Realistically what starters back for next year? juice, Barna, Farrell and Holmes? You hope guys like Eberhart, Hankins and Beerman can also step up. But it’s pretty bad how little we return and the talent that’s left
DC Bobby Hauck out at Illinois
Realistically what starters back for next year? juice, Barna, Farrell and Holmes? You hope guys like Eberhart, Hankins and Beerman can also step up. But it’s pretty bad how little we return and the talent that’s left
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Well and I mean the offense too without Houser.
Heaven knows what the price level will be, what the roster rules will be, we've been very resistant to the entropy of the sport under Bielema but no one avoids it forever.
It's one of those tip of the iceberg things where if we can't even do THAT right, there's much more systemic problems.
Meh, fans will blame whoever they want but it matters little. Doesn’t change the players on the field. We can try changing scheme a little or try simplifying the playbook to try and put the players in better positions, but that doesn’t matter much if our defensive front can’t get any penetration, let alone pressure without blitzing, and can’t stop the run without stacking the box or run blitzing. At this point it’s what it is and we have to try making the most of what we have this year and work towards fixing the talent problem for next year
I'm not willing to throw the towel in on our defense yet. I've seen it turned around here before with no changes in personnel or coaches.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
All that matters is whether our offense can keep scoring. Getting back Matelau, Henderson, Platt will only make us more dynamic.
Just need one more point than the opposition.
Atleast for the offense you have valentine, Barnett, Dixon, Trimble, Abney,Stoffel, Faegin. The only linemen that will graduate is Renfro. You also have Konkey and Rankin. With that being said any of these guys could transfer. But this is a pretty good start.
Hopefully this time around when we bring in a dc they are able to bring players with them for the defense.
As to your last sentence, I would think this is when the AD would step in and point out to the monied supporters that Illinois needs more resources to compete at a higher level. Pure speculation on my part.
I totally agree. Why would Veneables, who has the been the DC on teams which have won national championships come to Illinois with its limited resources?
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
That message has been going to every monied supporter of every program in the country louder and louder and louder for five plus years, to be clear.
The obviously unsustainable rocket ship into a cliff continues apace for the sport.
Bielema and Venables are both branches on the Hayden Fry/Bill Snyder/Stoops Family coaching tree, but they've never worked together.
10,000 IQ move from Bret:
Step 1: "Fire" Henry
Step 2: Use connections to get Henry a spot at an annual playoff contender
Step 3: Have Henry get chummy with the players, swear blood oaths to one another, and institute a ride or die mantra
Step 4: Have Henry utilize his access to said playoff contender's video room to splice in subliminal "I-L-L I-N-I" messages into the game and practice film
Step 5: Get said playoff contender to the playoffs
Step 6: Activate sleeper agent Henry, have him sabotage said playoff contender's offense and stage a fake argument with the head coach making it seem like the coach was blaming the defensive players and scheme.
Step 7: Have Henry resign his position from said playoff contender citing irreconcilable differences and in good conscience he could not stay
Step 8: Get "Re-Hired" by Bret and Illinois
Step 9: Have Henry Pied Piper the entire defense of the now former playoff contender to come with him and transfer to Illinois "For Love of the game" and a coupon for a free pan pizza from Papa Del's as we can't really offer them NIL with how much we spend on the offense
Step 10: Win the National Championship
Step 11: Erect a gigantic statue of Bielema in T pose outside Memorial Stadium
Step 12: Bret ascends to godhood and becomes the new Touchdown Jesus.
Profit.
Seriously though, yeah, whoever we wind up hiring we're going to need them to help fill a bunch of spots as it's going to be difficult to find the money to mercenary up so many roster spots.
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
At the goal line (in the OSU game) no less. If we did not have video I wouldn't believe it.
Thank for this post. I will stick with my view that it’s somewhat of a low class move to fire our DC after 4 games. Let him coach out the season and fire him afterwards. Makes me wonder if our wealthy donors were pushing for his firing.
Definitely lost respect for Whitman.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Attachments
The way this seems to have played out - I think Bielema was actually planning to do what you wanted. He let Hauck know that changes (we don't know exactly what) were going to be made. Hauck wasn't in agreement with the changes and wanted out. Hauck and Whitman/Bielema then came to some agreement for his departure.
Seems somewhat reasonable given Hauck's demeanor and reputation.
The offense will be fine - we will find a QB in the portal if Boyd, etc aren't good enough. On defense, we need the current freshmen to step up in a big way in addition to being smarter in the portal
Speaking of which, we have missed the boat badly in terms of talent evaluation and $ allocation. To be blunt, you spend your money on quality CB's and D-linemen because that's where the talent is scarce. Quality Safeties and LB's, while not a dime a dozen, are a lot more common than CB's and DL, so you should be able to find quality players without breaking the bank. Bailey and X are very good players (and I'm not so sure about X to be honest), but to pay them big $ while having mid-level MAC talent in the D-Line is pure malpractice. And the ongoing lack of talent and performance from our LB's is mind-boggling.
And I agree about the entropy under BB. Our talent level is lower now than what he inherited, particularly on defense. That has been masked by superior QB play and a strong OC, but it is catching up to us this year.
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Agreed. He’s not gonna consider it!
I yelled at the TV, "Why are you across the line of scrimmage??? Run off the field on your own side!!!" Seriously, have you ever wished that a guy running off the field was on the opponents' side of the line? "Boy, I sure wish he was across the line of scrimmage jogging off the field!" Never!!!!!
I did not know that. Okay, that makes more sense.
That's a good point. If he legitimately just runs towards the sideline behind the LOS, we get the stop and get the ball back. So infuriating and likely cost us the game.
Just heard Hauck is out as DC. There were a lot of calls for his head last season, too, as I recall. Wish granted. Now what?
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Man, you either gotta change your handle or watch more closely.