Michigan State 23, Illinois 15 Postgame

#152      
Michigan State used the "us against the world" mojo.....You can bet Purdue is looking at the tapes real close..where to throw the ball, which side to run to....
 
#153      

Stevegarbs

Mokena, IL
I have to admit, the responses on here to the loss have been much milder, measured and, dare I say, rational than I expected. Mind you I haven’t — nor do I plan to — read the game thread. I’m guessing there are plenty of unhinged comments in there. I said fairly early on in the game that it was getting a bad feeling as the game reminded me of the Indiana game. Then Robertson began punting and it was full on deja vu.

Just need to get ready for Purdue and take it to them. Season won’t quite be as special as we hoped, but can still be very impressive none the less. One of the worst parts of the loss is that it has pretty much ended my dreaming of beating Michigan — this year. It was probably a long shot — and sure it could still happen — but it was starting to feel more like a “medium shot” if I squinted just right when I closed my eyes.

Beat the Boilermakers!
I agree, especially based on the comments I was hearing in the stands. The only advantage the Memorial Stadium faraday cage for cell coverage brings is the inability to see the game thread and it's typical utter irrationality during both football and basketball games that aren't going our way.
 
#156      
If there is any evidence that players were being coached to fake injuries, MSU should have to vacate that win. With all of the attention and focus on player safety (and rightfully so), if MSU was found to be exploiting those rules then there must be consquences. If true -- if -- then Tucker and his garbage staff should never have a job in sports again.
 
#158      
Just one more comment on Lunney’s play calling. I don’t love every call by any means, but he has a limited set of things to work with. Our receiving corps is better than I expected, but we do not have a downfield threat. We can’t stretch the field like some are calling for because we can’t get open. IW is a great weapon on short routes with a chance to pick up some blocks, but he’s not a game changing guy who can get open whenever he want’s. Part of what makes TDV so impressive is how efficient he’s been with limited options. Chase Brown is fantastic, but when defenses are keyed in on him we just don’t have enough other options. Our O-Line has done a good job, but we don’t blow people off the line we make small gaps that chase excels at finding and bursting thru. We do the little things well most of the time and that’s been enough. I expect a lot of growth as we get more talent. Overall the staff has done a great job maximizing the talent we do have. At least that’s my opinion.

Finally, the downfield blocking on that first touchdown was just outstanding. I’m not sure I’ve seen better. That’s great coaching and execution by the players. On to Purdue! I expect a much different outcome next week!!
I mentioned last week about our ignoring a few deep passes. It hurt us again this week. Against the wind I can understand, but with the wind it's just mind boggling. No deep threat? Isn't Williams touted as one of the fastest on the team. And they don't have to be world class sprinters. Bryant and Hightower have enough to at least make the effort. After we through a couple of passes in the second half, Chase had a couple of good runs. But sending him off tackle 35 times when they know it leads to what we saw. He got hard earned yards but no big gainers that he usually does.
 
#160      

illini80

Forgottonia
I mentioned last week about our ignoring a few deep passes. It hurt us again this week. Against the wind I can understand, but with the wind it's just mind boggling. No deep threat? Isn't Williams touted as one of the fastest on the team. And they don't have to be world class sprinters. Bryant and Hightower have enough to at least make the effort. After we through a couple of passes in the second half, Chase had a couple of good runs. But sending him off tackle 35 times when they know it leads to what we saw. He got hard earned yards but no big gainers that he usually does.
How many times have you seen a deep route open and we missed him? I’m quite certain the players are trying to get behind defenders. I guess you can chuck the ball over everyone’s head just to show you can throw it that far, but if there’s no one out there with a chance to catch it I don’t think it’s helping you. And with yesterdays swirling wind, a gust could put the ball where you didn’t want it. Just my opinion.
 
#161      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
This will sound like sour grapes, but if I'm Coach B, I'm telling my video guys to compile a clip of all the atrocious calls/non-calls. The officiating office needs to be aware of how poorly that crew called the game.

Also, MSU's fake injury/delays tactics were beyond the pale. They need to put a halt to that, stat.
 
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#162      

Mr. Tibbs

southeast DuPage
How many times have you seen a deep route open and we missed him? I’m quite certain the players are trying to get behind defenders. I guess you can chuck the ball over everyone’s head just to show you can throw it that far, but if there’s no one out there with a chance to catch it I don’t think it’s helping you. And with yesterdays swirling wind, a gust could put the ball where you didn’t want it. Just my opinion.
yea
coaches know from practices what are our teams strengths & weaknesses

there a legit reasons we don’t throw 40 yards downfield . I trust them on that

but we sure need to remedy that next year if we are serious about our future in the AP top 20
 
#163      
This will sound like sour grapes, but if I'm Coach B, I'm telling my video guys to compile a clip of all the atrocious calls/non-calls. The officiating office needs to be aware of how poorly that crew called the game.

Also. MSU's fake injury/delays tactics were beyond the pale. They need to put a halt to that, stat.
Good opportunity for an Illini game to be the impetus for yet another rule change /S
 
#164      
I unfortunately didn't go today with my son, flu. Is it true we have ball 3x in 20yd line and went for it instead of kicking field goal? Was the wind that brutal that a 30 yard field go was not a option 3x?
Kickoffs in that direction weren't reaching the 20 yard line. I think the other issue with that is you have to kick it lower to drive through the wind, which increases the chances of a block.

Trusting Chase to get 2 yards was probably the higher percentage call. Just didn't go our way.
 
#166      
Good opportunity for an Illini game to be the impetus for yet another rule change /S
I was at the game, and it was obvious this was a premeditated strategy they used after a big play and when we were getting in rhythm on offense. There was a Michigan State fan by me that admitted it was a strategy they employ. Disgusting scum bag of a coach, but that didn't cost us the game. It did give their defense which was down some depth a chance to rest, but epically poor special teams and turnovers were responsible. I agree with others that I think this will focus our team for the remainder of the season. That said, I hope they never win another game unless they are playing Michigan or Notre Dame.
 
#167      

DJRichardson4threee

IlliniGator2011
Chicago, IL
Tbh, I think the most egregiously wrong call by the refs hasn’t been mentioned much on here. WTF was that call where we pushed the MSU player out of bounds with like 1:50 left in the game and the refs didn’t stop the clock??? Never seen anything remotely like that. The only possible explanation was forward progress, but A. there was no whistle blowing that play dead before he got pushed out, B. There’s no way that was forward progress anyways, if that play happened in the middle of the field, 0% chance they call forward progress because the MSU player could’ve easily broken that tackle. That absolutely made a difference as that cost us like 40 seconds on the clock, and we really just ran out of time at the end, TD could have easily ran for the first down if time weren’t an issue on that second to last play of the game.
Also haven’t seen mentioned, they never explained what the flag was for on that last play….pretty sure you can’t end the game on a flag, it should’ve been an untimed down if the flag was on MSU.
 
#171      
Just one more comment on Lunney’s play calling. I don’t love every call by any means, but he has a limited set of things to work with. Our receiving corps is better than I expected, but we do not have a downfield threat. We can’t stretch the field like some are calling for because we can’t get open. IW is a great weapon on short routes with a chance to pick up some blocks, but he’s not a game changing guy who can get open whenever he want’s. Part of what makes TDV so impressive is how efficient he’s been with limited options. Chase Brown is fantastic, but when defenses are keyed in on him we just don’t have enough other options. Our O-Line has done a good job, but we don’t blow people off the line we make small gaps that chase excels at finding and bursting thru. We do the little things well most of the time and that’s been enough. I expect a lot of growth as we get more talent. Overall the staff has done a great job maximizing the talent we do have. At least that’s my opinion.

Finally, the downfield blocking on that first touchdown was just outstanding. I’m not sure I’ve seen better. That’s great coaching and execution by the players. On to Purdue! I expect a much different outcome next week!!
Agree with your thoughts. I think this teams talent is better than we thought from prior coaching but not as good as we've thought based on being 7-1 going into yesterday's game which overall speaks to the quality of coaching and development.

But, we need to stack recruits with better raw talent to keep taking steps forward which is a very real possibility.

At this point, the worst case scenario of losing the rest of the season would still end with a season that surpasses 99.9% of everyone's expectations for this team. That's progress
 
#172      
An occasional loss is so much better than an occasional win.
Sad A Christmas Story GIF by filmeditor
 
#174      
Rule change:

Player goes out with an injury once, leaves the field, can come back in after being cleared. That can stay the same.

Same player goes out again where play has to stop, he’s done for the game. The stoppage of play is to address possible serious injuries where a player can’t get off the field themselves. If it’s serious enough a player can’t get off the field TWICE they don’t need to be in the game anymore. (For their safety)

When it comes to severity of the injury, there has to be some sort of flop rule. While the player is down, look at one of the many cameras on the field. If the player was walking under his own power and then decided to get down on one knee “injured” call the flop. If the player falls down while not engaged with another player, call the flop.

It’s doable in basketball, it’s doable in soccer, it can be doable in football.

Have to nip that in the bud. It may not be why we lost, but it definitely took the air out of several of our drives and gave the D an advantage.
 
#175      
Everyone is saying we don't have anyone to get behind the defense or stretch the field. I beg to differ. Even though we may not have that burner we still have two capable receivers in Bryant and Hightower who I would expect to come up with the majority of 50/50 balls and at least keep it from being intercepted. We still have to make those deep throws to keep the defenses honest. We cannot let them continue to stuff the box on us and only have to cover us 20 yards down field.