Yes, the defense has been disappointing. But the Oline play is the most baffling and disappointing. This was considered to be a strength this year.
Wisconsin 27, Illinois 10 Postgame
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That's another thing I have observed over the years our overall team speed on offense and defense is subpar compared to the top programs year after year. Maybe it goes back to Brets days at Wisconsin where they had massive offensive lines and big backs and just wore down defenses running it down their throat. That won't get you a championship in this age. We need more speed and athleticism on both sides of the ball if we ever hope to compete at the cfp level.
Bring in Fletch from Basketball already!!!
Yes, Luke took a lot of hits and yes, our line play is bad… but, Luke was also holding on to the ball way too long. Probably a function of play calling and him trying to make something happen but that ball’s gotta get out of his hands quicker vs a pass rush like that. I kept waiting for a screen pass. I’m still waiting …
I certainly heard or did NOT hear apathy from anyoneGetting mad in the presser doesn’t solve anything … And just brings more negativity to the program …
Handle thatinternally … Like a pro …
And that’s exactly what he’s doing …
Man, for real! What could have been if we had a better team around LA.
Think we need to admit we don’t have the level of talent and athleticism we need to take the next step.
Luke has really played well but is often limited due to poor line play and no other real stars to line up with.
Love Hank but honestly other BIG coaches don’t have to scheme for him. He’s not an imposing speed guy and doesn’t have the size to be a 50/50 guy. The other WR’s - decent but not threatening.
Valentines is our best back in terms of being a real threat in my opinion. Even at his size he seems to get more tough yards than anyone else due to low pad and serious leg drive and he has the burst to run away. His limitation is the same as Luke - O-Line.
Defense? Just nothing good to say unfortunately. Jacas hasn’t had a great year and no one else seems to stand out. We don’t tackle well at all and have a noticeable lack of team speed.
I too get frustrated with our offensive play calling and defensive scheme and assume Coach will do what he feels best in the off season, but we won’t take a step forward from 7-8 wins without the right Jimmy’s and Joe’s. I wouldn’t have complained about that a few years ago but we’ve gotten a taste of what it feels like and I want to be greedy!
Luke has really played well but is often limited due to poor line play and no other real stars to line up with.
Love Hank but honestly other BIG coaches don’t have to scheme for him. He’s not an imposing speed guy and doesn’t have the size to be a 50/50 guy. The other WR’s - decent but not threatening.
Valentines is our best back in terms of being a real threat in my opinion. Even at his size he seems to get more tough yards than anyone else due to low pad and serious leg drive and he has the burst to run away. His limitation is the same as Luke - O-Line.
Defense? Just nothing good to say unfortunately. Jacas hasn’t had a great year and no one else seems to stand out. We don’t tackle well at all and have a noticeable lack of team speed.
I too get frustrated with our offensive play calling and defensive scheme and assume Coach will do what he feels best in the off season, but we won’t take a step forward from 7-8 wins without the right Jimmy’s and Joe’s. I wouldn’t have complained about that a few years ago but we’ve gotten a taste of what it feels like and I want to be greedy!
The talent level on this team is less than we had on last year's team, but this year we had the much easier schedule.
Last year's team was 9-3 in the regular season and won't a couple of miraculous games with Purdue and Rutgers coming first to mind. That very easily could have been a 7-5 season too. In my view, this has been a nice year. For me, losing by 50+ to Indiana eliminated any hope for being a contender for anything significant. The Ohio State game, at home, reinforced that and the loss at Washington etched this team in the "average to good category". Tonight's game was just a bust from the jump. One team was ready to play and the other sees the end of the season and just wants to get there. That's on Bielema. Losing on scheme and talent is one thing, but losing because of effort and focus falls on the head honcho.
Let's see what we can do with Northwestern, play some younger guys in a contracted bowl, then really, really hit the ground hard to try and build both lines. The offensive and defensive lines have been problematic all year. If you can't control the line of scrimmage, you're not going to win.
There are a ton of holes on this roster and it stretched from the corners/DBs, to both lines, to a group of possession receivers and no big plays threats. That includes the running backs. Not one home run hitter whatsoever on the offense.
Lots of work to do, including replacing the QB, this off-season.
The best teams dominate the line of scrimmage. We are weakest at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. We have to improve there to take the next step.
I remember being excited so many guys were coming back especially O line guys. Now I am looking forward to them being gone and hoping we will have guys who bring it every game.
100% on this. These are paid professionals and they have to own this too. They need to earn their money and they haven't.
The days of the excuses are gone and the days of the coaching staff taking 100% of the hit are gone. Earn your money fellas. You didn't tonight.
hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
this is the danger in BB’s “making changes necessary after the season”. the players can read between the lines. most of the team, especially on the defensive side, seems to have checked out on their coaches at this point.
Spot on and POTD.
Fan Since '70
- OBS, Florida
This loss feels worse than the Indiana loss, considering how bad Wisconsin was this season. So much bad play to spread around among players and play callers too.
Can't speak on his relationships with the athletes, and it's hard to give him full credit for the kicking as Olano is one of the best in the nation, but I would argue that our coverage on special teams has been quite good under him and we're getting decent blocking on kick and punt returns. Prior to this game, Illinois was considered Top 5 in the B10 for most aspects of special teams. Not saying we can't find better, but I really think most of struggles on special teams that we've had this year can be boiled down to the long snapper, which is odd as Hansen has a ton of games under him. Could we get better than Discher? Possibly, but I don't think he's been bad coaching up special teams.What does Discher bring to the table ??? Genuine question …
Our special teams isn’t great … TE recruits said they don’t have a good relationship with him and have gone elsewhere … Our TE production ??? Mediocre is a NICE way to describe it …
If we wanna be a big boy program … We need to go get someone better …
And I like the guy … Seems like a great dude …
But this
As for the Tight End production situation, I think there's a lot of blame to go around on that one. I don't think we as a whole have figured out we can use tight ends as receivers yet, though the last few games have been better on that front. Honestly, Lunney needs to consider leaking out TEs as a safety valve more often in next season's offense
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Just got back from the game. Wow, was that a rough one -- got dominated in the trenches from the get go and costly special team mistakes throughout which made the game a runaway. Wisky felt like in complete control of the game from the first snap. Without seeing replay there were a few calls (or lack thereof) that hurt: the offensive pi that stalled a drive (it looked like two players hand fighting from naked eye), the long td run had a potential hold in middle of field (but the hole was so large it likely would have had minimal impact), and a crucial missed holding call in the drive where Wisky extended lead to 14 (though they converted a 3rd and 14 right after, so hard to complain too much).
Now to gameday atmosphere: there were plenty of seats open, but the fans were super engaged for a terrible now 4-7 team. The students were also there in large numbers and stayed until the end. Huge props to them for being supportive and engaged throughout. They really created a ton of noise. From a cultural standpoint, we have a ways to go in fan/student engagement. I fear the engagement we will have next week.
Huge game next week. We can still get to the 8-4 record that I predicted pre-season, but it will not be easy. Really a huge disappointment of a game tonight, and it marks the 4th blowout loss of the season, which is tough to swallow and is super disappointing given preseason expectations.
Now to gameday atmosphere: there were plenty of seats open, but the fans were super engaged for a terrible now 4-7 team. The students were also there in large numbers and stayed until the end. Huge props to them for being supportive and engaged throughout. They really created a ton of noise. From a cultural standpoint, we have a ways to go in fan/student engagement. I fear the engagement we will have next week.
Huge game next week. We can still get to the 8-4 record that I predicted pre-season, but it will not be easy. Really a huge disappointment of a game tonight, and it marks the 4th blowout loss of the season, which is tough to swallow and is super disappointing given preseason expectations.
Thank god it’s basketball season.
They had numerous lined up, but all of them got batted down.
That’s deceiving. If you include the true odds with vig Illinois was over 60% to win 8 games. Not 50% to win 7.5.
I read the thread prior to listening to Bret’s press conference. People mentioned disappointment in that Bret appeared “ok” or “complacent” with what happened. Then I watched his press conference. I’m a bit of a connoisseur of his press conferences and watch every one of them sometimes more than once. Pre game. Post game. Monday. Thursday. All of them.
Bret was fed up post Wisconsin. Pissed off. I promise you it was blatantly obvious people have ALREADY lost their jobs. Coaches and players. I bet you more players lose their jobs this year than in all Bret’s previous years. He’s pissed. There will be changes..
Bret was fed up post Wisconsin. Pissed off. I promise you it was blatantly obvious people have ALREADY lost their jobs. Coaches and players. I bet you more players lose their jobs this year than in all Bret’s previous years. He’s pissed. There will be changes..
the national
- the Front Range
I was at the game tonight. I can’t remember a team with less bite than us in this game. Milk toast all around. It was so frustrating watching the defense concede 4-5 yards before engagement on every play. Fickle out coached BB. But it observably was worse. The team looked deflated. Luke looked frustrated. He was upset with luney when he took the first timeout before the half. The huddle didn’t look cohesive after. I told my brother - his team has either quit, or they not being coached well.
All the Illinois fans I ran across (and there was a lot of them) expressed similar sentiments and that next week might be painted purple
All the Illinois fans I ran across (and there was a lot of them) expressed similar sentiments and that next week might be painted purple
We are indeed changing expectations- but I really don't love this post- Bret is the one that set up high expectations for this season, inferring we could play in the playoffs. We might finish 7-5 and just got our A$$ handed to us by a BAD Wisconsin team, with one of the worst offenses in college football (scored 27). There is literally not one area we played better than them. Now is not the time to tell us not to be pissed.
I’ve been very critical of Henry but a lot of this was on special teams. I’m by no means saying the defense was good
What does Discher bring to the table ??? Genuine question …
Our special teams isn’t great … TE recruits said they don’t have a good relationship with him and have gone elsewhere … Our TE production ??? Mediocre is a NICE way to describe it …
If we wanna be a big boy program … We need to go get someone better …
And I like the guy … Seems like a great dude …
But this
We need to shake up the coaching staff. Team wasn’t ready to play today and we didn’t adjust in game. If you want a te coach Morgan Turner is available. He did a very good job at Stanford coaching te
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