My feel is that we will be up 14 and start doing cute things, like throw the ball 80% of the time.
DNA baby.
DNA baby.
It actually is almost impossible to run the ball more. With the exception of our last two drives, we barely threw it. That, in my mind, is what caused a lot of the problems for the offense. I can remember earlier in the season, Peters was 10 of 12 for over 100 yards and so many on this board were whining about running the ball more, at that point in the game. This is not a great high school team playing the little sisters of the poor. If we want to be successful on offense there needs to be a better mix of play selection by the offense.Offense lost the game last week. One 3rd down conversion, 40 yards passing after the first couple drives. Etc. Defense played 100 plays, and were emptied by the 3rd quarter.
If they’re going to win another game the offense is going to need to run the ball more, and control the pace better. They’re not going to win a shootout with Peters as the QB.
copied from the postgame thread:
Looking at other BigTen box scores it seems like teams usually run 50 - 70 plays. The first 9 drives Nebraska had:
53 plays
199 yards
3.7 yards per play
14 points
2 TOs
That’s a complete game for a some big ten teams. Expanding it to the first 13 drives:
66 plays
373 yards
5.6 yards per play
21 points
4 TOs
The next 4 drives were 275 yards, 3 TDs, and a missed FG from the goal line which could’ve easily been another TD. The defense was gassed.
Imo our only chance is to have a really good offensive game. Minnesota defense is not good, but ours is worse.I have a really bad feeling about this game. Hope I'm wrong. I don't think we'll cover the spread. I don't think this game will be close at all. Then again, I didn't think we'd cover against Nebraska, and we did. So who knows?
It actually is almost impossible to run the ball more. With the exception of our last two drives, we barely threw it. That, in my mind, is what caused a lot of the problems for the offense. I can remember earlier in the season, Peters was 10 of 12 for over 100 yards and so many on this board were whining about running the ball more, at that point in the game. This is not a great high school team playing the little sisters of the poor. If we want to be successful on offense there needs to be a better mix of play selection by the offense.
Not going to argue the situational play calling has been a head scratcher at times. Side bar, Trenard doesn't throw it in triple coverage and Rod might look like a genius again. Would have to go back and watch but I thought Dre was open down the sideline? But that isn't the point. I am just going to mention that Rod has had to completely alter his system from AJ Bush who was more willing to run then throw, to Peters who really doesn't want to run. And Peters showed up in August. Add on that this is Peter's first bad game. He had some bad quarters, but never this bad of a game. If you told us before the game that Barker was going to be running down the sideline with a 10 yard cushion and Peter's threw it to him. Would anyone think twice about it being an easy TD? I think it is a harder transition with the limited time than we all might know and be given credit for. If the players execute, then we look a little more like the Pats right. Short passes and 4-6 yrd runs.The issue isn’t “why didn’t we run the football more”, at least it shouldn’t be. It’s about why we didn’t run the ball in certain, very specific in-game situations. Best example, that sequence in the 3rd quarter after the turnover where Hansen ripped the ball free. You’re up 7, Nebraska is gaining momentum after an easy 70+ yard TD one possession earlier. Your last drive ended in a 3 and out punt after 1 lonely minute, there are only 22 minutes left in the entire ball game and you’re set up at the Nebraska 35-ish. This is the EXACT TIME to hammer the ball down their throat with your best player, grind the clock, swing some momentum back your way and at the very least give your big legged kicker a better opportunity to make it a 2 score game with 4-5 minutes left in the 3rd. Want to guess which 3 plays we actually called? 3 pass attempts, including a trick play with Trenard Davis that fooled approximately no one. Peters took a sack and we punted the ball away, we ticked 1:02 off the game clock.
These are the types of drives that stick in people’s minds and cause them to scream about running the football more. And they’re right to do so.
You don't think you might be over reacting a little bit?He honestly may be the worst QB I have seen start at Illinois.
He honestly may be the worst QB I have seen start at Illinois.
I wont come out and say you're wrong, but if you're comparing him to guys like Lunt, O'Toole, Chayce Crouch, and AJ Bush, you're gonna have a hard time convincing me Brandon Peters is the worst QB out of that lot.I’ll qualify it by limiting to top of the depth chart starters. I’m not familiar with all the backups that have started games.
Who would you think has been worse, and I’ll educate myself?
I’m not familiar with all the backups that have started games.
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/2019.htmlI’ll qualify it by limiting to top of the depth chart starters. I’m not familiar with all the backups that have started games.
Who would you think has been worse, and I’ll educate myself?
I think this illustrates what happened in the game against Nebraska, and makes sense in practical terms. On average the defense is fresh for about 28 minutes, then a big drop off in defense, or increase in opposing offensive production due to fatigue kicking in.
No excuse to not run the ball more in this game when your top 2 backs are combined 193 yards on 26 carries for 7.4 yards per carry !!!!!!! Run it on 3rd and long, who cares, better than Peters attempting a pass.
It’s like this “team” is two separate teams doing their own thing. I can’t think of a single excuse for Rod Smith to call the game he called.
- Playing with a lead
- Top 2 RBs averaging 7.4 yards per carry in this game and over 200 yards as a team
- QB with net 64 yards on 24 drop backs (including sacks)
- Defense clearly gassed, and not deep enough to keep pace
3rd Quarter - 10 rushes, 7 pass plays (1 completion, net 13 yards including sack loss)
4th Quarter - 4 rushes, 8 pass plays (2 completions, 3 yards)
Those 3 completions on 15 drop backs in the 2nd have did no favors for our time of possession.
The issue isn’t “why didn’t we run the football more”, at least it shouldn’t be. It’s about why we didn’t run the ball in certain, very specific in-game situations. Best example, that sequence in the 3rd quarter after the turnover where Hansen ripped the ball free. You’re up 7, Nebraska is gaining momentum after an easy 70+ yard TD one possession earlier. Your last drive ended in a 3 and out punt after 1 lonely minute, there are only 22 minutes left in the entire ball game and you’re set up at the Nebraska 35-ish. This is the EXACT TIME to hammer the ball down their throat with your best player, grind the clock, swing some momentum back your way and at the very least give your big legged kicker a better opportunity to make it a 2 score game with 4-5 minutes left in the 3rd. Want to guess which 3 plays we actually called? 3 pass attempts, including a trick play with Trenard Davis that fooled approximately no one. Peters took a sack and we punted the ball away, we ticked 1:02 off the game clock.
These are the types of drives that stick in people’s minds and cause them to scream about running the football more. And they’re right to do so.
You need to remember that our best player only averaged 3 yards per carry after our first two offensive plays in the game. So, that becomes 3 plays and out again. Do you really think that Lovie would have gone for it on 4th and one while deep in his own territory later in the game? Yep, that's the strategy.The issue isn’t “why didn’t we run the football more”, at least it shouldn’t be. It’s about why we didn’t run the ball in certain, very specific in-game situations. Best example, that sequence in the 3rd quarter after the turnover where Hansen ripped the ball free. You’re up 7, Nebraska is gaining momentum after an easy 70+ yard TD one possession earlier. Your last drive ended in a 3 and out punt after 1 lonely minute, there are only 22 minutes left in the entire ball game and you’re set up at the Nebraska 35-ish. This is the EXACT TIME to hammer the ball down their throat with your best player, grind the clock, swing some momentum back your way and at the very least give your big legged kicker a better opportunity to make it a 2 score game with 4-5 minutes left in the 3rd. Want to guess which 3 plays we actually called? 3 pass attempts, including a trick play with Trenard Davis that fooled approximately no one. Peters took a sack and we punted the ball away, we ticked 1:02 off the game clock.
These are the types of drives that stick in people’s minds and cause them to scream about running the football more. And they’re right to do so.
My opinion is to take the over, but I don't know what that number is yet.- Regarding Illinois - Minny 14 I don't think you are missing anything. Both teams have bad Defenses.
Illinois strength is the running game on Offense- Miny strength on Offense is passing. Any team that gives up 700 yards a game to Nebraska (Illinois) is a bad defense- Dont care how it is sliced in the narrative. I repeat both teams have no Defense.
This game should be closer than you think for Illinois but hair brained penalty's are killing this team I swear they lead the league in excessive celebration penalties and targeting. This is a team that when they score a touchdown they act like it never occurred before - which there is a slight angle to that thought.
If I was going to play this game I would take Illinois and 14 points only because the Offense led by Rod Smith Coach is not dead for Illinois. There are alot of better games to hitch your wagon to than this one as it will be ugly but I think Illinois covers this number.
Good Luck Illini Nation- In fact you just allowed myself to be talked on to that game. Illinois -14 to cover
You need to remember that our best player only averaged 3 yards per carry after our first two offensive plays in the game. So, that becomes 3 plays and out again. Do you really think that Lovie would have gone for it on 4th and one while deep in his own territory later in the game? Yep, that's the strategy.
On Odds Sharks the over/under is 58 points.My opinion is to take the over, but I don't know what that number is yet.
Agree 100%...as an underdog with a lead, running the quick offense lengthens the game when we need to shorten it and to give our defense a longer rest.Yep, terrible game and clock management by this staff. Illinois is 7th in the B1G for rushing yards per game. Illinois is 14th in the B1G for time of possession. Even when we're running the ball we do the hurry up and when an offensive possession ends without a score, it takes way lower than average amount of time off the clock. We don't have a high scoring offense and our defense is porous. Run the ball and SLOW the game down. Would have likely resulted in a "W" against Nebraska.
5 plays, 8 yards, 2:53Just asking. Didn’t Illinois score on three of the four turnovers the defense caused? And how long did Illinois’ touchdown drives take?
How many 3 and outs do you think the IL defense had? 2 in the first half and one more the first drive on the second half.
I don't know where your pulling your numbers from. But this is what ESPN has
First half - Neb 46 plays 287 yards
For comparison purposes - Min vs Purdue first half - Purdue 42 plays 178 yards
You want to say the Def played its best game we have seen in a long time. I don't disagree. But that is a really low bar. Min gave up 100 less yards in four less snaps. Did the offense have a bad game? ABSOLUTELY. But to say the defense doesn't have blame in the loss is dead wrong.