Nebraska 20, Illinois 7 Postgame

#201      

Roundball Sage

R
Roundball Sage
A performance like this right after the passing of an Illini legend just adds another level of disgrace. Instead of being inspired and playing to honor his legacy... it was disrespectful to his memory and to all Illini football fans.

Here’s a novel idea: When something (or someone) is not working out – try something different. But not just different to be different. Different to ELEVATE YOURSELF. Others seem to know how to do it.

This has set the football program back again at a time when that is the very last thing it needed.

More big boys like USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington will soon be coming to town. This is going to get much uglier until there is major improvement and PRONTO.

The current and former Illini football head coaches had creditable resumes before they came town. Something weird and mysterious seems to have happened to their ability to build a winning program and coach football games.

Right now, it’s very fortunate that ‘Relegation’ is not yet a thing in the Big Ten. But if things stay the same as they are now and Relegation does start to happen, look out for the future.
 
#207      

Ryllini

Ryllini
Lombard
Ryllini
AutoPoster 3000 said:
We had 21 yards rushing, and Altmyer had 47 attempts, in a game we mostly trailed by less than 14 points. Those stats are perfectly fine if you’re Warren Moon. If not, the main problem seems to be scheme.
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It's scheme. I don't know about the rest, but I can see the building blocks on defense. We have given up points this year, but how many off of a turnover.
On offense, I just don't see anything. For those closer to the program, how are the young O-Lineman? Is there anything there for the future to build on? If not, we are shot. I didn't really understand the Lunney hire, his scheme and style just doesn't seem to mesh with Bret and his defense. It seems like we went after him to be a little more sexy on offense to attract players and boy what a butterface it has been thus far.
 
#208      

Ander1345

A
Ander1345
AutoPoster 3000 said:
We had 21 yards rushing, and Altmyer had 47 attempts, in a game we mostly trailed by less than 14 points. Those stats are perfectly fine if you’re Warren Moon. If not, the main problem seems to be scheme.
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I don't care if they gain yards by butt scooting like my pit bull puppy, as long as they get the ball in to the endzone this century.
 
#209      

battle

battle
battle
somehow I kept thinking we would win 21-20 up until our last turnover
not much to add to 7 pages of venting

re Luke. the 12-16 low snaps at the ankle, his eyes needed to look down using 0.75 of the 1.5-2 seconds he gets most plays. a number of 'bad' throws mentioned I believe were good decisions to get rid of ball, eg, end of 1st half and he chose not run but threw high over receiver so clock wouldn't run out. and yes there were some bad throws/decisions but he has to be shell shocked and conditioned to unimpeded rushers

the most frustrating play for me was the Neb recovered kick-off which was in front of where I was sitting. I remarked before the kickoff that the ball wouldn't get past the 20 and would be high caught in the wind and why was Williams at the 5. I haven't seen replay but would swear a player around the 30 pointed to the ball in the air and 1-2 chose to get out of the way as if it were a punt and I was expletives as the ball was descending - watching a slow motion train wreck

not an impact but again refs are incompetent and the number of terrible calls is simply not acceptable. still can't believe they do reviews on a dinky little monitor - buy a $2000 65" TV mounted on a cart on large caster wheels with a small tent around it (if not going to do reviews remotely)
 
#211      

OB positive

O
OB positive
If after an emergency coaches meeting everyone still has their same jobs nothing is going to change. If that's the case, from here on out we may have to put this on Bret. If you are the head coach and let this train wreck go on as long as it has with out any changes it is on you. I feel we deserve better. Time for Bret to make the tough decisions he is getting paid for.
 
#212      

BashCtIllini

BashCtIllini
BashCtIllini
OB positive said:
If after an emergency coaches meeting everyone still has their same jobs nothing is going to change. If that's the case, from here on out we may have to put this on Bret. If you are the head coach and let this train wreck go on as long as it has with out any changes it is on you. I feel we deserve better. Time for Bret to make the tough decisions he is getting paid for.
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With 6 games left, there's no point in firing anyone. However, if we get beat at home by Indiana after losing to Maryland, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. That seems like a good time to fire someone.

What they need to do is say, we're changing the offensive scheme. What you're run is not working. We need to stretch the field. If the QB doesn't have time, well you need to figure out how to get him time. We will never accomplish anything with 40 passes that don't travel farther than 5 yards down field.
 
#213      

LJ22

L
Chicago, IL
LJ22
BashCtIllini said:
With 6 games left, there's no point in firing anyone. However, if we get beat at home by Indiana after losing to Maryland, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. That seems like a good time to fire someone.

What they need to do is say, we're changing the offensive scheme. What you're run is not working. We need to stretch the field. If the QB doesn't have time, well you need to figure out how to get him time. We will never accomplish anything with 40 passes that don't travel farther than 5 yards down field.
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I don't care if they fire Lunney or keep him on the sidelines to look pretty, he should no longer be calling plays.
 
#214      

Navy_illini

N
Navy_illini
BashCtIllini said:
With 6 games left, there's no point in firing anyone. However, if we get beat at home by Indiana after losing to Maryland, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. That seems like a good time to fire someone.

What they need to do is say, we're changing the offensive scheme. What you're run is not working. We need to stretch the field. If the QB doesn't have time, well you need to figure out how to get him time. We will never accomplish anything with 40 passes that don't travel farther than 5 yards down field.
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Do you guys think the problem is talent or is it schemes?

Do we have the players to win if they were utilized correctly or are just outmatched?
 
#215      

illiram

illiram
illiram
My dad is 88 yrs old and a lifelong Illini fan. He has no social media, and has no idea what people are saying since he is not online. He told me after the game that was the worst called game he has ever seen. He called the shotgun formation on 4th and goal laughable, almost to go as far as saying this was intentional. Only a stupid person would have called a game this poorly.

If Lunney has his job next week, I am finished watching games this season. Maybe I will put the game on in the background, but will not follow closely. I have watched this crap show for 40 years, and we have a good season and then the wheels fall off. I'm sick of it.

We also ned a QB change. We have the guy from Ball State. Time to give him a chance. Altmyer is putting us in positions to lose, and does not know how to throw the ball away. I 100% understand that our O line is awful, but let's just see what he can do. What do we have to lose? Let's give the other QB a shot. I would start Paddock and Feagin next game.

But something tells me that politics play a big part in josh Whitman and Bret Bielema's decision making. Talk to the fans like real people. Don't just tell us what we want to hear anymore. I guess Lovie did bring in the recruits that provided us a good season last year.

Our players and our coaches lack discipline.
 
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#216      

illini0440

illini0440
illini0440
illiram said:
My dad is 88 yrs old and a lifelong Illini fan. He has no social media, and has no idea what people are saying since he is not online. He told me after the game that was the worst called game he has ever seen. He called the shotgun formation on 4th and goal laughable, almost to go as far as saying this was intentional. Only a stupid person would have called a game this poorly.

If Lunney has his job next week, I am finished watching games this season. Maybe I will put the game on in the background, but will not follow closely. I have watched this crap show for 40 years, and we have a good season and then the wheels fall off. I'm sick of it.

We also ned a QB change. We have the guy from Ball State. Time to give him a chance. Altmyer is putting us in positions to lose, and does not know how to throw the ball away. I 100% understand that our O line is awful, but let's just see what he can do. What do we have to lose? Let's give the other QB a shot. I would start Braddock and Feagin next game.

But something tells me that politics play a big part in josh Whitman and Bret Bielema's decision making. Talk to the fans like real people. Don't just tell us what we want to hear anymore. I guess Lovie did bring in the recruits that provided us a good season last year.

Our players and our coaches lack discipline.
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Paddock? And did you watch him when he played the 4th quarter a few weeks ago?
 
#217      

illiram

illiram
illiram
illini0440 said:
Paddock? And did you watch him when he played the 4th quarter a few weeks ago?
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Yes. It's hard to come in at the end. Start him to get some rhythm going. We have nothing to lose. Let's see what he can do for a full game if we are going to lose anyway.
 
#218      

Saturdaze

S
Saturdaze
So discouraging to hear that schematic changes are being discussed with the staff at 1am after a week 6 loss when they‘ve been obvious to the fans all season on defense and all of last season in offense.

The staff is broken if the message coming out of that meeting is “the kids just won’t listen to me”.
 
#219      

ChiIllini75

C
ChiIllini75
illiram said:
Yes. It's hard to come in at the end. Start him to get some rhythm going. We have nothing to lose. Let's see what he can do for a full game if we are going to lose anyway.
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I get the instinct to make a change for change sake, but Paddock didn't look out of rhythm he looked like he had no business playing P5 football at all. Given this team is going nowhere this year, I'd rather ride it out with Altmyer and see if they can scheme him into more favorable looks. With the O-line not sure it will make a difference, but Altmyer is the future and that is all they have to play for.
 
#221      

Miles Leonard

M
Miles Leonard
Sad Gordon Ramsay GIF by Hell's Kitchen


That's all there is to say.
 
#223      

BWBW

BWBW
BWBW
Navy_illini said:
Do you guys think the problem is talent or is it schemes?

Do we have the players to win if they were utilized correctly or are just outmatched?
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On offense, it is schemes. We have the backfield and receivers, but most of what Lunney runs I call the WTF offense. There is a lack of talent at right tackle, but that deficiency could be schemed around most of the time. We could improve from a train wreck to something better. Perhaps the LIttle Engine That Could.

On defense it is likely just young talent and the unfortunate injury to Bailey. Our defense looked so much better when he was out there. I understand Walters is learning to be the DC, but I believe those who think we give him this year and we'll see a better product next year. The D does seem to improve weekly.

So, I know I am exceedingly upset because we could be a middling team that made a minor bowl this year and set ourselves up for a better season next year. But that isn't happening.

I'm concerned that Indiana's offense will be on a better footing when we play them and we'll lose the game as a result. Conventional wisdom is you don't change a coordinator in the middle of the season, but I think conventional wisdom is wrong. Indiana made the correct call and it is a call that should be made whether or not the Head Coach is on the hot seat. You show the players you care when you take decisive action to correct an obvious problem.

Anyway, that is my humble opinion, Navy_illini. But, the rant is helpful. I am so upset for the team and players that it is nice to express it.
 
#224      

DeeAndDWill

DeeAndDWill
DeeAndDWill
Illini2010-11 said:
Well, the way you used them...yes.

There is so much more to the success of an AD outside of solely using the football record. On top of that, Illini football was a complete dumpster fire when Josh was hired. Do you not recall the stupid one year contract of Cubit he had to get out of? The cupboard was completely empty when Josh was hired. Football has been an uphill battle from the getgo, so comparing overall record of 7.5 seasons vs nearly 20 is silly. Reality is no high level coaches were beating down the doors to come to Illinois when Josh was hired or after Lovie was fired. This football season has stunk, but some of these overreactions are insane.

Fact is, basketball made a major turnaround under Josh, donors are engaged, facilities improved, and the list goes on. The Athletic department, by and large, is in a much better place now than when Josh was hired.

So yes, the narrative you pushed is silly. If basketball program begins to collapse, then yes, Josh might see his seat warm. We are nowhere close to that, yet; and hopefully, we will never get there.
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Well, we're on the football board talking about the football program, and I was responding to someone that claimed that Whitman should not be on the hot seat because it could get much worse - like it was under Mike Thomas. And I pointed out that, factually, Josh Whitman's football program in year 8 has worse on field results than the football program under Mike Thomas

As for the narrative... All three ADs since Mackovic have been absolutely pathetic at building a football program. One was given 19 years and free reign to set us back decades. One was run out of town in 5 years. And with the current one, it's treated as heresy to even suggest he should be on the hot seat, regardless of his .364 winning percentage in year 8 after getting curbstomped by Purdue and Nebraska in back to back weeks.

The narrative has proven out over the last 30+ years. Illinois fans seemingly only get riled up about the AD's utter failure on the football side when its being led by an outsider.
 
#225      

Illini92and96

Illini92and96
Austin, TX
Illini92and96
OB positive said:
If after an emergency coaches meeting everyone still has their same jobs nothing is going to change. If that's the case, from here on out we may have to put this on Bret. If you are the head coach and let this train wreck go on as long as it has with out any changes it is on you. I feel we deserve better. Time for Bret to make the tough decisions he is getting paid for.
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That's not how things work, or how they should work, using my experiences across numerous corporations. Things are bad for 6 weeks, so you fire everyone? There is a huge cost to that. If things aren't going well you meet to discuss. If that doesn't work, you reconvene and try to work it out again. When things aren't working it can take a while to grind through and make change. Six weeks is not a long time.

It's lots of churn when you swap out leaders without the new leader having an obvious immediate fix, plus it sets the example that have a bad six weeks and you are out. Not the way to attract people to come work for you in a tough situation if you have that short a lease.

I'm not suggesting what the outcome should be, but Bret is following the right process.