Wisconsin 24, Illinois 0 Postgame

#101      
Listened to the game yesterday and watched it this morning. It was worse than I thought and I thought it was really bad.

We looked like boys playing men in every facet of the game. Illinois with 9 first downs and I’m pretty sure 6 were due to PI and roughing the passer penalties. 2 of the actual 1st downs came late when the game was already long over. The other was a nice Chase Brown run that was our total rushing output for the entire game.

Our defense missed tackles and got pushed around even by the second string. Our offensive line barely laid a hand on guys as they ran by them. Our QB’s were bad, but they had no chance. Blitzes came thru untouched. Even when we had a back in to protect they ran right by them. Every offensive play for Wisconsin had blockers running downfield or pushing the pile. Every run play for us had 3 or 4 defenders running to the ball and we had no one blocking.

I’ve seen us lose games by much worse scores obviously, but I don’t know if we’ve been dominated more physically than we were today. Just a disappointing performance on every level. Thank goodness for Blake Hayes.
I’m watching the game now and agree with your assessment. It’s easy to either be very upset about the performance or totally apathetic. I hope the coaches are not the latter, but the BB press conference left me thinking that it is.

I’m piling on (in mostly a state of apathy) but this game was a big step backwards in every facet. The offense and the QBs get a lot of well deserved blame, but the defense was also abominable. They gave up almost 400 yards rushing when we knew they were going to run the ball every time.
 
#102      
I’m watching the game now and agree with your assessment. It’s easy to either be very upset about the performance or totally apathetic. I hope the coaches are not the latter, but the BB press conference left me thinking that it is.

I’m piling on (in mostly a state of apathy) but this game was a big step backwards in every facet. The offense and the QBs get a lot of well deserved blame, but the defense was also abominable. They gave up almost 400 yards rushing when we knew they were going to run the ball every time.
Damn I did not realize WI rushed for 391 yards. I knew defense didn’t look good either and admittedly Started to zone out late in game, but damn. Offense certainly did D no favors, but still.
 
#103      
I was wondering what do we have to lose by trying Ford at wide out. At least make a defender much shorter , work harder to cover him.
 
#105      

blackdog

Champaign
Damn I did not realize WI rushed for 391 yards. I knew defense didn’t look good either and admittedly Started to zone out late in game, but damn. Offense certainly did D no favors, but still.

On the other side held Mertz to 10/19 100 yards and an INT. Got bullied up front but good pass coverage
 
#106      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
Yep...as Gritty has very clearly pointed out.....I think my (our) frustration has been directed at the wrong "Peter"....

lolol-oh-no.gif
 
#109      

Illinir1

Camdenton, MO
Illini did three things right yesterday that I said they would have to in order to be in the game against Wisc.: 0 penalties, 0 turnovers, forced 2 Wisc. turnovers. Unfortunately, to go along with that you need to also play offense and defense and neither of those happened.

Staff needs to throw this game tape away and start playing more players who aren't going to be here next year.
 
#110      

illini80

Forgottonia
Most of our current QBs are transfers. There's no guarantee that the portal will solve our issues.
You are correct, but it’s the quickest path to a turnaround if we can find one. I wouldn’t put the odds at over about 25%. Hope I’m too low.
 
#111      
I’m watching the game now and agree with your assessment. It’s easy to either be very upset about the performance or totally apathetic. I hope the coaches are not the latter, but the BB press conference left me thinking that it is.

I’m piling on (in mostly a state of apathy) but this game was a big step backwards in every facet. The offense and the QBs get a lot of well deserved blame, but the defense was also abominable. They gave up almost 400 yards rushing when we knew they were going to run the ball every time.
Were it not for the two turnovers and 9 penalties they might have run for 600 yards.
 
#113      
So again, my question is - what have you seen from Bielema that would lead you to believe he'll go from "gigantic mistake, obvious from the very moment it happened" to a great choice that will turn things around?

If I believed that his choice OC was "laughably unqualified and overmatched" I wouldn't want him making a meaningful decision about the program ever again.

I will never understand this mentality.
Is this the reason we've had Fifteen (15) coaching changes since 1959... Make a mistake and you're out the door. Hire a new flunky, and repeat the process ?
 
#115      
BB needs to find the players that will establish the culture he wants even if they are less talented, similar to T Frazier and D Williams in basketball. I thought the Virginia game presented that opportunity but yesterday’s performance tells me he has not found those culture building players. I did not expect a win but that was a total beat down with no fight.
 
#116      
They gave up almost 400 yards rushing when we knew they were going to run the ball every time.
And yet how many times did we put 3 in the front line and do 8. And then when we did stack the line or run slants it didn't work. Seems like most everytime we stunted it was to the wrong side.
 
#117      

RedRocksIllini

Morrison, CO
On the other side held Mertz to 10/19 100 yards and an INT. Got bullied up front but good pass coverage
I'm trying real hard to see something positive from this season. This point is one thing that I think needs to be appreciated. The pass coverage this year is so much better than the previous ?? seasons. Much tougher to complete passes when the defender is in the same zip code as the receiver he is supposed to cover.
 
#118      
The loss Saturday was certainly disheartening but we can’t give up hope. Keep in mind that Wisconsin will probably end up with an 8-4 record. Maybe 9-3 if they can handle Iowa. I watched the game in person and on replay Sunday. What struck me most was the difference in physicality between their lines and ours on both sides of the ball. I certainly agree the QB situation needs to be addressed before next year (this year is what it is). Other than that our biggest shortfall seems to be the offensive and defensive lines. Hopefully they can watch the film and see how it is supposed to be done.
 
#119      
It's impossible to attempt 14 passes and not complete any without some external force misdirecting the ball. And I think we can thank Coach Bielema for his bonehead decision to not go with the Gray Ghost uniforms. The team is clearly cursed, and will show that again in their next game. Fortunately, BB can break the curse by bringing back the Gray Ghost uniforms for the Rutgers game the day before Halloween. And if not, well, they will look spooked against Iowa, mark my words!
 
#120      
The loss Saturday was certainly disheartening but we can’t give up hope. Keep in mind that Wisconsin will probably end up with an 8-4 record. Maybe 9-3 if they can handle Iowa. I watched the game in person and on replay Sunday. What struck me most was the difference in physicality between their lines and ours on both sides of the ball. I certainly agree the QB situation needs to be addressed before next year (this year is what it is). Other than that our biggest shortfall seems to be the offensive and defensive lines. Hopefully they can watch the film and see how it is supposed to be done.
It was HUGE !
 
#121      
Bret will get it done here, but no way can anyone come in and turn it around in year one.

It’s a process and I really think we have the right guy - but the offensive game plan today was terrible and put us in a big hole.

We need a qb that can read defenses and hit some throws. That said we should have at least tried running today.
I agree with you. Brett needs to call Mike White for some JC QB prospects in California for us to pursue.
 
#122      
I really hope we can get some decent QB play sooner than later because I don't want our running backs' talents going to waste (absolutely love our RBs!) Notice I'm not even asking for much here. All I'm asking for is "decent" QB play. I don't think we had that since Scheelhasse (yeah its been THAT long)

Keep in mind I'm all in on Coach Bielema (he's proven he can win in the Big Ten) its just gonna take some time.
 
#123      
I really hope we can get some decent QB play sooner than later because I don't want our running backs' talents going to waste (absolutely love our RBs!) Notice I'm not even asking for much here. All I'm asking for is "decent" QB play. I don't think we had that since Scheelhasse (yeah its been THAT long)

Keep in mind I'm all in on Coach Bielema (he's proven he can win in the Big Ten) its just gonna take some time.
Football is a different game today than it was during his WI years.
 
#124      
Football is a different game today than it was during his WI years.
It is, but we just got trounced by old school bully ball. Can you win a natty or even play in a New Years day bowl playing that way nowadays? Maybe not. But can you build a program that wins 6-8 games each year consistently? Absolutely, and especially in the big ten west. Which sounds amazing to me right now. Lets get to that point and then start wondering if we can get to the big time playing that style. Baby steps.