Pregame: Illinois at Minnesota, Saturday, November 4th, 2:30pm CT, BTN
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altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
How can both sides of the ball just collapse in the 4th quarter. The coaches are responsible to not let this happen, but we do it anyway. Think, Purdue, Nebraska, etc. We are heading once again in the wrong direction fter one good year. Missouri and Kansas got their coaching hires correct, but we never do. 60 years of seating in the stands.
This comment is ridiculous...although you are entitled to your opinion.
Last year we were two horrible calls away from being in the BIG10 championship game...DPI against Witherspoon against Purdue and offensive pass interference against Michigan that wasn't called.
Illinois is a much better football team and football program with Bielema.
And if people don't think these calls don't directly impact the outcome of a game are just not dealing with reality.
I could understand referencing KU (though your overall sentiment is ridiculous compared to where we were under previous coaches). Mizzou is having a really good year after Drinkwitz was on the hot seat going into the year. He didn't have a winning season in his first three years coming into a well-established program. Two years ago Sam Pittman at Arkansas was considered the savior of that program. He is currently close to being fired. Things can change quickly in either direction.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Bert owns Minnesota and Illinois has held their own against Fleck. This is a W
Hey, let's design a bigger helmet for our QB's. Have a rigid "chin guard" (like a motorcycle helmet) that extends down about a foot both in front and in back, and--as the taregeting rule is now enforced--it wil lbe effectively illegal for the opponents to tackle our qb above the waist. /s
While I really admire the positive attitudes expressed by many here, please enlighten me as to what trend or results you can point to to support this idea. This is a program in disarray to the point of disaster.
I know not a very fan like opinion, but this year is taxing my ability to hope to new levels.
And hope is a dangerous thing Andy.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
I do not believe the Illini will win out, but there is not a huge talent level disparity for these 4 remaining games. I think it is more realistic to see a record of 5-7 or 6-6. I do think the Illini can split the Minnesota/Iowa games though. However unlikely it be, if the team plays the way they did against Maryland and 3 quarters of Wisconsin (if Newton plays in the 4th quarter, I think Illini beat Wisconsin), then yes, the Illini can possibly win all 4 of the upcoming games.
The bolded above is patently ridiculous though. Disarray and point of disaster was the program under Beckman's leadership and the last season of Zook, and disarray was Lovie's tenure (especially at the end). We are nowhere near this at the moment. Watching the product over the last two weeks is evident enough to show that the coaching is there. The problem is razor thin depth being exposed by injuries (and ejections), which will need to be addressed through the portal this offseason (Coach B has to be better here).
Some of these hot takes almost completely forget how bad the program has been since 2006 Rose Bowl. If Illini get to a bowl game (winning 3 of last 4 games), then while disappointing to pre-season expectations, this can still be another season to build on. It has been over a decade (12 years) since the Illini have been to bowls back-to-back years.
I fascinated by the importance of making it to A bowl, any bowl only to have the inevitable collapse on a larger stage.
Since attending my first game in 1965, I have seen many saviors of the program come and go, mostly with the same results.
I fervently hope I am completely wrong.
Realistically, a turnaround is a 6-8 season process and you don’t get there in a straight line either. Three steps forward, two steps back. It takes years to turn over the roster and even longer to recruit top talent based on a credible W-L turnaround. We’re on track in the building credibility phase, performing well (maybe 6-6), and on track. Patience.
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The good and bad is there isn't a big talent level disparity between any of the teams in the Big Ten West. Throw in Wisconsin and Iowa QBs out for the season. This has been one of our easiest conference schedules and mixed results.
All that being said I am not down on the future of this program. I am down on the offense being able to produce points for over a year now. I get we have some hiccups in the road. Three years of BB and we are on 2nd offensive coordinator and 3rd different opening day QB. Lost one of the top rushers in the nation last season and top 2 RBs going into the season have been hurt. QB Altmyer shows some promise especially if he can mix in the run but he also has shown growing pains.
Illinois has been all over the board this season. Doubt many had us getting spanked by Purdue, no show for Nebraska, upset Maryland on the road and then collapse in the Wisconsin game. Weird thing is we beat Maryland who has one of the more stable QBs in the league and we lose to new QBs at Purdue, Nebraska and Wisconsin who aren't that good. Minnesota, Indiana, Iowa and Northwestern don't have great QB play either. Hopefully we can exploit it with the games we have left.
Coop, peruse the chart of our game ratings over the last 20 games. Sure, 2022 was far better than this year (notably WI, MN, MI, NW), but the last two games, both above the zero line, are among our best three of the year. Illinois has improved substantially since the Purdue and Nebraska debacles.
While the talent level of the teams in the last four games for us should not be an issue for us, that is not the real problem. While we may very well win out, it is just as likely we could lose them all. Our dc is inconsistent and our oc has been flat out bad. Have either one them called a good game for an entire game? Until they can get it together it's going to be hard to watch.
We are 3-1 after byes under Bert (with double byes in both previous season due to week 0 games). I really hope your W/L pattern doesn't continue through the last four games as that would include losing to NW...
I'll see your 6 and raise you one. Here's hoping for 7.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
I'll see your 7 and raise you one. Here's hoping for 8-5.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
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