Luke is the best QB we've had here in 30+ years. He's working with a sub par line as evidenced by the 20+ sacks he's endured so far this year. Put him behind a world class line, and you'll see a world class QB. We have the RB's and WR's . . . we need an OL that matches.
I’m really surprised that we haven’t recruited harder in the trenches. We need some more athletic and bigger dudes up front.
I don't think it is for lack of trying. NIL and the way the portal works has presented new challenges. It takes time to build a quality line unless you have lots of NIL to spend there. The teams with the best lines have also had the most stability in coaching staffs/continuity. We will get there.
I couldn’t watch it all. It was painful to see.
While we can blame NIL for a lot of things, at a school like ours where this so much differential with the NIL of the elites, at some point you simply need to hit on some of your recruits in your development process. And the problem is we just haven't in the Bret era for o line. At all. Yes, there is randomness to it, but when you compare the Oline classes to our DB classes, you see a night and day difference. Not only have we identified underrated, extremely talented DBs under Bret but also developed them into a fleet of draft picks. The OL... We've been one of the worst if not the worst power conference team.
what's wrong with his voice?
OK, then look at it in real time. Look how high he lifted Luke. Then spun him around upside down. And then “downed” him. That could have broken Luke’s neck. The “Sack”
A LOT of students were sitting in the main stands with parents this week.
Yep. This is the reality of Illinois football and I love the fact that we hang with everyone but the top tier teams. At this point, I find it totally acceptable..
This is what I was going to say. We’ve arrived at the point of the season where two months worth of banging are catching up with the team. That’s normal for every school — the difference is we don’t have the horses behind the horses to be strong as October turns into November.
Weird,,when I said that during the game I was told it was a good play.NOT. #5 for Minnesota is a cheap shot artist. Re-watch the game keeping a watch and you will see,,dirty player
This is an issue I have with BLJ play calling. I feel like our play calling especially to start the game could be so much more beneficial to Luke. Why don't we come out and throw a few high percentage bubble screens and some levels style bootlegs where Luke can have an option to use his legs. Build his confidence a little instead of run 2x up the middle for 1 yards a piece and then be forced into a position where our OL has to hold up for a long time. Idk if Bret is too much in the kitchen with BLJ or if he is just intrinsicly this discordant with his play calling but I never really feel like our offense is in rhythm. It's just disjointed plays that work or don't work.
Glad I'm not the only one who noticed. It was almost sacrilegious. Should not be done.
I don’t know if it hasn’t been called, but slants used to be a staple of the offense. I think Bryant caught one, and got hurt in the play. And then another wasn’t thrown until the missed 4th down where it was schemed against. Wonder if timing is off/ uncomfortable throwing it/ defenses have schemed against it.
