Glory Days
- Palmetto, FL
Perhaps Tim Beckman will surface as the DC...:thumb:
Illini Football 2017
We should know by the end of week 2 if the Illini will show any improvement this year. WKU is very good for their league, but, realistically, would be a BIG bottom feeder. If Illinois cannot beat them at home, then the trip to Tampa will be a rough one, too, because USF's fans are already talking about possibly going undefeated.
I look for real improvement in the offensive line and at the QB position if Crouch stays healthy. But that defensive line.....
why does the D=line worry you so much ? yes we lost our DEs but they sucked against the run, our DT are back and we added to them. I think all in all we should be a better team just ALOT younger
Agreed. The emergence of our young DTs was one of the bigger stories of last season. As far as DE, out of all the guys we're bringing in, we should find a couple that are at least serviceable.
ALOT younger = worse, generally. But I do think if Crouch stays healthy, he will keep us in games.
illini80
- Forgottonia
I assume you are talking about Lawson. Last word was he likely would need summer classes to be eligible. There is no scenario where he would be the starter at the beginning of the season.
Is there anywhere to see our roster for next year? I know our Dline will have Milan and Green, but not sure who else...was roundtree a DE?
Official roster as of Spring 2017:
http://www.fightingillini.com/roster.aspx?path=football
OR
Robert's Post Spring Depth Chart, which includes incoming freshman:
https://illiniboard.com/story/2017/4/16/post-spring-depth-chart/
Also thanks for the links, I do see Kendrick Green on there as a DT, but it looks like Robert has him on there as third string
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FT35
- Naperville
Kendrick will probably be in the rotation. Ideally you'd like to see him redshirt and add 10-20 lbs but he's good enough to play right now.
Adesanya hasn't accumulated any stats as of yet and McGrew has only played sparingly so it's kind of a mystery as to how both will do. Holcombe was also moved to DE and Crawford could get some snaps there.
Carney and Oladipo should play. I'm not sure about Roundtree.
Woods, Pate and Gay should be Redshirted. These guys are probably a couple of years away from being in the rotation. I'm assuming Pate and Woods will be moved to DT.
We have a lot of bodies to try at DL, just very, very little experience. It'll be interested to see who emerges.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Considering how young and inexperienced this year's team will be I really can't see much more than 3-4 wins this season. I hope I'm wrong but if that scenario plays out I hope people don't lose patience with Smith. This organization was in such bad shape that I don't think we will see much tangible improvement until year 4.
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
I see 6 wins for us next year. Crappy bowl game. Good improvement for us, which will lead to improved recruiting classes.
Ball State
WKU
Nebraska
Rutgers
Purdue
USF or Indiana for the 6th win
Ball State
WKU
Nebraska
Rutgers
Purdue
USF or Indiana for the 6th win
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
I see 5 wins. No way we are beating Nebraska this year.
Why not play Lawson, assuming he's here, if we are not a bowl eligible type team? I've seen enough of Crouch to say there's not a bright future for the Illini with him at QB.
I'll accept the rebuild process but wouldn't reps for Lawson be part of it?
I'll accept the rebuild process but wouldn't reps for Lawson be part of it?
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
That's what I was going with, we have the Huskers at home.
Our talent is young, but is has improved. I say we are bowling this year.
Lawson's JC coach has said he'd be better off sitting out a season so he can learn the system. If he arrives in August and they want to play him, they'll probably have to greatly limit the playbook while he's in there.
I wouldn't be so quick to write off Crouch. Though my concern with him is his ability to stay healthy with the numbers of hits he's likely to take.
Yeah, people aren't registering how young this team is.
If we don't beat Ball State, 0-fer is in play bigly.
A lot of how well Crouch does will fall back onto the O-line, all around the O should be a lot better though, just from having a year in the system. We have good RB depth. For a change we are going to have some fast WR who can catch the ball, But it still will fall on the O-line to be able to open a few holes and protect long enough to give time to throw the ball down around a bite more. If Crouch runs when we want him to run rather then cause its all he has, we will be way better. If we can hold Lawson out it will only help us down the road. Just would be really nice to have him know the playbook front to back, have this years call all with a year in the system as ell. then next year you start expecting bowl games yearly, or Lovie isn't doing his job as well as people hoped he would.
FT35
- Naperville
I don't see why not. He has five years to play four seasons of college football. The clock started ticking for him in 2015 so his eligibility doesn't run out until 2019.
This is assuming there is still mutual interest, of course. Honestly though, if this is what happens then I hope we move on from him. The appeal of him was being able to add depth THIS YEAR. I'd rather see guys like Thomas and Taylor back up Crouch and get snaps in 2018. There also aren't that many scholarships available.
Yeah I would think the only way that would happen is if he sat out while getting his stuff done so he would still have 2 years here. As far as Taylor unless he is starting in 2018 I do not see him on the field at all. Why waste a year when we will still have JGJ and Thomas as back ups. That said I still think we will see more out of JGJ then most are giving him a chance at
In this age of social media I realize that this not-yet day old article is now old news, but I don't see it in this thread:
Maybe this finally puts to rest the idea that Lovie hates Champaign.
Maybe this finally puts to rest the idea that Lovie hates Champaign.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
My favorite quote:
Yeah, Lovie. Who doesn't?
He may not be liking C-U as much today with 3 kids in the hoosgow.