Kansas 34, Illinois 23 Postgame

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#101      
BretMyBeachHouse
Last year we started out 7-1. Since that time we've had three games that were winnable on paper and that really couldn't have cemented our progress in my mind. Purdue, MSU, and this one tonight. We lost all three. Quite frankly, we haven't looked all that great since that 7-1 start with the exception of the Michigan game.

I'm still optimistic about the future. But I think we really need to look good on Saturday, even if we lose.
 
#102      
lexwaldez
punchabove33 said:
Does teams usually change DC after two weeks? Who would be the next person up?
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Friend mentioned we have an analyst, one Mr. Leonard, with some defensive experience... I'm not saying it makes sense financially but it's an interesting notion. Because we look bad. We look very, very bad. We look OBVIOUS. We're going to be so easy for teams to prepare for. B1G Teams are going to nom nom nom on us. And that's just the defense. Six or seven sacks given up? Did we have 100 yards of real rushing for the entire game? First half did NOT pass the eye test on either side of the ball. Second half... we dug such a deep hole that the improved play didn't matter. I've always felt confident in Coach B's staff but this looks like it's going to be hard to fix. The defense is SO undisciplined. They look like they haven't been coached. I get the feeling that Coach B won't make a drastic change this early in the season and I also get the feeling that if we don't make a drastic change immediately the season is going to get away from us. Right now we're looking at five wins with losses to Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska likely. Even if we win one, say against Minn or Neb that's as ugly a six win season as I've seen in a while.
 
#104      
TGB
Astonished on the lack of speed on the defense. Slow to respond and deliver a timely tackle. Wasn't thinking the coaching staff would become a top subject this soon.
 
#105      
Chukwuwumba
Special teams looked good. Kickoffs, coverage, punts, coverage.

A significant issue with the defense is that Sydney Brown is not playing and no one has replaced him. Really shows between predictability before the snap, cleaning up run plays etc. hopefully Bailey can fill that role.
Defense can’t slow down a zone read offense.

Griffin Moore looked great. More of him please.

Wr not getting separation. Beatty played more but he’s close to the line. Would like to see a speedster come in for some plays.

Team seems to try to be physical, but it’s coming off as reckless and not focused.

Oline so inconsistent, altmyer is seeing ghosts. Im sure that’s causing some issues in passing game. Just seemed off, hesitation.
 
#106      
Illinois_2_AZ
My observations from the KU game- Our OL looks awful, considering that I thought that unit would be one of the strengths of this team. They can't open up big enough holes for the RB's and are having trouble giving Altmyer enough time in the pocket.
Altmyer is a great QB and we are fortunate to have him.
Our WRs are weak and lack the speed and moves to create any separation from the DBs. I would like to see Beatty, Elzy, and Shawn Miller get some more looks, as the season goes on.
Our defense looks off balance and outmatched. The pass rush improved tonight as the game went on, but still isn't good enough. The DBs can't cover anybody and have trouble finishing tackles. The DC can't call many blitzes because the DBs would get torched.
On the positive side- I can see Toledo and Kansas both winning 10 games this season. Some of the above issues might get sorted out as we play weaker competition. I also think the 2 QBs we have faced so far are 2 of the better ones we will face all season. We are fortunate to be 1 and 1.
I have been really happy with the special teams, especially Hugh Robertson. He looks much better this year, than last year. I think we will have some success with kick and punt returns, if we ever get the chance.
 
#107      
pvaughn8
Shout out to @SkyysNotFalling . Not only did he jinx Skyy Clarks Illini basketball career, but he brought his jinx to the football side

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#108      
TampaToo
Indy Illini Fan said:
I’m just gonna say it because Bret is going to address it with the entire team without a doubt and it’s more than just him … BUT … Between last week penalties and this week … Taz has KILLED us … At KEY moments …

Our SENIOR … CANNOT … Be having discipline issues and technique issues …
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And they rewarded Taz by leaving him in the game after his first penalty.
 
#109      
BWBW
I would like to think that we have the talent to get better, but the O line issues and the disappearing linebackers suggest otherwise.
 
#110      
Navy_illini
Taking a different view on the game
1. That :40 second drive at the end of the half was killer
2. Their fumble on the first drive could have been huge. Last year it bounced to us
3. That trick 3 and 1 and the WR not running passed the sticks were huge mistakes
4. Missed targeting on Luke would have extended that early drive
5. If DL could have wrapped up QB when they were in the backfield could had led to at least a safety

If those things go our way the outcome of the game is different

There is obviously a ton of things that need to be improved upon. The one thing I hadn’t heard yet was the dropped passes. If it hits your hands and is a decent throw u have to catch the ball. Can’t let the. Get an INT. IW still had an impressive game and need to get him the ball in the open

KU is a good team that would win a lot of Big Ten games this year if they’re healthy probably give PSU a handful. Does not hurt some of their big plays they got away with holding.
 
#111      
illiniguy24
So I know I said this last week, but I really just didn’t see the hype this year after all the talent we lost. With that being said, the one thing I was confident in and the one thing everyone else seemed confident in was our O-Line. Can someone help explain how it’s been so awful? Absolutely zero push in the run game and if Luke wasn’t as mobile as he is he would be getting crushed every play.

Our defense looks so lost that the only chance for success (atm) is our offense scoring in bunches, which I think they can, but the O-Line is killing them
 
#112      
illiniguy24
Navy_illini said:
Taking a different view on the game
1. That :40 second drive at the end of the half was killer
2. Their fumble on the first drive could have been huge. Last year it bounced to us
3. That trick 3 and 1 and the WR not running passed the sticks were huge mistakes
4. Missed targeting on Luke would have extended that early drive
5. If DL could have wrapped up QB when they were in the backfield could had led to at least a safety

If those things go our way the outcome of the game is different

There is obviously a ton of things that need to be improved upon. The one thing I hadn’t heard yet was the dropped passes. If it hits your hands and is a decent throw u have to catch the ball. Can’t let the. Get an INT. IW still had an impressive game and need to get him the ball in the open

KU is a good team that would win a lot of Big Ten games this year if they’re healthy probably give PSU a handful. Does not hurt some of their big plays they got away with holding.
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I see your points and don’t disagree it could’ve changed some things, but we got absolutely waxed. No string of events was changing that last night. Kansas was chillin second half
 
#114      
Vinegarben
Did anyone get the license plate number of that Mac truck that just smashed us? Did anyone of the coaches tell the team the game was Friday night not Saturday!
WOW!
 
#116      
1970 John
Any comments on Kansas having two players sent to the locker room for targeting?
 
#117      
Illiniguy74
Old.Edgy said:
I'm actually going to go out on a limb and say 3-9.... We caught lightning in a bottle last year, but somebody let the lid fall off...
Reminders of the last 2-3 decades...
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Last year, we were the hunters. Surprised a few teams, played well, got a few breaks and ended up 8-4. Now, we are the hunted. Big Ten team with a good record last year places a target on our back. Lost some key pieces. DC coaching change may be more impactful than expected. The question is, will the team we have now put overworked phrases aside, man up, play intense, disciplined, team oriented football with tenacity and grit. We'll see.
 
#118      
blackdog
aaeismacgychel said:
He should be livid and it definitely needs to be sent to the league. Luke was already wrapped up, defender led with the helmet straight to the helmet. Not sure how it wasn't reviewed, but shots like that are pretty much the definition of what they're trying to get rid of in the game. So no clue why it wasn't at least reviewed by the booth.
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1700298338027843714
 
#119      
Navy_illini
blackdog said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1700298338027843714
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It was surprising that the booth didn’t review that textbook example. However they did review the hit he took on the 2 point conversion. The difference between the two was on the 2 pt conversion he was defenseless other he was a runner. But the running play is textbook targeting ie leading with the crown and using the helmet as a weapon not tackling heads up
 
#120      
aaeismacgychel
illiniguy24 said:
So I know I said this last week, but I really just didn’t see the hype this year after all the talent we lost. With that being said, the one thing I was confident in and the one thing everyone else seemed confident in was our O-Line. Can someone help explain how it’s been so awful? Absolutely zero push in the run game and if Luke wasn’t as mobile as he is he would be getting crushed every play.

Our defense looks so lost that the only chance for success (atm) is our offense scoring in bunches, which I think they can, but the O-Line is killing them
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Getting Crisler back to his natural position of RG will help. That said, when we do that we'll likely be going with an underclassman at RT, so there will still be growing pains there. Thus far, we look like a much better run blocking group than a pass blocking group, so it is a bit inexplicable why we shied away from running it this past game. Altmyer is a stud. Best QB we've had since Kittner at least. So I understand wanting to give him the rock. But we're honestly going to get him killed if we don't shore things up and mix in a lot more run.

Right now the biggest loss from last year on offense leaving us with a large hole is Alex Palczewski. Not sure who had that on the BINGO card, but that's where we are at this point.
 
#121      
CoachHooleyHoo
1970 John said:
Just going to throw this out there and I’m prepared to be mocked and whatever, but the score for the second half was 16-6. Yeah, they could have quit but they didn’t. And that’s what is called sand. Just gotta now slip through our fingers.
Slow Motion Time GIF by Jocqua


See you in Champaign next week.
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Well, that Kansas TD that was called back for block in the back or hold or whatever was an was an awful call. And they went pretty conservative. D was better but I think Kansas would have put up 60 if they would have stayed aggressive.
 
#122      
illini80
I’m not disappointed we lost, just how we lost. Baffling how our veteran players are out of position and missing assignments along with just getting out toughed. Pearl and Crisler were brutal at times and on D we lost containment over and over. The base defense is surely about the same so why our fundamentals looks so poor I just don’t get. We left some receivers too open, but I credit Kansas with with some great calls and their receivers made some unbelievable catches when they were covered. Do we see some personnel changes next week? Feels like we need a bye week to get our heads straight.
 
#123      
ILLINI_Post Ayo
illiniguy24 said:
I see your points and don’t disagree it could’ve changed some things, but we got absolutely waxed. No string of events was changing that last night. Kansas was chillin second half
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The difference from last years team was that Sydney brown, darkangelo, Witherspoon took it personal that they got torched. Sydney and Witherspoon wanted the offense to fear him on the field. Our defense couldn’t find the play to make anyone fear us.. We looked like we had to swap the weak 2nd string in for our 1st string defense and they didn’t have an entire offseason to prepare. (I know hard to replace NFL talent).
I agree that very weak DB play limits your blitz ability, but I also think that our LB aren’t doing anything else on the field. Might as well send them at the QB.
Offense is simple, run the ball like you are At Wisconsin. Ball control. Love and Mcray had positive yards even with a sad OL. Soften the defense, draw them in so you can hit IW or PB on deep routes.
First step in fixing this mess is taking pride in your job and deciding you’re the hunter and not the hunted. 4 or 5 years back I watched Alabama get taken to the wire by Citadel. After the game Saban’s only comment to a sad football program like Citadel taking the best team in the country to the brink of upset was “not one of those guys is good enough to sit on my bench”. Saban could have been right but a bunch of bench warmers put you on notice with grit and pride. Illini need to find their grit and pride or decide if they are just here for the free sports physicals and corn mazes..
 
#125      
Ramrod2010
I understand we lost talent on the defensive side (a lot of it) but what sticks out to me is what appears to be a lack of understanding assignments. Not being as fast and keeping up with the offense is one thing, but there are a lot of plays where our guys (especially the LB group, and I think some of the DBs) look just completely lost. Like there isn't a person in the same area code at times. And this doesn't absolve the DL from some of their shortcomings the first two games.

Not sure if the players aren't grasping concepts or if coaches aren't teaching properly, but something big has to give in the next two weeks to prevent this season from being a disaster.

For what it's worth I don't think it's a case of lack of skill/athleticism, but I'd be open to hearing that argument if someone makes it.
 
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