Illini Football 2019

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#576      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
A win against scUM at home would have been "shocking" prior to yesterday. I would like to go on record saying that beating scUM at home will now only be "surprising".
 
#579      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
I would say that about Nebraska, not UM yet. UM is still projected to win the BIG

Neither impressed me. I see the potential for our D to disrupt a lot with the speed and a little more size on the line. I truly think the Nebby game is a pick 'em now.
 
#580      
New-season predictions after week 1:
W- Akron - 42-3
W - UConn - 45-7
W - Eastern Michigan - 28-14
W - Nebraska - 42-41
W - Minnesota - 48-21
L - Michigan - 40-21
L - Wisconsin - 35-24
L - Purdue - 35-32
W - Rutgers - 48-17
L - Michigan State - 28-7
L - Iowa - 28-20
W - Northwestern - 21-10

7-5 & bowling. These predictions are based solely on my papa del's pizza filled gut feelings.
 
#582      
New-season predictions after week 1:
W- Akron - 42-3
W - UConn - 45-7
W - Eastern Michigan - 28-14
W - Nebraska - 42-41
W - Minnesota - 48-21
L - Michigan - 40-21
L - Wisconsin - 35-24
L - Purdue - 35-32
W - Rutgers - 48-17
L - Michigan State - 28-7
L - Iowa - 28-20
W - Northwestern - 21-10

7-5 & bowling. These predictions are based solely on my papa del's pizza filled gut feelings.

That MSU score is off. They could only put up 28 on Tulsa
 
#583      
I’m a fairly pessimistic person, so take this with a grain of salt, but y’all need to slow your roll...

Yes, we won.
Yes, we looked better than last year.
Yes, our defense appears faster.

But make no mistake about it: we looked like a 5-7 team yesterday that beat up on a bottom tier MAC team. Our DBs are still steps behind receivers, and major gaps were open all day. Any team with a better than MAC quality QB is going to pick us apart.

I think we have real talent, but we’re still the worst team in the Big Ten west. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves...
 
#584      
I’m a fairly pessimistic person, so take this with a grain of salt, but y’all need to slow your roll...

Yes, we won.
Yes, we looked better than last year.
Yes, our defense appears faster.

But make no mistake about it: we looked like a 5-7 team yesterday that beat up on a bottom tier MAC team. Our DBs are still steps behind receivers, and major gaps were open all day. Any team with a better than MAC quality QB is going to pick us apart.

I think we have real talent, but we’re still the worst team in the Big Ten west. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves...

Based on week 1 games, we aren’t the worst team in the big west. Or, maybe restated, if we are, it’s not by much. The point that most people are making is that our team looks good, and many other teams on our schedule did not. Nebraska, Minnesota, Purdue, Michigan state. One week isn’t quite enough justification to suggest we will win 8 games. But the data points we received yesterday suggest that we will still be favorites in 4 games (3 more), and our tossups, which used to be 3 games (neb, Purdue, and nw), will include two more (minn, MSU). MSU has more talent and is a solid team, but their offense is anemic. Given our biggest limitation is defense, I don’t think it’s a stretch to pull off an upset.

Now, having said that, all of those teams could have used week 1 as a wake up call and we could lose every tossup, or lose key players and lack sufficient depth. However, our starting lineup is good. Much better than we have had in a long time. We also have a decent amount of depth at many positions. Prior to the season, i was bullish on 5 wins being realistic. After week 1 and seeing how poorly so many teams played, I’m moving closer to gritty, suggesting 6 wins would be hard to not fall into with any significant improvement towards fielding a competitive team.
 
#585      
Here's hoping Lovie gives Teddy something to pay attention to this season. That is the only answer. Wins trump all slight. Watched ESPN's College Football Live show today and the O&B did did not get one mention. Wisky and Nebby, sure.

Look, for as little as I've watched Lovie interviews during this past off season, it appears to me that his demeanor has changed somewhat as if he knows he is ready to deliver this year. I believe he is expecting big things from his team this year. Can't wait to watch them deliver!!
Definitely some swag with Lovie this year..
I like this, I believe the team byes into the system with Coaches confidence!!
Coaching is so important especially at this level and his Attitude stears this season and hopefully a few more nonconfrence wins too build on this 💪🏼
Go Illini!!!!
#staysleepyall
#breakitdownon97
#staystrong
 
#586      
I’m a fairly pessimistic person, so take this with a grain of salt, but y’all need to slow your roll...

Yes, we won.
Yes, we looked better than last year.
Yes, our defense appears faster.

But make no mistake about it: we looked like a 5-7 team yesterday that beat up on a bottom tier MAC team. Our DBs are still steps behind receivers, and major gaps were open all day. Any team with a better than MAC quality QB is going to pick us apart.

I think we have real talent, but we’re still the worst team in the Big Ten west. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves...
Cheers 🍻 over tears all day everyday especially on Saturday GO ILLINI!!!
#giveus6lovie
 
#587      
I thought the same thing. Lovie has always kept his cards very close to his vest and used the typical coach speak. This interview on the BTN visit to campus was way untypical of Lovie. Not only did he say that they will be much improved, he acknowledged that the defense has been bad and that the defense must improve for the team to improve. And that is all on Lovie since he's the D Coordinator.
I SO LOVED THE "AND IM DONE TALKING ABOUT LAST YEAR!!
We have played a game , set the bar judge off this and going forward" bleep last year lol 😂
Love the attitude, you can really see them starting to believe, Having fun, Smith center has to feel great and help boost confidence!!
We're playing on another level type feeling for this group and could not be happier for them..
Keep building on it boys 1-0 not only Lovie but the teams confidence literally grew as the game went on ..
First possession we can do better then BAM!!!
I liked it , Liked it a lot #overdue #staystrong97
On Werner’s show, he talks like he’s been pleasantly surprised by Barnes. Could be good as a backup already. Says Cooper is doing fine and has obvious athleticism, but needs to up the weight and strength. Probably solid special teams contributor, but potentially a redshirt
Cooper had 1 till for sure and believe he was in on another..
Agree needs weight and streangth not sure about redshirt depending on injuries "Health is SO BIG for this team" every team but we are still thin as far as BiG depth 👍🏼
 
#588      
"Health is SO BIG for this team" every team but we are still thin as far as BiG depth 👍🏼

Our top line player at almost every position is good enough to compete for the BIG West. If we had two deep at that talent level, we would have a really solid team. Our 1 Deep at every position was something like an avg rating of 86, and our lowest rated players are some of our best (brown, etc.) Our depth isn’t good enough to win the big west. But we have BIG depth. Just some positions are lighter than others. Our DTs, RBs, Receivers can go at least 2 deep without significant drop off. We have decent depth at LB, safety play wasn’t bad in game 1, playing our two deep (with brown injured). But, OL and CB and DE needs some help. I believe our current freshmen provide the needed depth. But early games against Nebraska, Minnesota and the like will bode well for us on health situation (hopefully).
 
#589      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
But make no mistake about it: we looked like a 5-7 team yesterday that beat up on a bottom tier MAC team. Our DBs are still steps behind receivers, and major gaps were open all day. Any team with a better than MAC quality QB is going to pick us apart.

Pass defense definitely remains our biggest concern.
 
#590      
I agree that pass defense is the biggest concern, but I'm more optimistic than I was a week ago, after seeing our new DC in action.
 
#592      

Deleted member 29907

D
Guest
I agree that pass defense is the biggest concern, but I'm more optimistic than I was a week ago, after seeing our new DC in action.
Here's to hoping our DC coaches like his son's job depends on it! ;)
 
#593      
The Defense impressed yesterday, considering that the DC could not really scout this team and could not know what to expect from a new coach, new system presumably, etc. The defense was a little shaky in the passing game for the reasons above. The Defense clamped down once they got a whiff of what Akron was cooking.
I expected the defense to be much improved yesterday with Lovie at the DC position, players with experience, stud transfers and a renewed emphasis on defense. I predicted a final score of 38-6. The Illini did slightly better than expected, lets face it, the illini could have scored 50 or 60 points if they wanted. Lovie took the foot off the gas in the second half. Other teams like Ped State and Maryland deliberately ran up the score against more helpless opponents.
I hope from the next game on, Lovie lets the offense go full speed ahead and score 50 points. Hopefully the next 3 games. Yes including overrated, will not win the west Nebraska.
 
#594      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
I hope from the next game on, Lovie lets the offense go full speed ahead and score 50 points. Hopefully the next 3 games. Yes including overrated, will not win the west Nebraska.

lol, I'll very happily "settle" for comfortable wins.
 
#595      

mhuml32

Cincinnati, OH
EMU doesn't look as scary as it did earlier. Nebby, Minnesota, and Purdue all look like possible Ws. I know it's only week 1 but the team actually looked prepared and composed in comparison to some of our other BIG West foes.


EMU covered the spread. Their passing game was very efficient (20-for-22), which is aligned with Illinois' weakness. Their defense picked off four passes, which you can attribute to a poor passing attack from Coastal Carolina or an opportunistic EMU secondary. Coastal struggled to run the ball (30 attempts for 74 yards). They are going to be Illinois' toughest test in the non-conference by a significant margin and, based on week 1, I would say they are performing as expected.
 
#596      

dgcrow

Kelso, WA
EMU covered the spread. Their passing game was very efficient (20-for-22), which is aligned with Illinois' weakness. Their defense picked off four passes, which you can attribute to a poor passing attack from Coastal Carolina or an opportunistic EMU secondary. Coastal struggled to run the ball (30 attempts for 74 yards). They are going to be Illinois' toughest test in the non-conference by a significant margin and, based on week 1, I would say they are performing as expected.

EMU worries me, and the game, of course, is a key to any Illini bowl hopes.
 
#597      
Dusted off an old Illini T-shirt to wear today. This alum has been waiting for something to get excited about for what feels like a decade. And we start so few seniors, we might actually be real good next year.
 
#598      

illini80

Forgottonia
That’s 3 major players out for the season already. This has to stop.
 
#599      
I’m a fairly pessimistic person, so take this with a grain of salt, but y’all need to slow your roll...

Yes, we won.
Yes, we looked better than last year.
Yes, our defense appears faster.

But make no mistake about it: we looked like a 5-7 team yesterday that beat up on a bottom tier MAC team. Our DBs are still steps behind receivers, and major gaps were open all day. Any team with a better than MAC quality QB is going to pick us apart.

I think we have real talent, but we’re still the worst team in the Big Ten west. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves...
I think we are a 7-5 team or an 8-4 team. I also think we have as good a chance to win the West as anyone. I do not think that many West teams have strong enough defenses to stop the our offense and I truly believe our defense is totally different from last year and new and improved. Yes the defense scrambled early because no one knew what to expect from the new coach at Akron. We also took our foot off the gas. I think posters are giving too much credit to Neb, NW, Minn and even Wisc. Illinois is the only team in the west that is greatly improved. I think many posters are focusing too much on last year or the preceding season. This ain't your 2018 or 2017 Illini team. There's a new sheriff in town, and his name is 2019/2020 Lovie Smith. Recognize
Btw I believe the West winner will be either Wisconsin or the Illini. I am focusing on 2019 and not 2018.
 
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