who wouldn't want Jake Hansen returning?
PJ Fleck, Kirk Ferentz, Jeff Brohm, etcwho wouldn't want Jake Hansen returning?
who wouldn't want Jake Hansen returning?
I don't. Is he a leader, yes absolutely. And tad overrated is not accurate. He does not have the physical ability to get off blocks, clog running lanes or run down a ball carrier. We have better options already on the teamPJ Fleck, Kirk Ferentz, Jeff Brohm, etc
Hansen is a tad overrated, but he's our best option for 2021 without question, and he's a team leader during an offseason when keeping the group together is going to be the biggest challenge.
Every single player can transfer away for free. If this roster catches the whiff that the Bielema administration wants to clean house, the program could get completely destroyed.
And on the flip side, these returning senior scholarships are freebies. It's a no-brainer to take them all back, and to aggressively recruit them all to come back.
Even accepting your argument as true, the other stuff I mentioned outweighs that.I don't. Is he a leader, yes absolutely. And tad overrated is not accurate. He does not have the physical ability to get off blocks, clog running lanes or run down a ball carrier. We have better options already on the team
Only if there are no other leaders on the team or more specifically the defensive side of the ball. To say we will be void of leadership if player A leaves is a big assumptionEven accepting your argument as true, the other stuff I mentioned outweighs that.
The only way you could convince me this is anything other than a no-brainer would be if someone like Tolson or Barnes is telling the coaches they are going to look at other options if Hansen is in their way next year.Only if there are no other leaders on the team or more specifically the defensive side of the ball. To say we will be void of leadership if player A leaves is a big assumption
I think there is a difference between 'want him to return' vs do we want him starting for us. As a player who represents the Illini well and has given his all - I would like him back. However, I hope we have better options next year as far as starters go. He's a great guy, but seemed to be outmatched on the field much of the time.I don't. Is he a leader, yes absolutely. And tad overrated is not accurate. He does not have the physical ability to get off blocks, clog running lanes or run down a ball carrier. We have better options already on the team
Him staying on the team and not starting would be me having my cake and eating it too situation. I am not sure the likelihood of that happening. You also make a good point about his position coach. I would say he has not been coached up, that is for sure.I think there is a difference between 'want him to return' vs do we want him starting for us. As a player who represents the Illini well and has given his all - I would like him back. However, I hope we have better options next year as far as starters go. He's a great guy, but seemed to be outmatched on the field much of the time.
NOW, that all comes with the caveat that his position coach was completely unqualified. A good LBs coach might be able to take advantage of his skill set, and a covered seam in the defense may not expose him as much.
All TBD of course, but within the construct of what we had the last two years, other than forcing turnovers, he was making tackles downfield. Again, that could have been Miles' crazy scheme.
Given those circumstances, "is he good?" is the wrong question to be asking, it's missing the point.
Nailed it. Agree on all points.Someone might take a flyer on Bhebhe too. But it may be more likely that he's UFA, which does make it a little disappointing he couldn't be talked into coming back. Our WR room is really threadbare without him, that's probably the weakest position group on the team pending other senior decisions.
The big ones we're waiting on are all on defense. Carney, Perry, Gay, Woods, Eifler, Hansen, Adams and Hobbs. That would be 8 nailed-on defensive starters for us next year.
It would be nice to keep all these guys but I would not consider all definite starters. There's a lot of areas to upgrade on that defense, not really with our current depth but definitely through transfers.The big ones we're waiting on are all on defense. Carney, Perry, Gay, Woods, Eifler, Hansen, Adams and Hobbs. That would be 8 nailed-on defensive starters for us next year.
What a sad commentary.Furthering the point about the limited number of recent Illini NFL draftees, here's a snippet from Brad Biggs' column in today's Tribune, where he was talking about former ISU and current Jags RB James Robinson:
The Redbirds have made real gains in state in the last decade, producing as much as Illinois in the way of NFL talent. “When you go to the two schools, you wouldn’t know the difference when you’re standing at practice,” the national scout said. “You might get more excited by the bodies at Illinois State. It’s closer than it should be.”
Hansen is a beast! Intrested in why you would pass on him?At the risk of sounding like a total Dbag here, but no thanks to these two.
My thoughts as well but it looks like he won’t be coming back and will be trying to latch on somewhere else!who wouldn't want Jake Hansen returning?
@VAIllini35 made a great point about his lack of a legitimate position coach. I posted the Wisconsin game from last year in post #60. I choose that one because everyone remembers his great forced fumble to help the upset. But if you watch the whole game play by play, you see someone who cannot get off blocks, tries to run around blocks but just opens the running lane more, is not fast enough to cover down field.Hansen is a beast! Intrested in why you would pass on him?
I want to make sure this is clear, I am not bad mouthing any player. In fact I would say that not giving an honest opinion about a players current ability is disrespectful. I perceive Jake as a fighter and a competitor. Therefore he deserves to be handled with adult gloves and given honest feedback.Please no bad mouthing to make way for some one else, Jake has been a General for this program and a model citizen! Give him all the love and respect you can on his way to out 🎖
Didn’t think I’d ever see someone not want a player who is worth seemingly a turnover a game. Hansen had the highest tackle percentage in the country. Wow lolAt the risk of sounding like a total Dbag here, but no thanks to these two.
I can respect that you 100%. We want the best players on the field for the overall benefit of the entire program, not just one player. I just think we don’t have to go that route anyway or cross that bridge because he’s going to try to land on eith a team in the NFL, undrafted FA most likely or maybe he gets drafted and a team take a late round flyer on him...@VAIllini35 made a great point about his lack of a legitimate position coach. I posted the Wisconsin game from last year in post #60. I choose that one because everyone remembers his great forced fumble to help the upset. But if you watch the whole game play by play, you see someone who cannot get off blocks, tries to run around blocks but just opens the running lane more, is not fast enough to cover down field.
I want to make sure this is clear, I am not bad mouthing any player. In fact I would say that not giving an honest opinion about a players current ability is disrespectful. I perceive Jake as a fighter and a competitor. Therefore he deserves to be handled with adult gloves and given honest feedback.
It’s ridiculous. I’m from the same hometown as Robinson and know people who were pushing his name towards Illinois with zero interest. Same problem on the basketball side with VanVleet.Furthering the point about the limited number of recent Illini NFL draftees, here's a snippet from Brad Biggs' column in today's Tribune, where he was talking about former ISU and current Jags RB James Robinson:
The Redbirds have made real gains in state in the last decade, producing as much as Illinois in the way of NFL talent. “When you go to the two schools, you wouldn’t know the difference when you’re standing at practice,” the national scout said. “You might get more excited by the bodies at Illinois State. It’s closer than it should be.”
That's a bummer, though it's better than him transferring to another school.
Thank you ,I'll check out the Wisconsin game .@VAIllini35 made a great point about his lack of a legitimate position coach. I posted the Wisconsin game from last year in post #60. I choose that one because everyone remembers his great forced fumble to help the upset. But if you watch the whole game play by play, you see someone who cannot get off blocks, tries to run around blocks but just opens the running lane more, is not fast enough to cover down field.
I want to make sure this is clear, I am not bad mouthing any player. In fact I would say that not giving an honest opinion about a players current ability is disrespectful. I perceive Jake as a fighter and a competitor. Therefore he deserves to be handled with adult gloves and given honest feedback.
Too many grammatical errors, I apologize guys I’m at work typing without proofreadingI can respect that you 100%. We want the best players on the field for the overall benefit of the entire program, not just one player. I just think we don’t have to go that route anyway or cross that bridge because he’s going to try to land on eith a team in the NFL, undrafted FA most likely or maybe he gets drafted and a team take a late round flyer on him...
But you didn’t say anything, I just thought I’d kill off any potential argument about the topic with some news that he is not likely to be back...