight how bad that the quarterback position has been the last twenty years. The defense actually won us three more games than we were given credit for, except for bad officials that cost us three games.
The waiver was always a Hail Mary but man what could've been. Hopefully he makes the roster cut with the Giants, would be a pretty cool homecoming for him.
No, what he did is clearly demonstrate that what you said was a low bar was actually pretty good historically.
Understood and agree with you.
Just pointing out that the bar doesn't have to be that high for us to be successful especially given this will be both Altmeyers first year here and first full year starting
That said, I would love to see more production from the QB position. With a successful running game I was hoping we'd see much more dynamic play action last year but maybe our WR group wasn't skilled enough across the board to consistently get separation? Thankfully, the talent in that room has also come way up from a few years ago
Don't forget that we've also had Lunney for a full off season now, whereas DeVito had actually committed before Lunney was hired.
All communication between Lunney and Altmyer has been about the current scheme, and while I suspect there will still be some learning curve, we didn't change OC's this off-season and that counts for something.
All communication between Lunney and Altmyer has been about the current scheme, and while I suspect there will still be some learning curve, we didn't change OC's this off-season and that counts for something.
over half of the Big Ten West will have a new coach this season. That is wild.
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