Thanks for sharing - sounds like a great place to watch a game. I agree, that has been my takeaway from the Penn State and Oregon games. They are deeper and faster at every position. That doesn't mean we can't compete, but we have to be perfect too.
Oregon 38, Illinois 9 Postgame
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Thanks for sharing - sounds like a great place to watch a game. I agree, that has been my takeaway from the Penn State and Oregon games. They are deeper and faster at every position. That doesn't mean we can't compete, but we have to be perfect too.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
And it just happens that we played both of these top 3 schools on the road this year. Literally need to play a near perfect game and get a lot of luck (so much had to happen for Illini to beat Ohio State in 2007). Once Illinois got behind 2 td's, it was essentially over. It happens.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
But everyone freaks out when I say it.
Outcoaching a talent deficit is like a magician making something disappear, believing it is for suckers, it's all about being savvy enough to see what's ACTUALLY happening.
But in different ways Bielema did it at Wisconsin, Arkansas, and now he's doing it here.
How do we get him the horses to take another step?
There’s certainly a wide talent deficit between us and Oregon. I’m not sure we can out coach the talent deficit on defense, and I am by no means sold on AH as a coordinator.
I mean, I was hoping you could tell me. If you must know, the broadcast showed smoke billowing out of a skybox. You could literally see Bruce Campbell making silly faces into the camera. His eyes were glassed! On both the north & south end of Autzen there was an establishment called “Oregrown grass & masks”. Directly behind the bouncer checking ID’s, there were gas masks hanging from the walls next to Duck’s jerseys. We’re not dumb!
InDaAZ
- Eugene, Oregon
It’s very impressive what Bret & staff have been able to do in the areas of player evaluation and development, both with high school recruits and transfers.
2024 College Big Ten Football Team Talent Composite
In order to create the most comprehensive Team Recruiting Ranking without any notion of bias, 247Sports Team Recruiting Ranking is solely based on the 247Sports Composite Rating.247sports.com
I'm not going to say that methodology is the be-all, end-all by any means. No huge difference between the bottom 5-6 or so.
But we lack top level athletes at a lot of different places on the field.
Quarterbacks and coaches elevate lesser talent in football, and we've gotten high level performance from both. Higher level than I expected, certainly.
That makes the possibility of more money flowing into our payroll pretty tantalizing.
Keep winning games, qualifying for bowls - and most importantly continue getting players drafted in the NFL - and the talent baseline will continue to rise. And to your point, get these guys paid as they would be elsewhere.
It’s not an overnight process, but that’s the path to competitiveness with upper level teams like Oregon.
AyoDos11
- Southern Illinois
It is okay for expectations to change mid-season. Yes, before the season began most fans would've given anything to just get to a bowl game. That has since been accomplished. At our current record of 6-2, with four games left against middle-of-the-pack conference teams, anything less than 8 wins would indeed be a failure. 10 wins is now a very realistic goal.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
If we literally play like the “not a top 25 team” we’d been pre-Oregon down the stretch, we’ll be 10-2 or 9-3.
I was at the Purdue game and this game from the start felt like the last quarter and a half, minus our offense putting up points in that game. Purdue's offense was almost flawless in that period. I felt better about the Illini defense after the Michigan game. However, in this game one of the announcers nailed it when Oregon was driving for their second touchdown after we were 3 and out on our first possession. The announcer said that the Illini defense were good against the run against Michigan, but that there were a lot of wide open Michigan receivers throughout the game (that Michigan's 3rd string QB did't see). I immediately felt like this game was going to get out of hand pretty quickly.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I don't think the limitations of what he's dealing with are appreciated. Our front seven in particular is VERY marginal for the power conference level.
It's not like we're blowing assignments all over the field. This looks nothing like Hardy Nickerson's defenses. It's just a struggle when we're giving up size and speed everywhere.
There or thereabouts, sure.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
To further this point...........
I heard during today's CBS broadcast that all 5 Oregon defensive backs have previously played at other schools, and were lured to Eugene by NIL $$$$$.
I mean that's why they play the games, right? I agree with your assessment that preseason it was decided that we would be one of if not the least talented worst team in the B10. But then you play the games and say, hey maybe that's not actually the case. Let's talk basketball, just because most pundits in the B10 have us as one of the most talented teams and likely one of the top 3 teams in conference, doesn't mean that if we go out and have an 8-24 season (god forbid) that everyone is still going to say we're one of the most talented team in the league, it's just that our tough schedule is masking it. No, people will say we effing suck, just like they're saying about Purdue football (and they technically have recruited far better talent than us, right)?
I agree that 6-2 is a better record than we should have based on our talent level, but I mean come on, what should we do? Give Michigan back the win because they're far more talented than us? Call up Kansas and give them their win back. Call up Nebraska and say you're far more talented, take the win? Hell, we tried giving our win back to Purdue. Almost worked. Yes, we could easily be 3-5 or 2-6 right now. But the point is, we're not. And while one possession game are indeed a coin flip, teams that aren't top 25 teams tend to lose those coin flips while teams that are find ways to pull those wins out.
But if you want to say we're lucky, I don't disagree with you, but it's not because of schedule or winning 1 possession games, it's that we somehow avoided injury up until this game despite having a team with so little depth. That's luck. And that luck is something we desperately need to cling to hoping everyone is ok for Minnesota despite us looking likenthe walking wounded after this one.
It’s on AH to be aware of these personnel limitations and do something about it. Sending a 3-man rush against Dillon fricken Gabriel on a 3rd & 7 is inexcusable. Getting sliced on 3rd & long when the whole stadium can see a screen pass coming from a mile away is a problem. This defense plays awfully tight.
While this loss was a little demoralizing we all need to remember they are the #1 ranked team in the country for a reason. Both of our losses have come on the road to the #1 and #3 ranked teams respectively. That means a lot more than what this team has been given credit for. Bret will get them back on track and we should win no less than 3 games to finish the year.
I mean, obviously you have to play the game. Putting your more limited players in better positions to win that more talented players can make up that difference. However, you cannot overcome the speed and talent difference we saw tonight.
Obviously we are outplaying out talent level and that is because Bret is great at what he does. That's a selling point for recruits. See what he is doing with 2 and 3 stars. Imagine what he can do with high 3 and 4 stars.
Obviously we are outplaying out talent level and that is because Bret is great at what he does. That's a selling point for recruits. See what he is doing with 2 and 3 stars. Imagine what he can do with high 3 and 4 stars.
Absolutely horrible take. The only 4th they went for in first half was early in the 2nd with the score 14-3 and it was 4th and 1 from the +37. Every coach should absolutely go for it 4th and 1 at the opponent’s 37 regardless of score or situation. Running up the score? GMAB.
I get coaches turn anything in to a motivational tactic, but getting outraged about that one is beyond silly.
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Exactly! Woud IU be 8-0 if they played AT #3 and AT #1?
Maybe Oregon can coach too? And they have better players. Something to consider.
Of course they do. There was clearly a massive talent discrepancy. When you’re going against #1 on the road, you have to let it rip! Dial up pressure to try and throw off the best QB in the game. Go down swinging for the flippin fences. When we rushed 3 in that first series, we were cooked.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
I told my wife that we were going to get our as$ waxed by Oregon, and she replied "Oh, is that a thing?" I was hoping for a competitive game, but expecting what we got. Oregon played their A game and we played our C game, and there was no way on God's Orange Earth that we were going to win that game given those realities. This season has exceeded everyone's expectations so far, stay on the bandwagon and enjoy what, so far, has been a joy to behold. On to Minnesota, "One Win at a Time".
This is from the University of Oregon:
You cannot use or possess any form of cannabis anywhere on University of Oregon property, including Autzen Stadium. This means no vaporizers, no edibles, and no smoking. This policy also supports the smoke- and tobacco-free campus policy.
Gotta love the ignore button. Saves me from alot of stupid takes...
When we had 1st and goal at the 4 yard line, I knew we wouldn't score. Why do we always think we can just power our way in and waste a couple of plays. play action on first down might catch them looking for our typical run up the middle for no gain. Heck we run up the middle on first down for little yardage all the time. We're the only team that always has 2 downs to gain 8-10 yards.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Sure. There is no cannabis on campus. Ok. And underage students don't drink either.
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