The same “lack of fundamentals” we’ve watched for years already. Maybe there is truth to the “Lovie effect” still doing damage. Our players seem to lack either confidence, or preparedness. Like you said, somebody needs to step up and make a play when the game is on the line. We apparently have no volunteers.
Rutgers 20, Illinois 14 Postgame
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altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Nevertheless, I watched Penn State-OSU last evening and marveled, given how PSU was toe-to-toe with them until well into the 3rd quarter, that the Illini beat them on the road last week. Granted, Sean Clifford seemed much healthier this week but still... Quite a win that was.
Appears that only getting to watch the 1st half was a good thing before family time took priority.
I’ll depress myself at a later time with second half thoughts.
I’ll depress myself at a later time with second half thoughts.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Appears that only getting to watch the 1st half was a good thing before family time took priority.
I’ll depress myself at a later time with second half thoughts.
Yeah... And that was sustained for a really long time...It never seemed this hard to turn the Illini program around on NCAA ‘06…
We're just not big enough, strong enough, fast enough or TALENTED enough... Every once in a while we catch lightening in a bottle, but that's about it. AND will remain it until we can recruit players who are bigger, stronger, faster and more talented....
Other than those things you mentioned we seem to be okay.
That 18 year old is no ordinary 18 year old QB. Gavin Wimsatt. The kid has been compared to Justin Field coming out of high school. No 1 player out of Kentucky and a major recruiting coup for Rutgers. Highest rated HS QB ever recruited by the program.Top ten dual threat QB for 2021 (he was class of 2022 but skipped his high school senior year). Yes,it was quite a moment, but I don't think Schiano was trying to be obnoxious to Illinois by putting him in there. The other Rutgers QBs are not stellar, and Wimsatt seemed like a good bet for a change of pace at that critical juncture of 4 and 5.
This was a good game that came down to the last play. It is puzzling that BB went with that outside run,but the Rutgers defender made a great play.
Best of luck to Illinois for the rest of the season. Used to have a close friend in Champaign. Visited there many times.
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Go Nats 88 Illini
Fairfax, VA
That is true, but he stepped up in a big moment. Bad for the beloved, but cool for that kid. Hard to have to step in at that age at that moment. Good for him.
illini80
- Forgottonia
It’s still frustrating. Ain’t nobody happy. BUT, many of us said going in that even if we didn’t win as many games as hoped, we needed to at least look competitive for a change. So I decided to look back at last year and see if we have made any real progress. 7 game season last year and 9 games so far this year.
2020 - Opponents avg score = 35.9 vs Illinois avg score of 21.6 Difference of 14.3 per game
2021 - Opponents avg score = 23.3 vs Illinois avg score of 17.5 Difference of 5.8 per game
Looking at conference games only:
2021 - Opponents avg score = 19.5 vs Illinois avg score of 15.0 Difference of 4.5 per game
While we are all thinking of what could have been, we are in a much better place than 1 year ago. I would argue if you put BheBhe back on this team our offense could/would/should be better than last years. Point being, we have made progress and shouldn’t lose sight of that. We shouldn’t be satisfied either, but to say (as I have) its the same ole thing just isn’t fair to the players or staff. I believe we will get there. And of course we won’t be satisfied then either, but that’s another discussion.
2020 - Opponents avg score = 35.9 vs Illinois avg score of 21.6 Difference of 14.3 per game
2021 - Opponents avg score = 23.3 vs Illinois avg score of 17.5 Difference of 5.8 per game
Looking at conference games only:
2021 - Opponents avg score = 19.5 vs Illinois avg score of 15.0 Difference of 4.5 per game
While we are all thinking of what could have been, we are in a much better place than 1 year ago. I would argue if you put BheBhe back on this team our offense could/would/should be better than last years. Point being, we have made progress and shouldn’t lose sight of that. We shouldn’t be satisfied either, but to say (as I have) its the same ole thing just isn’t fair to the players or staff. I believe we will get there. And of course we won’t be satisfied then either, but that’s another discussion.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
That really is a huge improvement in points allowed and under 20 ppg allowed in conference is also remarkable. Since game 3 the offense has been AOL.
While I agree that Lovie's D will not work at the collegiate level, you are being awfully selective there. I hated Lovie's O but, it was much better than BB's. You can't say that progress has been made in one area while ignoring all others so that means the team is better. I rarely like what former DC's do with their O's when they become Head Coaches and it wouldn't take much at all for BB to have a better O. But, he has failed to do that. Plus, he has had four very winnable games that his decisions have been big contributors to defeats.
...except, this could be a bowl team right now...I mean, this isn't the first game the coaches put the team at a disadvantage with the game on the line. I don't know if it's the OC or the head coach that made those calls, but it's hurt the team.
It's strange that BB's defense has been better than Lovie's, a defensive specialist.
Lovie ran a D that required instant recognition and reaction. The type of individuals that can successfully accomplish this rarely exist at the college level. A lot of guys in the NFL can't play in that type of D. Lovie's mistake was that he stubbornly refused to accept that fact. Add that to the fact that he insisted upon pounding the ball on the ground, hurt Illinois tremendously. Like quite a few former DC's, he wanted to keep his D out of any trouble at all while shortening the game clock. Three and out on O is not the way to win games. Good riddance! Still, the amount of hate towards Lovie is astounding!
Maybe we should propose a game with the Intermural all-stars. There are probably some on campus who could walk on and make our team.
If the Illini beat Northwestern, I’ll consider this a decent first season for BB. I’ve definitely seen improvement on defense that I think can be sustained. Jury still out on offense, and recruiting …
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
Any of these HC's that would make a good OC for ILL?
Yeah... It 'could' (See definition of)... IF the players were bigger, stronger, faster and more talented, then they 'could' (still NOT in the category of 'would') ! ! ! But since the current players aren't big enough, strong enough, fast enough or talented enough, it's NOT a bowl team... And won't be until we find the players that ARE !
Quite frankly we've faced this problem since 1959 after Ray Eliot retired. We've hired, fired FIFTEEN (15) head coaches since then - Fifteen ! ! ! So what you are seeing is the RESULT of all that ! Keep doing the same thing, and keep getting the same result... what's that called, I forgot !
I wouldn't think so, most offensive coaches gone right now wouldn't take an OC job for us as they can go to Saban's rehab school and get better jobs. Other issue is that BB has a vision and a former head coach is going to have their own agenda that may not align. Guessing we get TP for another 2-3 years until BB has his guys in starting roles and then needs to upgrade the OC position to have us take the next step.
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