I’m disappointed mostly because of yesterday, not because I expected us to hang with the top two teams in the country. Last year we got lucky with some close wins — statistically, we were more like a 30–40 ranked team. What really frustrates me is the lack of progress on defense and even some regression from last year. Still, if we take care of business in November and finish 9–3, that’s a solid season and about where we should be. The Washington loss was tough no matter what, but the way it happened made it worse. And honestly, Henry is living in his own world — he’s afraid to get creative and has become an embarrassment to the program.
Pregame: Illinois vs Rutgers, Saturday, November 1st, 11:00am CT, NBC
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I agree, 10-3 last year feels better than a possible 10-3 this year. This has been a complete disappointment. What is sad about this is if the seniors aren’t playing well, where are the younger guys pushing the the starters? If this group of seniors are better than the backups, we are in trouble next year.
As for the preseason hype our offense has lived up to expectations and maybe then some. However our defense has been far below expectations and that's with only expecting them to be average.
Dan
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Paul Burmeister (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (analyst), and Zora Stephenson (reporter) have the television broadcast on NBC.
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Illinois Hosts Dads Day Matchup Against Rutgers - University of Illinois Athletics
Saturday's game honors the dads of all Fighting Illini.
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At 9-3 you're still very much in contention for the 4th big ten spot (maybe not standings wise but ranking wise) and will undoubtedly be ranked. I don't see anyone other than the top 3 finishing 10-2. A very good season is still in front of us.
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3/4 are home against teams we should beat. Away vs Wisc. we should win. I don’t take any team lightly, but I do expect 9-3 plus what ever we do in a bowl.
Could be. But we've also seen enough to know that no B1G game is a gimme, and we could lose out or win out. My guess is 7-5 with a loss to NU to end a mangled regular season. Still not bad for historic IL standards but a let down based on expectation.
These posts are insufferable
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RD, per the stats on D, I am now stained in my prediction going forward. I, too, said 9-3 at the beginning of the season.
These posts are insufferable
What about a 63-10 loss to IU, a 42-25 loss to Wash, and the worst D in the B10 makes you think Maryland and NW won’t be 50/50 games?
i agree with what's infront of us. but im at the point where im tired of looking at the schedule and what's "possible" and really just want us to actually play well. and im starting to doubt it will happen - defensively atleast. We just look slow, undisciplined, uncreative, etc.
There's no automatic qualifiers outside of conference champions though, so even if they were miraculously able to win out and jump 5 other BIG teams in the rankings, what is the relevancy of that?
I don't see us winning this game....Rutgers has really good receivers that we won't be able to cover and rb that's pretty good as well..... I see this as the game Henry loses his job.
The fact of the matter about this game is that both defenses are pretty poor. Illinois is giving up 39.6PPG during big ten play (against IND, PU, OSU, WASH, USC) compared to Rutgers' 37.4 (against IOWA, MINN, ORE, PU, WASH).
Fact of the matter is their offense - while still good - is not nearly as efficient as ours as they've yet to hit the 30 point mark against a P4 team.
Fact of the matter is their offense - while still good - is not nearly as efficient as ours as they've yet to hit the 30 point mark against a P4 team.
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A season too late. Bret owns this bad hire
I said "rankings wise", which just means being the fourth B10 team in the AP/CFP polls. For this program, there's lots of relevancy in being ranked by the end of the year. If you believe otherwise, it just signals how much the bar has risen.
My point is not that we're a lock to win out, just that a very successful season is still in front of us. Very little is lost by missing out on those lofty 10-2 dreams.
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I’d expect a veteran team to be able to regroup against a mediocre Rutgers team. Don’t think Bret will allow for a letdown.
Playoffs were a long shot goal from the beginning. There is still a lot to play for; 9 wins is an excellent season and very important for recruiting momentum.
Playoffs were a long shot goal from the beginning. There is still a lot to play for; 9 wins is an excellent season and very important for recruiting momentum.
Holy moly I just looked at our Defensive rankings in the Big Ten and nationally. Our offense cannot just win games by itself. I know Aaron Henry played for Bret Bielema at Wisconsin, so it has to be tough to think about making a change since they have a longstanding relationship. But this business is tough, and a tough decision should be made sooner than later. I would keep Henry, just not in the same role that he has now. I rewatched some of the game, and our Defense was soft, confused, lost and discombobulated. There was zero fire, and we made zero adjustments which is the hardest pill to swallow. You have to be an analytical thinker and be able to think on your feet. Please Bret, make the change now, not at the end of the season. The next four games should ALL be ours.
I also see a defense that is lifeless. Zero aggressiveness. Moving Jacas all over the line to create mismatches and playing the corners up to the line of scrimmage will help. We need to start blitzing more as we have nothing to lose at this point.
Against teams with mobile quarterbacks, we just try to contain, and don't particularly try to apply pressure. If I read the stats right, Rutgers' QB is not a running threat. (Minus seven yards rushing on the season). I expect us to go back to applying pressure, and predict at least two sacks for Gabe.
And I hope, post game, we get a couple "where was this d at Washington?" posts (answer: trying to contain a mobile quarterback on a wet track.)
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Its partly why i see maryland as the bigger scare of the next two games. IL's offense is better equipped in a 45-41 shootout compared to Rutgers. The problem is against a better defense - like MD - you'll need to win in 27-23 type of game instead. I just don’t see our defense capable of that.
Not that one team's better - just the matchup.
Both are home games and neither of those two have offenses that are close to IU or WU.
Bowl games are still important. Extra practices, media exposure, possibe momentum for the next season, and one more game to cheer on the Illini. If you don't make the playoffs, a bowl is a good thing.
I wanted to post after the game but left some time to let everyone’s feelings simmer so that I could post what I still view as “mental wins” at this point in the season. I am hugely disappointed relative to what COULD have been, but even as we stand at 5-3, think about these for some positive perspective:
- up to this point, we have scored the most points against Ohio State all year, we also scored 2 TD’s and all other opponents combined for 2 TD’s against OSU
- we have also scored the most points against Washington all year
- while our defense is putrid in overall season stats… we outgained Ohio State and held them to 272 total yards
- the only team to hold USC to less offensive yards per play has been Notre Dame: (ILL allowed 6.4/play)
- if Kreutz makes that pick end of 1st half and we simply score a FG; (ignoring butterfly effect gameplay changes), we would’ve lost by 7 or sent to OT
- we’ve lost to #1 and #2 teams; and Washington thus far has lost to #1 and then @ the big house… if they win out then there is a scenario where Illinois goes undefeated against all non-CFP teams
DESPITE how things feel right now and how the defense looks on average
I have nothing positive to glean from the Indiana game however, elsewise; this still has potential to be just as good as last year resume wise if we win out. USC could be a better win than last year, and an additional loss is easily forgivable if Washington goes 3-1, and if 4-0 beating Oregon… again, I still like the thought of telling my friends & family (but at least we didn’t lose to any non-CFP teams)
One can dream right
now let’s go win out & get back to that OSU game level defense. #ILL
- up to this point, we have scored the most points against Ohio State all year, we also scored 2 TD’s and all other opponents combined for 2 TD’s against OSU
- we have also scored the most points against Washington all year
- while our defense is putrid in overall season stats… we outgained Ohio State and held them to 272 total yards
- the only team to hold USC to less offensive yards per play has been Notre Dame: (ILL allowed 6.4/play)
- if Kreutz makes that pick end of 1st half and we simply score a FG; (ignoring butterfly effect gameplay changes), we would’ve lost by 7 or sent to OT
- we’ve lost to #1 and #2 teams; and Washington thus far has lost to #1 and then @ the big house… if they win out then there is a scenario where Illinois goes undefeated against all non-CFP teams
DESPITE how things feel right now and how the defense looks on averageI have nothing positive to glean from the Indiana game however, elsewise; this still has potential to be just as good as last year resume wise if we win out. USC could be a better win than last year, and an additional loss is easily forgivable if Washington goes 3-1, and if 4-0 beating Oregon… again, I still like the thought of telling my friends & family (but at least we didn’t lose to any non-CFP teams)
One can dream right
now let’s go win out & get back to that OSU game level defense. #ILLEasily
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