I can assure you we don't have this beast of a dB coach on our roster. The amount of untimely receptions given up on either 3rd and long or end of half/game drives is a testament of poor coaching/scheme more than anything.
Northwestern 45, Illinois 43 Postgame
Settling for field goals cost us several games this year. Having a defensive player stand 20 yards back, as if waiting for a hale Mary was mind boggling. 60 years in the stands and I’m sitting in my living room speechless. We were just starting to take control of the game, then special team mistakes killed us. At least I won’t have to suffer another run up the middle on first down for 1 yard until next year. We are the only team that has 2 plays to get 9 yards every time. Incompetent coaching, along with lack of football IQ is what we call “ the Illinois way “.
Isn't that sort of Bret's mentality though? Time of possession, run the ball, play sound football, etc... which would likely imply taking less risks defensively and offensively?
This all seems right. It's also easy to forget that this team probably shouldn't have been playing for a bowl berth yesterday. Minnesota was a miracle.
Honestly, for all of the hype in the preseason, I thought that our defensive line was no better than average. That lack of pass pressure left a very inexperienced and marginally talented secondary in an even bigger predicament. For me, if there was one major disappointment, that was it.
Losing late leads in games where the opponents were in obvious passing situations, or getting scored on in two minute drills right before the half...very disheartening.
Miles Scott had two pick 6’s
The one today was more a bad throw than him making a play. Don't get me wrong, he did was a safety was supposed to do, play center field and if the QB floats one, go get it and don't drop it. The Strain pick he actually turned back and bodied the receiver out of the way. It's really semantics and picking nits but I would call what Strain did "making a great play" and what Scott did was "doing his job". That probably doesn't make sense to anyone else but my own brain, I get it.
7. We were somehow able to hold onto Ryan Walters for another season?
I sincerely hope that this fact weights heavy on the minds of all of those of the Illini Program Powers-That-Be. The old Big Ten is over. The new Big Ten of the Future is rapidly approaching and will require a much greater level of focus, energy, and talent to compete in. For without these... things could be quite ugly in the days ahead.
There could be a wide gap between about half of the New Big Ten teams that form the new 'elite'. And the other half that - without significant improvement -- will be the basement dwellers.
Except for losing out on a boatload of Big Ten money every year... joining the New Big 12 would not be the worst thing.
Illini picks up Kansas, Kansas State, Arizona, and Baylor in roundball.
Illini picks up several great legacy Texas football programs... along with the other nice new adds from the West in Arizona State, Utah, Colorado. And solid football programs in West Virginia and UCF.
And...the Illini could finally get away from the constant long and depressing shadow of Michigan, 'TTHHHEEE...', Penn State, and the local pests of Iowa and Wisconsin.
And some very nice locales to play baseball in.
And short drives to Iowa State and Cincinnati.
In any case, the Illini future will be in some BIG something, somewhere.
Haha I appreciate the analysis but I was just being cheeky about defensive miscues and scoring a lot of points.
chiefini
- Rockford, Illinois
Well, after reupping our season tickets after having them for 37 and not having them the last 3, and attending all 7 home games this season, I can say some things never change. Went to the game yesterday with our eldest daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters (14 &12), a first time experience for all but our daughter. The game was really very exciting, the Marching Illini, Illinettes, and cheerleaders were outstanding, the crowd was poor without any students in the end zone, and the refs stunk. The saddest part of the game was watching an angry, furious Newton scream the F word and throw his helmet down after his secondary screwed up time after time. The beautiful sack taken back after #20 held was just one of those plays he showed his frustration. He played his heart out. Also felt sorry for Isaiah after that fumble on his senior day. Didn’t feel he was given the chance to redeem himself much because he wasn’t thrown to very often. On the other hand, I was happy for Casey Washington who had a great day with some spectacular runs after the catch. Sad Paddock couldn’t pull off another miracle finish. Not a good way for these seniors to end their Illini careers. Our kids got to experience the roller coaster that is Illinois Football. We’ve had too many of these disappointing seasons, and I’m not sure how many we have left in us. It’s so hard to be a true Illini fan.
I do believe Paddock starting the whole season would have made an impact. Some of his passes on Saturday were spectacular
Be happy that you got to spend time with two grandchildren at an Illini game. I so hope I get to experience something similar. You are blessed
Yes. Fans seem to be missing this. We were down 14 points and Paddock nearly pulled out another game!
blackdog
- Champaign
And several of the interceptions were inaccurate passes that got tipped. Paddock did a good job with his time but I really don't think he was night and day better than Altmeyer who had to take the brunt of the Oline growing pains.
BZuppke
- Plainfield
And push us into greater irrelevance. The future is comprised of two conferences and thank God we’re in one of them.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Dude was a revelation and cemented himself as an Illini legend.
When you consider that Randolph battled injuries all year and was never himself and that Adams played most of the season out of position, the supposed NFL talent argument loses a lot of luster. Arguably, both players hurt their draft stock in an effort to help the team.
Other than Johnny and those 2, I'd be surprised if anyone else goes higher than the 5th round.
Other than Johnny and those 2, I'd be surprised if anyone else goes higher than the 5th round.
No offense to Coach Art but I like the idea of Coach Paddock more... hopefully some of the swagger can be imparted to our QB room.
John Paddock is ten feet tall. If he had played all season with a competent O-line he would have consumed our opponents with lightning from his eyes and thunderbolts from his arse.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Hang in there girl......There's a bunch of us out here in the boondocks feeling our own sad memories , but we must persevere......
We really really must..........................
What kind of “irrelevance”? And why should we care about that?
College Sports should be about the health and welfare of athletes... a great experience for fans... and doing everything you can to bring about successful sports programs that great players want to be with.
We should not be striving for some kind of outside relevance beyond that. We know about the money part of this. But I’m talking about everything else.
Is Kansas irrelevant? Seems to me everyone in the Nation knows they are roundball royalty. And many now recognize Baylor this way – particularly in the South. And Arizona in the West. Nothing irrelevant about any of these guys. And K-State and Iowa State have had great roundball tournament runs for many a year.
Utah has built a great football reputation in recent years. Colorado is making waves now. Kansas has a much improved program.
And Nebraska will never admit this in a thousand years, but except for their Big 10 financial windfall they made a bad mistake in leaving the Big 12. Yes, the Big 12 was shaky at that time. But no more. They have solidified themselves for the future. And Nebraska went from being one of College ball’s all-time best to now one of the worst for the past 25 years. And they are so far away from ever competing with the Big Ten football powers. They can even compete well in a mediocre Big Ten West.
Husker fans hate traveling to such garden spots as Rutgers and all those other Eastern time zone places. They enjoyed the short drives to Ames and Manhattan and Lawrence... and years ago had a great rivalry with Colorado. And all of that is down the drain.
I understand that many Illini people have a legacy attachment to the Big Ten. And that’s fine. History is important. But that is also past history... years already gone by.
Unless the Illini (footballers) can find a way to match the talent level of Michigan and TTHHHEEE and Penn State... the Illini will forever be stuck back in the pack. And likely behind USC and Washington and Oregon. So if the Illini were in the Big 12 they would be more competitive in conference play and then get a shot at the big boys in the playoffs. Which is more than the Illini get now.
The Illini roundballers know how to compete and be successful in the Ten. So this is more directed at the football and baseball side of things.
Want to become “relevant”? Be a winner wherever you are. People will notice – if that is important to anyone. And give the fans more wins wherever you can get them.
We know the Illini aren't changing dance partners. All I'm saying is it wouldn't be awful if they did.
Illini4Chief
- TENNESSEE
Sometimes I think Coach B's loyalty to friends outweighs the truth that they are inexperienced / and not top caliber coaches. Henry Must, Must go.
Well played my good sir, well played!John Paddock is ten feet tall. If he had played all season with a competent O-line he would have consumed our opponents with lightning from his eyes and thunderbolts from his arse.