Devin Gardner
Pregame: Illinois vs Oregon, Saturday, October 24th, 2:00pm CT, BTN
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Have you ever seen it work at a high level?
It takes a special kind of QB to be able to come in and out of a game and keep a rhythm.
There is also the rhythm the rest of the offense is in. A different QB had a different candence (no matter how hard you train them to be the same). Timing is different and play calling probably needs to change.
The position is far more delicate and precise than say a RB. All of the other positions are relying on QB in some form or fashion as well.
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
Last three games where Illinois was an 8-to-11 point underdog:
2024 @ Nebraska (-9.5). Loved this game, maybe the most enjoyable game that season. Shocking to reflect on Nebraska was that big of a favorite. Illinois covered and won outright.
2021 @ Purdue (-10.5). Illinois covered but Purdue won. Ugly game, was probably the first time that defense was showed signs of what was to come.
2021 @ Virginia (-10.5). This game was a shellacking.
Last home game? 2020 v Purdue (-9.5).
2024 @ Nebraska (-9.5). Loved this game, maybe the most enjoyable game that season. Shocking to reflect on Nebraska was that big of a favorite. Illinois covered and won outright.
2021 @ Purdue (-10.5). Illinois covered but Purdue won. Ugly game, was probably the first time that defense was showed signs of what was to come.
2021 @ Virginia (-10.5). This game was a shellacking.
Last home game? 2020 v Purdue (-9.5).
The thing I have always thought was weird when swapping a passing QB with a running QB is that the defense knows what’s coming when the running QB comes in.
If there is ever a year where we should (or could) be able to keep the game close, this is it. They are missing their QB and their 2 top WRs.
Platt and Perry are not gonna play at all this year huh?
Just terrible luck with the portal lottery this season
Bears are pretty thin in the box, but they seem to dial up pressure pretty well. I hope Roger Cooper has been watching what they are doing with Kyler Gordon
Did you forget Don Meredith? I think three QBs played one snap apiece. You are correct that the Bears won.
I mean their backup QB is what, a former 5star consensus #1 in the country recruit with 20+ games of P4 starting experience with really good college numbers and who has already faced our team with a much much better defense and lit us up for the most part, whereas we’d be starting a true freshman who’s only experience is a few possessions against MSU? I get we’re trying to pump ourselves up, but we’re talking levels upon levels of difference here.
What worries me even from the offense part is Clayton will have never seen anything close to Oregon’s speed on defense and we don’t have the players to even simulate it in practice. This is an extremely tough ask for a true freshman. We need our offensive line to show up big.
As for Raiola and the Ducks offense, best thing we can do is apply pressure and force mistakes, but that’s something we’ve really struggled with.
Yes Oregon is beatable this year, but they’re still 2-2 against Top25 and receiving votes teams with 2 single possession losses and they could still make the playoffs. This team while not up to their Top 4 in CFP standards is still a gigantic step up from the MSUs and Purdues of the world.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
If we had a healthy Hauser and Platt and Valentine I might agree with you, but we don't so...
At least it will be a beautiful afternoon in Champaign. That’s the most I can hope for.
Remember when we beat Wisc when they were ranked #5. No one gave us a chance. I have a feeling we will see the same outcome. Maybe not how we won with a field goal but with a win.
tough game for his first start but looking forward to seeing the freshman quarterback play.....hoping lunney doesn't get too conservative with his play calling...
and with valentine out barnett should be getting much more playing time.......could be closer than people think.....
and with valentine out barnett should be getting much more playing time.......could be closer than people think.....
The Illini have a fair shot tomorrow. Raiola didn’t light up Illinois two years ago: Sure, he went 24/35 for 297, but he threw an interception, fumbled twice (luckily for him, losing neither), and was sacked six times, losing 52 yards on the ground. Subtract the negative plays, and he produced 200 yards (adjusted) in 43 plays, or 4.7 per play. Also, his team lost the game.
Yes, last week Raiola brought the Ducks back to win—so great—but he went 11/18 for only 59 yards, or 3.3 per play.
In his game the previous week v UCLA, he was 6/19 for 43 yards, threw two interceptions, fumbled once and lost the ball, and was sacked a couple times. The guy netted 99 negative yards (adjustment of minus 45 yards for each turnover).
Oregon has 60 blue-chippers v Illinois’ 7 and they’ll like win tomorrow, but Michael Clayton is a much better QB than Dylan Raiola.
That was probably the most frustrating Illini defensive performance Ive ever had to endure in person (offense played well enough to win, TBH).
SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
Ouch. I don't think we even have six sacks total this year.
BZuppke
- Plainfield
BlitzOuch. I don't think we even have six sacks total this year.
We’re trying. LBs have struggled getting home when called and our DL has had issues generating push or winning 1 on 1 battles and that’s with a higher blitz rate than average. I thought we had our best defensive outing last week in that regard but still, we’re only sitting on 5 sacks through 6 games this season, so we can certainly try to get more exotic and aggressive but if we don’t get there WRs are going to be running free through our secondary.
For what it’s worth though, I think our run blitzing has actually been pretty decent overall and I think that’s why we’ve made dramatic improvement against the run since early season.
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