Recent content by EasyPeasey

1. Bret Bielema CAN coach. No doubt. But the OL is coached by Bart Miller. Bart Miller got a Redshirt Freshman, buried in the depth chart, ready to play a great game at LT. 2. As for the OL play this year, I'll say it over-and-over--> more than a few QB hurries and sacks this past year are...

Redshirt Frosh Knapik played well. OL wasn't just missing Davis, two other tackles were missing to injury. Knapik had to step up -- next man up. Coaches got him prepped and ready to go. As for the portal, Illinois already has a couple JUCO OLs coming in to compete for playing time/starting...

It would be nice -- and Illinois better rank ahead of 9-4 USC, which lost to TCU.

You said it, the Illini have a football PROGRAM now.

OL played well tonight, after their opening drive jitters in which they committed 4 false starts. They controlled the LOS, keeping Luke's jersey clean and opening the creases for 220+ yards rushing. Overall, the OL was decent this year. Not all he sacks are on the OL. TE's and RB's missing...

And for Lunney to resist the urge to throw and, instead, run the damn ball!

Road graders upfront did their jobs with Luke, Laugherty and Valentine slipping through the holes and skirting around the edges.

On Reddit a Tennessee fan wrote: "Just like Tennessee to go out and score the losing touchdown!" Made me LOL

Which got corrected -- after which the OL played great and kept Luke's jersey clean . . . especially that redshirt FR LT! (He was 4th string on the depth chart but played because J.C. Davis sat out and the 2nd and 3rd string Tackles were injured.)

BTW - if you're really curious about the quality of Coach Miller's production, why don't you consider how many OL players have earned All-Conference honors since Bielema and Miller arrived on campus, and how many of Illini O-lineman are getting their shot in the pros. Upon closer review, I...

That's not on the OL coach. That's NIL. Get used to it. It's the Wild West in CF right now. If a kid doesn't see significant playing time in two years, he's out--either by his choice or the coaches'. The name of the game in big time CF is NOW! Immediate results are demanded...

I agree that there has been a disconnect at times between OC Lunney and OL Coach Miller. But I disagree that it is Miller who is underperforming. Lunney inexplicably strays from the gameplan on an alarmingly regular -- albeit, frustratingly random -- rate. Case in point, Illinois comes out...

No we haven't decided to scapegoat Miller. That's B.S. The OL was not perfect, but not all the "line issues" are on the OL. The OL -- and OL coach -- are not responsible for sacks and pressures caused by the TEs (especially) and RBs missing blocks. That was an issue on too many occasions...

The jury is still out on Andrew Dennis, as he redshirted at MSU and has only appeared in a couple games. Recall, he enrolled early and went through spring practice with the Illini. MSU's new coach, NIL money, and being home sick may have had as much to do with his transfer as anything--plus...