100% agree! Our best unit had the ball, down 4, at home w/plenty of time and we basically took a knee. I am still flabbergasted by H2 and the way that game ended. My wife had to hear about it for the next 3 hours on our drive home.
Duke 31, Illinois 27 Postgame
How many millions have you donated? The simple fact is that managing a program now includes securing enough funding from mega rich supporters to put a superior product on the field. That is on Josh, first and foremost, and BB. While they have raised the program expectations through several great seasons (which we are grateful for) it now takes even more to sustain it or raise it even higher. And part of that is putting funding toward talent. Not scoreboards or stadium name signage. And your assistants better be able to recruit players who are at the top of the league in talent.
It most certainly is not on US! The stadium was sold out and we had how many pages of a game thread? The fan support is most certainly there! This fanbase has suffered for the better part of my 50+ year life. And you want to blame them? No
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Very real chance that Houser's more talented.
Altmyer against Duke: 4 sacks
Houser against Duke: 0 sacks
If you add 4 sacks to the game last night, we likely lose by 20.
Also, the Offensive Coordinator put the ball in Luke's hands at the end of games. But last night, he took the ball out of Houser's hands. So, I don't think it's a fair comparison just yet.
Aaron Henry has to be thinking multiple things but…
“People bitched when I only rushed 3 on 3rd down, now the whole defense has 3 lineman?”
“People bitched when I only rushed 3 on 3rd down, now the whole defense has 3 lineman?”
TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
Rose colored glasses, this game reminds me of Indiana 2022. I'm NOT suggesting our defense will be the same level, but it was a game where we shot ourselves in the foot, were sloppy, and missed a wide open TD.
Sadly, we don't have a B1G west schedule like last time, and will face much better qbs, but the B1G does seem down. This was just such a crucial game for 7 wins and now that path gets much harder, but if we clean things up we can get there.
Sadly, we don't have a B1G west schedule like last time, and will face much better qbs, but the B1G does seem down. This was just such a crucial game for 7 wins and now that path gets much harder, but if we clean things up we can get there.
The reason Iowa wins so many close games, is they don't turn away points. When they have 3 points available, they take it.
Way too often we do the exact opposite, and throw away those 3 points on 4th down.
Also, most of the time we go, it's 4th & 2 or 4th & 3 instead of 4th & 1. It's a big difference.
Way too often we do the exact opposite, and throw away those 3 points on 4th down.
Also, most of the time we go, it's 4th & 2 or 4th & 3 instead of 4th & 1. It's a big difference.
That’s what reverberated through my head for the entire two hour drive home.
Why did we just give up, with plenty of time on the clock? Even this morning it’s baffling. Such a contrast with the “never give up” and “fight to the very end” spirit we saw the last few years. This was still very winnable via our passing game. Reminder - no sacks were allowed. Instead we tucked our tail, curled up, and died. So sad to watch.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I think very, very highly of Barry Lunney, who is not the one who chose the change in philosophy, but between that new philosophy and the strengths of his new quarterback, he needs to chug a Red Bull and embrace his inner Dana Holgorsen.
We kept trying to run an immaculate, clock-absorbing, classic game winning balanced drive. Those aren't the circumstances anymore. Pedal to the metal go get as many points as you can.
I said this last year and I'll repeat it because it's important to be fair to the current DC. Fans blame coaches regardless of circumstance. That's just how it is, especially at the college level.
Henry had no business being singled out for the struggles of the defense because the only real time it was rough was when we played teams that just out manned us athletically, most notably Oregon and Indiana. That was a joke. However, I can't think of any other games that we went into thinking......we literally can't stop anything against any team and the only way we win is to be on the right side of a shootout. He had Jacas, who definitely made his presence felt, despite being double teamed. He did have that, but he had the same corners, backers and interior D-Linemen.
This year, same personnel, without Jacas, and worse outcomes and very little hope. I don't blame the DC. He's trying to make lemonade out of lemons.
If a coach is going to be criticized, ultimately, it's Bielema's roster. The talent is his.
More importantly, the money isn't there to fund both sides of the ball. That's painfully obvious. In the day and age of NIL and the portal, you get what you can afford and pay for. In basketball, we have the money to put together a team with a top flight 7, 2 off the bench with upside, then developmental projects. We've done well with talent selection as well. That's kudos to Brad.
Unless our NIL gets into that $45M range(for football alone), we'll struggle. Look at what the top teams spend. They're all in excess of $50M.
You're forgetting Washington.
Their defense is always rock solid and despite their offensive woes, they are excellent at winning rock fights. Can't win those games if your defensive lines up on 3rd and 5 and you let up a ln 11 yard run.
They're boring to watch, but they're in every single game because of their D. It's every year.
Want to bet right now Duke wins 8 games minimum? Nate Sheppard is one of the best running backs in the country. How good? We will find out when they play Georgia Tech and UNC. Where does your assessment (factually) arise from "that Duke team is HORRIBLE?" How about some specifics and where Duke ranks in certain offensive and defensive categories.
Teams win and lose - not offenses, defenses and special teams. We didn't lose. We got beat. Manny Diaz is one of the best defensive coaches in college football. Duke made 2 adjustments at half time (1) Strong side linebacker played closer to the line of scrimmage. (2) Significantly more cover 3 and switches when our wide outs tried to run (for lack of a better term) pick plays. If I could see that... so could everyone else. How do beat that? you have to look further down the field when you pass. And with the O - line beat up, we didn't try to run those plays.
Why no one on this board gives Duke any credit is beyond me.
It sucks to score only 3 points in the second half, but if we would have scored more I feel like Duke would have gotten the points they needed to keep it a one score game.
Our chance to win was scoring last and it sucks we fizzled out that last drive. That was a game winning drive last season
Our chance to win was scoring last and it sucks we fizzled out that last drive. That was a game winning drive last season
I’d be shocked if Nate Sheppard didn’t have the most forced missed tackles on the ncaa if he stays healthy. I thought they game planned excellently and adjusted their defense absolutely beautifully in the second half. I hate Diaz, but that staff deserves every flower for that game. We’re so used to Bret looking like the genius, it’s hard to stomach when he’s the fool.
Our defense is a mess and our run game is surprisingly weak, but advantage coaching in a big way to Duke yesterday.
Also, if we catch that fake punt and stop them and if our 11th man isn’t offsides on a 4th and 2 that we actually got the stop on, we might be singing a slightly different tune.
Anyways, 8 winnable games remain. Oline health returning, Platt and Brown back, and more defensive gel time leaves me optimistic this team goes bowling in December. Osu and Oregon remain a class above (though Oregon is doing their best to prove otherwise) and Iowa is Iowa. The rest all have equal to larger question marks than us.
One suggestion for Lunney: time to give Hauser the reigns. He’s not Luke, but he’s good enough to be throwing on all four downs when it’s two minute drill time.
Our defense is a mess and our run game is surprisingly weak, but advantage coaching in a big way to Duke yesterday.
Also, if we catch that fake punt and stop them and if our 11th man isn’t offsides on a 4th and 2 that we actually got the stop on, we might be singing a slightly different tune.
Anyways, 8 winnable games remain. Oline health returning, Platt and Brown back, and more defensive gel time leaves me optimistic this team goes bowling in December. Osu and Oregon remain a class above (though Oregon is doing their best to prove otherwise) and Iowa is Iowa. The rest all have equal to larger question marks than us.
One suggestion for Lunney: time to give Hauser the reigns. He’s not Luke, but he’s good enough to be throwing on all four downs when it’s two minute drill time.
Iowa State was picked last in the big 12, and they beat them by a FG. Their quarterbacks and receivers were horrid.
You're just flipping which side of the ball they're horrible on, compared to us. It goes beyond just defense.
Their game management is better. Part of which is taking the 3 points when it's guaranteed.
Cook
- Richmond, VA
Listened to the Werner podcast and concerns only compounded. Really surprised just how far what we’re seeing is from what we were told were the upsides.
So far the 3-3-5 has not been difficult to prep for or counter scheme against at all, generates no havoc/disruption/takeaways, and opp yac is astonishing.
And then how does the O not understand that complementary this year requires going shootout mode nearly all the time, and every time we don’t have a lead.
So far the 3-3-5 has not been difficult to prep for or counter scheme against at all, generates no havoc/disruption/takeaways, and opp yac is astonishing.
And then how does the O not understand that complementary this year requires going shootout mode nearly all the time, and every time we don’t have a lead.
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Yes!!! That was a doozy. Not ideal.
On the flip side, for a half, we took care of USC, who was loaded with talent. We were fine until Makai Lemon went all NFL on us. We still stayed in it with Luke getting the shot to win it.....and he did.
We also beat Duke, with Mensah, by creating 5 turnovers.
The vibe is just totally different.
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"Rushed 3 on 3rd down" and "3 down lineman" are two COMPLETELY different things.
Their QB's and receivers are horrible, their Offensive Line and Tight Ends produce NFL talent, you're spot on with game management and their defense is a rock. They always win BS games like that because of their defense.
You're also spot on about flipping sides of where they're bad. That said, 100 times of of 100, I'd take a dominant defense. Obviously, both are preferred, but give me the defensive and like you said.....manage the game, take FG's and get the game into the 4th quarter. They play like they did vs ISU, but last year, with the same trash offense, they were right there with Indiana, while we were headed towards losing by 70.
With our D, we know going in to all games that we need 30+ to be in it.
Basketball ---> we're taking the dominant offense.
Football ---> we're taking the dominant defense.
(?)
I guess there's logic behind each.
Germanboxers
- Fort Wayne, IN
And a less energetic crowd.
I looked back at the 4 Illini possessions in the second half. The play selection still baffles me, but I'm no football expert and I know the offensive line was beat up. Anyway, after throwing the ball successfully in the first half (188 yards and 3 TDs), the second half play selection included:
--14 passes, 8 completions for 83 yards (5.9/attempt) and 1 costly INT
--13 runs for 35 yards (2.69/carry)
Great balance, I guess, but not much to show for it on the ground.
The fourth quarter:
--7 pass attempts, 3 completions for 41 yards (5.9/attempt)...and that INT
--10 rushes for 23 yards (2.3) including that strange last possession that included 3 straight runs after an 11-yard completion. It was almost as if the Illini were trying to protect a lead as they milked the clock.
--14 passes, 8 completions for 83 yards (5.9/attempt) and 1 costly INT
--13 runs for 35 yards (2.69/carry)
Great balance, I guess, but not much to show for it on the ground.
The fourth quarter:
--7 pass attempts, 3 completions for 41 yards (5.9/attempt)...and that INT
--10 rushes for 23 yards (2.3) including that strange last possession that included 3 straight runs after an 11-yard completion. It was almost as if the Illini were trying to protect a lead as they milked the clock.
Yeah honestly we would have all felt better on that last Duke drive if the D had gone super aggressive and blitzed like mad and we lost by 11 instead of 4. Felt like they just accepted losing midway through the 4th and were content to grind the clock down.Listened to the Werner podcast and concerns only compounded. Really surprised just how far what we’re seeing is from what we were told were the upsides.
So far the 3-3-5 has not been difficult to prep for or counter scheme against at all, generates no havoc/disruption/takeaways, and opp yac is astonishing.
And then how does the O not understand that complementary this year requires going shootout mode nearly all the time, and every time we don’t have a lead.
The pitch of the 3-3-5 was that it would sometimes get beat for the big play, but had potential to get big negative plays with lots of pressure and aggression, and we really haven't seen that