Illinois Fighting Illini (you'll see)

[buckeyesin07]

It's like the players got worse. Overnight.

Or - and this is the part that scares me the most - they don't care. And that's on the Zooker. Has to be.

Not to sound like a complete homer, but is it not possible that Illinois simply looked like garbage against OSU because OSU has one of the best defenses in the country this year?

I still think Illinois has a chance to be a decent team this year and finish near the top of the Big Ten; they at least have a puncher's chance at home this weekend against PSU.

 

[jwinslow]

Not to sound like a complete homer, but is it not possible that Illinois simply looked like garbage against OSU because OSU has one of the best defenses in the country this year?

Maybe if this was their first stinker, but it's not, nor their worst. Mizzou dominated them

 

[NFBuck]

Maybe. But they didn't change the plays, terminology, or formations. Mike Schultz (TCU) came in having run basically the same offense and adapted to the Locksley terminology.

Point being, I don't think any of the bad routes, skipped passes, and dropped balls can be put on the OC. It's like the players got worse. Overnight.

Or - and this is the part that scares me the most - they don't care. And that's on the Zooker. Has to be.

I think that '07 success was a lot more as a result of two special players, Mendenhall and Leyman, than many Illini fans were/are willing to admit. Most of us called it as we've seen it happen in the Big Ten numerous times. I, personally, can't fault Illini fans (except the kid, he went off the deep end in a glorious way) after all the waiting, but reality is a bitch.

 

[jwinslow]

Transcript from Zook's Tuesday presser.

Zook Addresses The Media - FIGHTINGILLINI.COM // THE OFFICIAL HOME OF UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ATHLETICS

Unfortunately, fightingillini.com doesn't post the entire thing, so any comments Zook may have had about events in the waning minutes of the game aren't in there, though he did comment on Sanni's tackle of Pryor oob.

On Supo Sanni's penalty against Ohio State:
"He's holding on for dear life. Somewhere along the line you have to understand you're out of bounds and let go. That was a penalty because they called it a penalty. He was a yard inside when he wrapped up on him and he's a guy that we stressed to all week long that you have to wrap up, you have to hold on and you have to go down with him. That's all he heard all week. I saw it on the replay. I looked at it many times and I didn't see any pushing or shoving."

On what happened after the penalty:
"I think they understand that they can't do that stuff. You can't become frustrated and have things like that happen."

this is a bit confusing. Is he saying he didn't see shoving during the play? Because he excuses the penalty for trying to wrap up, and says you can't act out of frustration after... But in the middle he claims there was no shoving?

 

[TheIronColonel]

Roughy, I am having the same confusion that you are. By all accounts, UICU should have a BETTER offense than last year. I mean, all the talent is still there, but they look...well, pathetic. They have no life. They just kind of walk out on the field, run some plays, then walk off for the punt team. The erratic play of this team has got to land squarely on the Zooker. Who else can you blame? He can't get his guys ready to play week in and week out; that's what a coach does.

 

[heisman]

this is a bit confusing. Is he saying he didn't see shoving during the play? Because he excuses the penalty for trying to wrap up, and says you can't act out of frustration after... But in the middle he claims there was no shoving?

There wasn't any shoving. Dude threw a punch.

 

[heisman]

Maybe. But they didn't change the plays, terminology, or formations. Mike Schultz (TCU) came in having run basically the same offense and adapted to the Locksley terminology.

But the play calling has. Specifically, I thought Locks really knew when to get them up tempo and then subsequently knew when they needed to slow down as well.

 

[NFBuck]

This is why, after he was hired, that I claimed that the 2009 season is the first season we Illini fans can truly begin to evaluate Ron Zook. Let him build what he's trying to build, and then evaluate the results at that time.

So far, I like what I see.

Ah, so this is why roughy is waiving the white flag now. Kudos on keeping your word.

 

[NFBuck]

-Illinois is going to start churning out a lot of pro prospects...very Miami esque. Starting with the 2009 NFL Draft. Vontae Davis, "barring injury or just a horrible campaign is a 1st round pick", Will Davis (Could be another with the really big year some are expecting), Xavier Fulton (Tons of upside...just starting playing LT last year...), etc. are just some of the names for next year. It REALLY takes off with the 2010 NFL Draft (Benn, Wilson, etc.) and after.

-Illinois will win the B10 and go to a BCS this year, setting up a HUGE 2009 when they win it again and win a NC. I can also see them not winning the B10 this year, but I doubt it. I think Illinois will just be too fast, too hungry (ESPECIALLY after that Rose Bowl...a lot of players are as hungry as you can imagine), too tough, too aggressive as well as disciplined for a lot of teams. Any game where they could be unusually undisciplined, they can win just by talent and hunger IMO. I definitely have them winning the B10 and NC (Well I should change that and just say I think they will be undefeated in 2009...you never know how things could go in the BCS...).

-Illinois will become a national power in the next 5-10 years.

That is basically the sum of what I think...

Sorry, can't help myself. I chose this one to be more succinct.

Maybe the biggest message board fail ever.

 

[3074326]

Sorry, can't help myself. I chose this one to be more succinct.

Maybe the biggest message board fail ever.

Holy shit.

 

[NFBuck]

Holy shit.

You never read that? Follow the link back and read his others. They're some of the most unintentionally hilarious stuff ever tossed onto the internets.

 

[BuckTwenty]

Sorry, can't help myself. I chose this one to be more succinct.

Maybe the biggest message board fail ever.

BP needs a "Fail Award". I'd like to nominate ThaKid's post as the initial award winner for his prophecy bombing so stupendously.


Talent development??

By the way OrangeRoughy, really enjoy your posts here on BP. Glad that sammich straightened you out :)

 

[3074326]

You never read that? Follow the link back and read his others. They're some of the most unintentionally hilarious stuff ever tossed onto the internets.

Oh, I've read it, I just forgot how ridiculous it was.

You know.. back then, I expected Illinois to be much improved. They really looked like a team on the rise. Didn't expect them to be that good, but what is happening now was not expected.

The prediction is still hilarious.

 

[NFBuck]

Oh, I've read it, I just forgot how ridiculous it was.

You know.. back then, I expected Illinois to be much improved. They really looked like a team on the rise. Didn't expect them to be that good, but what is happening now was not expected.

The prediction is still hilarious.

I did too. But, even if they were on their way to a 7-5 or 8-4 type season, it would still be hilarious. I've never read anything quite like that...even the legendary xrayrandy's rants pale in comparison.

 

[MaxBuck]

Not to sound like a complete homer, but is it not possible that Illinois simply looked like garbage against OSU because OSU has one of the best defenses in the country this year?

You obviously haven't been paying attention. If Ohio State looks good, it's because our competition is lacking in talent and generally inept. If we look bad, it's because we are overrated, slow and poorly coached.

Please get with the program already.