Duke 31, Illinois 27 Postgame

#126      
Also, biggest scoreboard. They don't show scores!!!

3 of the 4 scores are finals of B1G games, and the other was Minnesota who was getting blown out. Don't know who has the ball, the time, they maybe showed 8 scores. Never saw BYU Arizona, UK Bama, etc.
 
#128      
Just mind-boggling offensive play calls the entire fourth quarter. We know how bad the defense is, but that was unacceptable from the offense.
It’s inexplicable. With 277 passing yards and 111 rushing yards, we call four rushing plays to gain just 8 yards and turn it over on downs at our end of the field. Can someone please explain why we didn’t rely on what was working instead of betting the game on what wasn’t?

The game was still winnable until we chose to run out the clock for Duke.
 
#130      
When you line LB sized guys up on the d-line against P5 opponents, teams are going to roll over you.

Bret has said multiple times they didn’t have the money for d-line. That needs to get remedied ASAP. There is no cap on NIL. If you want to play in the big leagues, it’s going to cost money. This kind of predicament is Ron Guenther era type stuff. Thought we were past all that. Guess not.
 
#133      
Does it make sense to move Feagan to TE if we never plan on throwing to him? Especially when we don’t have a power back that can get us 2 yards when we need it.
I have wondered this exactly same thing. Why move a guy if you are not going to use him? They don’t pass to him and they don’t use him as an option behind the line of scrimmage. Very frustrating. I’m getting tired waiting and hoping for us to use our TEs. Same story every year. Mackovic sure did and those TEs weren’t heavily recruited. You even went to observe the Bears this offseason and get ideas. I love our offensive staff but I want more!
 
#134      
To me Brett shoulders a lot of the blame due to him prioritizing taking care of Aaron Henry instead of taking care of our program.
1. He kept Henry one more season than he should have
2. When he knew 100% that Henry had to go, he held on to him until Henry had a soft landing at ND. But by then, most of the good DC candidates had already been scooped up
3. He had all his eggs in the basket with LB coach from the Seahawks that then Okee Doked Brett after the Seahawks won the SB.
4. and that left Brett rummaging through the recycle bin for an already retired D2 coach, who now sits in the press in box during games (get your !!! on the sidelines and coach up your D that is getting smoked!)
 
#138      
Claims that Houser was better than Altmyer were, uh, let's be nice and just say premature.

Houser is a talented kid, but I think all the way around that team needs to look itself in the mirror and realize it is now in the shootout business.
Houser is not why we lost. Our play calling after successful 1st down passes was a joke. Wildcat? Really? Running the ball is what Duke wanted us to do and it bit us in the rear.
 
#139      
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.
Valentine is a good back but he needs 15lbs more to be the back that can carry our running game. Maybe next year.
 
#140      
2 main reasons we lost:

1. Poor tackling
2. Throwing on 4th and 1 on that critical drive when we should have pounded the ball.

This one hurts, but it's a long season......
 
#141      
When you line LB sized guys up on the d-line against P5 opponents, teams are going to roll over you.

Bret has said multiple times they didn’t have the money for d-line. That needs to get remedied ASAP. There is no cap on NIL. If you want to play in the big leagues, it’s going to cost money. This kind of predicament is Ron Guenther era type stuff. Thought we were past all that. Guess not.

The guys on the dline aren’t lb size.

Pat Farrell 6’5 285lb
Joe Barna 6’4 275lb
Darrel Prater 6’3 310
Carter Janki 6’5 295
Will holmes 6’4 260

The dline isn’t good but the problem is the linebacker are brutal. They take bad angles and can’t tackle.
 
#145      
I'm with you. After Southern Illinois, I can't find 4 games that I feel confident in. When you have a defense this bad.....there's just not much to hand your hat on.

As bad as the defense is we definitely could’ve won today. But the only way we win games is the offense scores a ton of points and you get a big play on defense or special teams. After this I think we win 4 games but I’m not even sure about that anymore
 
#147      
Claims that Houser was better than Altmyer were, uh, let's be nice and just say premature.

Houser is a talented kid, but I think all the way around that team needs to look itself in the mirror and realize it is now in the shootout business.
I think Houser and Altmeyer are a push for now. Both have things they excel at and both have areas were they are lacking. One big plus on Housers side is he hasn't been sacked yet.
 
Last edited:
#150      
We ended game missing 2 Olineman. Ran the ball. Defense 4th an 1 for Duke to close out,1:50 on clock,. AWESOME lineup with 3 Down lineman 3 linebackers 5 yards off ball! Everyone not dumb, knows its a handoff to Shepard. Gonna be a very long season. Let's be clear, that Duke team is HORRIBLE.
 
Back