Illinois 31, Michigan State 27 POSTGAME

FT35 · Nov 6, 2016

KRSAS said:
Remember when Juice started back in 2006, I think it was against Iowa. He had a rough start, I mean it was like he couldn't make a pass at all, however he got better. Hopefully, JGJ will get better but you gotta be optimistic.

Juice was an 18 year old true Freshman who was one year removed from playing in the CPL against almost no competition. He could also run. It's silly to compare the two. JGJ has had two Spring and two Fall sessions to help prepare him to play at the college level.

Jeff has gotten better with each performance, but I think there's a ceiling that keeps him as a decent backup option.

KRSAS · Nov 6, 2016

FT35 said:
Juice was an 18 year old true Freshman who was one year removed from playing in the CPL against almost no competition. He could also run. It's silly to compare the two. JGJ has had two Spring and two Fall sessions to help prepare him to play at the college level.

Jeff has gotten better with each performance, but I think there's a ceiling that keeps him as a decent backup option.

Juice was so highly recruited though, JGJ was an under the radar guy. JGJ did have his Juice moment in the first half against Michigan. But it will definitely be interesting to see if he continues to make some progressions through the rest of the season. I'm going to be rooting for them hard against Wisconsin!

Fighter of the Nightman · Nov 6, 2016

What a great win!!

Glad to hear the gameday atmosphere keeps getting better, too!

BillMo · Nov 7, 2016

DrewD007 said:
Could have fooled me given the types of players they're recruiting at QB.

Well if they are more worried about a running QB you wouldn't be recruiting the WR they are after, plus IF MD can get healthy so we have WR who can get open and catch the ball a running QB kind of would waste you talent. Right now I do not see where we are recruiting a running QB at all but just my opion

BillMo · Nov 7, 2016

FT35 said:
Juice was an 18 year old true Freshman who was one year removed from playing in the CPL against almost no competition. He could also run. It's silly to compare the two. JGJ has had two Spring and two Fall sessions to help prepare him to play at the college level.

Jeff has gotten better with each performance, but I think there's a ceiling that keeps him as a decent backup option.

Spring practice and even fall practice is one thing if you are the starter but for the 4rd sting guy its not going to do much to get you ready for anything, He has improved each game and the more time he gets with the 1st team he should keep improving. IF he stops then you can say he reached his ceiling but even that isn't fair to say when we have not got the best WR or TE right now and our line is only fair. Unless we recruit a very good JC or trans I would not at all be shocked to see JG as our starter next year and if so then we can judge him on how he improved or not over the spring and fall playing with the first team in practice

Cubby Blue · Nov 7, 2016

FT35 said:
I think there's a ceiling that keeps him as a decent backup option.

You 'THINK" but you really don't know. None of us do. He could have a high ceiling for all we know. That last drive when we needed him, he was there. That alone is a big, big, positive sign. :thumb:

WiscIllini · Nov 7, 2016

BillMo said:
Well if they are more worried about a running QB you wouldn't be recruiting the WR they are after, plus IF MD can get healthy so we have WR who can get open and catch the ball a running QB kind of would waste you talent. Right now I do not see where we are recruiting a running QB at all but just my opion

You mean like the one we currently have committed who runs something like a 4.4 forty?

FT35 · Nov 7, 2016

Cubby Blue said:
You 'THINK" but you really don't know. None of us do. He could have a high ceiling for all we know. That last drive when we needed him, he was there. That alone is a big, big, positive sign. :thumb:

Believe what you want but Jeff will never be a fit for McGee's offense. Here are the 2018 QBs we have offered:

http://247sports.com/player/kaleb-eleby-92655

http://247sports.com/player/casey-thompson-35839

http://247sports.com/player/jalen-mayden-56662

http://247sports.com/player/quincy-patterson-93325

This should give you a good idea of what kind of QB the staff is looking for.

FT35 · Nov 7, 2016

BillMo said:
Well if they are more worried about a running QB you wouldn't be recruiting the WR they are after, plus IF MD can get healthy so we have WR who can get open and catch the ball a running QB kind of would waste you talent. Right now I do not see where we are recruiting a running QB at all but just my opion

Then you aren't paying attention to who the staff is targeting.

ILL_INI · Nov 7, 2016

BillMo said:
Well if they are more worried about a running QB you wouldn't be recruiting the WR they are after, plus IF MD can get healthy so we have WR who can get open and catch the ball a running QB kind of would waste you talent. Right now I do not see where we are recruiting a running QB at all but just my opion

"Dual threat" is the proper term, as in a threat to run AND pass.

sacraig · Nov 7, 2016

FT35 said:
Believe what you want but Jeff will never be a fit for McGee's offense. Here are the 2018 QBs we have offered:

http://247sports.com/player/kaleb-eleby-92655

http://247sports.com/player/casey-thompson-35839

http://247sports.com/player/jalen-mayden-56662

http://247sports.com/player/quincy-patterson-93325

This should give you a good idea of what kind of QB the staff is looking for.

I suppose there is always the possibility that, through training/coaching, someone like JGJ can develop more of a run threat, though perhaps it isn't quite natural to him. He's certainly more mobile than Lunt, though.

Adnarel · Nov 7, 2016

sacraig said:
He's certainly more mobile than Lunt, though.

It doesn't take much for this to be true. =P

FT35 · Nov 7, 2016

sacraig said:
He's certainly more mobile than Lunt, though.

So is Joe Spencer. I like the way JGJ can scramble when the pocket collapses but he will never be a running QB. There's really not much he can do about his mobility. It is what it is.

He's out there because of injuries, not because of anything special he's done in the games or in practice. This staff hasn't been afraid to bench guys in favor of younger players for various reasons (See Barton and Mosley). That's not what's happening at the QB position. He's out there because the two guys ahead of him are injured.

Cubby Blue · Nov 7, 2016

Lake Camelot said:
I have not been a fan of Watson playing a lot. I have to say he played well yesterday. Made some nice plays when needed. .

B1G defensive player of the week! :thumb:

Illiniaaron · Nov 7, 2016

BillMo said:
Well if they are more worried about a running QB you wouldn't be recruiting the WR they are after, plus IF MD can get healthy so we have WR who can get open and catch the ball a running QB kind of would waste you talent. Right now I do not see where we are recruiting a running QB at all but just my opion

I think it's pretty clear that McGee wants to run a spread offense with a running qb.....

sacraig · Nov 7, 2016

FT35 said:
So is Joe Spencer. I like the way JGJ can scramble when the pocket collapses but he will never be a running QB. There's really not much he can do about his mobility. It is what it is.

He's out there because of injuries, not because of anything special he's done in the games or in practice. This staff hasn't been afraid to bench guys in favor of younger players for various reasons (See Barton and Mosley). That's not what's happening at the QB position. He's out there because the two guys ahead of him are injured.

I don't think the goal is to get a "running QB". You want someone in this offense who is a dual threat, or at the very least a threat to be an effective scrambler when needed and is capable of a sneak or draw here and there when catching a team off guard for a few yards. You don't need to be a Juice-like running QB to handle that duty.

In that sense, I think someone like JGJ can absolutely develop into that. Someone like Crouch can already handle the running part but his throwing leaves some to be desired. Ultimately you'd like someone who excels at both, and that's fine too. I just don't think we can really write off Crouch or George just yet. It's entirely possible (probable) that one of them is still better next year in this offense than a true freshman that is a true dual threat.

FT35 · Nov 7, 2016

sacraig said:
I don't think the goal is to get a "running QB". You want someone in this offense who is a dual threat, or at the very least a threat to be an effective scrambler when needed and is capable of a sneak or draw here and there when catching a team off guard for a few yards. You don't need to be a Juice-like running QB to handle that duty.

In that sense, I think someone like JGJ can absolutely develop into that. Someone like Crouch can already handle the running part but his throwing leaves some to be desired. Ultimately you'd like someone who excels at both, and that's fine too. I just don't think we can really write off Crouch or George just yet. It's entirely possible (probable) that one of them is still better next year in this offense than a true freshman that is a true dual threat.

Good points. Based on where the recruiting is at now, I think it's fair to say that Crouch and/or George will get significant snaps next year. I'm a bit higher on Crouch than others here as I think some people are underrating his passing abilities while overrating George's, but the only thing that matters is moving the ball and scoring points. It really doesn't matter how we do it and McGee has shown an amazing ability to find creative ways to get this done when having almost nothing to work with.

If Lunt dressing is just a decoy (he wasn't even warming up last week), George will still be given plenty of opportunities to show the staff that he should be taken seriously as a potential #1 starter next year. He's gotten every snap in the last three games and could get plenty more this year. I hope he takes advantage of it.

That being said, I also hope there is a JUCO or 5th year guy out there that will be here in the Spring if only to add depth at the position. I really don't want to see either Cam (Thomas or Miller) playing next fall.

ILL_INI · Nov 7, 2016

The Illini's comeback winning touchdown just made the MNF pregame show. The signal by the official for a touchback (which really confused me since I was watching on my phone and thought the pass was intercepted) made the C'mon Man segment.

Illinivek23 · Nov 7, 2016

What happened to Bain? Has it been lack of production or injury? I haven't heard much about him. Would be nice to plug him in at OG.

Cubby Blue · Nov 7, 2016

FT35 said:
Believe what you want but Jeff will never be a fit for McGee's offense. Here are the 2018 QBs we have offered:

http://247sports.com/player/kaleb-eleby-92655

http://247sports.com/player/casey-thompson-35839
So
http://247sports.com/player/jalen-mayden-56662

http://247sports.com/player/quincy-patterson-93325

This should give you a good idea of what kind of QB the staff is looking for.

It is all fine and dandy to look for that type of QB, but McGee might have to take the offense he has had for Lunt, adjust if for a few years of JGJ and then worry about those guys in 2020 (redshirt year) unless of course he gets a transfer.

WeatherfordForMVP · Nov 7, 2016

Cubby Blue said:
It is all fine and dandy to look for that type of QB, but McGee might have to take the offense he has had for Lunt, adjust if for a few years of JGJ and then worry about those guys in 2020 (redshirt year) unless of course he gets a transfer.

With McGee's history of success and showing some success here with very little to work with, you could just imagine a very talented backup to an even more talented starter at one of the consistently powerhouse Top 25 teams deciding to give it a shot at Illinois.

dgcrow · Nov 7, 2016

FiveStar said:
There looked to be a decent crowd on hand from what i saw on tv. Anyone know what the attendance was for the game?

According to the box score, the official "attendance" was 47,144. Don't know how many people actually attended the game.

scaggs22 · Nov 7, 2016

ILL_INI said:
The Illini's comeback winning touchdown just made the MNF pregame show. The signal by the official for a touchback (which really confused me since I was watching on my phone and thought the pass was intercepted) made the C'mon Man segment.

Hilarious..........and sad...........
Kind of like missing a pass that obviously hits the ground during a catch. Are they daydreaming? Thank God for video challenges (a rule change due to blown calls at Memorial Stadium in 2000 against Michigan).

breadman · Nov 8, 2016

dgcrow said:
According to the box score, the official "attendance" was 47,144. Don't know how many people actually attended the game.

I noticed there were holes in the crowd at kick off, but then everything seemed to fill in as the Dads showed up.

breadman · Nov 8, 2016

You know, thinking about it, this game reminded me of the Neb. game. Saw a similar pattern where we had the lead in the third and gave it up in both games with the difference being we came back in this game and held on. This was how the Neb. game should have ended. Now getting kind of weary of this pattern about giving up leads we work hard to develop.