Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Or just try to understand the basics of how P5 football and recruiting works. We're in an 8-9 year recruiting slide, that can't be turned around in a season or 2.
Ohio State 52, Illinois 14 POSTGAME
Or just try to understand the basics of how P5 football and recruiting works. We're in an 8-9 year recruiting slide, that can't be turned around in a season or 2.
Nice game by Brown. McGee should retire.
Were you not around for the Moeller or Valek years?
That many years shows that there is no development here. Get assistants here that can. Lovie needs to make a few changes with the O staff.
Recruiting is what it is , developing those recruits is where it’s at! Not so sure we have that.
FT35
- Naperville
I like what I'm seeing on the defensive side of the ball for the most part.
Today was a nightmare match-up for us as we struggle with up tempo offenses. However, this group can and has made us competitive in some conference games. They also force TOs which is something we haven't seen from a lot of Illinois defenses in recent memory.
The play on the line needs to improve as we get almost no pressure on the Quarterback but a few years of experience and S+C should help with guys like Roundtree, Gay and Carney. I like what I'm seeing out of the DTs for the most part and they'll all be back.
It remains to be seen how the Cover 2 defense can do against the Read Option Offenses, which almost every college team runs now, However, getting pretty good athletes on the defensive side of the ball helps. I like the secondary and the guys they have recruited. A more athletic group of LBs would help since the current group gets killed on a lot of passing routes. I think this is why the staff is targeting smaller, more athletic LBs in the Class of 2018 and beyond. The current group, with Hansen hopefully back fully healthy next year, has been fine. Injuries have just really hurt us with that group and it showed against Rutgers.
I've liked what the secondary has done this year, especially the Safeties.
The offense is a major problem.
I don't see how we can correct the problems on the Offensive Line in the short term. Just one extra year isn't going to make them that much better so I'm really concerned in the short-term. Guys really need to be in a system for three years before they are even considered for the depth chart and we are starting four Freshmen. Even then we're seeing problems with a highly rated player like Megginsen. How many times have we seen the QBs get literally no time to even throw the ball away?
The QB situation is obviously also a major concern although it's a moot point against a lot of teams since almost any QB this year would not consistently have the time to get set, look down field and complete a pass enough times to establish a rhythm. The quick hitters and QB draws are about the only option at this point and that takes a lot of our play makers out of the game.
The lack of a TE that can block AND catch the ball is also a problem since we've gone to 6 OL at times which just takes another potential play maker off the field.
We've scored 20+ points four times this year and that's no where near good enough to get us to a point where we can even be in a position to win 5 or 6 games. One of those games had a defensive TD (Western Kentucky) so the offense really only gave us 13 points in that game. Two of those games were blow outs with meaningless fourth Quarter TDs (USF and Rutgers). Just look at how many points Ball State has given up this year and this offense struggled to sustain drives against them.
McGee and Butkus really need to show us something next year because we're not going to win more than a few games next year unless the offense takes a major step forward. I would like to see a leap similar to what we saw from 2012 to 2013 but i just don't think that's possible since we won't have a QB that had the talent and experience that Scheelhaase had.
I am happy that the players continue to play hard and keep their heads up in spite of the losses. This makes it so much easier for me to cheer this team on from the stands or at home. I know this doesn't matter to a lot of people and may be concerning to some since they probably want to see more anger and frustration out of the players and coaches. However, we're seeing a team that still appears to respect the coaching staff and give it their all in spite of their lack of experience and the lack of depth at a number of positions. I don't know if this will translate in to future success but it's at least something to take away from these games.
This.
I'm amazed we have been as competitive as we have this year, particularly with so much time from Freshman on O-Line.
Zook had to go without question and the hiring of Beckman well... I'll just assume Thomas thought for sure Matt Campbell was part of the deal. Otherwise I got nothin
Agree with most of your post and I think as painful as it has been this year on the O-Line, these guys will look remarkably different next year. This playing time they got this year will be invaluable come next year. Another year of physical maturity combined with a near full season together will have this group much improved next year.
One area I am obviously very concerned with next year is QB. Thomas has shown flashes and I really like him, but behind him are true Freshman again. Very talented ones but still Freshman. If the Line improves like I think it will and we can get decent QB play we have seen that Dorsey, Smalling and Epstein have shown legitimate all Big 10 potential at the skill positions
Season one and a half, really.
Thank you for putting in the subs, Urban. Their starters could’ve literally made a run at 100 if they wanted to.
Good for Cam Miller. At least he got a good moment out of this otherwise complete obliteration of what we call our football team
Good for Cam Miller. At least he got a good moment out of this otherwise complete obliteration of what we call our football team
DoctorOrange
- Chicago, IL
Haven’t been very impressed with Lovie and staff during games. I also recognize the legitimate reasons for lack of winning (rebuild, playing freshman) and lack of game to game improvement (injuries, opponents, coaching).
I also recognize that until 4-5 years go by, it will be hard to judge the staff as a whole. Patience, please. If we suck then, make changes.
I also recognize that until 4-5 years go by, it will be hard to judge the staff as a whole. Patience, please. If we suck then, make changes.
+100
I understand some of the in game criticisms of the staff. Lovie was never known as a great in game coach. He was never going to come in and coach circles around anyone. We are hoping his skills as a leader of men are able to build us a football team with a strong foundation we can build upon. We have to give this time to play out. Sure, it may not work out, but there is no reason to lose sleep over it now. Lovie and staff are not the reason our program is where it is right now.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Everyone who is saying there is absolutely no hope for the future and those who act as if something has occurred on the field the last two seasons that demonstrates that Lovie has the answer both need to cool it. It's just not knowable at this point in time. Next year is crucial though. The team can't have a repeat of this year in 2018 whithout hurting recruiting going forward in my opinion. This team needs to look better and at a minimum win four games.
Yeah he sucks. He should have told our top two QBs, backs, and receivers not to get hurt. And he should definitely have those 4 freshman OL playing like RS Seniors by this point in the year.
HE IS THE SUPERWEAKESTWORSTEST COACH EVER.
BRING BACK BECKMAN
This is actually a pretty good reply and does gives points to at least stay away from ledge. OTOH, I see only 2 of the top 30 recruits in the state staying home and none from the Chicago area (which is where Lovie says he wants to concentrate).
Ohio State fans asking the question we Illinois fans have been asking for years ...
Why is Illinois so bad?
Why is Illinois so bad?
Illinir1
- Camdenton, MO
Wait. What? I keep reading Illinois Football press that the Illini coaching staff has the most NFL experience of any NCAA staff. Surely that means we have the staff that can develop players the best?
SKane
- Tennessee
This is exactly where I am at. Based on the last 50 years, IL should be competitive against the lower tier programs and have a really good team about once every 20 years.
Time is running out for many of us (including me) so I think there is some additional level of impatience. It is best to care a little but not too much.
BZuppke
- Plainfield
Years of mismanagement and lack of administrative support. I think that has changed with JW. Other long downtrodden programs have managed to change things and so can we. I’m hoping it’s different this time.
Also are people here aware of the huge fundraising going on university wide? 60% plus of the money has been raised with $650mm going to engineering and $300mm going to athletics.
Also are people here aware of the huge fundraising going on university wide? 60% plus of the money has been raised with $650mm going to engineering and $300mm going to athletics.