I want to say I read somewhere that it was a lacerated kidney for Dudek which is a pretty serious injury but should be good to go for spring ball
Looking ahead to 2018
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That was the season-ender for him. Mid year he was also dealing w/ a hamstring (though certainly not as serious)
It would be nice if people knew more about college football and recruiting before spewing.
I'm starting to feel like he's just one of those guys who's never healthy.
See Kansas State, Wisconsin and Northwestern as solid examples of where 3* players can be consistently developed to the point where results on the field exceed recruiting rankings. Can probably even throw Iowa into that group too. It can be done.
In the cases of K State, Iowa, and NU, note the coaches have been there a long a** time and have been given ample time to develop the program. Chryst is a relatively new head coach at Wisconsin, but I'd argue the program is fully Alverez' and he's been there forever.
I do believe this is the model and time frame Whitman has in mind for this program. Whitman's message will continue to be "patience" over the next few years, but eventually it should turn the corner.
I think Lovie and Whitman knew exactly the work they had cut out for them...it seems they have a very methodical plan in place (which I think unfortunately included the quick roster turnover we are seeing this offseason).
I think 2019 has always been the season that fruits of labor start to show in the form of some sort of bowl game and more competitive games against B1G teams. Need to see 4-5 wins next year and more competitive losses and then 2019 needs to be 6-8 wins. Otherwise the plan isn't working.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
I'm going to disagree that we need to see 4-5 wins next season "or the plan isn't working". Even if we only win 2 games but we are competitive even in our losses (see 2006 season under Zook which was followed by a 9-3 Rose Bowl season), that will be a good sign that the program is still headed in the right direction. Remember, they will still be playing almost exclusively underclassmen, including I'm sure many true Freshmen again. If we don't make even a minor a bowl game in 2019, then I'll certainly be worried.
For those that are okay with a 2-10 or 3-9 season in 2018, what qualifies as a close loss? Losing by 3? 7? 10? It'll definitely be painful to watch, but I'd be okay going 2-10 if we lose by a score or less on average. If we continue to get blown out next year, this team won't go bowling in 2019. Truth be told, I wouldn't be totally surprised to see the Illini have a 4-8 or 5-7 2019 season and then win the West in 2020. Keeping people engaged until then is going to be a real task.
I'm going to disagree with this also, mainly because of the QB issue. Unless Cam or one of the two freshmen really surprise next year, I think we're in for another lean year. But hopefully we at least figure out who our QB of the future is next year so that with his help and the development of the young players already on the team we see big improvement in 2019.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
It's the catch-22 of coaching. The better the team you inherit, the more likely that they'll fire you if things don't go well. The worse the team, the more patience they will provide.
BZuppke
- Plainfield
This.
The Illini have not had consecutive recruiting classes ranked (at least) in the Top 50 since 2008-2009. Last year, Lovie and his staff brought in a class ranked in the Top 50, and there are indications that they will do so again with this 2018 class. If they continue that pattern in 2019, and maybe even do better than Top 50, we will definitely see a better product and performance on the field.
Lovie & Co. have undeniably brought a great deal of professionalism and stability to what is a recently strengthening football program. That's quite a change of pace for a program that has been mostly on the decline for 2+ decades and has only seen back to back winning seasons once since 2000 (2010 & 2011, both 7-6).
The Illini are pretty much at rock bottom. Things could get worse, but I don't think by much. We'll have to see how the staff closes this years recruiting class, see who actually shows up on campus this winter and summer, and how we look against a real collegiate football team in the fall. I won't feel comfortable saying the program has turned a corner until we have a few consecutive winning seasons instead of the once-a-decade miracle season followed by a massive nut punch that is all too common.
The Illini are pretty much at rock bottom. Things could get worse, but I don't think by much. We'll have to see how the staff closes this years recruiting class, see who actually shows up on campus this winter and summer, and how we look against a real collegiate football team in the fall. I won't feel comfortable saying the program has turned a corner until we have a few consecutive winning seasons instead of the once-a-decade miracle season followed by a massive nut punch that is all too common.
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truthfully Lovie has really only had one recruiting class. This is 2. Patience
This is mindblowing to me. I mean, that is really telling about how we got where we were (and hopefully where we are going...)
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Layer on top of that bad coaching and you get what we have.
Big hole for Lovie to dig out of, but I do believe that he is making progress.
Reading comprehension is fundamental. My post was all about patience. It isn't happening until 2019 at the earliest. More likely 2020.
Sorry if you misunderstood.
Dan
Admin
Mikey Dudek opened up about his comeback and his future. Here's the catch
http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/illini-sports/football/2017-12-15/heres-the-catch.html
http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/illini-sports/football/2017-12-15/heres-the-catch.html
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Best part of the story
With his degree in hand, Dudek could have become a college football free agent. He could transfer to any school and play right away.
It is not going to happen.
"This is home for me," Dudek said. "I want to be the reason this thing turns around. I want to accept the challenge."
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
I'm so glad he is choosing to stick it out. I really hope he gets his happy ending because he definitely deserves it.
<<@BruceFeldmanCFB
8m8 minutes ago
Mark Dantonio led #MichiganState to 10 wins this season. Here's the REALLY impressive part of that: 13 of their 22 starters are freshmen or sophomores.>>
Ouch, didn't know this. Doesn't change how young the Illini are, but does bring into focus just how much better Lovie and team have to be in '18.
8m8 minutes ago
Mark Dantonio led #MichiganState to 10 wins this season. Here's the REALLY impressive part of that: 13 of their 22 starters are freshmen or sophomores.>>
Ouch, didn't know this. Doesn't change how young the Illini are, but does bring into focus just how much better Lovie and team have to be in '18.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
"Or Sophomores" is the key. How many of those were redshirts? Something like 17 or our 22 starters were true freshmen. Their QB, aka the most important position, was a RS Sophomore so had a full two years to learn the system before this past season, too. Big difference, and it also doesn't hurt that D'Antonio has had enough success over the past several years to raise the recruiting talent floor and has had time to establish his system. We'll get there. I fully expect next year to better than this one in level of play, and bowl games should soon follow.
Agreed. We we're 119 in F/+ rankings this past year. I fully expect a 40-50 jump next season just based on maturity of Freshman and the glimpses of talent they flashed. Our D in particular, I expect to make a large jump.
Wins and losses are too difficult to predict at this point, but we will be vastly improved next season
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