Illini Football 2021

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#26      
We haven't really heard much of Navarro the first 3 weeks (kind of surprised of this).

It's good to see this staff incorporating the talent we do have on the roster. Spann would've been buried on the QB depth chart and it's good to see him being able to use his versatility and grow as a player and be able to contribute.
 
#28      
I agree about Navarro and Washington. Let's hope that we see Spann on some shorter routes. Maybe they don't want to put Spann across the middle just yet, but boy he has made some pretty catches. In the UV game if I am not mistaken he only was targeted once in the game. We have to get a little more creative to get in front of the chains. Let's hope that BP is the answer to hit the TE's.

I don’t know if we need Deuce to run those short to intermediate routes right now. He is literally the only guy who has shown the ability to take the top off the defense, and it hasn’t mattered which team. Teams have to account for him running a deep route every time he’s on the field, most likely with a 2nd defender shaded to his side, since he’s won every 1v1. That opens up space for IW to work underneath, make a guy miss and get more yards with an extra defender deep on Deuce, OR create a 1 on 1 on the same side for our bigger possession receivers, provided we actually catch a pass.

If somebody else had shown deep ability to this point I’d agree cause then we could in theory then get 2-3 receivers on the field who create separation. But we’re not there, and no reason to risk getting your only vert threat hurt on slants and crossers.
 
#29      

Illinivek23

Gurnee
I know Beason has had a tough time coming back from his ACL, but any word on his progress on that side of the ball? Pre-injury, he had elite speed (4.3-ish?) - seems like he could also help as a deep threat.
 
#30      
Interesting factoid, through 1995 Illinois had a winning record against all of the other "Little 8" (ok - we were actually tied with Minnesota). Since then we have losing records against everyone other than IU - we have a one game advantage against them. That included the Slush fund years, Gary Moeller years and most of the Lou Tepper years, as well as some crappy years toward the end of the Zuppke and Eliot eras. For people who say we have always been bad - not true; we have been terrible over the past 25 years but almost always competitive and occasionally very good prior to that
 
#31      
Recent history is what sticks out. Illinois has been consistently bad (no winning seasons) since 2012. This year is likely a losing season so that makes a 10 year run.

There was a 5 year losing season run from 2002 through 2006. A 6 yr losing season run from 1975 through 1980. An 8 yr losing season run from 1966 through 1973. A 4 yr losing season run from 1938 through 1941.

So the current losing season streak is historically bad. What are poster’s thoughts on the root causes?

After reviewing the history, high coaching turnover plays a part but not sure that is a root cause.
 
#32      
Recent history is what sticks out. Illinois has been consistently bad (no winning seasons) since 2012. This year is likely a losing season so that makes a 10 year run.

There was a 5 year losing season run from 2002 through 2006. A 6 yr losing season run from 1975 through 1980. An 8 yr losing season run from 1966 through 1973. A 4 yr losing season run from 1938 through 1941.

So the current losing season streak is historically bad. What are poster’s thoughts on the root causes?

After reviewing the history, high coaching turnover plays a part but not sure that is a root cause.
here area few reasons, all involving people are various positions of power in the university & the state :
Mike Thomas tenure as AD
Mike Madigan heavy handed style and scandal
Emil Jones scandal
Rod Blagoyevich scandal
Joe White scandal
Mike Hogan scandal
Tim Killeen indifference
Tim Beckman incompetence & scandal
Bill Cubit interim status
Lovie Smith indifference

it is indeed remarkable that the Univeristy still has world class status in academia, but that too has suffered through all this.
We have slipped behind 1/3 if not almost 1/2 of our B1G peers
 
#33      
Since this year is not going well, I started looking at the future football schedules.

These unbalanced schedules are whack. We play at Penn State again next year. Both 2021 & 2022 at Penn State. Last year, we also went there because of the goofy 2020 scheduling where we matched up in the last game of the year. You would think we should not go to the same conference opponent in back to back years. I give 2020 a pass. However, I dont expect we would ever host Ohio $tate, Michigan, or Ped State in back to back years.

For what it's worth, I miss the days of playing Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, & Ohio State. However, given the state of our program, I guess I really miss being relevant in football.
 
#34      
Since this year is not going well, I started looking at the future football schedules.

These unbalanced schedules are whack. We play at Penn State again next year. Both 2021 & 2022 at Penn State. Last year, we also went there because of the goofy 2020 scheduling where we matched up in the last game of the year. You would think we should not go to the same conference opponent in back to back years. I give 2020 a pass. However, I dont expect we would ever host Ohio $tate, Michigan, or Ped State in back to back years.

For what it's worth, I miss the days of playing Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, & Ohio State. However, given the state of our program, I guess I really miss being relevant in football.
Nothing done by the BigTen is ever done for the fan experience, competitive balance, or sense of basic fairness for any school not named OSU, PSU or Michigan.
 
#35      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
Nothing done by the BigTen is ever done for the fan experience, competitive balance, or sense of basic fairness for any school not named OSU, PSU or Michigan.
kw05.gif
 
#36      
Other than questionable OC play calling everything has been put in place to build a quality football program. We have good facilities, money to support a legitimate coaching staff, support from the AD better marketing and generating student support via free tickets! The loyal fandom now needs to sit back and exercise patience and not be so critical. We are trying to turn a broken and wounded battleship that has seen better days. Micro managing and assessing every step at this juncture is unproductive and short sighted. It will continue to be frustrating for a while but I believe in due time we will be a competitive program that will win its share of games and a place opposing teams will not look forward to visit. Relax and let the process run its course. :cool:
 
#37      
Other than questionable OC play calling everything has been put in place to build a quality football program. We have good facilities, money to support a legitimate coaching staff, support from the AD better marketing and generating student support via free tickets! The loyal fandom now needs to sit back and exercise patience and not be so critical. We are trying to turn a broken and wounded battleship that has seen better days. Micro managing and assessing every step at this juncture is unproductive and short sighted. It will continue to be frustrating for a while but I believe in due time we will be a competitive program that will win its share of games and a place opposing teams will not look forward to visit. Relax and let the process run its course. :cool:
Is it impossible for Petersen to have the first play call be a play action shot down the middle of the field? I would like to see our team be aggressive.
 
#39      
Is it impossible for Petersen to have the first play call be a play action shot down the middle of the field? I would like to see our team be aggressive.

Do we have a receiver that can get separation and make the catch?

Honest question, not a snooty response.

Span could probably be it but:

1: Is he healthy? I don’t remember seeing him last week.
2: Would it negate the play action? Until he becomes an every down receiver, opposing coaches will probably say, “if Spann comes in, he’s going deep. Don’t let him behind you.”
 
#40      
Do we have a receiver that can get separation and make the catch?

Honest question, not a snooty response.

Span could probably be it but:

1: Is he healthy? I don’t remember seeing him last week.
2: Would it negate the play action? Until he becomes an every down receiver, opposing coaches will probably say, “if Spann comes in, he’s going deep. Don’t let him behind you.”
Spann caught a shortish pass early in game — might have been on first drive — but I don’t remember seeing him targeted again. Didn’t look like he got hurt, so maybe I just missed it.
 
#42      
Do we have a receiver that can get separation and make the catch?

Honest question, not a snooty response.

Span could probably be it but:

1: Is he healthy? I don’t remember seeing him last week.
2: Would it negate the play action? Until he becomes an every down receiver, opposing coaches will probably say, “if Spann comes in, he’s going deep. Don’t let him behind you.”
Receiver? Maybe not. But we have a couple Tight Ends that can.
 
#49      
As far as reciever goes Casey Washington can’t get seperation, but can make a great catch at times.... Get D-Campbell in there when Spann’s not, and let IW work in between
 
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