Penn State 63, Illinois 24 POSTGAME

#26      
We played great for 3 quarters, but it's hard to win, as this game and USF showed, when your coaching staff is awful at adjustments.

App St, who is younger than us (80% of roster is underclassmen) went to Penn St and took them to OT, and PSU had a 2 TD lead in that one. This wasn't an unbeatable PSU team.

We have the players to pull off this type of upset, but especially on D, I'm not sure we have the coaches. Just lie last year, we can't finsh games. Last year we obviously lacked the players, but this year we have enugh talent.

Next month is huge. We can be a 7 win team, but we're goingto have to do better with ingame adjustments
 
#27      

the national

the Front Range
We played great for 3 quarters, but it's hard to win, as this game and USF showed, when your coaching staff is awful at adjustments.

App St, who is younger than us (80% of roster is underclassmen) went to Penn St and took them to OT, and PSU had a 2 TD lead in that one. This wasn't an unbeatable PSU team.

We have the players to pull off this type of upset, but especially on D, I'm not sure we have the coaches. Just lie last year, we can't finsh games. Last year we obviously lacked the players, but this year we have enugh talent.

Next month is huge. We can be a 7 win team, but we're goingto have to do better with ingame adjustments

I actually thought that this showed our team is young, being worn out after 3 quarters. We just need to get stronger. I don’t really use App St as any kind of litmus, different game & different context
 
#28      

Illiniaaron

Geneseo, IL
I'm surprised that so many are so positive after another embarrassing loss. I give the offense credit for the first 35 minutes of the game, they really made Penn State's defense look bad against the run. But just like last week, once they sold out to stop the run Illinois was unable to get anything done passing. I thought Rivers was decent, he had some nice throws and some bad misses and is just not good in the running game. But our receivers are just awful, and I include Smalling in that assessment. The defense on the other hand is completely helpless. They have been ripped apart the last two weeks. All three groups are bad, especially the secondary. Can someone turn their head around and make a play on the ball please? Everyone is talking about all these winnable games coming up, but this defense might just be so bad that they can't win again.
Can someone tell me what Smith was doing trying to kick another 50+ yard field goal when we were down 42-24? Trying to make it a two-score game when the defense couldn't stop anything? It was like fourth and eight, the only way you had any chance to stay in the game was to try to convert and get another TD. And then the next drive on your own side of the fifty you go for it on fourth and fifteen or whatever it was? Just dumb.
I have to admit I was pretty excited when Illinois went up 24-21 in the third quarter, but what we witnessed after that was absolutely horrendous football. I've never seen a fourth quarter that awful. I thought we could possibly hang within 21, I did not expect another blowout like this.
 
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#30      
I actually thought that this showed our team is young, being worn out after 3 quarters. We just need to get stronger. I don’t really use App St as any kind of litmus, different game & different context

And App St is younger than us. That's the counter to you saying the sole reason this happening is youth. I'm not saying you can extrapolate results. But if a team younger than us can make in-game adjustments and we cant, it's coaching, not the players.

it's been an issue since Lovie took over and it will continue to be an issue until changes are made, especially on D. I give RS a pass on O because of having to play without Bush

I'm proud of how the players performed, but its disheartening to lose a game by 39 that you went toe-to-toe with them for 3Q. And if you don't want to use App St, okay. But Penn St is just 1 spot ahead of us in terms of team experience rankings (per Phil Steele).
 
#31      

Deleted member 649710

D
Guest
We lost by 39 after leading midway through the 3rd quarter. That is atrocious. I am not optimistic. This group is not “close.” We lost by 39 points!
 
#32      

FinalFour88

Charlotte, NC
We lost by 39 after leading midway through the 3rd quarter. That is atrocious. I am not optimistic. This group is not “close.” We lost by 39 points!
This is more or less my feeling. When you give up 42 unanswered AT HOME in a Friday night prime time game, you weren't competitive. Playing well for 2+ quarters means nothing when you get outscored 35-0 in the fourth quarter. Also, Penn State isn't all that great, so it's not like we just got blown out by the national champs.
 
#33      

Illiniaaron

Geneseo, IL
I looked back at the scores from Illini seasons of yore. It really is exceptional to give up 63 points in a game, even in Illinois' sorry history. The last time they gave up more than 63 in a game was in the 67-65 triple OT loss to Michigan in 2010. The last time they gave up at least 63 in regulation was the 63-10 debacle at home against Penn State in 2005. And the last time they gave up more than 63 in regulation was a 69-13 loss to Michigan in 1986. Giving up 63 at home was really an historic event last night.
 
#34      
This is a game that will show recruits what is closer to reality than a dream of what might come. That was good football. Depth is our issue and that's why we need talent to come in and help us compete for 4 quarters. Bravvo to the team today. Very proud of them
 
#35      
pretty good game for the illini.. Coach Rod is a big improvement for us. We've needed a quarterback for a while, and we have one. I'd like MJ to play the rest of the year, and/or co-qb if necessary. Defense line was getting carried 5 yards after contact, that was disconcerting... stadium looks awesome at night. pretty proud of the way these guys fought - the excitement they had - we're just young.
 
#36      
LB’s were shooting the gap to early all game. Causing the big runs. The defensive line did they job linebackers didn’t
 
#37      

Soxfreak64

Bloomington
This defense has HUGE problems, and they’re not all due to lack of maturity/skill.

As some have mentioned, the LBs and DEs (though Roundtree got way better as game went on) are committing way too early on the read option. Like, WAY too early. Add that to a bend-but-don’t-break scheme that will apparently never blitz, and any team that goes 4-5 wide will run all over us every single time.

Safety continues to be a problem, especially with feast or famine guys like Ware and Green that go for the big hit 90% of the time and connect 30% of the time.

I’m not convinced this scheme works in college, especially in vanilla mode. If Hardy and Lovie can’t figure that out, Lovie needs to do the tough thing and bring in somebody who will.
 
#39      
I recorded the game last night because of the late start here on the East coast. I got up early this morning without looking at the score and watched the game, and I'm glad I did. I saw the football team we've been hoping for play a pretty solid overall game for three quarters against the #10 team in the nation. And then reality set in. . . . I'm very pleased to see the progress, and look forward to seeing continued improvement the rest of the year with these kids, with hopes that we see a minor bowl this year. It can happen!
 
#40      
We all knew we were going to lose, but we hung in there for 3 quarters. The refs did us no favors the first quarter and the phantom interference call lead to the blowout.

I see a lot of promise in the d-line. They are just to young. Roundtree, Avery, Gay, etc..will get bigger, smarter, better next year. Love is finding great 3 star talent.

Smalling/Green dropped some balls but they will become good BIG conference receivers. Dorsey no impact yesterday, but he will return to form. Need to land more receivers to compete at highest level.

Our RBs are dam good now. Not sure I give up on AJBush right now. He was our best QB at camp, still feel we need veteran leadership.

I'm seeing Lovie building a foundation for the program. No gimmicks. Would like to see more impact players added next year. We need Cooper.
 
#41      

skamin7

Wellington, FL
If Franklin really looked up to Lovie then he shouldn't have run up the score at the end. When up big you stop throwing the ball. Very bushleague moves there at the end and further erodes any respect I have for PSU. Other than that, the officiating on the field and commentary in the booth was awful. I really miss ESPN telecasts and I guess we won't get any benefit of the doubt calls from the zebras until we start winning again. Sad state of affairs.

I do see some silver linings after the last two weeks but we need to learn to play 4 quarters not 3 and the defense really needs to improve on the back end. Walk on's are killing us in the secondary and our LB's are lost right now.
 
#42      

the national

the Front Range
And App St is younger than us. That's the counter to you saying the sole reason this happening is youth. I'm not saying you can extrapolate results. But if a team younger than us can make in-game adjustments and we cant, it's coaching, not the players.

it's been an issue since Lovie took over and it will continue to be an issue until changes are made, especially on D. I give RS a pass on O because of having to play without Bush

I'm proud of how the players performed, but its disheartening to lose a game by 39 that you went toe-to-toe with them for 3Q. And if you don't want to use App St, okay. But Penn St is just 1 spot ahead of us in terms of team experience rankings (per Phil Steele).

My comment was more that we are young and not strong enough to last 4 full quarters of getting pounded on the ground. PSU just wore us out. Our guys looked gassed, especially when they were isolated in space. They were there, in place on most of the big plays...we just couldn’t make the play. That’s not the coaches fault.

I was absolutely thrilled we were up at half and went toe to toe, but in no way did I believe the score. It was a mirage. It was sweet while it lasted. We just do not have the depth. We are young and our guys need to get stronger.
 
#43      
I actually think I agree with everything you wrote except the first 9 words. I think Rivers is the kind of qb that will show growth and development and continue to gain confidence. I think the team should show growth throughout the year as well.

But back to those first 9 words. Our defense in an embarrassment. Even against a top 10 team. Even with young players. It's awful. The D line did nothing. Sure they made some tackles, but that was because they were getting pushed downfield all game. If the defense played half as well as the offense, I'm on-board with the optimism, but they've just shown absolutely nothing to make me think it's gonna change.
I can get on board with your assessment
 
#44      

RedRocksIllini

Morrison, CO
Starting to really see some positives this year. The O line is doing a great job on run blocking. Epstein and Corbin and a fun 1-2 punch. QB play is greatly improved this year but still isn't where it needs to be (patience, grasshopper.) The special teams deserve an A+ this year. Rod Smith is a major positive addition.

On the downside, the pass blocking still needs a LOT of work. That takes longer to learn. The passing game in general does not look good but the injuries and a true freshman QB can explain that.

The defense? Bluntly stated, if Lovie wants to keep coaching this team beyond 2019, he is going to have to make a change similar to what was done on the O side. Sure, we're young. But defensive fundamentals are lacking and don't appear to be improving. The breakdowns that get posted are fascinating and pathetic for the defense. Our defense looks like we throw 11 guys on the field and say "Go cover somebody." At times, it's like watching Electric Football.

We should be competitive with several teams left on the schedule, which is a huge improvement over last year, but if we want to be able to compete with more than just the dregs of the B1G, a major change has to happen on the defense.
 
#45      

UofI08

Chicago
Starting to really see some positives this year. The O line is doing a great job on run blocking. Epstein and Corbin and a fun 1-2 punch. QB play is greatly improved this year but still isn't where it needs to be (patience, grasshopper.) The special teams deserve an A+ this year. Rod Smith is a major positive addition.

On the downside, the pass blocking still needs a LOT of work. That takes longer to learn. The passing game in general does not look good but the injuries and a true freshman QB can explain that.

The defense? Bluntly stated, if Lovie wants to keep coaching this team beyond 2019, he is going to have to make a change similar to what was done on the O side. Sure, we're young. But defensive fundamentals are lacking and don't appear to be improving. The breakdowns that get posted are fascinating and pathetic for the defense. Our defense looks like we throw 11 guys on the field and say "Go cover somebody." At times, it's like watching Electric Football.

We should be competitive with several teams left on the schedule, which is a huge improvement over last year, but if we want to be able to compete with more than just the dregs of the B1G, a major change has to happen on the defense.

So true but also so scary. This is the Lovie defense. Like someone else mentioned earlier, the defensive philosophy just might not work well in the college game.

I personally have been onboard the Lovie train since the day he was hired, but in the back of my mind I have always had concerns with his defense working here. In my opinion, to win defensively in college you have to be aggressive and make qbs uncomfortable. That's the opposite of what we do. We rarely blitz, line up with 4 standard down linemen on nearly every play, don't disguise our coverages, hell we barely even stunt our d line. It's literally the opposite of everything I want to see. I absolutely loved the Vic Koenning defense. That man knows how to defend in college. Blitzes, uneven fronts, disguised coverages. Constantly putting pressure on the qb.

The Lovie defense relies too much on every individual player to work in college with Illinois-level talent. Sure if we had OSU or even PSU talent, then you can probably be successful with 4/5 star d lineman creating their own pressures and a fast blue-chip back 7 cleaning up everything else. But we just don't have that, and quite honestly never will. Something has to change.
 
#46      
We played great for 3 quarters, but it's hard to win, as this game and USF showed, when your coaching staff is awful at adjustments.

App St, who is younger than us (80% of roster is underclassmen) went to Penn St and took them to OT, and PSU had a 2 TD lead in that one. This wasn't an unbeatable PSU team.

We have the players to pull off this type of upset, but especially on D, I'm not sure we have the coaches. Just lie last year, we can't finsh games. Last year we obviously lacked the players, but this year we have enugh talent.

Next month is huge. We can be a 7 win team, but we're goingto have to do better with ingame adjustments

Offensively, App State is very similar to us in class makeup, mostly sophomores. But I think our offense is coming along. The difference is the defense. App State starts 5 seniors and 5 juniors. Big difference there, I think.
 
#47      
I thought the turning point in the game was the phantom penalty in the 4th qtr. Should have been 3rd and 19, maybe we hold them to a fg and get the ball back down 7. We could work the clock and run, maybe even tie the game.

Instead we decided to throw to catch up, down 11. Put our tired Def back on the field, and the rest is history.
 
#48      

ivwilsoniv

Aurora, IL
I expect them to beat Rutgers and Purdue and be 4-2 heading into Wisconsin. I expect one more win between Maryland, Minnesota and Nebraska and playing for bowl eligibility against Northwestern.

I agree with this. But I also pessimistically expect the unexpected.
 
#49      
Feel optimistic after the game. Clearly did not expect to be leading in the 2nd half. 4th was obviously a dumpster fire, but rather the 4th than the 1st. Offense and qb look good, but the receivers are shaky. The int at the beginning of the end and and the dropped bomb are on the receiver's head.

The real tale for us is the next month. Most of us had a 2-2 start, but is there true reason to be optimistic? Is the defense that shaky, or is PSU offense really good. 4th quarter the last two games has been horrific, even by Illini standards. (Is that possible?)

GO ILLINI!
 
#50      

KrushCow31

Former Krush Cow
Chicago, IL
App St, who is younger than us (80% of roster is underclassmen) went to Penn St and took them to OT, and PSU had a 2 TD lead in that one. This wasn't an unbeatable PSU team.
That was also the first game of the season. This is the 4th. These are different Penn State teams.