^This. I was hoping for a 4 win season, but I don't see it anymore. This year and next I'm really not looking for wins (which is a good thing for me apparently). I want to see them play hard, I want to see discipline, and I want to see improvement from week to week. Low expectations, right? Not happening. Still hope it happens though. And we need improvements in every, single facet of the game. It's hard to pick just one thing to be horrified by today, but are we scary bad on special teams again?
Western Michigan 34, Illinois 10 POSTGAME
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^This. I was hoping for a 4 win season, but I don't see it anymore. This year and next I'm really not looking for wins (which is a good thing for me apparently). I want to see them play hard, I want to see discipline, and I want to see improvement from week to week. Low expectations, right? Not happening. Still hope it happens though. And we need improvements in every, single facet of the game. It's hard to pick just one thing to be horrified by today, but are we scary bad on special teams again?
A very high quality opponent, but a dispiriting performance even accounting for that. 3 poor performances so far.
I wish we weren't where we are, but here we are.
There is nothing you'd want to be done to fix this that we don't already have in motion. If you're out on Lovie now you were never in.
I wish we weren't where we are, but here we are.
There is nothing you'd want to be done to fix this that we don't already have in motion. If you're out on Lovie now you were never in.
BZuppke
- Plainfield
Just a thought:
PJ Fleck is in his fourth year at WMU and his team has been learning his system for the last four years.
Our guys are learning whole new systems once again and while there are talent issues, a lot of what we're seeing is mistakes being made because the players are still new to the system. Nothing we can do but keep working and fighting.
PJ Fleck is in his fourth year at WMU and his team has been learning his system for the last four years.
Our guys are learning whole new systems once again and while there are talent issues, a lot of what we're seeing is mistakes being made because the players are still new to the system. Nothing we can do but keep working and fighting.
That's a GREAT way to look at it. Have to go to every home game, enjoy the atmosphere, and cheer for the kids. It's going to be a long three years, but there's still a lot of fun to be had between now and then (and a TON we can learn by watching this take shape). A looong three years.
This.
In the early Beckman days there were a lot of posters who convinced themselves that Beckman was building quality depth that would flourish once the guys had 3, 4 and 5 years in system. That he was building a program when in fact he was recruiting mostly non Big 10 talent.
A lot was made of the recruiting failures of Zook's latter years and they were not good but still 2 of the 3 recruited Illini to make the pros last year (Karras and Ferg) were Zook recruits. Beckman did not bring in quality depth and very very few NFL caliber players. He was an abject failure and digging out of that hole will be bigger than the Turner or Zook rebuilds.
ding ding ding
Lovie can't put a terrible Beckman team in the microwave over the summer and create a bowl team. Give him a duration of time measured in seasons before we declare him a bust. I'm still over the moon because he's professional, well-spoken, and will certainly be able to bring in better talent.
In the meantime, we need to patiently bear this season and wait for basketball to start.
It was a pass. Blown call
And a truly bizarre one. It wasn't even close to an "empty hand" situation.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Obviously my expectations were way too optimistic for this season. I thought this team could win 5-6 games. Based on nothing but hope really. After these last two games I'm thinking we may only have a chance against Purdue at home and thats about it. One thing we did find out today is that we have a bad defense to go along with our bad offense and special teams. One change I would make after today is to bench Vaughn. With a line so bad you need a back who hits the line hard rather than tippy-toe around. i wouldn't be against benching Lunt either. This situation isn't his fault but they aren't going to win much this year so why not give the qb's who are going to be here in the next few years some playing time?
The ball left Lunt's hand at the end of his throwing motion and it flew forward ten yards landing just short of an eligible reciever's feet while the defensive player, for his part, had been swiping at Lunt's arm in the opposite direction. It wasn't just a poor understand of the rule, it was a poor understanding of physics.
Well. splat.
Cant keep being the team that makes mistakes. That team loses a lot.
Cant keep being the team that makes mistakes. That team loses a lot.
"blown call" is an excuse for the refs missing the call on the field. That play going to the replay booth and coming back a fumble is an abomination.
**still no excuse for getting mauled (rowed?) by WMU like that at home.
Good time for a bye week. This team needs as much practice time as possible to learn the new systems.
WMU might be the 3rd best team we face all year. And like other poster have stated, Fleck is in his fourth year there and Lovie is in his first.
We still have enough talent to compete with many of the teams on our schedule.
Personally, I'd like to see Crouch get some playing time. He's a better fit for this offense and his presence could help open up our running game, which we desperately need.
Anyway, I'm still holding out hope that the bye week will allow us some time to prepare for the BIG schedule, and that we'll pull off 5 more wins (Purdue, Rutgers, Minnesota, Northwestern, and....an upset)
But, man, today was tough to watch...
WMU might be the 3rd best team we face all year. And like other poster have stated, Fleck is in his fourth year there and Lovie is in his first.
We still have enough talent to compete with many of the teams on our schedule.
Personally, I'd like to see Crouch get some playing time. He's a better fit for this offense and his presence could help open up our running game, which we desperately need.
Anyway, I'm still holding out hope that the bye week will allow us some time to prepare for the BIG schedule, and that we'll pull off 5 more wins (Purdue, Rutgers, Minnesota, Northwestern, and....an upset)
But, man, today was tough to watch...
Why do people want to have new QB. Lunt delivered perfect passes again yesterday. Drops and no O line are the problem. But why should I care I root for a after thought D-1 school in the two biggest men's sports in colege.
I'm going with the fumble call. Here's why: That WMU defensive lineman hit Lunt's elbow before Lunt started his follow-thru. Even the TV guys didn't catch this for as many times they replayed it. Pretty goofy, I know, but still...
And here I thought I was going to enjoy watching this year's senior-led Dline even more than last year's Jihad's-led Dline. Oh well. BUT, the season is still young...
Special teams. Really?
Malik needs to catch those things.
And here I thought I was going to enjoy watching this year's senior-led Dline even more than last year's Jihad's-led Dline. Oh well. BUT, the season is still young...
Special teams. Really?
Malik needs to catch those things.
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With our luck , so will Kansas.
FT35
- Naperville
He did fine yesterday. The problem is that he has no mobility which makes him a horrific fit for this offense. Not really his fault, but watching him roll out yesterday was almost comical.
This team has a 2012 feel to it. A Senior dominated defense that can't stop anyone and an anemic offense that can't score. That combination assures that we're going to lose a number of games, a problem lose big.
That can be a fumble if he's just batting forward the ball with an "empty hand". You see plays like that from time to time. But that's not what the Lunt thing was. The throw was affected by the hit, but he clearly and unambiguously threw the ball forward. The replay lingered on a still frame when the contact was initiated just before the arm started moving forward, but that's not the relevant question.
Regarding this game and UNC it is now apparant where we lack talent. That is pretty much all over the field with the exception of our d-line and MLB. Every where else we are bottom level big Conference.
Lovie said something important at his press conference, he said he was going to look at JC players during the bye week. Lovie is well connected, one reason he was able to pull away McGee from Louisville and Nickerson from the 49ers. Those 3 coaches aren't going to tolerate a slow build, I'm convinced they will bring upgraded JC talent and grad student transfers next year.
The offense McGee built and recruited at Louisville just dropped over 60 pts on the #2 FSU. The players Lovie is using are the players Beckman recruited during the transition from Zook. He is coaching against teams that have been built over 3-4 years by the current coaching staffs.
Lovie said something important at his press conference, he said he was going to look at JC players during the bye week. Lovie is well connected, one reason he was able to pull away McGee from Louisville and Nickerson from the 49ers. Those 3 coaches aren't going to tolerate a slow build, I'm convinced they will bring upgraded JC talent and grad student transfers next year.
The offense McGee built and recruited at Louisville just dropped over 60 pts on the #2 FSU. The players Lovie is using are the players Beckman recruited during the transition from Zook. He is coaching against teams that have been built over 3-4 years by the current coaching staffs.
PJ Fleck went 1-11 in his first year. I think we can all see that four years in he has built his program. I am confident in Lovie, but he is going to have to demand attention to detail to set the tone for this program. It is going to be a rough two years as he builds his team. This team is an important base, but let's hope that they are the bottom.
DaChief4ever
- Urbana
I was thinking the same idea on Lunt....he had some good stats in the game...but I can see our opponents looking for 2 minutes at our tape..." Hmmmm...lunt drops back and passes." It's so predicable, and it becomes a contest between our receivers and their defenders.
PostersLastStand
- Wayne County, IL
I'm disappointed so far, but I didn't realize Western Michigan was a very good football that is very well coached, still if you make tackles, reduce penalties and stay within the system, then we may not win. But it won't be embarrassing. Easy to say for a fat, gray headed man that never played college football. Go team, go Lovie and staff. I can't wait to see how well this staff recruits. If the Illini play, I will watch or listen. Disappointed, but loyal. So far, not that it has cost us the win, the officiating has been terrible.
We are very senior dominated in the 1st and 2nd string on defense. Curious how this will be filled during the off season. To say the cupboard is nearly empty is an understatement.
The positive is that there is opportunity for the new staff to fill the voids. For the grad and JC student transfers looking for playing time Illinois has spots.
The positive is that there is opportunity for the new staff to fill the voids. For the grad and JC student transfers looking for playing time Illinois has spots.
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