IMO, this loss and perhaps the outcome of this season was born the year Walters left and Henry was elevated. Every time I heard him interviewed I got Beckman vibes Lots of buzz words and phrases. The move to a new defense coached by a man with one foot out the door and no recruiting presence in the Midwest and southeast seemed like an ill advised act of desperation.
Duke 31, Illinois 27 Postgame
I'm disappointed but mainly just confused. Offense had wide open lanes and routes in the first half; there's no way Duke adjusted that much to hold this offense down. You'd like to think Lunney saw some new things and that's why he called the plays he did, but I can't understand it. Defense looks bad yes, but it did give us multiple chances to win this one. And can someone introduce Houser to a few of our other receivers please?
Just feels like a complete self-own.
Just feels like a complete self-own.
Yeah, the people acting like losing to Duke is foretelling the collapse of the Illini need to take it down a notch. Duke isn’t some bleh team. They are basically us. Last year we clobbered them. This year they bested us. We didn’t lose to some FCS team.
I’m actually feeling confident about our kicker.
Is Feagan still on the team? Seems to have disappeared.
illinifan4249
- Space Coast, FL
Wisconsin last year was way worse
TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
Lost by 4, biggest missed plays imo
Offside after getting the stop with 10 men
Fake punt
Houser missing wide open Dixon, 4 point difference
Their fg from 1st and 30
Game right there
Edit: Thought the oline was great, encouraging with the injuries. Houser needs to run more to move sticks when it's there. Platt will help
Offside after getting the stop with 10 men
Fake punt
Houser missing wide open Dixon, 4 point difference
Their fg from 1st and 30
Game right there
Edit: Thought the oline was great, encouraging with the injuries. Houser needs to run more to move sticks when it's there. Platt will help
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I guess we’re now Purdue with a better scoreboard.
A tight end being able to catch passes at a high level at Illinois, is just something I’d bet on. History dates back over 30 years.
Neidermeyer
- Faber College
Please tackle someone. Take off the gloves and make a play!
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
On the one hand it's absolutely true that the changes were made on defense completely with NIL in mind.
On the other hand, it's not like we're lacking in football NIL resources relative to Duke.
I do begin to wonder a bit if Bielema doesn't fully grasp how much the change in defensive philosophy changes the whole identity of the program, which was previously so hand-in-glove united in all areas.
And well, I'm not sure what else to say besides "I told you so" to the people who spent the last few years playing make-believe that Aaron Henry was running the worst defense in the history of the sport. Gonna be a long season folks.
Lol this might be the single hottest take in the history of this website
For as bad as the defense is, and it is very bad, they made two stops in the 4th and gave it back to the offense down 4. And both times the offense absolutely crapped themselves.
blackdog
- Champaign
Targeted twice, one overthrow, one drop. Honestly the run game is better without him because Laughery and Valrntine both can make guys miss, show patience, and have better vision.
I dont see how this yr is gonna help that situation. Yr isnt over but this defense is awful and I cant see it helping him get more $ to go get those guys.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- Batavia
Genuinely shocked. I really didn’t think we’d lose this game. Can’t believe we are going to have to sweat out a matchup against Purdue.
Exactly. At the end of the game, they gave us all we (should’ve) needed and then some.
The offense just fell off a cliff.
To me the latter was more disappointing. This program the last two years, was BUILT on plays made when it mattered the most, by the offense.
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tbf at that stage of the game we had 3rd stringers or worse playing on the OL
I disagree with some of the comments. I was very encouraged by the defense in the 4th quarter (yes, before that it was rough).
The offense was dramatically worse though, and really poor play calling. Needed the ball in Houser’s hands at the end of the game.
The offense was dramatically worse though, and really poor play calling. Needed the ball in Houser’s hands at the end of the game.
Going to be a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG SEASON
Lunney went into prevent offense, two handoffs,, then pass...Hauser was hot, O was clicking...then poof, let's pound it down their throats behind 2nd and 3rd team guards...Fugly and sad for the offensive players ...