Bad decision to start Altmyer. You got to ride out your hot hand. Hope it doesn’t backfire.
Pregame: Illinois at Iowa, Saturday, November 18th, 2:30pm CT, FS1
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Quarterback is the position I'm least worried about in this game. Both are really good options imo.
How will our WRs do against tighter and more physical coverage? How will the OL hold up? Special Teams needs to step up. Our defense took a step back last week, was that an outlier or a trend? Will Feagin be ready, and who's our #2 RB if he isn't?
How will our WRs do against tighter and more physical coverage? How will the OL hold up? Special Teams needs to step up. Our defense took a step back last week, was that an outlier or a trend? Will Feagin be ready, and who's our #2 RB if he isn't?
A lot better now that Cooper is out
And Iowa knocks a lot of people out of the game, especially QB's. I won't comment on my thoughts on how dirty of a team I think they are.
Captain 14
- The Last Best Place
Uhhhhh Brady comes to mind...
I don’t know how you bench the reigning BTPOY
The one thing I have noticed is we do play better on the road lately. Mn, Md. are road wins. Beat IA.
49ers had this same dilemma when Alex Smith went down with a concussion and Colin Kaepernick came in and was unstoppable. Alex never started another game for the 49ers.
Personally, I'd start Paddock and if he struggles, bring Altmyer in. That kills the legend and quells the tide of Paddock's rise. It then also cements Altmyer back as the QB and Bret could say they hoped to give him another week but had to bring him in to try to get a win. If we win behind Paddock, we are bowl eligible and can bring Altmyer back in as the starter for NW and say we wanted another week's rest.
If Altmyer struggles and you go with Paddock, it's a bad look all around.
Personally, I'd start Paddock and if he struggles, bring Altmyer in. That kills the legend and quells the tide of Paddock's rise. It then also cements Altmyer back as the QB and Bret could say they hoped to give him another week but had to bring him in to try to get a win. If we win behind Paddock, we are bowl eligible and can bring Altmyer back in as the starter for NW and say we wanted another week's rest.
If Altmyer struggles and you go with Paddock, it's a bad look all around.
A decision to start Altmeyer has a bad vibe to it to me. Though not as much on the line as these no brainer decisions.
1. Seattle coach Pete Carroll calling a pass play on the goal line with the ball on the two at the end of the Super Bowl against New England when he had Marshawn Lynch in beast mode available.
2. Tony Francona leaving Pedro Martinez on the mound late in the championship series game against the Yankees when it was the obvious call to put in the closer.
I realize the second example is baseball but it pretty much cost him his job. If Bret rides the hot hand and goes with Paddock and he leads us to another victory it would be great. If he struggles badly and has to be pulled for Altmeyer at least he checked all the boxes. If he goes with Altmeyer and he struggles and has to put in Paddock or God forbid leaves him in out of stubbornness and we get the loss either way everyone will be second guessing his decisions. Bret could be should be hedging his bet here in my opinion.
1. Seattle coach Pete Carroll calling a pass play on the goal line with the ball on the two at the end of the Super Bowl against New England when he had Marshawn Lynch in beast mode available.
2. Tony Francona leaving Pedro Martinez on the mound late in the championship series game against the Yankees when it was the obvious call to put in the closer.
I realize the second example is baseball but it pretty much cost him his job. If Bret rides the hot hand and goes with Paddock and he leads us to another victory it would be great. If he struggles badly and has to be pulled for Altmeyer at least he checked all the boxes. If he goes with Altmeyer and he struggles and has to put in Paddock or God forbid leaves him in out of stubbornness and we get the loss either way everyone will be second guessing his decisions. Bret could be should be hedging his bet here in my opinion.
Just win baby!
I have no horse in the QB field as long as the winner is wearing Illinois colors. I don't look at this as a negative at all. Rotating between Peters and Sitkowski stressed me out and watching Sitkowski come in when DeVito got hurt stressed me out. We have two quality QB performers who are healthy enough to play. If something goes awry than next man up.
2021 5-7 BT record 4-5 *overachieved
2022 8-5 BT record 5-4 *overacheived
2023 So far 5-5 and BT 3-4. If this team goes 7-5 and 5-4 this regular season we have exceeded expectations again. Probably say the same of 6-6 where we were standing a month ago.
I would also be down for a few plays where both guys are on the field at the same time. Don't care if it is a trick play, total decoy, random formation, etc. Keeping the defense off balance is key, especially one this good.
I have no horse in the QB field as long as the winner is wearing Illinois colors. I don't look at this as a negative at all. Rotating between Peters and Sitkowski stressed me out and watching Sitkowski come in when DeVito got hurt stressed me out. We have two quality QB performers who are healthy enough to play. If something goes awry than next man up.
2021 5-7 BT record 4-5 *overachieved
2022 8-5 BT record 5-4 *overacheived
2023 So far 5-5 and BT 3-4. If this team goes 7-5 and 5-4 this regular season we have exceeded expectations again. Probably say the same of 6-6 where we were standing a month ago.
I would also be down for a few plays where both guys are on the field at the same time. Don't care if it is a trick play, total decoy, random formation, etc. Keeping the defense off balance is key, especially one this good.
This captures my reasoning and feelings. The comparative stats are stunning.
writingillini.com
I’m braced for a bad loss with multiple sacks and turnovers, digging a hole too deep for Paddock to drag us out. Hopefully it’s not too bad. We’ll then need to find a way to beat NU for bowl eligibility, a much tougher game if Iowa beats us badly.
Illinois Football: Despite heroics, John Paddock sent back to the bench
Illinois football had some special moments the last couple of weeks. But it looks like Illini quarterback John Paddock is being sent back to the bench.
writingillini.com
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If we go with Paddock and he beats Iowa you absolutely do not give it back. Northwestern is the prototypical stub-your-toe game. Hell the last time we were 6-5 going into NW game we got !!!! on and I was front row for it. This year they’re 5-5 just like us even with all the garbage they’ve dealt with. It would be class-A Illinois luck to beat Iowa then lose to Northwestern to ruin our Indy bid.
Iows put a late hit on Peters a few years ago, giving him a concussion. It was obvious and also a no call in plain view of the ref.
if he alternates possessions (i think michigan state did this one year?) , so be it. but to give the ball back to Altmeyer right now... feels more like a recruiting decision than an Iowa decision
Paddock makes the O Line look a lot better because he doesn’t hold the ball like LA does. Iowa is going to feast on LA making slow reads.
Whenever there is a tough decision to be made related to be sports, I like to think, "What would I want if I were the other team?". If I'm Iowa, do I want to face the QB who has led 2 game winning touchdown drives and just threw for 500 yards and 4 TDs, or do I want to face the guy coming off 2 weeks of not playing with a concussion?
As others here have pointed out, it's a much easier sell to go with the hot hand senior and replace him if things go south. Is Iowa so bad against mobile QBs that Altmeyer gives Illinois more of a shot to win? Do we try to open up the passing game with their #1 CB out, or do we rush 35 times?
I want Illinois to win. I want Illinois to start Paddock. I will happily eat my words if Altmeyer leads us to a win.
As others here have pointed out, it's a much easier sell to go with the hot hand senior and replace him if things go south. Is Iowa so bad against mobile QBs that Altmeyer gives Illinois more of a shot to win? Do we try to open up the passing game with their #1 CB out, or do we rush 35 times?
I want Illinois to win. I want Illinois to start Paddock. I will happily eat my words if Altmeyer leads us to a win.
Big Jack
- Decatur
Well everyone else has expressed their thoughts so might as well say what I think too..
JP has been fantastic the past game and final drive vs. Minny.. However he did have a full summer training camp to win the starting position and did not.. Luke won the starting job and i believe the BB is correct in starting him against the Squakeyes. If this had happened after the PS game where Luke was pulled from the game because of his performance then JP becomes the starter then. But I do not believe you lose your position due to an injury. If you start Luke you give him a short leash, if he under performs then you make the change. I am sure BB and Looney already have a plan in their minds to do what is best overall for the team to win this game.. It is to meaningful of a game to just say we are staying with Luke period. I respect BB in clearly setting a standard, now no matter the position he has to maintain that standard. I as a player want the coach to have my back in case of an injury that would make me sit, know when healthy i would get my start again. I don't think this affects the other players as much as some here think, I believe it only makes the team stronger.
Yes and please can Fagin be healthy to play.
JP has been fantastic the past game and final drive vs. Minny.. However he did have a full summer training camp to win the starting position and did not.. Luke won the starting job and i believe the BB is correct in starting him against the Squakeyes. If this had happened after the PS game where Luke was pulled from the game because of his performance then JP becomes the starter then. But I do not believe you lose your position due to an injury. If you start Luke you give him a short leash, if he under performs then you make the change. I am sure BB and Looney already have a plan in their minds to do what is best overall for the team to win this game.. It is to meaningful of a game to just say we are staying with Luke period. I respect BB in clearly setting a standard, now no matter the position he has to maintain that standard. I as a player want the coach to have my back in case of an injury that would make me sit, know when healthy i would get my start again. I don't think this affects the other players as much as some here think, I believe it only makes the team stronger.
Yes and please can Fagin be healthy to play.
Sweetness not getting a touchdown in the Super Bowl
This pretty much sums it up. Will somebody please tell Bret this is the way to go?
I don't think I've seen Loyalty this disjointed in a looong time. Well, maybe since the Wisconsin game. Here's me prescription for everyone . . . Take two with a glass of your preferred adult beverage and we'll get together on Saturday to watch the game.
This is the overall health of the program decision. LA is the QB next year. Paddock has two(hopefully three) games left in his college career. Benching the starter after an injury is in extremely bad taste, especially since the Indiana defense is awful. Now, LA may have a very short leash, but his ability to take off and run will slow down a monster pass rush and BB needs to show his full support and follow his own stance regarding injuries. ALL players have to trust the head coach. Without trust, you have nothing. BB has to make sure that LA isn't looking over his shoulder to begin next season.
Just my take on his thoughts behind the decision. If we go three and out, four possessions in a row and we're stuck in neutral doing it...I suspect we'll see a change.
Just my take on his thoughts behind the decision. If we go three and out, four possessions in a row and we're stuck in neutral doing it...I suspect we'll see a change.
RedRocksIllini
- Morrison, CO
3. Adding those horrible crunch berries to Cap'n Crunch.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
How much do you want to bet he can throw this football over them mountains?Start Paddock. Only Uncle Rico could match his skill.
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