Illinois vs Purdue, Saturday, October 3rd, 3:15pm CT, BTN
Paradise by the dashboard lights!!!! Yep it was meatloaf
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I totally understand this take and it's possible it's true, but I would lean toward the other side of it.
This press conference may give us some greater clarity, but my sense is this is less of a "the defensive performance simply sucks too much, we need a drastic shakeup", and more of a "there are big operational problems internally and there was not alignment between Hauck and BB on what was necessary to fix it".
TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
Nervous because Wake now looks much better than expected, they have a great coach. ND has an elite defense so not taking much away from that one. Still expecting a win based on how our offense looked vs OSU, especially if we get Matelau, Henderson, and Platt back.
31-24...
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
People hate when you say something hyperbolic about "just one game," but put me in the camp that this is a stand-and-fight, do-or-die situation for this program to some extent. Again, I get that sounds crazy ... and that some wacky scenario could transpire where we lose to Purdue but win out and go 10-3 and everyone is super happy. However, in the context of where we stand TODAY, we simply must not lose this one.
Unlike with basketball and other topics, my approach to being a football fan is much more about "vibes" and broad momentum. Since Bret got here, the only time I could not positively spin a narrative about our program was 2023, and even then I could reason that we barely missed a bowl after losing a ton of talent from the 2022 squad. I can't help but feel that I sort of stand at the precipice here, though. Get to 4-2, and it's easy to feel fine that we got our toughest test out of the way, it didn't go as horribly as it could have and now we are facing forward with potential wins in front of us. Drop to 3-3 by losing to arguably the worst team in the league at home? All of a sudden the emotional high of winning 19 games in the last two seasons before this one seems like a memory that is it at least on its way toward fading.
I think we get back on track, the offense is angry and ready to score, the defense turns in a shockingly good performance and we cruise 31-13.
Unlike with basketball and other topics, my approach to being a football fan is much more about "vibes" and broad momentum. Since Bret got here, the only time I could not positively spin a narrative about our program was 2023, and even then I could reason that we barely missed a bowl after losing a ton of talent from the 2022 squad. I can't help but feel that I sort of stand at the precipice here, though. Get to 4-2, and it's easy to feel fine that we got our toughest test out of the way, it didn't go as horribly as it could have and now we are facing forward with potential wins in front of us. Drop to 3-3 by losing to arguably the worst team in the league at home? All of a sudden the emotional high of winning 19 games in the last two seasons before this one seems like a memory that is it at least on its way toward fading.
I think we get back on track, the offense is angry and ready to score, the defense turns in a shockingly good performance and we cruise 31-13.
I always appreciate your optimism, Fighter...but, unfortunately, we're trying to get to 3-2 this Saturday, not 4-2...
further, a loss will drop us to 2-3, not 3-3 :-(
For what it's worth, I also predict an Illini win this Saturday
Obviously better, but by record only. What about this: had we lost 63-10 to OSU, how would we feel?
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
This is exactly right. There is a huge difference of going to Spartan Stadium at 2-3 compared to 3-2. Simply cannot be 2-4 going into the Oregon game. If that happens, we very well could be seeing a four win team at best.I always appreciate your optimism, Fighter...but, unfortunately, we're trying to get to 3-2 this Saturday, not 4-2...
further, a loss will drop us to 2-3, not 3-3 :-(
For what it's worth, I also predict an Illini win this Saturday
The goal for the team has to be getting to 4-2 when the Ducks come to town. Going 3-3 in the first half of the season is not good, but it maintains the ability to get to bowl eligibility. Winning this weekend on Homecoming will take off some of the pressure of going on the road next week. Simply put, this is the most important two game stretch of the season. A split is needed at worst, so we need to take advantage of playing at home this weekend.
The ? Is how will the play as a whole? They are men I don't see them giving up. Heck the offense looked very good. They are not playing Ohio State. There is no Jeremiah Smith on Saturday. He could play in the nfl and start. I thought Cox had tremendous coverage on Smith during his TD.
You're right, my bad. I was misremembering and speaking off the cuff.
In a 12 game season, a 5 year veteran QB needs to be able lead those drives and it's the difference between 6 or 8 wins. I agree that the second half playbook from Lunney was uninspiring.
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100%, but we chose a quarterback who will be in the sure for one year and has 12 games to prove himself. He's been really good, but my only real point is that I believe Altmyer wins us the Duke game and makes the throws to keep us closer with Ohio St.
TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
We need to do to Purdue what OSU did to us, be clinical and ruthless on offense. Oddly enough we apparently ran the ball on OSU better than TX, but could be they were dropping more guys to guard Dixon.
We win with no TO's and not being sloppy.
We win with no TO's and not being sloppy.
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Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), and Dannie Rogers (reporter) have the national television broadcast on Big Ten Network.
fightingillini.com
Illinois Hosts Purdue for Homecoming with The Cannon On the Line - University of Illinois Athletics
The Fighting Illini and Boilermakers will battle for The Cannon rivalry trophy for the 77th time.
This may be Bret’s hardest coaching year with all the injuries and not having a DC. Bret needs to rally these guys and plant Purdue into the ground. We cannot win the game 34-24 or something like that, we need to put 40 plus and limit Purdue to no more than 10. We need to send a message that we are not done. I believe that we can salvage this year with 8 wins and a solid bowl game.
Like I just said, this could be Bret’s hardest season here as we do not know if the staff as lost the team or they come out like a rabid dog and take names and kick tail. Saturday will tell us which way the season will go. Bailey also needs to use his leadership and bring the defense together.
Illini fan in Tennessee
- Eastern Tennessee
Come on boys. You can beat Purdue!
Not saying it won't happen but expecting Purdue to score only 10 points isn't very realistic unless they totally flop in the red zone. They're going to move the ball.
Illinois' offense can really limit Purdue scoring by controlling the ball and should boat race the Purdue D.
With Illinois' defense, expect more Aaron Henry type D (aka Bielema Defense plan) vs. Purdue - giving up some shorter passes where Browne is fairly solid. The Purdue passing game is good and I expect them to pass fairly well vs. Illinois but will they score? The last time a poor down and out Purdue team visited was Browne's first ever start and he lit Illinois up (ground and air) scoring 49 points w/OT.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
Yeah as crappy as Pur-who? has been they somehow manage to be a thorn in our side. I’m hoping to see some semi-competent defense with an actual defensive coordinator finally in charge of our defense but I’m not really sure how much we’ve lost in the meantime. It may not be the defense we want but both Cooper and Bradford were defensive coordinators at Montana, so I’m hoping them stepping up and into their natural roles helps. Bret said we’d see on Saturday who will be running the show and I’d expect (obviously not an insider) that coach to be named interim DC because it doesn’t sound like they’re going to backfill at any level. I think not trying to backfill anywhere is a mistake though. Even if you temporarily promote some coaches up I’d think that having another body filling the gap somewhere would help, even if just a little and even if only for 3 months. I mean, wouldn’t it even be helpful to hire a defensive analyst or a position coach to relieve a coach of some responsibilities as they take on new ones?
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Prepare to be disappointed then. This is very unrealistic for many reasons. Purdue scored 10 points last week against Notre Dame, there is no conceivable realm where our defense holds them to that point total.
The Illini's best defensive performance came against SIU, and even then we gave up 10 points. A more realistic goal should be limiting Purdue's high power offense to about 24-28 points, while forcing a turnover or two.
As far as I am concerned, I do not particularly care about the exact score, as long as the Illini come out on top. I also believe the goal for the team should be about 7 wins at this point. There are going to be at least four games where the Illini will be underdogs. Going 5-3 through the rest of the schedule would actually be a pretty good accomplishment, IMO.