Got this from an IU football board
Pregame: Illinois at Indiana, Saturday, September 20th, 6:30pm CT, NBC
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A lot of us need to learn the power of manifestation. Illini by 6!!
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Beating up cupcakes and being a legit powerhouse aren't, unfortunately, mutually exclusive states of being.
Based on the Duke game against a credible opponent on the road, I worry most about our secondary against a talented QB whose receivers actually catch his dimes (Duke lacked the latter.)
Not being a downer; am just firmly anchored in reality. I generally err on the conservative side when assessing a strong opponent we're playing on the road in an evening marquee TV game.
We will win this one. Gotta play much better than we did against Duke to do so, however.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Indiana’s equipment truck has arrived at the stadium early, I see. 
madillini4
Ozamataz Buckshank
- Millywaukee
madillini4
Ozamataz Buckshank
- Millywaukee
I don't read too much into a coach's style. He actually reminds me a little of Saban in how he's focused and non-commital. And I don't get why posters would denigrate what he's accomplished there. Weak schedule or not, he's won a lot of games, and it's not like they're winning on last second field goals. Should be a good game --both teams are solid, and look like they have potential to make the CFP.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
This^^^ His teams whaled on pretty decent opposition last season for the most part. He is a top tier D-1 coach and I will be stunned if his team doesn't punch us hard. The denigration is weird, I agree.
Don't hate the player, baby; hate the game.
I think one thing not being discussed is how ODU ran the ball. 23 carries for 218 yards for 9.48 yds a carry! Sure they had 1 big 75 yard run but even if you take that out that still 22 carries avg 6.5 yards a carry. I think it is being under played what IU lost on D and that they are going to be able to deal with our trio of RBs. I feel our 2 quicker backs are going to do some damage on the ground and bust some big runs. If we can get a lead I really like our chances.
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Your last sentence does not jibe with your posts about the Purdue road tripI agree with everything you wrote until the final clause of the final sentence.
We Will Win.
It's the program's time. The team shall prevail. We're not driving 600+ miles for nothing.
. But different teams, as you say. I-L-LAre you aware that ODU had 23 carries for 218 yds and whooping 9.48 a carry. Sure one was 75 yards but take that out and it's still 6.5 yards a carry. ODU threw three picks but Luke takes care if the ball. IU run D looks pretty awful and we should be able to move the ball on the ground. We are not Ind St. or Kennasaw St. I am surprised a couple IU fans are so confident they can stop our running game after seeing us pound SC on the ground in the Peach Bowl.and that core all back. McCray was our 3rd string back laat year. . We are going to have all three backs back and be fresh and ready to go.
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ODU had 2 long runs, the first play of the game that went 75 yards for a TD and their last offensive snap that went 78 yards; both missed assignments on QB read option. Reality is that IU dominated that game everywhere but the scoreboard. They were uncharacteristically bad in the red zone and had another 50 yard TD pass dropped. Should have easily scored 50+ points with the amount of yards they gained and with how many times they were in the red zone. ODU didn't take a snap on IU's side of the field the entire game.
So about 10% of the runs they blew assignments. This is a new group and knowing where and what to do is a big part of learning how to play as a unit. They have been together 3 games and are not as good as SC was last year imo. I don't see our QB throwing 3 picks. I expect to be able to run the ball. You may not but we shall see.
Trying to compare anything about Indiana's schedule to Illinois' is a joke. Illinois has played 2 really bad teams at home and 1 just pretty bad team on the road. Indiana has played 3 really bad teams all at home. It really doesn't mean much of anything. Nor does last year - Rourke was a much better QB than Mendoza, and Indiana played the softest of soft schedules.
Seems like there's a lot of people who haven't realized Illinois IS a big time team this year with playoff quality talent and a championship level coaching staff that's not going to go lay an egg just because Indiana ran up the score on bad football teams. They'll go out and prove it Saturday:
Illinois 42
Indiana 28
Seems like there's a lot of people who haven't realized Illinois IS a big time team this year with playoff quality talent and a championship level coaching staff that's not going to go lay an egg just because Indiana ran up the score on bad football teams. They'll go out and prove it Saturday:
Illinois 42
Indiana 28
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Yeh, Cignetti's personality doesn't seem to be the kind that would turn a program around as quickly as he has turned IU around. Hats off, I guess.
This group isn't as new as you think it is. Half the front 4 was on last years team. All 3 rotating LB's were on last years team. Indiana's run defense has been elite dating back to the start of Cignetti's tenure at IU. Nobody has been successful in methodically grounding and pounding the defense all game, not even OSU or ND last year. I don't see that changing Saturday.
Will they have some success against IU? Probably. But playing good ol fashion Bert ball is not the recipe to beating this Indiana team and nobody has been successful in doing it. Altmayer is going to have to challenge the secondary vertically and the defense is going to have consistently get stops.
Respect the hell out of Bielema and what he's been able to do at Illinois but stylistically, I think this is a pretty bad matchup for Illinois. Couple that with a night game at home, I see a two score IU victory.
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I appreciate the commitment to the bit.
I read IU returns 8 of 22 starters but I'm sure they plugged in guys off last years bench and in the portal. Illini returned 16 or 17 starters, have done it the same with all the same staff. I see ND had 35 carries and 5.5 a carry. Anyway, time will tell. They better stop the run and respect the fact Luke like many are here in the third year in this system. To me those are bigger factors than they seem to be to you. Anyway. ILL!
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I wanna believe it, but a lot of folks thought Indiana couldn't keep doing it week after week last year. And for the most part, they did, with a lot of them being fairly decisive wins, iirc.
(Though the same was kinda true about us, too, with people thinking we couldn't keep winning with late heroics)
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Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
He just seems even keeled and matter a fact. He is proud of his team and complimentary of the Illini, at least in the first half of the video I watched.
I think some are overvaluing a single season of great defense (and referring to said single season as 'Cignetti's entire tenure'... okay)
On defense, IU lost half their starters up front, a LB who had 82 tackles, as well as most of the secondary, if what I've read is correct. They've given up 115 yds/gm on the ground to... well... Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State.
I'll go ILL 33 IU 27
On defense, IU lost half their starters up front, a LB who had 82 tackles, as well as most of the secondary, if what I've read is correct. They've given up 115 yds/gm on the ground to... well... Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State.
I'll go ILL 33 IU 27
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