pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Pregame: Illinois vs Northwestern, Saturday, November 25th, 2:30pm CT, BTN
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Just win. Ugly, pretty, last minute victory, or a blow out, get to six wins and go bowling.
I watched a couple of recording of the Wildcats over the weekend.
They seems to have a lot of team speed, particularly on offense.
We need Patrick to have a strong game and keep the tempo of the game moving
I wonder if there might be some post season firings.
With all the batted down passes this made me wonder why we didn’t see Luke in the 2nd half.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
This is gut check time for the program. While a lot of us are disappointed that we are fighting for bowl eligibility in game #12, making a bowl is still incredibly important, IMO. Can anyone honestly say that if our 2002 and 2008 (post-BCS bowl) campaigns had ended in a bowl berth of SOME kind that they wouldn't have been nearly as devastating for program momentum? I really do think there is a massive difference on many levels between staying home at 5-7 and even going to the least prestigious bowl out there at 6-6.
None of this even touches on the importance of beating Northwestern three times in a row and not letting them slide back in front of us perception-wise after just two years. We simply cannot lose this one in Champaign.
None of this even touches on the importance of beating Northwestern three times in a row and not letting them slide back in front of us perception-wise after just two years. We simply cannot lose this one in Champaign.
6-6 does suck but I prefer most of the wins coming in the second half of the season then going out losing. Let's get it done
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Agreed. It is what it is at this point, but we easily could have had both the Wisconsin and Iowa games if some things go our way ... win both, and we are playing to be 8-4 and we have already clinched a spot in Indy. Of course, you can flip the script and say we easily could have lost the Minnesota and Indiana games ... but there is a definite improvement as the season has gone on, IMO:
First Six Games: 2-4
W 30-28 vs. Toledo (thanks to a miracle 4th down conversion)
L 34-23 at Kansas (down 34-7 at one point...)
L 30-13 vs. #7 Penn State (30-7 before a late touchdown)
W 23-17 vs. FAU
L 44-19 at Purdue
L 20-7 vs. Nebraska (laid a complete egg when we desperately needed a win)
Next Five Games: 3-2
W 27-24 at Maryland (at a time when they were 5-1 and just hung with OSU)
L 25-21 vs. Wisconsin (up 21-7 before Newton ejected for weak targeting call)
W 27-26 at Minnesota
W 48-45 in OT vs. Indiana (honestly just a crazy game, haha)
L 15-13 at #16 Iowa (had a lead late in the fourth quarter)
It would just be a monumental shame to end the second half of our season only marginally better than the first half by dropping a home game to Northwestern.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
Getting the extra practice reps is huge for players sticking around too. More continuity through next spring practice. Lose now stop practicing now.
Crush ‘em again!
www.insidenu.com
Northwestern veterans enter rivalry game with Illinois confident, vindictive
Following rivalry game blowouts the last two years, the Wildcats’ elder statemen are intent on winning back in-state rights.
www.insidenu.com
@pruman1, are you sharing certain edibles with BZuppke?
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pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Daily..............
The most relevant batted down passes were at the end of the game. IMO
LA may have been cleared, but putting him in after concussion protocal could have been the worst thing. The head/brain needs time to heal from a concussion. Longer than two weeks in my opinion. I am speaking as one who has had several concussions from sports activity.
Note the asymptotic nature of the recovery curve. Full recovery takes quite a while, much longer than the time needed just for symptoms to resolve. Again, we don’t know how severely he was concussed, but erring on the side of protecting his brain isn’t a bad outcome, especially with Paddock’s capabilities. Many older football and rugby players have paid dearly for repeated TBI’s.
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I have always been impressed with Seth Coleman and his size/speed. I thought him and Jacas would be more dominant this year, both seem to be coming on stronger later in the season.
I think Coleman might be one of those players more suited in the NFL, don't ask me why besides his speed and size combo. Just have always had the feeling with him. So I don't expect him back. Jacas is a true sophomore this year so I beleive he is required to stay in college. I don't expect him to hit the portal because he will be featured next year at Illinois and Illinois is having their defense players go high in the draft the last couple of years (Witherspoon, Newton). With NIL money and being a featured player I'm not sure you risk that to go play for the top college programs (Alabama, Georgia).
I think Coleman might be one of those players more suited in the NFL, don't ask me why besides his speed and size combo. Just have always had the feeling with him. So I don't expect him back. Jacas is a true sophomore this year so I beleive he is required to stay in college. I don't expect him to hit the portal because he will be featured next year at Illinois and Illinois is having their defense players go high in the draft the last couple of years (Witherspoon, Newton). With NIL money and being a featured player I'm not sure you risk that to go play for the top college programs (Alabama, Georgia).
Jacas didn't look half bad playing DL when Newton/Randolph were out. Some of the talking heads mentioned moving him there next season given his strength. Would be interesting to see. Depends on what the rest of the OLB room looks like and if he'd be willing to move.
blackdog
- Champaign
Coleman is tied for team lead and 3rd in the conference (with admittedly a boatload of other players) in sacks with 6 so he's definitely had a very productive year. If he comes back next year it would be huge. We definitely will need that production losing the law firm.
There were 13 throughout the game. The end of the game was what my point was about b/c the offense was stalled. Luke was cleared to play and per the comments on here, his Dad (the Dr.) was good with it too.
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