Pregame: Illinois vs USC, Saturday, September 27th, 11:00am CT, FOX

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#126      
HensonHall71
If there is any sliver of hope- Nebraska got Shellacked like we did at IU last yesterday and the next game only lost by 4 at OSU, so they responded well- hopefully we do as well

I put a lot of the magnitude of the loss at IU on the coaches - how could you not? Not adjusting to the quick passing man coverage beaters by playing more zone (particularly with some key DB’s missing) not being more creative with the pressure packages etc. On offense - not adjusting the protection scheme, just had no answers

If anything in cause the coaches to completely relook at what they are doing and try something different for USC which is a good thing- if we don’t see fundamental scheme changes we should be worried
 
#127      
GoodePodzMelendez
Ander1345 said:
Probably depends on what Arkansas does with Pittman and if they promote Petrino or not. They may throw money at Lunney regardless?

Regarding this game, I wonder what they can change up on the OL that will help. We should be getting yards with Kaden just falling forward... and we could barely do that.
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They could change blocking schemes to create better holes. Either that of do more sweeps or I would even throw a few option plays. Getting KF with a full headed of steam waiting for the ball to get optioned to him would work. This running between the tackles or up the middle isn’t working. back to the blocking schemes, what was Arkin doing on the blocked punt? He completely missed the rusher who blocked the punt. He blocked in instead of blocking out which would have kept the rusher from our punter. Our line is the m ost important part of our game and when they cannot sustain drives, our D will be on the field too long.
 
#128      
Battle89
Oracle21 said:
The one thing USC does very poorly is penalties.

Vs GA Southern (8/93)
Vs Purdue (9/103)
Vs Michigan State (9/63)

For IL to win this game they need to play mistake free football and let USC beat themselves
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That is not what I expect after watching our line play as well as starting 3rd-stringers in the secondary.
 
#129      
Fighter of the Nightman
FWIW, these would be the specific games that I would consider the "psychological low points" of each of Bret's seasons here...

2021: 24-0 loss vs. Wisconsin on Homecoming (October 9)
2022: 31-24 loss vs. Purdue to eliminate us from Big Ten West race (November 12)
2023: 7-20 loss vs. Nebraska the day after Butkus passed (October 6)
2024: 25-17 loss vs. Minnesota the week after the Oregon beatdown (November 2)

... and this is how we responded the next game after each one:

2021: W 20-18 (OT) at #7 Penn State
2022: L 17-19 at #3 Michigan (last second FG and controversial call)
2023: W 27-24 at 5-1 Maryland
2024: W 38-16 vs. Michigan State

So in every single instance, we came out and played much, MUCH better than what seemed like rock bottom for that season. Even the one loss in 2022 very well might have been our best game of the year, considering #3 Michigan needed a HORRIBLY blown call and a last second FG to survive us at home. I'm really hopeful Bret and Co. have these guys pumped and ready to go!
 
#131      
blackdog
GoodePodzMelendez said:
They could change blocking schemes to create better holes. Either that of do more sweeps or I would even throw a few option plays. Getting KF with a full headed of steam waiting for the ball to get optioned to him would work. This running between the tackles or up the middle isn’t working. back to the blocking schemes, what was Arkin doing on the blocked punt? He completely missed the rusher who blocked the punt. He blocked in instead of blocking out which would have kept the rusher from our punter. Our line is the m ost important part of our game and when they cannot sustain drives, our D will be on the field too long.
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It seemed like the only answer to pressure Saturday was quick slants which IU really honed in on. Didn't have any WR screens, jet motion, sweeps, quick outs. Needed to get the defense moving side to side to open some lanes and slow them down just teeing off downhill. Never made them think twice.
 
#133      
Curbelo Fanboy
GoodePodzMelendez said:
They could change blocking schemes to create better holes. Either that of do more sweeps or I would even throw a few option plays. Getting KF with a full headed of steam waiting for the ball to get optioned to him would work. This running between the tackles or up the middle isn’t working. back to the blocking schemes, what was Arkin doing on the blocked punt? He completely missed the rusher who blocked the punt. He blocked in instead of blocking out which would have kept the rusher from our punter. Our line is the m ost important part of our game and when they cannot sustain drives, our D will be on the field too long.
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Also would seem we could dial up some middle screens & some draw action runs to try to slow the pass rush a bit. Especially when they are blitzing. If the opponent gets there with 4, that decreases the options obviously.

I'm guessing we see some 2 tight end heavy formation stuff early to try to get some running going. If we can eat some clock early & get points on the board, that can protect the defense from being exposed as much. Have to be able to move the ball tho.
 
#134      
RabidDawgClassic
Curbelo Fanboy said:
That's the All American Girl Jenny Taft as Gus likes to call her.
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I prefer the other All American Jenny.

IMG_4757.jpeg
 
#140      
DERV64
ChiefKingfisher said:
Wait and see what happens here before hitting the panic button. One game does not define a season. If we get blown out again, then yes hit the panic button.
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If you know ball, you've seen these problems from game 1 and saw this coming. The OL and Secondary hasnt been good enough....its not changing next week
 
#141      
Birdus
Last thing we need is for USC to have a party on our field with Leinart singing praises to USC and that stupid fight song playing every 6 minutes.
 
#142      
Deep
Birdus said:
Last thing we need is for USC to have a party on our field with Leinart singing praises to USC and that stupid fight song playing every 6 minutes.
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Weeeeellllllll
Just prepare yourself because likelihood of that is pretty good

I am always optimistic but you can't compete with back ups all over your secondary
 
#143      
Old.Edgy
Ander1345 said:
We will not be able to fix these problems in a week. Gonna be a long season.

There is simply no explanation for this schematic and systemic failure.
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Actually there is an explanation.... Not strong enough, not fast enough, not enough talent, not enough depth, not enough ....
 
#144      
Old.Edgy
With the beatdown we just experienced based on BLj's offense, I think anyone who might have been looking at him as a HC, will now start looking elsewhere... JMHO
 
#145      
Birdus
Deep said:
Weeeeellllllll
Just prepare yourself because likelihood of that is pretty good

I am always optimistic but you can't compete with back ups all over your secondary
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Sounds like this game is to showcase USC. We are simply being used. They decide to hop to Champaign at the worst time possible. Man
 
#146      
Todd99
All the more reason to go out and win this game, and then they can shove their showcase!
 
#147      
ChiefKingfisher
DERV64 said:
If you know ball, you've seen these problems from game 1 and saw this coming. The OL and Secondary hasnt been good enough....its not changing next week
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Sure, but that doesn’t mean we’re as bad as we looked at Indiana. Not saying we’re top 10, but I still think we’re better than we looked in that game. I expect the USC game to be at least somewhat more competitive.
 
#150      
GoodePodzMelendez
Teams have figured out our blocking schemes and they have adjusted. We need to reevaluate our schemes and I believe BB will have that corrected.
 
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