Illinois 30, Toledo 28 Postgame
Would like to see a replay of that "taunting." Such a frustrating rule because it is applied so inconsistently. In the same game, in every one that I watch, there are multiple instances of guys gesturing/celebrating. Would be nice if the officials would explain what constitutes taunting and apply it consistently. But that is a large ask, I understand.
Good job changing the subject. I like them too.
Kramerica Industries
- Mesa, AZ
Yeah I was in Block I for the '90 season. Rushed the field a couple of times. MSU was one of the times.
Its up to the students to make it special. The University of Illinois no longer has THOSE students.
Yes, you're exactly right. It changed the entire nature of the game and we as fans have no idea if it was justified or not.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Asking for a friend--
Does Illinois now "have Toledo's number"?
Does Illinois now "have Toledo's number"?
We went to game Saturday, was elated to walk out with W. I just re watched the game this evening and our defense from the line,lb's and db's. Was called nearly exactly 
like our Bowl game against Mississippi St..
Please go back to blitz packages nearly every series that give us a chance at leading every game in take aways. Without this and our offense running game is not going to equal a special season IMO. Finally, Tip can do amazing things in passing game when not being used to Block, throw him the ball per our 1st series of Toledo game. Opens every one up and how about some wheel routes for our man Love.
I hope we were holding back for week 2 and 3! Go Illini!
like our Bowl game against Mississippi St..Please go back to blitz packages nearly every series that give us a chance at leading every game in take aways. Without this and our offense running game is not going to equal a special season IMO. Finally, Tip can do amazing things in passing game when not being used to Block, throw him the ball per our 1st series of Toledo game. Opens every one up and how about some wheel routes for our man Love.
I hope we were holding back for week 2 and 3! Go Illini!
1. 3 defensive linemen with almost no blitzers helping aren't going to wear down anybody'
2. Ryan Walters said that his defensive schemes were getting torched, until he brought pressure constantly.
3. Buddy Ryan said that Weeb Eubank said the most important part of a successful offense was keeping pressure off the quarterback. Buddy decided that if that's the case, the most important thing for his defense to do was put pressure on the QB.
4. Ryan Walters left before the bowl game and we brought very little pressure because we didn't trust the DBs who got to play since the NFL prospects were sitting out. Against Toledo we didn't bring pressure because we were trying (but failing) to contain the QB.
5. IMHO, please pressure the QB instead of giving him all day to decide what to do, and for someone to get open.
2. Ryan Walters said that his defensive schemes were getting torched, until he brought pressure constantly.
3. Buddy Ryan said that Weeb Eubank said the most important part of a successful offense was keeping pressure off the quarterback. Buddy decided that if that's the case, the most important thing for his defense to do was put pressure on the QB.
4. Ryan Walters left before the bowl game and we brought very little pressure because we didn't trust the DBs who got to play since the NFL prospects were sitting out. Against Toledo we didn't bring pressure because we were trying (but failing) to contain the QB.
5. IMHO, please pressure the QB instead of giving him all day to decide what to do, and for someone to get open.
I was there for that one. Gave our season tickets to my in-laws and bought a couple of scalped tickets that turned out to be in the student section. Mind you, we are in our upper 40s at this point. Students had definitely been seriously partying before the game and continued to do so in the stadium. Offered us all manner of drink. Treated me like being one of the boys while being very courteous to my wife. After the game my wife agreed that it was wild, that it took us back to our college days and that we would never do it again.
It's laughable that Bill Lemonier is an expert officiating analyst on game broadcasts. Not surprisingly, he still makes obvious mistakes.
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We were in a specialty defense to contain their QB. It worked except for the penalties.
It was also not really the way our defense is designed per our talent. It's a double edged sword.
Had we played clean football we would have won by 2-3 touchdowns. the scheme was fine,
the execution was not. we might not play that scheme again, except for next week, that QB is
also extremely mobile. Lets just not beat ourselves with penalties. I will not speak of a coach who
doesn't work for us anymore.
We've beaten this to death, a win is a win.
Could Self suit up for KU for a cheap shot?
Wipe that smirk off his face. (i'd take that personal foul)
Offensive grades with regards to EPA for Illinois came out (think of it as pts added per play):
Bryant: +1.56
Reiman: +1.29
Washington: +1.25
Williams: +0.76
Altmyer: +0.75
Love: +0.23
McCray: -0.32
Overall, really good numbers out of the receivers, TE, and QB. Would like to see a bit more out of Love, but still net positive play, which is what you want. Really, McCray was the lone standout in not making expected yardage and pts based on down and distance. Confirms the eye test. Blocking obviously has to be better, but definitely going to need more production out of Josh in the games to come.
Bryant: +1.56
Reiman: +1.29
Washington: +1.25
Williams: +0.76
Altmyer: +0.75
Love: +0.23
McCray: -0.32
Overall, really good numbers out of the receivers, TE, and QB. Would like to see a bit more out of Love, but still net positive play, which is what you want. Really, McCray was the lone standout in not making expected yardage and pts based on down and distance. Confirms the eye test. Blocking obviously has to be better, but definitely going to need more production out of Josh in the games to come.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Ditto. Most recent time I've attended a home game. What I remember vividly is walking down the ramp after the game with the visiting fans singing "Isn't it great to be a Michigan Wolverine!"
Tools. Absolutely no self-awareness concerning the outright theft we'd just witnessed.
Walters was obsessed with dropping 8 in the 3rd down scenarios when other DC's often like to bring pressure. Very noticeable from the very beginning under Bielema, it was his calling card.
Why? His personal defensive philosophy maybe, but when you have 3 of the top 66 picks in the draft back there in coverage, it makes a lot of sense to lean on them, and we did that to tremendous effect.
Miles Scott's performance shows we haven't lost the ability to coach that stuff, but the balance of where NFL scouts are interested in our defense has shifted, so perhaps our strategy should too.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Quick attendance comment(s)...
1. That is awesome that we got our highest opening attendance since 2010! Well done, Illini fans. When you actually go look at the attendance numbers in 2009 and 2010, it becomes really clear that we were definitely still benefiting from the 2008 post-Rose Bowl spike ... so that is even more impressive.
2. It looks like @IlliniInBuckeyeState has his final estimate at 46,546, with the caveat that he expected day-of sales to push us over 47,000. He has also been very clear the whole time that his tracker is meant to be somewhat conservative. So, given that we were seeing estimates of SIGNIFICANTLY lower ticket sales, a big hats off to his amazing work, as our final attendance ended up being 48,898!
3. Regardless of the result vs. KU, if we can draw almost 49k for Toledo (night game or not), I am now very confident we can push to ~52k at worst and possibly above 55k vs. PSU ... dare I say even push for a sellout if we can beat KU!
4. This is what 48,898 looked like on Saturday night, by the way:
As you can see, we are not that far from filling in the corners and last rows of the upper deck here. In other words, if we can get to 53k or above, the PSU crowd will look good on TV, and anything above 55k is going to look absolutely packed! As has been discussed quite often, this is due to a couple thousand seats being underneath the East Balcony overhang. Either way, I am super encouraged by the support our fan base provided last weekend, and I am now quite confident that Memorial Stadium will be rockin' for Big Noon Kickoff!!
1. That is awesome that we got our highest opening attendance since 2010! Well done, Illini fans. When you actually go look at the attendance numbers in 2009 and 2010, it becomes really clear that we were definitely still benefiting from the 2008 post-Rose Bowl spike ... so that is even more impressive.
2. It looks like @IlliniInBuckeyeState has his final estimate at 46,546, with the caveat that he expected day-of sales to push us over 47,000. He has also been very clear the whole time that his tracker is meant to be somewhat conservative. So, given that we were seeing estimates of SIGNIFICANTLY lower ticket sales, a big hats off to his amazing work, as our final attendance ended up being 48,898!
3. Regardless of the result vs. KU, if we can draw almost 49k for Toledo (night game or not), I am now very confident we can push to ~52k at worst and possibly above 55k vs. PSU ... dare I say even push for a sellout if we can beat KU!
4. This is what 48,898 looked like on Saturday night, by the way:
As you can see, we are not that far from filling in the corners and last rows of the upper deck here. In other words, if we can get to 53k or above, the PSU crowd will look good on TV, and anything above 55k is going to look absolutely packed! As has been discussed quite often, this is due to a couple thousand seats being underneath the East Balcony overhang. Either way, I am super encouraged by the support our fan base provided last weekend, and I am now quite confident that Memorial Stadium will be rockin' for Big Noon Kickoff!!
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
To be fair, that Toledo fan helped us get to 25 pages of pregame posts. Without 2-3 pages of him/her bashing Bielema and many other pages of 80% nonsense, we would probably only have seen about 15 pages of posts.
"Toledo Fans" should not be walking up to Bielema's face laughing now that Toledo no longer has Bielema's "number"...though somehow I do not think Saturday's results will change that person's mind, since Toledo has outscored Bielema's teams 44-42. Have to move the goal posts
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Also ... my weekly attempt at MS Paint to reimagine an even more glorious Memorial Stadium using an existing photo, making the East Balcony match the West Balcony a bit better and redistributing the capacity that was underneath the East Balcony overhang to fill in the Horseshoe a bit more, with the goal of having about the same capacity!Quick attendance comment(s)...
...
...
GOD, she's a thing of beauty!
Kramerica Industries
- Mesa, AZ
We went to the Clybourne after the game where we then watched ESPN show the replays over and over of the Refs blowing the calls on Sportscenter. Good times.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
My brother and I made the long walk back to the B&B in Urbana where we were staying via Mt. Hope Cemetery. It seemed appropriate. He's a Michigan alum and was somewhat embarrassed of his team's victory, and of the poor behavior of the visiting fans. Not that it was any consolation.
I thought that was
a hold and one of the most blatantly missed calls all day. The center was beat badly and had to hold on for dear life to save his QB.Honestly, the horseshoe doesn't bother me nearly as much from this angle. And honestly I think it's cool you can see the trees behind the stadium.
This leads me to believe my issue (which I think is a common issue amongst everyone on the board) stems from the distance between the end zone and the horseshoe. Tighten that up and I think you can get away without doing too much work on it.
Kramerica Industries
- Mesa, AZ
Time to lower the field and finally dig that bulldozer up. Oh and then rebuild the horseshoe on top of the south end zone of course.
I dunno, I think they knew exactly what they were doing. It's like why certain rich and powerful people cheat at golf, doesn't have much of anything to do with winning the game but it's a power play to be able to cheat right in front of you knowing that you can't say a thing about it.
Those guys get away with stuff, and they know it, and knowing it is part of the buzz.