Illinois 27, Minnesota 26 Postgame
I'm going to rewatch and rewatch this. I-L-L!!!
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Luke Altmyer:
24-31 (77%)
3 TD
1 INT
He‘s the reason Paddock had a chance to win the game.
24-31 (77%)
3 TD
1 INT
He‘s the reason Paddock had a chance to win the game.
I can see it now- B10 championship game against Michigan, tight game throughout. We're down by 4 late. It's 3rd and 1. Everyone in the stadium knows what play Lunney has called in. Michigan's sign stealing confirms it's a run out of shotgun straight up the gut. Luke goes for the handoff, it's playaction pass! Williams gets hit in stride, streaks to the end zone. The whole of college football rejoices.I actually want 9-5, but that is just me.
We find out Lunney had been setting the table for the Michigan cheaters all season with that playcall. We all laugh as Michigan football gets the death penalty. Good dream.
illinidarrin
- from parts unknown
That was a great drive. One we will always remember.
Those announcers were horrible- made the Wisky ones look good
That interception was a baaaaaaaad interception, though. And he had a really bad fumble loss.... plus another fumble we luckily recovered.
But, that said, there is no controversy here. Altmyer had a good enough game that you're right. He's the reason Paddock could even be in that situation.
Illinir1
- Camdenton, MO
Martin O'Donnell after the TD pass: "John Flipping Paddock. Let's Go!"Here's the Illini radio broadcast-
4:15:30 Paddock enters game
4:18:10 Paddock-IW touchdown
Illinois @ Minnesota
Video: Illinois @ Minnesota. Football at Minnesota on 11/4/2023fightingillini.com
Concussion
I'll get behind this as soon as we find out that Indiana plans to start the game in prevent defense.If John Paddock is not starting next weekend we have a problem.
Unbelievable.
Edit:
Oh. Right. Or if we DO have a problem.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Illinois stuns Minnesota on final-minute TD catch by St. Louisan Isaiah Williams
John Paddock relieved the injured Luke Altmyer and lifted Illinois from a huge hole and delivered the go-ahead touchdown pass to Isaiah Williams with 50 seconds left.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
watching replays, it looked like the back of his head/helmet hit the turf pretty hard
I hope he is okay to practice this week and play on Saturday, but I do feel Paddock is more than capable of being our guy for a game
Feagin was the reason we had a remote opportunity to win at the end. 145 yards from scrimmage and great blocking picking up the pressure.
99.9? What's a kid gotta do to get a 100?. (Chew up more clock before scoring, maybe. I did ask myself if Williams shoulda taken a knee at the 1/2 inch line. But our second half D did give me way more confidence than I had at the end of the Wisky game.)
Only reason I thought of is that he didn't convert the two point attempt?
MustangWally
- Mayfield
Maybe if he completed the PAT pass he'd have gotten 100.99.9? What's a kid gotta do to get a 100?
That is what Winning Programs do. The Illini - further ascending up the Mountain to CFB Royalty.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
I am curious if any studies have been done that indicate whether natural grass or todays artificial turf have any correlation to severity of head injuries
I forgot that one. Who's next man up? We gotta bench this bum! (/s)
There are just certain moments associated with a player or players that remain etched in the lore of your favorite team. Paddock’s Drive will forever be one of those, talked about for decades to come, regardless of what it means for the season as a whole.
Other such moments in illini football lore, just off the top of my head.
1983 Thomas Rooks run vs OSU
1988 George to Bellamy 1 vs IU
1989 George to Bellamy 2 vs MSU
1992 Jeff Arneson 95 yard fumble return vs OSU
1993 Johnson to Klein vs UM
1999 Rocky Harvey vs UM
1994 Ty Douthard TD run in the snow vs Minn
2007 Juice and the 8 minute game sealing drive vs OSU
1990 Doug Higgens 5 FGs vs MSU
I’m sure there are more.
Other such moments in illini football lore, just off the top of my head.
1983 Thomas Rooks run vs OSU
1988 George to Bellamy 1 vs IU
1989 George to Bellamy 2 vs MSU
1992 Jeff Arneson 95 yard fumble return vs OSU
1993 Johnson to Klein vs UM
1999 Rocky Harvey vs UM
1994 Ty Douthard TD run in the snow vs Minn
2007 Juice and the 8 minute game sealing drive vs OSU
1990 Doug Higgens 5 FGs vs MSU
I’m sure there are more.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
Kids and general life has stopped me from doing these in October, had some time today for the 10 Points Breakdown:
1. It seems like 95% of us (correctly) agree that Altmyer is QB1. I love Paddock, he provided such an important moment for multiple generations of fans, the storyline is incredible. That said, Altmyer has been so good all year. He has some turnover issues, but he's been keeping this offense near the top of the division with the 5th string RB and a crappy offensive line. Small note - getting Paddock, and willing to take on Paddock knowing there was a chance others already in the QB room could be upset, to raise the floor of your QB2, just paid off with a win. Everyone deserves a pat on the back for that decision.
2. IW1 is now 9th in all-time receiving yards and 2nd all-time in receptions. His importance is magnified with the lack of RB options. If he can keep providing 15-20 rushing yards/game, it gives some rest for Feagin.
3. I don't have all-22 views of the game, but either there is a complete lack of a deep threat or Altmyer is still gun-shy after the rash of turnovers against Penn State. Probably a little bit of both? Feels like all of the big plays are schemed-up TE looks, intermediate throws to Bryant, or big busts like Feagin's TD.
4. Offensive line dump:
4A: There were some trends that Adams was improving at RT but yesterday was his worst game since Penn State. He allowed four pressures and three sacks. It hasn't been a successful gamble to move him out to tackle. The solution, and bigger question, is why they haven't tried someone else at RT with Adams' performance being so bad out there: they either were believing his RT play was starting to improve (fair thought) or lack of faith is someone else stepping in and doing better (bad omen).
4B: Crisler has been much better, kudos to the staff for sticking that one out. I can't remember exactly what I wrote last time but I thought he showed he wasn't cut out for RT after two games but once he was healthy/conditioned, he would go back to being an average RG. I try to provide a chunk of PFF grades in here because I trust them, but not loving Crisler's recent PFF grades and I don't believe his recent game performance are being fairly compensated. He's only allowing one pressure/game for five straight weeks. He's been an important piece to Illinois' vast improvement running inside. He doesn't currently deserve any pro looks (without a massive step forward in pass pro next year), but he's a very serviceable interior offensive lineman.
4C: YOUTH OPTIMISM - Kreutz is (still) the best PFF graded lineman on the team. Gesky is next, and just had his best pass-blocking performance of his career (three of last four games have been very good). Whitenack has really solid PFF grades from the Nebraska - Maryland - Wisconsin games (didn't play yesterday). Henderson has only played 24 snaps but his PFF pass blocking grades are the best on the team. The young TEs, Boyer and Arkin, are also showing good PFF blocking grades. Everyone wishes things would have started in a better place but the trends over the past month are becoming more optimistic.
5. Miles Scott is just super solid this year. He could even take a step up and have a chance at All-B1G before he's done. He was targeted 10 times in the first two games of the season. Since? Eight targets over seven weeks. He'll need to clean up some tackling issues and run fits, but what a great get for a walk-on, let alone if he was one of the higher regarded pickups.
6. I still cannot believe North Carolina pushed out Tobe or didn't try harder to keep him. He's been excellent for a freshman. Allowing a sub-50% completion rate when targeted. His run defense and tackling grades are near the top for the secondary.
7. Griffin's non-game winning FG attempts have been concerning. He could be fine for the rest of the year but Olano could usurp him if things do not improve.
8. Clayton Bush's TFL near the end of the game was massive. Yesterday was his best game for Illinois and most snaps he's played since Penn State.
9. Yesterday was Tarique Barnes' highest-graded game since 2022 Minnesota. Would be a nice boost if he re-discovered his game.
10. Hugh Robertson had a solid start to the year but has scuffled in the past month. Really need him to finish around 44 yards/punt average, especially as the weather gets colder and playing teams like Iowa where every extra yard of field position are so important.
1. It seems like 95% of us (correctly) agree that Altmyer is QB1. I love Paddock, he provided such an important moment for multiple generations of fans, the storyline is incredible. That said, Altmyer has been so good all year. He has some turnover issues, but he's been keeping this offense near the top of the division with the 5th string RB and a crappy offensive line. Small note - getting Paddock, and willing to take on Paddock knowing there was a chance others already in the QB room could be upset, to raise the floor of your QB2, just paid off with a win. Everyone deserves a pat on the back for that decision.
2. IW1 is now 9th in all-time receiving yards and 2nd all-time in receptions. His importance is magnified with the lack of RB options. If he can keep providing 15-20 rushing yards/game, it gives some rest for Feagin.
3. I don't have all-22 views of the game, but either there is a complete lack of a deep threat or Altmyer is still gun-shy after the rash of turnovers against Penn State. Probably a little bit of both? Feels like all of the big plays are schemed-up TE looks, intermediate throws to Bryant, or big busts like Feagin's TD.
4. Offensive line dump:
4A: There were some trends that Adams was improving at RT but yesterday was his worst game since Penn State. He allowed four pressures and three sacks. It hasn't been a successful gamble to move him out to tackle. The solution, and bigger question, is why they haven't tried someone else at RT with Adams' performance being so bad out there: they either were believing his RT play was starting to improve (fair thought) or lack of faith is someone else stepping in and doing better (bad omen).
4B: Crisler has been much better, kudos to the staff for sticking that one out. I can't remember exactly what I wrote last time but I thought he showed he wasn't cut out for RT after two games but once he was healthy/conditioned, he would go back to being an average RG. I try to provide a chunk of PFF grades in here because I trust them, but not loving Crisler's recent PFF grades and I don't believe his recent game performance are being fairly compensated. He's only allowing one pressure/game for five straight weeks. He's been an important piece to Illinois' vast improvement running inside. He doesn't currently deserve any pro looks (without a massive step forward in pass pro next year), but he's a very serviceable interior offensive lineman.
4C: YOUTH OPTIMISM - Kreutz is (still) the best PFF graded lineman on the team. Gesky is next, and just had his best pass-blocking performance of his career (three of last four games have been very good). Whitenack has really solid PFF grades from the Nebraska - Maryland - Wisconsin games (didn't play yesterday). Henderson has only played 24 snaps but his PFF pass blocking grades are the best on the team. The young TEs, Boyer and Arkin, are also showing good PFF blocking grades. Everyone wishes things would have started in a better place but the trends over the past month are becoming more optimistic.
5. Miles Scott is just super solid this year. He could even take a step up and have a chance at All-B1G before he's done. He was targeted 10 times in the first two games of the season. Since? Eight targets over seven weeks. He'll need to clean up some tackling issues and run fits, but what a great get for a walk-on, let alone if he was one of the higher regarded pickups.
6. I still cannot believe North Carolina pushed out Tobe or didn't try harder to keep him. He's been excellent for a freshman. Allowing a sub-50% completion rate when targeted. His run defense and tackling grades are near the top for the secondary.
7. Griffin's non-game winning FG attempts have been concerning. He could be fine for the rest of the year but Olano could usurp him if things do not improve.
8. Clayton Bush's TFL near the end of the game was massive. Yesterday was his best game for Illinois and most snaps he's played since Penn State.
9. Yesterday was Tarique Barnes' highest-graded game since 2022 Minnesota. Would be a nice boost if he re-discovered his game.
10. Hugh Robertson had a solid start to the year but has scuffled in the past month. Really need him to finish around 44 yards/punt average, especially as the weather gets colder and playing teams like Iowa where every extra yard of field position are so important.
Paddock looked about a cool as one could get.
A clip that will go down with Nick Anderson's shot, the comeback agasint Arizona in 2005, and Bob Starnes 55 foot buzzer beater against Northwestnern in 1963.
https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,940233,00.html