I don't understand your position either. I do agree with your last statement "that quarterback is not on campus yet". However, based on what we do have and assuming Crouch and JGJ are our only options, you have to either move forward with the guy that you know cannot complete a pass and therefore cannot move the offense and cannot get the ball to your playmakers. Or, you take your chances, live with the turnovers and hope George can fix those knowing he CAN get the ball to your playmakers and make the offense move. If we had a solid offensive line and/or a better defense, maybe you could work with Crouch but given the state of the entire team, I don't see how you can think Croch is a better option.
Iowa 45, Illinois 16 POSTGAME
I don't understand your position either. I do agree with your last statement "that quarterback is not on campus yet". However, based on what we do have and assuming Crouch and JGJ are our only options, you have to either move forward with the guy that you know cannot complete a pass and therefore cannot move the offense and cannot get the ball to your playmakers. Or, you take your chances, live with the turnovers and hope George can fix those knowing he CAN get the ball to your playmakers and make the offense move. If we had a solid offensive line and/or a better defense, maybe you could work with Crouch but given the state of the entire team, I don't see how you can think Croch is a better option.
+1. I'm glad to hear you say this. You seem to be one of the more level-headed posters on the site and I'm always glad to see "that group" feeling optimistic.
And I keep telling myself, Iowa, the team that lost a last second heartbreaker to the #3 ranked team in the nation. We led them twice. Yeah, there are things to fix, but those are things that can be learned. And we got schooled by Iowa. There will be more winnable games. And I think we'll win some of them.
I knew I wasn't going to be able to watch much of the game, but I turned it off earlier than I had to after George's first Int. Watching two illegal man downfield penalties in the same drive by the same player, and then the interception was all I could take. As I was watching the play evolve, you could see the picket fence Iowa had in place and I was hoping George wouldn't throw -- but he did.
All that being said, I'm still seeing enough good plays to stay positive for the future. Not expecting much for the rest of the season win-loss wise -- though a win next week against Rutgers would be nice -- but I was expecting this to be a rough year. I still think we're on pace for a much improved season next year.
All that being said, I'm still seeing enough good plays to stay positive for the future. Not expecting much for the rest of the season win-loss wise -- though a win next week against Rutgers would be nice -- but I was expecting this to be a rough year. I still think we're on pace for a much improved season next year.
Minny and Purdue aren't sure fire loses.
We will absolutely be underdogs after the Rutgers game however.
In 50 plus years of watching college football, I have never seen anything quite like Illinois this year.
You can play a freshman or even a few if you have them surrounded by competent upperclassmen. The seniors will provide stability and guidance.
Our freshman are surrounded by other freshman and those freshman are surrounded in turn by other freshman. Not for a play or two but usually for the whole game.
You cannot teach the one handed catch by Darcy earlier this year or Smalling outfighting an Iowa defender Saturday. That is God given.
We are farther along with these freshmen than I thought possible in view of the number we have played. We may not win another game (though if we play a turnover free game we may sneak up on a couple of teams) but we are definitely heading in the right direction.
You can play a freshman or even a few if you have them surrounded by competent upperclassmen. The seniors will provide stability and guidance.
Our freshman are surrounded by other freshman and those freshman are surrounded in turn by other freshman. Not for a play or two but usually for the whole game.
You cannot teach the one handed catch by Darcy earlier this year or Smalling outfighting an Iowa defender Saturday. That is God given.
We are farther along with these freshmen than I thought possible in view of the number we have played. We may not win another game (though if we play a turnover free game we may sneak up on a couple of teams) but we are definitely heading in the right direction.
I read a tweet early that had the stats for most freshman to start of the illini overally in a season, counting each game seperate. So far, 36 freshman starts have happened, on pace for over 90. To compare the next two closest years had 34 and 35 TOTAL all year. We are easily going to triple those numbers.
I think Brohm is an excellent coach but he is starting I believe 7 seniors and several juniors. The team he inherited had significantly more experience than the team we are putting on the field.
We played 4 Freshman on the Offensive Line and put up 446 yards on a defense that has been good to date.
I think most posters will recognize how amazing this is. 200 yards rushing and 246 in air. That is truly amazing against a quality Big 10 defense.
I really believe we will look back on a 45-16 loss as the moment we knew things were about to get better sooner rather than later. I don't we wait until 2020 to make a big move. 2019 looks very promising
I think most posters will recognize how amazing this is. 200 yards rushing and 246 in air. That is truly amazing against a quality Big 10 defense.
I really believe we will look back on a 45-16 loss as the moment we knew things were about to get better sooner rather than later. I don't we wait until 2020 to make a big move. 2019 looks very promising
Koolaid fix: Don't forget that Lovie has chosen talent and skill of freshmen over experienced upperclassmen, and he seems to be doing something right. Experience isn't everything.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
I don't think Crouch is a better option. I agree it was time to move on from him. The sad fact is that George has more starts then Crouch under his belt and has shown himself to be fairly incompetent. It really doesn't matter if you rack up 450 yards of offense and turn the ball over enough to still get blown out. You are just arriving at the same end point by taking a different route. I guess I am just tired of watching Illinois get destroyed week after week. I agree there are probably no answers at the qb position on the roster. I just did not understand why so many were so joyful of George's performance on Saturday.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
I'd say it's way too early to be calling JGJ a dud given that he has under half a seasons worth of starts under center. As I recall even Juice was a pick machine as a frosh and he turned out alright. Even Kittner was so-so as a freshman. As he learns the offense and gains chemistry with the receivers he'll cut down on the mistakes and could be quite serviceable down the line.
Does he have that many?
Also, his first start last season was at Michigan and this year we start him at Iowa. Not exactly favorable conditions to develop a player. The staff really screwed up by not giving him some early season minutes against lesser opponents.
Yeah he's been a turnover machine, but he's got some talent.