Pregame: Illinois vs Michigan, Saturday, October 19th, 2:30pm CT, CBS

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#377      
Yeah, I don't know why this keeps getting brought into the discussion. When used in 2021, it was out of near necessity to try to form some offensive identity (the passing game was terrible that year). The 2024 offense does have an identity and it begins with the ball in the hands of #9.

We have some great wideouts and a very good QB right now. It would be foolish to limit the number of big playmaking receivers on the field for the sake of trying to improve the running game.
 
#378      
Yeah, I don't know why this keeps getting brought into the discussion. When used in 2021, it was out of near necessity to try to form some offensive identity (the passing game was terrible that year). The 2024 offense does have an identity and it begins with the ball in the hands of #9.

We have some great wideouts and a very good QB right now. It would be foolish to limit the number of big playmaking receivers on the field for the sake of trying to improve the running game.
an unbalanced line (two tackles on one side ) only works against a team who is not prepared for it . my high school would run it as a gimmick every once in awhile . occasionally it worked really well . usually , well coached teams quickly adjusted once they realized what we were doing .

when it worked , even poorly coached teams could & would adjust . everyone on D just needs to slide over a gap .
 
#380      
Yeah, I don't know why this keeps getting brought into the discussion. When used in 2021, it was out of near necessity to try to form some offensive identity (the passing game was terrible that year). The 2024 offense does have an identity and it begins with the ball in the hands of #9.

We have some great wideouts and a very good QB right now. It would be foolish to limit the number of big playmaking receivers on the field for the sake of trying to improve the running game.
Yet, the coach calls for balance. In fact, we have run 215 times vs. 169 passes. Of course, some of those 'runs' were passing attempts that resulted in sacks. We've also run more than our opponents (215-197) and passed less than they have (169-175). However, you really tip your hand if you line up in barge formation. It should only be used selectively.
 
#381      
Something that hasn't been pointed out yet, I think, is that a win over Michigan coupled with a Nebraska win over a Indiana would mean that we would officially be in 3rd place in the B10 after tiebreaks, right behind PSU and Oregon. That would certainly be something with only 5 more regular season games to go.
Unless Purdue stays hot and wins at home tonight ---- and then we'd be tied for 2nd with Oregon.
 
#383      
Our best chance since 2 years ago

British Basketball GIF by Bristol Flyers
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#384      
an unbalanced line (two tackles on one side ) only works against a team who is not prepared for it . my high school would run it as a gimmick every once in awhile . occasionally it worked really well . usually , well coached teams quickly adjusted once they realized what we were doing .

when it worked , even poorly coached teams could & would adjust . everyone on D just needs to slide over a gap .
It still amazes me that Penn State never adjusted that day.
 
#387      
Yep, clear textbook offensive pass interference pick play right in front of the ref resulting in immediate advantage and a first down for Michigan and then there was a no call or review of Michigan's QB's knee being down that same drive, also extending the drive. It bears saying, if we want to win this one, we need to be at least 8pts better than them as the refs will be gifting them at least 1 score. And nothing says tradition like the refs absolutely hosing us against Michigan. Now I need to take deep breaths before I start thinking about Fumblegate.
If Michigan was a national title contender, I’d 100% agree. However this year since they are not, I ‘only’ give a 75% chance of refs leaning Michigan’s way. To what extent I’m not sure.
 
#388      
That game was at Ann Arbor against a much better Michigan team. That 13-1 team made BCS, had Blake Corum All American running back. , Jim Harbaugh former NFL coach. Yes that Illini defense was world class but we lost to BCS team ( by definition top 4). This Michigan team can't throw the ball, has a rookie coach, is 4-2 with losses at home to TX and @ Washington. This Michigan team is a shadow of the 2022 team. I like our chances at home. I think we could have beaten Penn State in CU. Their crowd was unbelievable.
 
#390      
When we are inside 5 yard line we should line up QB behind center to avoid long snap mishaps. I also allow RB to get momentum before he its the line. Ideally we put in tight end as blocking back as well. Need to use our power back Josh in those situations.
 
#391      
The barge only worked because against Penn State because of literal coaching malpractice on their end. We need to air it out to Pat and Zakhari tomorrow
Just to illustrate my point, grabbed the first image I could find on the front that Penn State put against the barge. You don't have to be a coach to LOL at the sight of this. We're not going back to stone age football
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#395      
Unless Purdue stays hot and wins at home tonight ---- and then we'd be tied for 2nd with Oregon.
That would be insane if that were to happen (and God forbid that game is the one Oregon sleepwalks through as that would mean really really bad things for us having to face them the following week), but if it were, we would actually have the tiebreak over them based in head to head opponent, so we'd have 2nd place to our lonesome.

And since we're on the subject, what absolutely convoluted tiebreaker the B10 decided on. Some team and fans are going to lose their mind if not this year, then soon enough.
 
#399      
One thing I have thought about over all these years is what we could do that fans would actually buy into and rally around and that the administration would support and I am somewhat in the same mindset as you. If we were to go in that direction, I would also lean heavily on the "Fighting Illini" and "Memorial Stadium". Maybe in the pregame or halftime as part of the 3 in 1, start pouring down smoke, silence the crowd, and strike the bell, and out from the smoke steps out selected students dressed as our greatest players and figures as they were in their playing days. Red Grange, Dick Butkus, Papa Bear Halas, Ray Nitschke, Jim Grabowski, Simeon Rice, Jeff George, etc. and make some sort of pageantry of it whether it be a presentation of trophies or championships they won (yes that does sound ostentatious), or leading us in Loyalty. And also have a special honor that day for one of them where similar to the Red Grange run you have a fan challenge them between quarters (imagine for Butkus, a fan and the Butkus impersonator in those inflatable balls and the fan has to get past Butkus in 10yds for the first down. Fans would devour that).

Basically don't give a single mascot, but instead almost make it a bunch of our former players as technically mascots to honor our "Fighting Illini" and traditions. And you could do the same with basketball. The Legendary Fighting Illini. Something like that.
Holograms...why not
 
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