Illinois 38, Rutgers 17 POSTGAME
I think my favorite uniform combo would be B/W/B with these new white jerseys. Love the blue lids and pants.
A very very young secondary as well. This team is gonna be solid in another year or 2.
Good win. Momentum builder.
Offense looked better with Bush back. He did hold ball too long a few times, but loved to see us take many shots down field - that was missing with MJ. Besides Smalling’s TD, our WR really need to make some plays on those balls. Was surprised Epstein was bottled up - glad he got off that late run.
D is still scary - at least we got TOs . Better than last week, but still a hint if not being able to stop a drive. I wish D line would get a sack.
Now it gets interesting! Should have at least 4-5 games left in the schedule in 40-60% range of winnable chance. Need to get some of these!
Offense looked better with Bush back. He did hold ball too long a few times, but loved to see us take many shots down field - that was missing with MJ. Besides Smalling’s TD, our WR really need to make some plays on those balls. Was surprised Epstein was bottled up - glad he got off that late run.
D is still scary - at least we got TOs . Better than last week, but still a hint if not being able to stop a drive. I wish D line would get a sack.
Now it gets interesting! Should have at least 4-5 games left in the schedule in 40-60% range of winnable chance. Need to get some of these!
Cannot be overstated.
A bowling Illinois perfomance just utterly outclasses Rutgers. We failed to do that today. We need to improve.
Deleted member 4960
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I know earlier in the week we were 5 1/2 pt favorites not for sure what it was at game time. Won by 3 tds, Lovie’s team again caused turnovers! We won at an opposing field. I think Rutgers loss to Indiana last week by a touchdown. I think overall a great win. Now have the possibility of winning 3 more games somewhere and reaching a bowl!!! I think Nebraska, Purdue, Minnesota, Maryland are very beatable .
A little surprised at the negativity in here and the game thread. I get it, we could have looked better and there are some things that still look like they need to be addressed. But I fail to see how a 21 point win, on the road, in the Big Ten (yes against Rutgers, but still) doesn't show progress.
What was this team supposed to do? Win by 40 against a Power 5 opponent? Maybe in a couple of years we can view that as our standard. But this year all we asked for (most of us anyways) was to pick off the teams we should beat (we've done that) and keep it close against the team better than us (outside of one quarter, we've done this as well).
Now you look at the last 7 games and can see a path to 6 (maybe 7) wins. I don't know, maybe I'm too easy but my eyes have seen progress this year and I think there's a chance to really show it the rest of the way.
What was this team supposed to do? Win by 40 against a Power 5 opponent? Maybe in a couple of years we can view that as our standard. But this year all we asked for (most of us anyways) was to pick off the teams we should beat (we've done that) and keep it close against the team better than us (outside of one quarter, we've done this as well).
Now you look at the last 7 games and can see a path to 6 (maybe 7) wins. I don't know, maybe I'm too easy but my eyes have seen progress this year and I think there's a chance to really show it the rest of the way.
Deleted member 4333
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Gotta walk before you can run.
Agreed with this. Illinois lost to Rutgers last year in Champaign. Yes Illinois was sloppy at times today, they are a very young team. But winning by 3 td today is the progress we needed to see.
the national
- the Front Range
I’m happy, I’m content. We performed as we should have. A few mistakes but kept scoring and executing. It is a huge relief to have that big ten win. Lovies job depended on this victory, imo. We got it.
Today was a +1 step program momentum builder.... lose at home next week against a very average Purdue team, it's two steps back. That said, I'm thinking we take care of business and get to an impressive 4-2 record!
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Hardly pretty, but a big baby step forward. Would have been bad news to drop this one. Needless to say, PU is a big game for the program.
Deleted member 8632
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No thanks.
Deleted member 29907
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We basically played bend defense on the last drive in the 1st half and at the end of the game - so I'd say at least 50 of that was based on strategy as opposed to just getting beat - thus RU only had 17 points.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Every Illinois conference win should be preciously handled, polished to a healthy sheen, then wrapped in foil and carefully packaged for later viewing. Having said that, the program is clearly showing improvement in that the Illini played a less than stellar game and was still able to blow out Rutgers on the road. Even though the passing game struggles at times with Bush, it also did so under Rivers. The difference is that Bush can make so many plays Rivers cannot with his legs. My concern is the defense. I'm afraid Purdue might drop a forty spot on them next week. My preseason prediction was four wins and playing more competitively in their losses. That's pretty much what is happening.
Not that I am aware of. Corbin got gang tackled on one play and it forced his leg funny. He trotted off the field limping a bit, but came back during a later series.
We definitely need to improve but 3 TD victory isn't outclassing them? I get the total yards were reasonably close but turning people over is a part of the game as well.
Football rules question for those in the know I thought about today:
If a running back back or receiver is gonna be tackled for a loss near the sideline after a handoff or lateral, is there anything that stops them from throwing the ball out of bounds, but past the line of scrimmage, for no gain as opposed to taking a loss of yards?
If a running back back or receiver is gonna be tackled for a loss near the sideline after a handoff or lateral, is there anything that stops them from throwing the ball out of bounds, but past the line of scrimmage, for no gain as opposed to taking a loss of yards?
On running plays, lots of linemen generally go downfield - past the line of scrimmage - to pick up/block defensive players. Therefore, if the back throws the ball, chances are you got one more ineligible receivers downfield and will incur a penalty.
- On3
I am not feeling the positive feelings most are. I was very dissapointed in the finish of the first half. Rutgers is one of the five worst teams in the country. The score was fine. But we let them stay close way to long. We also have lost the pass rush I thought we had last year from Freshmen. If Lovie is being truthfull that Dorsey isn't playing because he doesn't help us win as much as others. Then they are way off on that evaluation.
Deleted member 29907
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As someone answered earlier - if the linemen think its a run, they are likely downfield, and you really don't want an RB pulling the ball out of their pocket at the last second - too risky for fumble.