mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
This is my concern. I get the difficulty of recruiting a top notch HS recruit, but surprised there wasn't a stronger push for a 5th-year guy.
Illini Football 2017
This is my concern. I get the difficulty of recruiting a top notch HS recruit, but surprised there wasn't a stronger push for a 5th-year guy.
There isn't really an abundance of good 5th year QBs
Malik Zaire is still available. Visited Wisconsin and UNC but is delaying decision until April. Spending his spring in Arizona with a QB coach. Odd move on his part to miss out on spring practice.
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
I will admit I expected to much from a short period of time on how much Lovie could "coach up" last year's squad. I think I have much more realistic expectations for the upcoming season. That said, I am really excited to see what a year + with him working with everyone can show for growth.
With the graduations along the Defensive Line I think many are expecting a drop off for our D overall. I believe our D will actually be improved from last season with a year in the system and so many young guys getting time last year.
I wouldn't expect any massive improvement, we had trouble getting off the field on third down last year and lost two NFL draft day 1/2 DEs. They will be tough to replace on passing downs. We also lose Hardy Nickerson Jr, who was 3rd team all pac12 or whatever before coming over and replacing him with a JUCO, so there is definitely potential to regress, although I don't necessarily think it will regress majorly either.
Part of my optimism is I am very bullish on Delshawn Phillips. I think he is a better athlete than Nickerson Jr. and can be a dynamic playmaker at that position. Not that Nickerson was bad, but Phillips imo is more physically gifted.
Despite criticism on this board I thought Tre Watson was very good last year. I also think Stanley Green is ready to become an All Big 10 player this year. If Carney and Oladipo can perform early, I think this D could surprise.
Granted there is alot of ifs
Lets be honest: with our QB situation, 2017 is just 12 pre-season games for 2018.
That's not the end of the world, and we are going to have a chance to really grow from the experience our young guys are going to get next year, but we have very little chance to be successful on the field next year.
That's not the end of the world, and we are going to have a chance to really grow from the experience our young guys are going to get next year, but we have very little chance to be successful on the field next year.
FT35
- Naperville
The QB situation kills most of my optimism. I really don't expect more than 2 wins but it will be fun to see guys like Carney, both Greens, Smalling, Phillips, Oladipo, etc.
I really like the way the LBs and the secondary are shaping up. The DL is kind of a question mark but I'm really excited to see what the Freshmen can do.
The offense will mostly be the same except with a nice upgrade at WR. I don't think it will be enough to overcome the losses we had on the DL as well as Nickerson.
At least I don't feel the same way I did heading into the 2013 season when I thought we'd win 0 games.
I really like the way the LBs and the secondary are shaping up. The DL is kind of a question mark but I'm really excited to see what the Freshmen can do.
The offense will mostly be the same except with a nice upgrade at WR. I don't think it will be enough to overcome the losses we had on the DL as well as Nickerson.
At least I don't feel the same way I did heading into the 2013 season when I thought we'd win 0 games.
I see anywhere between 2-6 wins this year. I think our defense will overcome the loses on the DL with solid back 7 play and be better as a unit.
Our offense... let's just hope or QB play is better than we are anticipating. If that's the case, we could be pretty good.
I'm just nervous that when we struggle this year, fans will start to turn on Lovie and staff Like I said, and most have been saying, this could be a similar season to last year. Have faith in the process and understand that it's a long rebuild.
Our offense... let's just hope or QB play is better than we are anticipating. If that's the case, we could be pretty good.
I'm just nervous that when we struggle this year, fans will start to turn on Lovie and staff Like I said, and most have been saying, this could be a similar season to last year. Have faith in the process and understand that it's a long rebuild.
We are the people that get to prevent that from happening.
Phillips may be a better athlete, but Nickerson was a really smart football player and did a lot of things, especially tackling, really well and knew this system. D is enrolled early, which helps, but he still hasn't played P5 ball and there will be some adjustment. Tre wasn't terrible last year by any means, but still struggled with plays that bounced outside frequently and needs to improve there. He lost the edge a fair number of times.
QB is a concern, if Crouch was healthy for spring ball, I'd be less worried, but I actually think I like JG Jr more than some. His realistic potential is still higher than some of the other QBs in the conference. It's also worth noting that Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska will have a new QB for the first time in 2 to 4 years. Having decent WRs will go a long way as well.
I think I'd be happier if Roundtree or Oladipo had early enrolled as well as Carney, but realistically I think I'm as concerned about 2nd corner and finding a consistent SLB as I am about DEs. I think Milan, Kenyon Jackson and Tito (if he stays at DT) will be fine in the middle of the line.
Ultimately, I think 3-6 wins feels realistic, I don't see it being 0-2. Anything above 4 is gravy, I just want to see us be competitive in every game.
I agree with this assessment, maybe not as dire, but ultimately '18 is the year (for football and basketball) to play in a bowl and NCAAT.
I would say 2019 myself. 2018 we should be able to be in most games, but I still think we will be a year away. As far as the QB worries, I have none, Cam was hand picked to be the man, so I'm good with that.
2018 crossovers are Rutgers, MD, PSU, 2 buy games with WIU and Kent St, and USF @ Soldier Field, plus normal Big Ten West. Getting to 6 wins that season should be the reasonable goal, IMO.
Just listened to McGee on Tay & J from today. Really like listening to that guy. He seems to think a fair bit of JG Jr, and is definitely a fan of Dorsey. Going to be really looking forward to reports from spring ball
You don't have much of a choice but to say nice things about your only scholarship quarterback.
Well, yeah. He said Chayce is throwing again I believe. Personally, I like him better than Crouch, but that's a pretty low bar
South Farms
- near Ogden & Rt 83
he should have another honeymoon year. no one can really expect that much yet
Interesting story. curious why his recruitment went nowhere. However, before recently Rockford was kind of like this and there are something like 12 high schools. Could it be such a small town that no one really checks him out?
Illiini
- In the land of the Nittany Lion
My gut sez combination of small school/small competition, and small--or not tall enough--player. He's not short, but he's a guy who's going to have trouble seeing the Big Ten parade from the back of the crowd.
Other factors: He doesn't have a lot of suitors. If he got more attention, he'd get more attention. I suspect like everything else, there's a certain herd mentality among coaches and recruiters.
In truth, if he's deadset about being a quarterback, he might be better off being a hero in D-II than a benchwarmer in D-I. Is it better to be an A student in a small school, or a C student in a big school?
And the article is well written, almost a hagiography. Of course, if he were only an average guy, there's not story. Editor says to writer, why are you bringing this to me? So writer finds a way to make it an "-st" story to hook the man who makes assignments. What's an "-st" story? A superlative: Best, worst, biggest, smallest, anything most...including unfairest. So that's the writer's mission. It's one story. If the guy gets a big gig and he's successful, the writer gets to say, "I told you so." If not, everyone has forgotten the story and the writer is off writing about some other wunderkind.
But if there's something going on sub rosa and Lovie loves him, forget I wrote any of this.
FT35
- Naperville
I really don't think that's the case. In the article it says:
It may have to do with measurables or the "herd" mentality. We've seen it with other players where if one major program offers other programs step up and offer as well. Look at what happened when we offered Palczewski who had no offers heading into his Senior year.
In this day and age it's hard to imagine any player, regardless of where they play, could be completely overlooked. There's the internet and camps. Coaches don't have time to go to High School games which is why players need to go to camps and get their film out there. We offered Cam Thomas and Mondesir at camps.
His Hudl profile now has 28,000 views although most schools are probably at their scholarship limit at this point.
FT35
- Naperville
Maybe McGee can coach him up this Spring. That's really all we can hope for at this point.
I didn't see anything last fall that led me to believe JGJ is a B1G QB and he doesn't fit this offense at all. He had a 40% completion percentage and that wasn't all on the WRs. He made a lot of poor decisions which is why he got yanked in favor of an injured Wes Lunt during the Wisconsin game.
