Illinois/Zook Recruiting

[Sportsbuck28]

Originally Posted by illinidarrin

BTW, i think Melvin will stick to his commitment.

Illinois, by some virtue, had their explosion this year in the weakest year for the Big Ten in recent memory. How will they fare when the Big Ten is doing well, or even good?

[illinidarrin]

ok, i will try this again.

I think it's ridiculous for people to say that we have gotten as far as we can go. We continue to recruit very well. Losing both mendenhall and Leman will hurt, but we will be ok with out them. Our running game will be pretty strong with Pollard, Dufrene and Jason Ford.

I think the passing game will be much better next year than last. Juice is finally coming along as a passer. On defense i think the D-Line will be better also, with just about everybody coming back and then you add D-Lo McCray (who was injured) then you also add Ellis and hopefully Liuget into the mix, i think the line will be very strong. Losing leman will hurt but we still have Miller back and Tez will be a every down player next year.

The secondary will be solid also with Davis,Hicks,Miami Thomas, Hardeman and Bellamy coming back from an injury. I dont see much of a drop-off next year. The 2009 season could be very special for Illinois and have a chance to win the Big Ten. That team will be loaded.

[sandgk]

illinidarrin - I don't see a specific comment that Illinois has gone as far as they will go. In fact IMHO in all likelihood they can look forward to vying for the top 3 spots in the Big 10 as long as the recruiting keeps up it's momentum.

Where others raise questions, legitimately I feel, is how far the Illini can rise. In posing that question the issue isn't just next year. The issue is what happens when Michigan finally gets their ship onto Dick Wadriguez's track. You might reasonably respond, if that happen, but let's say, hypothetically, that happens in year 2 of RR's tenure as TSUN's coach. Further, you have the continued presence of Wisconsin as a routinely good team. You must also consider the possibility that Penn State finally gets their act together for a real run - maybe not next year - but again, perhaps in 2009-10. Finally, there is Ohio State - true there was the corrupt official / Defensively weak performance in Columbus that yielded the signature victory for the Illini in 2007. But next year in Champaign the Buckeye squad is Senior laden, while Illinois will have lost their signature back (though Cumberland and Williams do return), more importantly the heart of that Defense is gone in Lehman. (You also lose significant contributors at DT, Safety and other linebacker positions).

So, realistically - bearing in mind that Fresh or Frosh often don't work out - will the Illini be able to get to the very top - whilst Ohio State remains in the way, while Wisconsin keeps up their consistency, if Penn State gets a full head of steam - and if TSUN gets back on track with a new offense?

Your 2008 schedule as I recall has openers at Penn State and at Michigan in Big 10 play - you also face Mizzou once again in the OOC. The other key road game for the Illini, later in the season, is against that consistent Wisconsin squad.

[illinidarrin]

Originally Posted by sandgk

illinidarrin - I don't see a specific comment that Illinois has gone as far as they will go. In fact IMHO in all likelihood they can look forward to vying for the top 3 spots in the Big 10 as long as the recruiting keeps up it's momentum.

Where others raise questions, legitimately I feel, is how far the Illini can rise. In posing that question the issue isn't just next year. The issue is what happens when Michigan finally gets their ship onto Dick Wadriguez's track. You might reasonably respond, if that happen, but let's say, hypothetically, that happens in year 2 of RR's tenure as TSUN's coach. Further, you have the continued presence of Wisconsin as a routinely good team. You must also consider the possibility that Penn State finally gets their act together for a real run - maybe not next year - but again, perhaps in 2009-10. Finally, there is Ohio State - true there was the corrupt official / Defensively weak performance in Columbus that yielded the signature victory for the Illini in 2007. But next year in Champaign the Buckeye squad is Senior laden, while Illinois will have lost their signature back (though Cumberland and Williams do return), more importantly the heart of that Defense is gone in Lehman. (You also lose significant contributors at DT, Safety and other linebacker positions).

So, realistically - bearing in mind that Fresh or Frosh often don't work out - will the Illini be able to get to the very top - whilst Ohio State remains in the way, while Wisconsin keeps up their consistency, if Penn State gets a full head of steam - and if TSUN gets back on track with a new offense?

Your 2008 schedule as I recall has openers at Penn State and at Michigan in Big 10 play - you also face Mizzou once again in the OOC. The other key road game for the Illini, later in the season, is against that consistent Wisconsin squad.

It looks like the other post was deleted. It said that he thought that we hit our ceiling and all he could see is us going down from here.

Anyways, i still think Fellows will stick to his commitment, but who knows.

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by illinidarrin

It looks like the other post was deleted. It said that he thought that we hit our ceiling and all he could see is us going down from here.

Anyways, i still think Fellows will stick to his commitment, but who knows.

Yes, but what about the point made by Sportsbuck28 (and myself) how high does Illinois really think they will go?

[illinidarrin]

Originally Posted by sandgk

Yes, but what about the point made by Sportsbuck28 (and myself) how high does Illinois really think they will go?

i think they can equal what they did lastyear going into next year, but in 2009 i and a lot of Illini fans think they can win the Big Ten title and who knows where that will take them in a BCS.

[GrizzlyBuck]

I think that the reason some tOSU fans question how high the Illini's ceiling is, is how good of an X's and O's coach is Zook. He recruited very well at Florida, but did not win commensurate with the talent. If that was an aberation then the Illini should compete with tOSU, scUM, along with the occasional foray by Bucky and State Penn. If Zooks coaching success at UF was the norm, then I think the Illini have hit their ceiling. Time will tell.

[Buckeye Nut]

The true test of a program is consistensy. You always see teams have a good run every now and then like Illinois did this year, but can you keep doing it year after year when everybody is gunning for you like Ohio State has done. I'll be interested to see how Illinois does the next few years when teams are going to have the Illinois game circled on their schedule. I think they're on the right track and if they can repeat what they did this year for the next three years then you have to consider them a top tier program.

[troy#1]

Or anyone, Isnt coach zook a ohio native?

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Originally Posted by troy#1

Or anyone, Isnt coach zook a ohio native?

I bet if you google him you'll be able to find out.

[GrizzlyBuck]

Originally Posted by troy#1

Or anyone, Isnt coach zook a ohio native?

BKB is right about searching, Zook is from Ohio, the search function inside Buckeye Planet is a good one, and I even found out his hometown, it's........

[troy#1]

Originally Posted by Buckeyeskickbuttocks

I bet if you google him you'll be able to find out.

Its easier to just ask. I am sure someone knows off the top of their head. Seen a article about sec football coaches that are ohio natives like myer from fla., saban from bama, and I think zook as well, but he isnt in the sec anymore, it was a older article.

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Originally Posted by troy#1

Its easier to just ask. I am sure someone knows off the top of their head. Seen a article about sec football coaches that are ohio natives like myer from fla., saban from bama, and I think zook as well, but he isnt in the sec anymore, it was a older article.

Yeah, waiting on an answer here is worlds more difficult than typing "Ron Zook" in to google. My bad.

[troy#1]

Originally Posted by Buckeyeskickbuttocks

Yeah, waiting on an answer here is worlds more difficult than typing "Ron Zook" in to google. My bad.

Thanks

[troy#1]

Originally Posted by troy#1

Its easier to just ask. I am sure someone knows off the top of their head. Seen a article about sec football coaches that are ohio natives like myer from fla., saban from bama, and I think zook as well, but he isnt in the sec anymore, it was a older article.

MY BAD!!! I GOOGLED the coaches and saban is from west va., les miles is from ohio. When all the sec fans brag about the football and coaching in the sec, I pointed that out to them, and they said they honestly didnt know! Who would've thunk ?