Illinois 31, Chattanooga 0 Postgame

#101      
Alright, I'll be that guy that I generally dislike and toss out a debbie downer. I'm real concerned about our kicking games, and I wont be surprised if we lose more than one game due to it. Hugh's punting can be generously described as shaky. Small observation about Caleb - most of the PAT's went through fairly well left or right of center. McCourt was way more often dead center. Those kicks, from further out, aren't going through the uprights.
 
#102      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
I like Kevin and if Walters moves on the defense wont change much at all but every signal caller has their own way of doing things. Walters is aggressive and brings pressure in a lot of different ways and I hope Kane does the same. (If/when that happens)
There's actually been quite a lot of change this year as I've seen it.

Last year on 3rd and 9 you could bet your bottom dollar Walters would bring 3 and drop 8. He did it over and over and over again to great success.

We're blitzing a ton more this year, as well as getting quite creative with pressures coming from places you don't expect. We're doing some real funky diverse stuff with those OLB's in particular, I think that's something BB has brought back with him from the NFL. Spread offenses aren't used to seeing 5 guys with their hand on the ground.
 
#104      
You pay Walters whatever he wants to keep him from leaving(Unless for a head job)

For Coords, really the only thing you can do is make the choice difficult for him. They’re all there to burnish their reputations so that they can move up to the next rung of the ladder.

You make it so Walters doesn’t leave for another P5 DC job or a really bad G5 HC job. But if that plum G5 job comes along, he’s gone. You just wish him good luck.
 
#105      
There's actually been quite a lot of change this year as I've seen it.

Last year on 3rd and 9 you could bet your bottom dollar Walters would bring 3 and drop 8. He did it over and over and over again to great success.

We're blitzing a ton more this year, as well as getting quite creative with pressures coming from places you don't expect. We're doing some real funky diverse stuff with those OLB's in particular, I think that's something BB has brought back with him from the NFL. Spread offenses aren't used to seeing 5 guys with their hand on the ground.
Agreed. We brought 6 or 7 one time on 3rd and long last night.
 
#107      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
I like Kevin and if Walters moves on the defense wont change much at all but every signal caller has their own way of doing things. Walters is aggressive and brings pressure in a lot of different ways and I hope Kane does the same. (If/when that happens)

Can't believe I'm saying this (due to the looong suckage), but the quality of our players (D line & secondary) really afford Walters more options than otherwise. Not downplaying Walters at all. Just saying a stuff ton of credit belongs to the players. Lovin' it. If this is a fairy tale, don't wake me up.
 
#108      
Im hoping that we have other defensive coaches paying close attention to the defensive coordinator. We are going to have to give him whatever he wants to stay long term with us and I think its a good investment.

I’ve been praying that Whitman included a 7-figure buyout if he leaves before contract is completed for this exact reason lol
 
#109      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
Agreed. We brought 6 or 7 one time on 3rd and long last night.
Indiana's biggest play on that winning drive came on exploiting a CB blitz of course (contra the sports talk radio pablum about "prevent defense" on that drive).

These things giveth and taketh away.

But we've made all four QB's look lost at sea for long stretches thus far.

I suspect the ability to stick Kerby Joseph in centerfield was a big reason for the drop 8 obsession last year. Now we're playing to different strengths. Walters is a terrific coach, and let us not ignore that we in fact have FOUR DC's in the kitchen on this staff (Bielema, Walters, Kane, Buh).
 
#110      

Ransom Stoddard

Ordained Dudeist Priest
Bloomington, IL
I was, unfortunately, unable to watch as I had a prior obligation. What was official attendance? From the highlights, it looked a bit better than I was expecting, though, I'm not sure if that's just because my expectations were rather low.
espn.com says 37,579. My eyes say closer to 32k.

BTW, both Dick Butkus and Jeff George were in the house last night. There was a nice half-time presentation of the folks being inducted into the HoF in tonight's ceremony.

edit--George is being inducted. Butkus, clearly, is already in.
 
#111      
I was, unfortunately, unable to watch as I had a prior obligation. What was official attendance? From the highlights, it looked a bit better than I was expecting, though, I'm not sure if that's just because my expectations were rather low.
Dick Butkus was in the house and seemed to be having a great time watching our defense dominant all night. That's good enough for me!
 
#113      

The Galloping Ghost

Washington, DC
espn.com says 37,579. My eyes say closer to 32k.

BTW, both Dick Butkus and Jeff George were in the house last night. There was a nice half-time presentation of the folks being inducted into the HoF in tonight's ceremony.

edit--George is being inducted. Butkus, clearly, is already in.
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#114      

chiefini

Rockford, Illinois
What a fun and memorable day celebrating my husband’s 70th birthday we had! Lunch at Murphy’s, Grange Grove with Illiniwalk, IFund tailgate, and the Illini coming through with a resounding, dominant victory made for a very memorable celebration. Thanks for all your birthday wishes.
P.S. We sat in the 10th row right behind the Illini bench. Josh McCray looked great, holding a football the entire game. Interesting watching Walters coach up the D every time they came off the field for just a few minutes, then heading to the sideline to watch the game by himself, probably talking to coaches in the box. The players were having a blast, and it was a great time had by all.
:chief::hailtotheorange::chief:
 
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#115      

GallopingGhost

Denver, CO
Nah, it was calling running plays up the middle 4 times a their goal line and getting stuffed each time. You don't call that 4 times if the first 2 don't work. At least kick the durn field goal.
I thought it was the penalties and turnovers. Pick one, or hell pick them all..

Refs didn’t help
 
#116      
I’ve been praying that Whitman included a 7-figure buyout if he leaves before contract is completed for this exact reason lol
Walters has a $1M buyout to go to a non-head coach position in the Big Ten and $750K buyout to go to a non-head coach position elsewhere.
His current salary is $1.05M which is already on the upper end of what MAC and Sun Belt head coaches make.

If Colorado, or a similar school, wants him as head coach he is gone and good for him. If this happens, I don't think it will be because we trounced Chattanooga or Wyoming, that is expected. It will be because the defense was great against other Big Ten teams, and for this year, this is still TBD.
 
#117      

Mr. Tibbs

southeast DuPage
Alright, I'll be that guy that I generally dislike and toss out a debbie downer. I'm real concerned about our kicking games, and I wont be surprised if we lose more than one game due to it. Hugh's punting can be generously described as shaky. Small observation about Caleb - most of the PAT's went through fairly well left or right of center. McCourt was way more often dead center. Those kicks, from further out, aren't going through the uprights.
yea, there were at least 2 kicks from shirt distance (including the first FG) that just snuck in by a couple feet. that makes no sense to me.

lets just say I dont think BB has tons of faith in the lad.

On fourth and 2 from the 35-40 ? just go for it
 
#118      
Walters has a $1M buyout to go to a non-head coach position in the Big Ten and $750K buyout to go to a non-head coach position elsewhere.
His current salary is $1.05M which is already on the upper end of what MAC and Sun Belt head coaches make.

If Colorado, or a similar school, wants him as head coach he is gone and good for him. If this happens, I don't think it will be because we trounced Chattanooga or Wyoming, that is expected. It will be because the defense was great against other Big Ten teams, and for this year, this is still TBD.
Way to early to give Walters the crown.....Not to throw any dust around, but the clearer picture comes with the "meat" of the schedule. Holding Chatta to 0 points...BUT...it is Chatta. The train is running, let's see if it continues when we play the big boys. For me, being competitive and "in the game" is all I am asking for now...
 
#119      
I like what I see from Lunney as far as running an offense. He was not just content to run all over the weak little FCS team that can't hang at the line of scrimmage. There was some good creative stuff on display. It shows what sort of team we could be if our recruiting could ever got to a higher level.
 
#120      
Biggest threat for Walters right now is an SEC Defensive Coordinator. If they can outbid, and he can work with better talent, it's not crazy. He has SEC DC experience too, which makes it possible.

Pac-12 is "dying", no point in going there, Big Ten money is great looking forward. Colorado isn't just gonna name him HC, that'd be crazy on their end. You gotta be like competing for Natties to go straight from DC to a P5 HC.
 
#122      
Walters has a $1M buyout to go to a non-head coach position in the Big Ten and $750K buyout to go to a non-head coach position elsewhere.
His current salary is $1.05M which is already on the upper end of what MAC and Sun Belt head coaches make.

If Colorado, or a similar school, wants him as head coach he is gone and good for him. If this happens, I don't think it will be because we trounced Chattanooga or Wyoming, that is expected. It will be because the defense was great against other Big Ten teams, and for this year, this is still TBD.

Thank you for answering my question and taking the time to look into this. I feel a bit better, but I fully expect some major solicitations for Coach Walters this off-season.
 
#124      
As I bask in the after glow of a big day with Cardinals and Illini wins , my mind does what it usually does and starts to ponder.......

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And what is my favorite pondering thought ???.............................You guessed it .....................

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Do you blame me ??.....................And the bigger question , "" have you done any pondering about her also...................??

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it started last night about an hour after the Illini victory and I tried to hide my pondering from NL # 3 , but she sensed something was driving me to a pondering frenzy............................Over and over , my pondering got to where I had trouble breathing .....My pulse was racing and I finally entered a pondering coma .....aware of my surroundings but unable to carry on a conversation , just mumbling non stop........I finally did a 420 and regained my senses and my ability to control my pondering and slowly got back to normal.....well , normal for me is chaos for most other carbon units....

What should I do ???.....try and meet her in person ??,,,,that would be a mistake , I know , and thats where i am at right now........Thank you for listening to my pondering dilemma and have a nice day....I will try and do the same ..........I really really will..................................

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uh oh , talk about a flashback ..........................................

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Amazing, wonderful and amazing, but, but can she punt? What kind of hang time and distance does she get? If it is even close to 42 yds, 5.0, she is the most perfect Illini!