Illini Football 2016

#551      
JDHalfrack
I feel weird about this season's record. Like... for some reason, I'm sure we're gonna go 5-7. It's to the point that if we win less than 5, I'll be really, really pissed, but if we win more than 5, I'll be really, really surprised.

But, if we just win 5, I feel like "eh... it was expected".

Long story short, that 3-9 prediction is bullcrap.
 
#552      
AutoPoster 3000
I genuinely have no idea what's going to happen this season as far as wins/losses. That's because I genuinely have no recollection of ever having a staff here that was capable of out-coaching and out-scheming an opponent. Particularly under Beckman/Cubit I feel like we only ever won the games we were supposed to and almost always lost the games we were supposed to, often badly. It made it very easy to predict the season outcome. But this year? Are McGee and Nickerson going to pull a rabbit out the hat once or twice or more? Or is our personnel so mismatched for their system that we crash and burn badly out of the gate and are looking at a ground up rebuild? All I know is, I'm REALLY excited to see what does happen.
 
#553      
CARPET
This reporting site is going to be wrong on the prediction.

Look at the projected scores on defense. Last year Illinois defense gave up 23.5 points per game. This article indicates Illinois defense will be worse allowing 27.25 points a game.

Under Coach Lovie with this Senior Defense there is no way they go backwards in points allowed.

Vegas has pegged the Over/Under number at 4.5. If we stay healthy 6 wins will be the number
 
#554      
CARPET
AutoPoster 3000 said:
I genuinely have no idea what's going to happen this season as far as wins/losses. That's because I genuinely have no recollection of ever having a staff here that was capable of out-coaching and out-scheming an opponent. Particularly under Beckman/Cubit I feel like we only ever won the games we were supposed to and almost always lost the games we were supposed to, often badly. It made it very easy to predict the season outcome. But this year? Are McGee and Nickerson going to pull a rabbit out the hat once or twice or more? Or is our personnel so mismatched for their system that we crash and burn badly out of the gate and are looking at a ground up rebuild? All I know is, I'm REALLY excited to see what does happen.
Click to expand...

Excellent Post- You basically read my mind:illinois:
 
#555      
SampsonRelpenk
I finished Robert's preview today. While he pulled no punches about the team's obvious issues (very little depth on the o-line, shaky secondary, new schemes, etc), I was left with the impression that he is going to predict 6+ wins.

I'm cautiously optimistic, but I get the feeling that watching this staff plot the course of the program will be the real attraction this season.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
 
#558      
GameOfThrows
Here is my season prediction. My prediction is based on my belief that games are won and lost on the line of scrimmage (not a novel concept, I know), and that the defensive line is the most important position group on the team. You win with defense and defense starts on the line. And I believe that we will have the best defensive line in the BIG West. Senior QB, solid RB, really good MLB and both tackles and center with loads of experience on the offensive line. 22 seniors in the 2 deep. Iowa, Wisconsin and Northwestern take steps back. Adds up to this:

Murray St. 44-10 W
UNC 23 - 38 L - (Trubisky is an upgrade at QB, loaded team with experience on both sides)
Western Michigan 34-31 W (fingers crossed here, hopefully we pull off the win)

@Nebraska 27-19 W (why not?)
Purdue 42- 17 W
@Rutgers 30-13 W
@Michigan 16-20 L
Minnesota 24-16 W
Michigan St. 17-23 L
@Wisconsin 27-17 W
Iowa 17-19 L
@Northwestern 24-18 W

8-4 season. Seniors, dominant D Line, improved coaching.

tough schedule. UNC and WMU are legit. I will be impressed if we lose by less than 20 vs. UNC in the team's second game with new schemes. WMU is loaded on O, but their D line is a weakness we should be able to exploit.

5 BIG road games. Home games v. Michigan St and Iowa.

This is a sunny prediction. Clearly, WMU, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Rutgers could go the other way. But so too could Iowa and Michigan St. But I really do think the team gels and improves throughout the season. and leans on the run game and solid defense to win tough games. Plus, there is the whole coaching change and stability that goes with it.

Either way. I'll be rooting for the beloved win or lose. Excited to see a competent and competitive team for all 4 quarters.

Go Illini!!
 
#559      
Second and Chalmers
CrIk31MXEAARUXG.jpg:large



Justin Hardee on the me plan: get a bunch of random UI degrees so you can stay there forever. :thumb:
 
#561      
jrichisamazing
I wouldn't normally agree with having a guy who has only been here for a few months be named captain. But it makes sense in this scenario.
 
#562      
illiniwek90
I like Hardy Nickerson Jr. being named a captain. He was named a captain at Cal and those same leadership qualities can help solidify this Illini defense. I think it says a lot about a person's work ethic and character if his teammates/staff voted him a captain after only knowing him for the summer.
 
#563      
breadman
I'm going to go with 7-5 as a minimum. You look at the trend of the last few years and it has been a trend of gradual improvement. No reason to go against that trend this year. Having said that, the big unknown is how many more wins can the new coaching staff coach this team to one or two more wins beyond the trend of gradual improvement.
 
#564      
breadman
Lovie's press conference was a thing of beauty and professionalism. It was a pleasure to hear it.
 
#565      
The Galloping Ghost 77
Capture.JPG

The road to the BIG championship..begins? Insanely wishful thinking that we can even get that far, but I think we are about to test the theory of what a "coach em up" coach can do with a football team.

With this current roster and coaching staff, a bowl game appearance this season should be a minimum expectation.
 
#567      
IrishIllini
The Galloping Ghost 77 said:
View attachment 2748

The road to the BIG championship..begins? Insanely wishful thinking that we can even get that far, but I think we are about to test the theory of what a "coach em up" coach can do with a football team.

With this current roster and coaching staff, a bowl game appearance this season should be a minimum expectation.
Click to expand...

I see 5 games that we should be favored in (Murray St., WMich, Purdue, Rutgers, and Minnesota). Hopefully we can hang close with either Nebraska, Wisconsin, or Iowa and pull off a win. I do think our floor is four wins.
 
#568      
OrangeSoda
How often do start times change? Does it mainly depend if ESPN of some other network picks up the game?

That 11am Homecoming start is just dreadful.
 
#569      
unimaroon
IrishIllini said:
I see 5 games that we should be favored in (Murray St., WMich, Purdue, Rutgers, and Minnesota). Hopefully we can hang close with either Nebraska, Wisconsin, or Iowa and pull off a win. I do think our floor is four wins.
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One source, Athlon, has WMU rated as a potential contender, though not favorite, for the MAC Championship and rates them 69th in the country with a strong passing attack. Athlon rates the Illini as 74th in the country.

We will be strongly favored to win and lose our first two games respectively so the WMU game looks to be an early bellweather for our expectations. The decision to move the game to C-U certainly helps but I see this game as an early potential season definer.
 
#570      
WesterveltVictoryCigar
OrangeSoda said:
How often do start times change? Does it mainly depend if ESPN of some other network picks up the game?

That 11am Homecoming start is just dreadful.
Click to expand...

Rare that a game time changes once it's announced. Especially homecoming, with all the other activities going on that need to be scheduled and coordinated.

Many of the times are still TBA and will get announced the Monday of the week prior.
 
#571      
Dan
Josh Whitman talks Illini Pride

[YOUTUBE]Yg_NXmA_FDQ[/YOUTUBE]
 
#575      
IlliniInTexas
cdfillini said:
Josh Whitman gets it! :illinois::chief::illinois:
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I have to admit that I was initially skeptical about the Whitman hire. I had assumed it was like a Michigan Brady Hoke hire, with the "Michigan Man" mantra. Happy to say that Whitman's won me over many times over now, with his passion, with his intelligence, and with his confidence. This is the first time I've been excited going into a football season since 2009, and I can't wait to see what Lovie does in years 3-6.

My part: Buying a giant Illinois flag and hanging it outside my house.
 
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