Pregame: Illinois at Iowa, Saturday, November 18th, 2:30pm CT, FS1

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#228      

GILL-INOIS

G
GILL-INOIS
mhuml32 said:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1724468981988307419

Whoever you start, DO NOT do this. Pick your guy and stick with him during the game unless it gets really ugly. Do not start swapping guys around. This is the best defense in the country. It's going to be hard. Changing guys based on random moments of the game, with one of them on shorter practice reps, is a terrible idea.
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Agree

Iowa is going to bring pressure from all over. Crossing my fingers the blindside pressure gets blocked whoever is playing at QB or there will be turnovers 🤞
 
#230      

Illini-Rule

I
Illini-Rule
I was told yesterday that Iowa's QB is entering the portal. I don't know, I haven't seen it anywhere other than someone telling me that.
 
#234      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
mhuml32 said:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1724468981988307419

Whoever you start, DO NOT do this. Pick your guy and stick with him during the game unless it gets really ugly. Do not start swapping guys around. This is the best defense in the country. It's going to be hard. Changing guys based on random moments of the game, with one of them on shorter practice reps, is a terrible idea.
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I guess I do not entirely agree. Right now, it appears clear as day that Paddock is the (at least currently) superior passing threat, and Altmyer is the superior running/scrambling threat. Obviously we can't just pull whatever QB makes a mistake all the time, but playing both might be a creative way to crack this Iowa defense.

I might be biased by our last game, but in the end I think it is clear we will have to beat Iowa by outscoring them. I have no faith we can win another 9-6 affair. And to do that, we will need some big plays that are VERY hard to come by against this Iowa defense, and that likely means we catch them off guard with a long pass from Paddock or an Altmyer scramble. 🤷‍♂️
 
#235      

Battle89

Battle89
Battle89
mhuml32 said:
Way late on this list, but here are the ten takeaways:

(no number) I'm going to stay out of the Paddock - Altmyer opinion because it's becoming toxic.
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Found a sign for you
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#236      

Dkayak

D
Dkayak
mhuml32 said:
Way late on this list, but here are the ten takeaways:

(no number) I'm going to stay out of the Paddock - Altmyer opinion because it's becoming toxic. It stinks that fans (collectively) can take a positive and make it such a sore spot. These are the moments where Bielema has to make the best decision for the program. I'm comfortable with either guy starting on Saturday.
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I’m not seeing toxic, just some strong opinions favoring each QB’s. IMO there are pros and cons to both.

It’s sort of a toss up to me. I’d favor starting Paddock because 1) he’s got momentum 2) he seems to boost the team’s confidence after the last two games 3) it protects Luke from a repeat concussion. However there are also advantages to playing Altmeyer, as you’ve noted. Maybe start JP but be very willing to sub in LA if his legs look like a needed asset?

I trust Bret’s judgement to balance both our game day and longer term program needs. With two good QB’s, we’re certainly in a better place than Iowa. It’s a really good problem by comparison.
 
#238      

aaeismacgychel

A
aaeismacgychel
mhuml32 said:
Way late on this list, but here are the ten takeaways:

(no number) I'm going to stay out of the Paddock - Altmyer opinion because it's becoming toxic. It stinks that fans (collectively) can take a positive and make it such a sore spot. These are the moments where Bielema has to make the best decision for the program. I'm comfortable with either guy starting on Saturday. That said, whoever starts, remember they will be facing the best defense in CFB.

1. The two comments about Paddock - Altmyer that warrant mentioning: (1) turnover-worthy throws - seeing lots of comments about how Paddock's game right now is excellent (uh, it is), but that he isn't putting the ball at risk at the same level as Altmyer. Paddock's turnover-worthy throw percentage (5.3%) is much higher than Altmyer's (3.1%). Not great when you're about to face Cooper DeJean and the #1 defense. (2) Average depth of target - Paddock: 12.8. Altmyer: 7.9 yards. Five yards is a massive difference. Paddock is finding guys and putting them in a position to be successful (also helps when Indiana blows a couple coverages). Another big reason for that depth of target...
2. That had to be the best offensive line performance for the team since '22 NW game. Crisler seems fully back to solid/above-average Big Ten guard. Pearl had one of his best games of the season. Kreutz had his best run blocking game of the season. Whitenack had a solid performance in small sample size. Boyer and Arkin have established themselves as good blocking TEs. Same for Henderson. PFF's pass blocking grades are okay, but disappointing after watching the game. Paddock wasn't really pressured until the last series of regulation and the OT drive, so not sure what else they needed to do. Because the run game was also BACK....
3. Welcome back, Reggie Love. Can't describe how much easier it is to have a second, competent running back, and it being a running back who is a good pass blocker. PFF has been higher on Reggie this season than the stats showed. Saturday was his coming-out party for senior year. Hope he finishes strong.
4. The rotation has shortened, but this is the most trustworthy set of pass catchers for Illinois in my lifetime. Everyone has a very defined role. Those roles align with each person's strengths. Even if IW11 goes for the draft, I feel good about the future for Aston Hollins, Kenari Wilcher, Malik Elzy, Hank Beatty, etc.
5. Pat Bryant could get to 50 catches this season with a good finish. Isaiah could get to 90 with a good finish. No Illinois WR has reached 90 catches since AJ Jenkins. The last time Illinois had two, 50-catch offensive players? 2014 - Dudek & Ferguson. Last time they had two WRs? 2002 (Lloyd & Young). Last time they had a 80-50, let alone a 90-50? It's never happened.
6. Kudos to Lunney. I've been a fan of him since he was hired. There are always bumps with an OC, especially in the B1G West, but the play calling has been excellent down the stretch.
7. Two bad games in a row for Nicholson. Not sure if that is more noise or signal. Need to see how things go in these final two games.
8. Most snaps played in a game this season for Tobe. If it wasn't obvious before that he's now #2 CB, it is now. He played well again (comparative to the secondary tire fire). Coverage success was mostly Tobe, Bush, and Strain (>20 snaps). Everyone else graded poorly.
9. The '24 pass rush is going to need a serious lift. We've all been talking about needing to find pass rushers in the portal this offseason after Newton is gone, so this isn't a revelation. That said, I really hope Randolph sticks around. He's been playing hurt for a long time and is still above average.
10. Feels like we are one more Griffin miss away from Olano taking over on FGs/XPs.
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Great post. Some thoughts:
0. I feel the Paddock vs. Altmyer debate is extraordinarily difficult as there are extreme mitigating factors, the biggest of which being the o-line play and opposing coverage. Just hard to make a fair comparison. Both qbs have been fantastic for us and top 5 offensively in conference. When's the last time we could say that?

3. Amazing how much better Love looked with a staunch oline in front of him as well. Makes one wonder where our record would be this season if our oline was able to play like they have the past 2 weeks all season.

4. I'd personally ride or die with Lloyd, Young, Moorehead, and Lewis, but this group has been fantastic.

7. While these past 2 games were really bad for him, Taz has struggled more than just them in my opinion. It's definitely not noise at this point. The question is more whether this is a just a down year and whether he'll rebound next year or not. I'm not even sure he'll be playing this week- there's a decent chance he'll be suspended, right?

10. Feels like Griffin has been 1 more miss away all season, and yet... Special Teams is a huge concern going into Iowa as they are truly elite. We need to have Griffin and Robertson play the games of their lives to beat this team.
 
#239      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
ptgrd23 said:
What great problem. 2 good QBs.

When was the last time we had this problem?

I thought Art was a gutsy player but he was a disaster in Iowa game last year.
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When Iowa recovered that "fumble" and returned it for a touchdown, I am not sure I have ever sat in such a stupid shock from a sports play, haha. When it was overturned, my wife (of seven days at that point!) went nuts. We were watching in the middle of the night from Scotland during our honeymoon. :cool:
 
#240      

lstewart53x3

lstewart53x3
Scottsdale, Arizona
lstewart53x3
Fighter of the Nightman said:
When Iowa recovered that "fumble" and returned it for a touchdown, I am not sure I have ever sat in such a stupid shock from a sports play, haha. When it was overturned, my wife (of seven days at that point!) went nuts. We were watching in the middle of the night from Scotland during our honeymoon. :cool:
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That’s a beautiful thing
 
#242      

BWBW

BWBW
BWBW
Fighter of the Nightman said:
When Iowa recovered that "fumble" and returned it for a touchdown, I am not sure I have ever sat in such a stupid shock from a sports play, haha. When it was overturned, my wife (of seven days at that point!) went nuts. We were watching in the middle of the night from Scotland during our honeymoon. :cool:
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2 things: 1. if you were on your honeymoon, you should have been doing something else in the middle of the night.
2. Scotland? Honeymoon? Must be a story there.
 
#243      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
BWBW said:
2 things: 1. if you were on your honeymoon, you should have been doing something else in the middle of the night.
2. Scotland? Honeymoon? Must be a story there.
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1. The night is long, plenty of time for multiple activities!
2. Somewhere warm (and not lame in our eyes) was off the table during hurricane season, so we were initially going to wait and go somewhere in January. However, we were convinced that we should go somewhere, and we decided Edinburgh would be fun and relatively easy. Had a blast. :cool:
 
#244      

Dkayak

D
Dkayak
illiram said:
You always, always start the hot hand. We still have a chance at the Big Ten West. This is a no-brainer, and am extremely disappointed the coaches have not announced Paddock as the starter yet. Call me an idiot if you want to, but with Paddock in, Penn State was extremely winnable. Luke made several mistakes.

I know he is the Future, but this is the Present.
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It might well already be decided, but there’s no benefit whatsoever to announcing it before Saturday and good reasons to keep ‘em guessing.
 
#250      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
Pikeillinifan said:
I know Luke is the future and love him, but completely disagree with starting him here.

My bet is we see a couple early turnovers from him, and are then forced to sit him, which is 100x worse than starting paddock and pulling him if he can’t move the ball.
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Yep ... I also love Luke, but he is currently averaging 1.25 interceptions per game, and he gets sacked 4.25 times per game. The only defense he has faced that could even KIND of compare to Iowa's is Penn State, and they picked him off 4 times and held him to his lowest completion percentage of the year by far.

Explain it all away however you want to, but the fact is that one big turnover on offense in the wrong spot might be enough to give Iowa the game, and two almost certainly will. We HAVE to move the ball on that defense, and I don't see how Paddock doesn't give us the best opportunity to do that.

With that said, Bret knows how to coach football a hell of a lot better than I do, and I guess some of this could be forcing Iowa to prepare for both. However, I will be infuriated if we lose a low scoring game where we are not giving Paddock the opportunity to prove he can keep this hot streak going...
 
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