Illini Football 2023

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#51      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
Dbell1981 said:
I know we lost a TON of talent to the NFL. We also said the same things the last 2 offseasons. First it was "who is gonna replace Hobbs". Then it was "nobody is gonna be able to replace Joseph", and Tolson, Carney, etc. My point is every year players have stepped up and filled roles better than we expected. I think we were used to seeing no progress out of a lot of our players. Im excited to see who steps up this next season. Who is gonna be our next All American? Pat Bryant? Taz Nicholson, Kaden Feagin? We got coaches that are getting the best out of these young men. Exciting times!
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great post bro....................

I think the difference in coaching up players along with their increased physical and mental maturity gives credence to our next All American coming to the forefront........................The strength of our D this year will be the defensive line ........can they do enough to overcome the new players taking starting roles will be huge.......

I am bullish on a 7-5 record and another bowl bid..........prove me right Illini.............
 
#52      

cuillini

cuillini
San Bernardino, Ca.
cuillini
pruman91 said:
great post bro....................

I think the difference in coaching up players along with their increased physical and mental maturity gives credence to our next All American coming to the forefront........................The strength of our D this year will be the defensive line ........can they do enough to overcome the new players taking starting roles will be huge.......

I am bullish on a 7-5 record and another bowl bid..........prove me right Illini.............
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I think 7-5 is a low bar if we get the qb play we're hoping for from Altmeyer.
 
#54      

GoodePodzMelendez

G
GoodePodzMelendez
G
Dbell1981 said:
I know we lost a TON of talent to the NFL. We also said the same things the last 2 offseasons. First it was "who is gonna replace Hobbs". Then it was "nobody is gonna be able to replace Joseph", and Tolson, Carney, etc. My point is every year players have stepped up and filled roles better than we expected. I think we were used to seeing no progress out of a lot of our players. Im excited to see who steps up this next season. Who is gonna be our next All American? Pat Bryant? Taz Nicholson, Kaden Feagin? We got coaches that are getting the best out of these young men. Exciting times!
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Good teams develop younger players to replace the older talent when they graduate. We are becoming a team that will not lose a step. Plus with the portal, it will help with depth.
 
#55      

Orange_Blue

O
Orange_Blue
I just listened to the Locked On Big 10 Podcast from April 26. The topic was the Big 10 West and they are predicting 123 to be Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. They place the Illini in the bottom calling Illinois as an over-performer in 2022. This was interesting to me as I see the fundamentals of Illinois as being competitive against every team next year.

I am really surprised how everyone is so high on Wisconsin. With a change in staff and offensive philosophy (meaning the right players are likely not in place), I think Wisconsin is 1 year away at least. I am good with Iowa and Minnesota getting love. I would just think the Illini would be part of that conversation since we beat all 3 teams last year.
 
#60      

pvaughn8

P
pvaughn8
Orange_Blue said:
I just listened to the Locked On Big 10 Podcast from April 26. The topic was the Big 10 West and they are predicting 123 to be Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. They place the Illini in the bottom calling Illinois as an over-performer in 2022. This was interesting to me as I see the fundamentals of Illinois as being competitive against every team next year.

I am really surprised how everyone is so high on Wisconsin. With a change in staff and offensive philosophy (meaning the right players are likely not in place), I think Wisconsin is 1 year away at least. I am good with Iowa and Minnesota getting love. I would just think the Illini would be part of that conversation since we beat all 3 teams last year.
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If that happens I quit college football
 
#61      

Ander1345

A
Ander1345
GoodePodzMelendez said:
G

Good teams develop younger players to replace the older talent when they graduate. We are becoming a team that will not lose a step. Plus with the portal, it will help with depth.
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The portal yes, but developing young players is still a rare gift and a challenge on top of that. Young players without meaningful experience entering the portal still need a coach to go by basically their HS tape...

You need a coach who can get the absolute most value out of every second of every practice because that's all you get. Good coaches still need to be good coaches... and they don't just win on game day, they win on every day that isn't an off day.
 
#62      

Dbell1981

D
Decatur, IL
Dbell1981
Coach B was right about the work that needs done in the northern part of the state. Visiting Galena and nothing but Iowa merch. No sign of Illini stuff in any of the shops. That is a major problem! Pictures of Kinnick Stadium in the stores but no Memorial Stadium.
 
#63      

TentakilRex

TentakilRex
Land O Insects between Quincy-Macomb-Jacksonville
TentakilRex
Orange_Blue said:
I just listened to the Locked On Big 10 Podcast from April 26. The topic was the Big 10 West and they are predicting 123 to be Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. They place the Illini in the bottom calling Illinois as an over-performer in 2022. This was interesting to me as I see the fundamentals of Illinois as being competitive against every team next year.

I am really surprised how everyone is so high on Wisconsin. With a change in staff and offensive philosophy (meaning the right players are likely not in place), I think Wisconsin is 1 year away at least. I am good with Iowa and Minnesota getting love. I would just think the Illini would be part of that conversation since we beat all 3 teams last year.
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WHAT.png
 
#64      

superfan

superfan
superfan
GoodePodzMelendez said:
What a joke. We will win Ind, Nebby, Minny, NW, PUand all three NON coms. That’s 8 wins not counting a possible wins against Maryland and Iowa. Homecoming against Wisky is a winnable game as well. I am saying 9 wins and a Citrus Bowl
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I hear you. But two years ago that preseason DraftKings O/U prediction was 3.5, if I’m remembering correctly. I think we’ll beat 6.5, but being picked dead center of the Big Ten isn’t exactly disrespectful. Or if it is, our program and fan base have shifted mindsets in monumental fashion. Being picked to finish middle of the pack and bowl eligible is now an insult. I’m going to have to think on that for a minute, but I like it.
 
#66      

BalloonsTheElephant

B
BalloonsTheElephant
superfan said:
I hear you. But two years ago that preseason DraftKings O/U prediction was 3.5, if I’m remembering correctly. I think we’ll beat 6.5, but being picked dead center of the Big Ten isn’t exactly disrespectful. Or if it is, our program and fan base have shifted mindsets in monumental fashion. Being picked to finish middle of the pack and bowl eligible is now an insult. I’m going to have to think on that for a minute, but I like it.
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My biggest problem with our fan base is that any success immediately becomes the new floor. Keep some context on where we've been the last 15 years. Get me a bowl game every year, go 9-3 some years, that's all I ask for.

The best RB and QB we've had in 15 years just left and they are being replaced by serious unknowns, so I'm cautiously optimistic about our team. I trust Bret's plan and think we will be ok.
 
#67      

Orange_Blue

O
Orange_Blue
BalloonsTheElephant said:
My biggest problem with our fan base is that any success immediately becomes the new floor. Keep some context on where we've been the last 15 years. Get me a bowl game every year, go 9-3 some years, that's all I ask for.

The best RB and QB we've had in 15 years just left and they are being replaced by serious unknowns, so I'm cautiously optimistic about our team. I trust Bret's plan and think we will be ok.
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I hear you. I guess this year we find out if we are Bret Bielema/Wisconsin or Bret Bielema/Arkansas. It is hard as someone who has watched nearly 2 decades not to be optimistic that we might be the new Wisconsin.

BTW - Early Top 25 from USA Today with Wiscy at 25, Iowa at 14
 
#68      

Illinivek23

Illinivek23
Gurnee
Illinivek23
Orange_Blue said:
I hear you. I guess this year we find out if we are Bret Bielema/Wisconsin or Bret Bielema/Arkansas. It is hard as someone who has watched nearly 2 decades not to be optimistic that we might be the new Wisconsin.

BTW - Early Top 25 from USA Today with Wiscy at 25, Iowa at 14
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Gonna be really fun to watch them this fall - I think we take steps forward in Year 3 of the defense and Year 2 with Coach Lunney. BB has done a great job of replacing ACs that have moved on (can't remember their names tho...)
 
#69      

GoodePodzMelendez

G
GoodePodzMelendez
superfan said:
I hear you. But two years ago that preseason DraftKings O/U prediction was 3.5, if I’m remembering correctly. I think we’ll beat 6.5, but being picked dead center of the Big Ten isn’t exactly disrespectful. Or if it is, our program and fan base have shifted mindsets in monumental fashion. Being picked to finish middle of the pack and bowl eligible is now an insult. I’m going to have to think on that for a minute, but I like it.
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I am looking at the schedule and seeing all three non conference games should be wins. IU, PU, Neb, NW and possibly Maryland should be wins. PU is going through an overhaul, IU is worse than last year, Nebby also going through changes and NW is rebuilding. If we can split the Iowa, Minny, PSU and Wisky, that’s 9 wins. I know it’s all paper talk right now but we are going to be better than last year. I think our defensive philosophy will change as I see Henry dialing up blitz packages from multiple fronts. He seems to be more aggressive than Walters was. If we can score 26-30 points a game, 3-7 more than last year, we could be ranked near the top 10 by seasons end.
 
#70      

KnoxIllini2

KnoxIllini2
KnoxIllini2
GoodePodzMelendez said:
I am looking at the schedule and seeing all three non conference games should be wins. IU, PU, Neb, NW and possibly Maryland should be wins. PU is going through an overhaul, IU is worse than last year, Nebby also going through changes and NW is rebuilding. If we can split the Iowa, Minny, PSU and Wisky, that’s 9 wins. I know it’s all paper talk right now but we are going to be better than last year. I think our defensive philosophy will change as I see Henry dialing up blitz packages from multiple fronts. He seems to be more aggressive than Walters was. If we can score 26-30 points a game, 3-7 more than last year, we could be ranked near the top 10 by seasons end.
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Well, since the appropriate gif won’t load properly, you gotta set the koolaid down, son.

IF we get passed Toledo successfully and then go into Kansas to knock off the Jayhawks that @mhuml32 cited as having the 2nd most returning depth in college football, Toledo came in at 11 on that list, then MAYBE we will touch a 9 win season if we get by those two unscathed.

With an unproven QB, questionable secondary, maybe we have a center?, Weeks 1 and 2 will be competitive more than likely.
 
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#71      

Point-Illinois

P
Point-Illinois
First road game of the season is always tough and Kansas has new life.

That mixed with them having tons of returning starts and us having a lot of new faces in critical position makes that game TOUGH.

They did lose…5? of their last 6 I think. Which means they may be quick to doubt if they drop one before we come to town. But that was also with their backup QB. Their stud from last year should be back.

All that to say, this is NOT the Kansas of old (or the empty stadium of old) and the players better be ready for a tough game.
 
#72      

Illini92and96

Illini92and96
Austin, TX
Illini92and96
BalloonsTheElephant said:
My biggest problem with our fan base is that any success immediately becomes the new floor. Keep some context on where we've been the last 15 years. Get me a bowl game every year, go 9-3 some years, that's all I ask for.

The best RB and QB we've had in 15 years just left and they are being replaced by serious unknowns, so I'm cautiously optimistic about our team. I trust Bret's plan and think we will be ok.
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What’s always pissed me off is how often we have a suck !!! season within three years of a relatively great season. We can’t seem to keep the momentum.

1983: 10-2
1986: 4-7

1989: 10-2
we were actually ~500 or greater until 1996!

2001: 10-2
2003: 1-11. This was bruuuuutal

2007: 9-4
2009: 3-9

2022: 8-5
I predict/hope our worst season the next 5 is 5 wins
 
#74      

GForce

GForce
GForce
While we lose a lot of experience and stellar play at DB and QB especially, year 3 in the same system/culture is historically when the light bulb goes on for most teams and on-field performance really starts to click. Which is why I tend to be bullish on this coming season despite a new and largely unproven QB.
 
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