Illinois 21, Michigan 7 Postgame

Status
Not open for further replies.
#351      
SuperintendentChalmers
Curbelo Fanboy said:
It's so hard to not think that way. So many times over the years the program has been on the cusp of a big moment only to have it taken away either of our own doing or by the hands of the officials. Just seems "something always happens". Honestly the Purdue game kind of felt like that crap away a good season with a bad home loss but the team managed to pull it out. Maybe it exorcised some demons.
Click to expand...
Text from my wife at home with a minute left in the game: "Congrats on the win."
Me: "Thanks, but there's still a minute left."
Her: "I don't know much about football, but I know MI can't score that much in a minute."
 
#352      
IlliniKat91
SuperintendentChalmers said:
Text from my wife at home with a minute left in the game: "Congrats on the win."
Me: "Thanks, but there's still a minute left."
Her: "I don't know much about football, but I know MI can't score that much in a minute."
Click to expand...
My husband and I had that exact conversation with 3 minutes left in the game. He was ready to celebrate a win and I had to tell him I knew the odds of us winning were good, but I wouldn't be comfortable until the clock read 0:00
 
#353      
Illini2010-11
IlliniKat91 said:
My husband and I had that exact conversation with 3 minutes left in the game. He was ready to celebrate a win and I had to tell him I knew the odds of us winning were good, but I wouldn't be comfortable until the clock read 0:00
Click to expand...
Based on how the game was played, of course Michigan couldn't score twice in that timeframe, but the week before was still fresh in my brain, so I was not comfortable until about a minute left.
 
#354      
band camp
mhuml32 said:
Game Notes!


1. It wasn't a pretty game, offensively. Plus, Henry and the defense deserve some assists for putting the offense in a fortunate position.
2. That said, I want to defend the offense for a few points:
- Connelly predicted 21 Illinois points, they hit the number.
- Worst passing game in a while, especially damning with Will Johnson out most of the game, but the strategy started to tilt late in the second quarter. Bielema and staff realized that Michigan was going to struggle to score and that ball control was going to be the most important. Part of that is inferred in Altmyer making quicker decisions to scramble.
- the PFF run blocking grades are poor and that's unfair. Here are the team running stats for each Michigan game this season:
Fresno State - 22 rushing attempts for 9 yards (0.9 yards/game)
Arkansas State - 25 rushing attempts for 58 yards (2.3)
Texas - 32 attempts for 143 yards (4.5)
USC - 21 attempts for 96 yards (4.6)
Minnesota - 25 attempts for 38 yards (1.5)
Washington - 35 attempts for 114 yards (3.3)
Illinois - 38 attempts for 187 yards (4.9)
3. Season stat - Illinois is second in B1G for explosive play rate (20+ yard plays) behind Indiana. For a team that's had excellent special teams + excellent explosive play rate, it's a great combo.
4. I'm happy for Laughery having a strong game, plus a strong finish from McCray. The passing blocking rates are saying McCray is the only option that isn't a complete zero. Josh, please stay healthy.
5. Last offensive season stat - Third down conversion rates for Illinois offense since 2016:
2016 - 28.3%
2017 - 33.5%
2018 - 34.5%
2019 - 35.4%
2020 - 38.0%
2021 - 38.2%
2022 - 38.2%
2023 - 36.0%
2024 - 43.4%
6. Gabe Jacas had been living too much off of his reputation earlier this year but he has had a big breakout the past two games - Eight hurries over the past two games. Back-to-back career highs. Him and TeRah provided a great tandem on Saturday.
7. I'm happiest for Zeke Holmes. He's been at Illinois since 2018. Multiple season-ending injuries. So many months of rehab over the years. Six years after starting at Illinois, with his team having their biggest home game in years, possibly decades, he sets a career high in snaps and gives his best career performance.
8. After being harshly criticized after his Penn State performance, Rosiek has been great the past two games. Games like Purdue and Michigan are better fitting for his strengths. Oregon....is not. Let's hope the recent improvement shows a step forward.
9. Ryan Meed might be unplayable and the staff is starting to throttle down his snaps. Question is whether there is a reasonable replacement? Kreutz has been up-and-down and the club hand is restricting his performance. Hood played for the first time since EIU but only one snap. The answer might be moving Bailey further into the box and rolling with him and Rosiek. Yesterday was a first success that having one LB and moving a safety down can still keep the team successful against the run (smashing success). If this is sustainable, it's going provide more options to give snaps to the secondary depth than the LB corp.
10. 120th (out of 133) in turnover margin in 2023! 2024? 34th!
11. Not sure how better to say this beyond the simple, what a team performance. The defense answered the bell after the doubts from the Purdue game by allowing the least amount of points scored by Michigan in 10 seasons. The offense, with doubts about running the ball all year and facing the best defensive line they'll face all season, put up the best rushing performance against UM all year.
Click to expand...
A million likes for this, also cannot be said enough about Mcray staying healthy.
Also, huge Zeke shootout. Very nice.
 
#355      
Mr. Tibbs
was it possible we are saving Valentine for a red shirt year , or has that ship sailed ?

I seem to recall him in 3 games , not sure if he’s played in any more ?

or was his not playing simply due to his lack of blocking ability ?
 
#356      
Old.Edgy
IlliniKat91 said:
My husband and I had that exact conversation with 3 minutes left in the game. He was ready to celebrate a win and I had to tell him I knew the odds of us winning were good, but I wouldn't be comfortable until the clock read 0:00
Click to expand...

Same here... Many of us old timers (and I don't know IlliniKat91 nor how old they are, but...) have this embedded into our souls...
 
#358      
Tre11
Mr. Tibbs said:
was it possible we are saving Valentine for a red shirt year , or has that ship sailed ?

I seem to recall him in 3 games , not sure if he’s played in any more ?

or was his not playing simply due to his lack of blocking ability ?
Click to expand...
Valentine has played in every game so far besides this past week against Michigan, so a redshirt is not possible. Probably because of the blocking ability, McCray had some good blocks on the blind side to give Luke a little more time.
 
#359      
phats22
for those of you more well versed in this than I-

I loved the motion to screen throws to ZF/PB against Purdue. was a new wrinkle to get the ball into our best players hands on the outside but wasnt called once against Michigan.

was this a strategic/game plan choice or thought not to be a good option given Michigan's defense vs Purdue?
 
#360      
ChiefGritty
phats22 said:
for those of you more well versed in this than I-

I loved the motion to screen throws to ZF/PB against Purdue. was a new wrinkle to get the ball into our best players hands on the outside but wasnt called once against Michigan.

was this a strategic/game plan choice or thought not to be a good option given Michigan's defense vs Purdue?
Click to expand...
I mentioned this to the friends I was watching with.

My assumption is that both from a coaching/discipline perspective and a talent/speed perspective, we were much, much more able to break contain on Purdue's defense on those misdirection plays than Michigan's defense, and the calls changed accordingly.

And then we obviously saw something we liked on film with those Statue of Liberty-esque draw plays vs. Michigan.
 
#361      
Curbelo Fanboy
Didn't get to see the game live but have watched most of it on replay & heard 4th quarter on radio live.

How long has it been since Illinois had such a smashmouth type of win against a big name opponent. Our great teams in the modern era were offensively skilled (2001) or just had absurd talent (2007). Maybe 2007 at Ohio State compares with the way we ran clock out at end. But Saturday was just an old school kind of game. Pretty vanilla offense with hard hitting defense, good pass rush & some timely turnovers.

Bret Bielema kind of football. I have officially declared he is the best coach since at least Mackovic & I don't think he will be taking the Texas job any time soon.
 
#362      
phats22
ChiefGritty said:
I mentioned this to the friends I was watching with.

My assumption is that both from a coaching/discipline perspective and a talent/speed perspective, we were much, much more able to break contain on Purdue's defense on those misdirection plays than Michigan's defense, and the calls changed accordingly.

And then we obviously saw something we liked on film with those Statue of Liberty-esque draw plays vs. Michigan.
Click to expand...
yeah, i like the delay wrinkle that Laughery capitalized on. im no OC but seemed like scheming in a few if those motion looks light have helped keep the DBs honest/set up for misdirection.

either way, has been heartening to see some significantly difference sets the past 2 weeks
 
#364      
Mr. Tibbs
Curbelo Fanboy said:
Didn't get to see the game live but have watched most of it on replay & heard 4th quarter on radio live.

How long has it been since Illinois had such a smashmouth type of win against a big name opponent. Our great teams in the modern era were offensively skilled (2001) or just had absurd talent (2007). Maybe 2007 at Ohio State compares with the way we ran clock out at end. But Saturday was just an old school kind of game. Pretty vanilla offense with hard hitting defense, good pass rush & some timely turnovers.

Bret Bielema kind of football. I have officially declared he is the best coach since at least Mackovic & I don't think he will be taking the Texas job any time soon.
Click to expand...
Ohio State game in 2007 when they were ranked #1 is best example I can think of
Beating Penn St there 3 years ago also close

Bielema actually a better overall coach than Mackovic, imo
best Illinois coach since Ray Eliot

when BB retires , there will be a statue of him on the football campus somewhere. our offense will never lead the B1G in passing stats, but maybe in rushing and TOP
 
Last edited:
#366      
Curbelo Fanboy
Mr. Tibbs said:
Ohio State game in 2007 when they were ranked #1 is best example I can think of
Beating Penn St there 3 years ago also close

Bielema actually a better overall coach than Mackovic, imo
best Illinois coach since Ray Eliot

when BB retires , there will be a statue of him on the football campus somewhere. our offense will never lead the B1G in passing stats, but maybe in rushing and TOP
Click to expand...
I was only going back in my lifetime. White is really the first coach I remember. I've always wondered what Mackovic would have done had he turned down TX. Those mid 90's Tepper teams would have been much better IMO. No way that 94 team goes 6-5 with Rice & Hardy.

Bret is positioned to be the best IL coach of modern times IMO. He's not a young "sexy" guy that is looking to move on to the next big thing. He's done that when he went to Arkansas & got a slice of humble pie. As you say, his teams will most likely not set offensive records but he just knows how to put his guys in position to compete. And frankly we don't have many (or any) 5 star difference maker kind of guys on the roster. He's coaching them up & the team buys into him. Seems like a guy that will be here as long as he wants the job.

We've lacked that "solid coach" for so long that could establish a consistent program. He seems to be on his way. Last year was a slight downer but it very easily could have been a 7-5 season instead of 5-7. Primed to finish good this year & next year lots of key guys return. A couple good back to back years & I think a few big time recruits will fall their way. That is one thing we lack at the moment. That "home run hitter" that can take it to the house from anywhere on the field. Get a couple of those guys surrounded by a solid core of talent & then you can play with the big boys on a consistent basis.

On top of that, he seems like a really likable guy and is a good face of the program.
 
#368      
RabidDawgClassic
Dan said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1848454674417844320
Click to expand...
Michigan be like…

giphy.gif
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back