Illinois 24, Charlotte 14 Postgame

#52      
We prevailed with subpar quarterback play because Charlotte could not stop Brown and the defense finally got some stops. Peters simply cannot find a wide open secondary receiver, has poor pocket presence, and continues to hold the ball too long, throw into blanket coverage, or throw off target. I don't see us winning in the Big Ten with him under center. Since this is his last year and no real progress is evident, it's long past time to move on from him. Sitkowski at least holds out the hope of learning from any mistakes he makes. The announcers kept saying Peters will see mistakes he made in film study tomorrow, and learn from them to better his game. The second half of that statement is wrong.
 
#53      

SuperMetroid

Evanston
Are we a football school again? Maybe?
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#54      
I like that Bert told the team not to be so proud of beating a CUSA team. That's a good culture change mindset.

I like that he did it respectfully too. Charlotte is a program on the rise. Also shows that Bert understands that you have to win conference games to go anywhere. None of that Lovie "dividing the season into quarters" stuff.
 
#56      
He knows his decisions to punt the last few games could have cost us a possible 3-0 start in the BIG. What a statement that would have been, whether they got the first downs or not. Same thing for 20 years.
 
#57      
I'm actually impressed by our defensive improvements. Walters was a good hire. A couple things still drive me crazy, but I think it's more related to my love for press coverage. I don't think we have the horses for it.
Our 2 minute defense needs work.
 
#59      
I don’t like losing. Having said that, I feel the same way now as I did during Underwood’s first year. I enjoyed watching Underwood’s teams lose more than watching Groce’s teams win. Watching this team play, win or lose, is more enjoyable than watching one of Lovie’s team play.
 
#60      

Illinivek23

Gurnee
I don’t like losing. Having said that, I feel the same way now as I did during Underwood’s first year. I enjoyed watching Underwood’s teams lose more than watching Groce’s teams win. Watching this team play, win or lose, is more enjoyable than watching one of Lovie’s team play.
Doesn't sound good, but can relate to what you are saying. This team feels like it is building something, like BUs team did.
 
#61      

orange100

time to hop on the wife
I don’t like losing. Having said that, I feel the same way now as I did during Underwood’s first year. I enjoyed watching Underwood’s teams lose more than watching Groce’s teams win. Watching this team play, win or lose, is more enjoyable than watching one of Lovie’s team play.
Same. The Groce era was excruciating to watch. Lovie ball was all about ignoring what you were seeing in favor of some mystical future where we "had the horses to fit the scheme." Rubbish.
 
#62      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
I don’t like losing. Having said that, I feel the same way now as I did during Underwood’s first year. I enjoyed watching Underwood’s teams lose more than watching Groce’s teams win.
We were horrible during Underwood's first year, and it was only through making major system changes that we managed to break through, along with some elite-of-the-elite nationally prominent recruits which Bielema isn't and won't recruit.

I take the point that hey, you felt optimism about the future, and I think that's justifiable here, but it was very different.

We just gotta keep chopping wood. It's no mystery the kind of team we're trying to be and the traits and players and development we need to see on the way there. Just keep building.
 
#63      

orange100

time to hop on the wife
along with some elite-of-the-elite nationally prominent recruits which Bielema isn't and won't recruit.
First year recruits? Which recruits would that be? edit: I think Bert will pull some coups in recruiting. Have you seen his Arkansas-era reality show? That guy connects with kids and parents like Zook did. He'll get us some studs, no doubt.
 
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#65      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
First year recruits? Which recruits would that be? edit: I think Bert will pull some coups in recruiting. Have you seen his Arkansas-era reality show? That guy connects with kids and parents like Zook did. He'll get us some studs, no doubt.
I mean it's kind of moot since by the nature of football versus basketball there's no such thing as an Ayo.

The point is, Underwood was just straight up failing his first year and would be gone by now if major changes to the way we play hadn't happened. What we're seeing with Bielema is disappointing, below expectations, but it's following the path we knew we'd be traveling. Keep running the ball, keep preaching sound football, keep making gains in the weight room.
 
#66      
I don’t like losing. Having said that, I feel the same way now as I did during Underwood’s first year. I enjoyed watching Underwood’s teams lose more than watching Groce’s teams win. Watching this team play, win or lose, is more enjoyable than watching one of Lovie’s team play.
Ditto
 
#69      

orange100

time to hop on the wife
I mean it's kind of moot since by the nature of football versus basketball there's no such thing as an Ayo.

The point is, Underwood was just straight up failing his first year and would be gone by now if major changes to the way we play hadn't happened. What we're seeing with Bielema is disappointing, below expectations, but it's following the path we knew we'd be traveling. Keep running the ball, keep preaching sound football, keep making gains in the weight room.
I think Bert is coaching above expectations. With new schemes applied to Lovie-system recruits I did not expect a whole lot this year but compared to all the first years of new coaches I have suffered through as an "adult" since Turner, I think BB is looking solid.
 
#70      
We were horrible during Underwood's first year, and it was only through making major system changes that we managed to break through, along with some elite-of-the-elite nationally prominent recruits which Bielema isn't and won't recruit.

I take the point that hey, you felt optimism about the future, and I think that's justifiable here, but it was very different.

We just gotta keep chopping wood. It's no mystery the kind of team we're trying to be and the traits and players and development we need to see on the way there. Just keep building.
Why are we talking basketball? Just saying
 
#71      
I mean we're right about where all the so called experts had us. But we beat Nebraska and they blew the doors off of Northwestern so let's see.
 
#72      

Epsilon

M tipping over
Pdx
Great to get the win. Important to stop the streak. But for that, I'd be disappointed that we didn't get Sitkowski in there.
Careful what you ask for. Not that BP is lighting it up lately, but Sitkowsky has been extremely lucky not to have had more interceptions. Not sure who the better option is at this point.
 
#73      
Our 2 minute defense needs work.
I will never understand the love for soft coverage late in games. I watched Aaron Rodgers basically go 50 yards in 4 plays to beat the 49ers last Sunday by playing catch with an uncontested Davonte Adam's going across the middle 20 yards downfield.

Making the safe plays will get you beat and I think our staff finally gets that.
 
#74      

blackdog

Champaign
Just randomly watched the highlights and gotta make sure we shout out Carney for those back to back sacks to almost single handely give us the game. That second one was an absolute beauty that needs to be on Illinois highlight reals for years to come the way he just abused both blockers.