Illini Football 2019

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#176      
4 wins or higher, Lovie is our head coach next year. I just don’t know if I can take another 4 win season. I need at least 5. We have far too many 2nd and 3rd year starters to not win 5 games

With the current schedule, 4 wins is really tough to fathom. Barring something completely unforeseen, like 6 losses within a TD (and the Big West becoming one of the better Divisions in NCAA), I think 4 wins will be hard to swallow.
 
#177      
I really posted it for anyone to comment on. I do think the defense under-performed. I'm not sure if the recruiting has been good enough to compete for the division title, otherwise I agree with much of what you posted.

Well, I think this was well done. This put the actual team up on the screen for us to debate.
 
#178      
... If Lovie leaves next year, the depth on this team is good and the younger guys have a ton of talent, I think if the caliber of recruiting stays where it has been last year and this year, good enough to compete for the BIG West. And, I have no doubt that if Lovie can't use the current roster to win, I am sure the next coach will be able to. I, personally, wouldn't say that about this roster you posted. And certainly not the future of the posted roster.
Long story to get there, but I'm not convinced we hand the next coach as great of a situation as we would like to believe. Sure, we have some experience in 2020 and on paper 2020 looks ok, but I'm a little concerned with the 2021 class in either case and the sustainability moving forward.

2021 is a big class & it won't be able to hide behind the over-debated average recruit rating or 247 composite ranking of the last couple classes. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle, if you are taking a smaller class you absolutely cherry pick and take the higher ranked guys, which raises the average number. So if Lovie & Illinois Football doesn't make some waves this year, you have Lovie recruiting as a lame duck/hot seat coach or you switch staffs and have the new staff behind chasing the 2021 class and trying to convince kids they can do this better than an ex-NFL coach. Either way 2021 season probably is not a huge impact on 2021 recruiting class.

If 2021 class bombs, which seems to be a likely outcome if this year doesn't go well, it could end up looking like the Cubit Class that we all give Lovie a pass on (except @ChiefGritty of course) to the next coach. I do think the next coach is in better shape, 2020 likely still looks good with bunches of seniors, with a bit more higher end talent across the roster coming back in 2021, & the QB situation has to be better than what Lovie inherited...but a coach change also opens you up to a bunch of transfers. I just think this perceived depth and improved roster for the next coach is a pretty fragile thing when you consider we are still behind on 2020, 2019 was a small class & the importance of 2021 recruiting in what could be an ugly mess if this goes south.
 
#180      
Long story to get there, but I'm not convinced we hand the next coach as great of a situation as we would like to believe. Sure, we have some experience in 2020 and on paper 2020 looks ok, but I'm a little concerned with the 2021 class in either case and the sustainability moving forward.

2021 is a big class & it won't be able to hide behind the over-debated average recruit rating or 247 composite ranking of the last couple classes. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle, if you are taking a smaller class you absolutely cherry pick and take the higher ranked guys, which raises the average number. So if Lovie & Illinois Football doesn't make some waves this year, you have Lovie recruiting as a lame duck/hot seat coach or you switch staffs and have the new staff behind chasing the 2021 class and trying to convince kids they can do this better than an ex-NFL coach. Either way 2021 season probably is not a huge impact on 2021 recruiting class.

If 2021 class bombs, which seems to be a likely outcome if this year doesn't go well, it could end up looking like the Cubit Class that we all give Lovie a pass on (except @ChiefGritty of course) to the next coach. I do think the next coach is in better shape, 2020 likely still looks good with bunches of seniors, with a bit more higher end talent across the roster coming back in 2021, & the QB situation has to be better than what Lovie inherited...but a coach change also opens you up to a bunch of transfers. I just think this perceived depth and improved roster for the next coach is a pretty fragile thing when you consider we are still behind on 2020, 2019 was a small class & the importance of 2021 recruiting in what could be an ugly mess if this goes south.

Can Lovie and how many recruits enter the portal? There is no guarantee that a "good base" of players will be there for the next coach. We need to dance with the girl we brung at this point
 
#181      
Long story to get there, but I'm not convinced we hand the next coach as great of a situation as we would like to believe. Sure, we have some experience in 2020 and on paper 2020 looks ok, but I'm a little concerned with the 2021 class in either case and the sustainability moving forward.

2021 is a big class & it won't be able to hide behind the over-debated average recruit rating or 247 composite ranking of the last couple classes. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle, if you are taking a smaller class you absolutely cherry pick and take the higher ranked guys, which raises the average number. So if Lovie & Illinois Football doesn't make some waves this year, you have Lovie recruiting as a lame duck/hot seat coach or you switch staffs and have the new staff behind chasing the 2021 class and trying to convince kids they can do this better than an ex-NFL coach. Either way 2021 season probably is not a huge impact on 2021 recruiting class.

If 2021 class bombs, which seems to be a likely outcome if this year doesn't go well, it could end up looking like the Cubit Class that we all give Lovie a pass on (except @ChiefGritty of course) to the next coach. I do think the next coach is in better shape, 2020 likely still looks good with bunches of seniors, with a bit more higher end talent across the roster coming back in 2021, & the QB situation has to be better than what Lovie inherited...but a coach change also opens you up to a bunch of transfers. I just think this perceived depth and improved roster for the next coach is a pretty fragile thing when you consider we are still behind on 2020, 2019 was a small class & the importance of 2021 recruiting in what could be an ugly mess if this goes south.

There are some good points, and I believe the amount of depth that we have on the current roster is great. I am probably the biggest Lovie fan on the board. But less than 5 wins is hard to stomach, barring something unpredictable. The big ten west is not that strong. The talent on the roster is definitely bowl caliber. And when I look at the scholarship grid, we have some great balance given how things played out. And, like you said next years recruiting class will be very important. But the base of the players are still strong, so it’s not as critical except for depth.
 
#183      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
People are incapable of independent thought just because they post here, apparently. Why haven't we sucked you in yet?

Well I'm still here because I have no life and I hate my job.

But put it this way: in the prime era of the Weber Wars, I did not stand out at all. I was just one of many with a particular viewpoint. Illinois message board world is a much less trafficked community than it was back then, and the people that have stuck it out through everything we've been through is not just a random sample, there is a particular personality type that experience has selected for. Doesn't mean it's not independent thought or that everybody are a bunch of lemmings, but it is a common set of viewpoints.
 
#185      
Considering how we somehow almost made a bowl game last season (USF, and NW) I can't see why 6 wins isn't the baseline. Only way 5 wins is okay imo is if it's ultra-competitive with no blowouts.
I think the dropped ball by Stampley that went for the pick against Nebraska, really messed us up in that game. We could have one 7 with a break or two the other way last year. This team is much better than that team.
 
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#187      
Yeah and in the past, the Iowa coach probably doesn't have starters in the game so late like they did. It was a bad loss all away around. No doubt about it. But, I remember bitching that there were still Iowa starters in the game, late.

I thought the fake punt by Iowa in that game was stunningly lacking in good sportsmanship.
 
#189      
I know not everyone feels this way, and there are a mutitude of variables that could (and should) shift people to other viewpoints...but in my eyes, this is year 3 of a rebuild for Lovie. (In terms of troops in the trenches)

So I will hold him to my year 3 standard. And that year 3 standard has been/always will be a win small/lose competitively mentality.
You should just revise your standard to 4 years. I don't know how many new coaches have their guys on the field year one
 
#190      
Does anyone have any more training camp updates? I’m mostly concerned with pass rush as well as how our talented 3 of Randolph, Okpala and Coleman are coming along. Last year our opponents had all the time in the world to throw. Most of my concern is with the front seven of our defense.
 
#195      
That fake punt was a testament to our poor defensive awareness and coaching. The field position and distance to go on 4th down cried out fake punt....yet our coaches didn't have a clue.
 
#196      
I thought the fake punt by Iowa in that game was stunningly lacking in good sportsmanship.
I was watching that game in a sports bar. If I could have jumped through the TV screen and gone after the Iowa coach, I would have. I hope we are able to pay the Squawks back for that someday.
 
#197      

Hoppy2105

Little Rock, Arkansas
You should just revise your standard to 4 years. I don't know how many new coaches have their guys on the field year one

Coaches usually get hired with at least one full month (sometimes way more) to piece together a recruiting class of guys who at least fit their system. (Maybe even flipping a few good players already committed)

Lovie had negative 2 months and the recruiting class he inherited wasn’t very strong (Cubit’s awkward interim class). Plus, many of the players were recruited to systems completely different than what Lovie wanted to set up.

Lovie had zero chance to even TRY to correct that. So, to me, it’s year 3.
 
#200      
Got Uconn tickets. Looking forward to seeing the game "in person" and meeting fellow Illini!
 
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