They are MAC level players, IMO.
Pregame: Illinois vs USC, Saturday, September 27th, 11:00am CT, FOX
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Keeping Bart Miller will not accomplish that…
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I expect that situation to resolve itself after the season if things do not improve … If not sooner depending on performance …
Playing Xavier Scott in a decided game could end up defining our season especially if no one else steps up to match what he brought.
It’s disappointing and unacceptable that we are this point because of the talent we have on this team and the expectations going into the season but I would still consider a 9-3 or an 8-4 season a good season if we battle through it and get there.
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IMO if we go 9-3 and you’re not happy about that, I really don’t know what to tell you about Illinois football. Consistent 8+ winning seasons should not only be celebrated, it should be exalted. Going forward maybe we should expect more with the infusion of $$$ but this year I think 8 or 9 wins is totally fine.
100% agree.
Honestly, we should even be okay with the idea of simply slapping 2 bowl seasons back to back. Especially if we win them both.
There has been a lot of hype this season, and it’s been a fun ride, but I’m not going to forget the absolute purgatory we were in or allow my expectations to get out of control.
BB pulled us out of football muck and made us respectable. Let’s see what he can do after he gets embarrassed.
Beat USC.
I also agree. However, I think part of the issue is a 9 win season is unlikely at the current moment. Going 4-5 in the BT for 7 wins is more likely than 6-3 for 9 wins. (Based on current betting lines)
9-3 is a good season. I think going 4-5 in the BT for 7 wins is legitimately disappointing with a veteran, experienced team coming off of a 10 win season.
I think we’ve also subconsciously written off how close we were to 6-6 and not 9-3 last year.
Had the Nebby, Purdue, and Rutgers games gone the other way last year (and they could have…one play could have changed any of them) and we were 6-6, we’d all be looking at 7-5 or 8-4 as a success.
It’s hard to win football games, and Bret is doing it way more than we are accustomed. I feel like the negativity after IU is the collective realization that we aren’t there yet mixed with the fact that we also played like hot garbage on Saturday in prime time.
Let’s hope we have a short memory.
For my money, the best Offensive Line Coach in the B1G...Happens to be from Tuscola, Illinois.
Dream steal away from Iowa. Kind of move that would make waves across the B1G. Prove we aren't okay with mediocrity.
George Barnett, Offensive Line Coach (FB), Iowa Hawkeyes
George Barnett is the Offensive Line Coach for the Iowa Hawkeyes
247sports.com
We expected a few losses. We knew last week might be one of them! Forget the score… these things happen. We have one loss…. move on to next week!
Just so we don’t feel so bad: Notre Dame favored by 28 laid an egg last year and lost in a give me game to NL. I bet the fan base thought it was the end. Bounced back and won the rest of their games and ended up playing for a Natty!
I don’t expect that, but can finish 8-4 or 9-3. We would be ok with that right? This week is really a big test! Hope we pass! My gut feels good about this one! Maybe we have some pi$$ed off linemen that need say something! BTW my glass is always at least half full!
11:00 am kickoff…. bloody mary’s and I and wearing orange and blue!!!!
Just so we don’t feel so bad: Notre Dame favored by 28 laid an egg last year and lost in a give me game to NL. I bet the fan base thought it was the end. Bounced back and won the rest of their games and ended up playing for a Natty!
I don’t expect that, but can finish 8-4 or 9-3. We would be ok with that right? This week is really a big test! Hope we pass! My gut feels good about this one! Maybe we have some pi$$ed off linemen that need say something! BTW my glass is always at least half full!
11:00 am kickoff…. bloody mary’s and I and wearing orange and blue!!!!
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I’m not sure I’d take anyone that’s been part of some of the most anemic offenses in modern college football history.For my money, the best Offensive Line Coach in the B1G...Happens to be from Tuscola, Illinois.
Dream steal away from Iowa. Kind of move that would make waves across the B1G. Prove we aren't okay with mediocrity.
George Barnett, Offensive Line Coach (FB), Iowa Hawkeyes
George Barnett is the Offensive Line Coach for the Iowa Hawkeyes
But maybe he’s not their problem? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Look at their Offensive line PFF grades
Overpay him. Bring him home
Probably a portal priority for sure. No different from building an NFL roster really, start on the lines.
We will need to bring in 3-4 portal guys for sure. Henderson comes back but he’s struggled. Knapik has been hurt and lost a lot of prestige reps. Staff is high on McMillen, Hanson and Shuster.
As a 49ers and Illini fan, the injuries have been absolutely brutal to watch this year. Losing X on a meaningless snap against WMU will absolutely cost us a(nother) game this season.
jimmy1illini
- central illinois
Ahead of us
Iowa has the best OLine in the country.
I haven’t looked at any advanced stats/metrics.
But did they also have the best OL (or a top O line) the last couple years when the whole CFB world was laughing at their inability to move the ball? (Actual question)
Because Barnett has been there since 2021 apparently.
I feel like we’ve drifted off topic so I’ll reconnect it, hopefully Bart can get this year’s OL back on track. This same unit (that he coached) helped get us to a 10 win season.
First step, figure out how to protect Luke from USC.
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Otoh, he can't now say, "our players just aren't good enough to compete".
I've been a big fan of coach B and his teams since he ended the tailspin of the Smith era. That said, this year's team has been papering over serious flaws in the basics of football. Both blocking and tackling have been substandard for much of this season. The O and D lines have often been pushed around, even by weaker opposition, especially in the first two quarters. Missed blocking assignments, lack of push up front, failure to open holes for the running backs, and pass blocking breakdowns have happened too often for a nationally ranked team. On defense, taking poor tackling angles and failure to wrap up on tackles are frustratingly familiar. These flaws were badly exposed by Indiana.
I am still optimistic for this season, and believe the coaching staff and players have too much pride and athletic ability to let it slip away. If they can fix the blocking and tackling issues that have cropped up far too often, it would be a great start to getting us back on the road to success. Go Illini!
I am still optimistic for this season, and believe the coaching staff and players have too much pride and athletic ability to let it slip away. If they can fix the blocking and tackling issues that have cropped up far too often, it would be a great start to getting us back on the road to success. Go Illini!
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They have had a one dimensional offensive attack. "Iowa has a quarterback this year!" Has been the running joke...Not Illinois vs USC so we are off topic but I'm just pointing out a similar timeframe offensive line coach hire that has yielded a much better result.
I agree with the slow developing plays, the couple of times they showed the QB view you can see no receiver was even in his break when Luke was under pressure - he had nowhere to throw the ball it seemed on several of the sacks. We needed to adjust to quick hitters and pick plays but it seemed we didn’t adjust play calling at all. Meanwhile IU is getting the ball out quick and we couldn’t get even close to Mendoza
Luke also started seeing ghosts and put his head down too quickly which he hasn’t really improved on in three years so he likely “is what he is” which is a really good QB and elite when given time to throw but very below average under pressure. Other teams know this so we need to gameplan for that much better than we did on Saturday
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