Illinois at Nebraska, Friday, September 20th, 7:00pm CT, FOX

#51      
therealmiket86
foby said:
We only got 21 rushing yards last year, and Luke put it up 47 times. If they stop our run game this year (likely), I strongly believe Luke can keep us in a good position with a much stronger performance than last year.
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Last year we got no push against them. Our guards are 6’5 325 and 6’6 335 and get rag dolled constantly. The inside run game this week will be non existent. Need to have the short passing attack to make up for a lack of a run game.

Also the last 2 games when we ran the bunch the other teams weakside de sat on the fake toss last week and reverse this week. Unless you’re Illinois it’s pretty easy to have your end get a couple yards up the field and sit down and let the play come to you. The DE isn’t accounted for and they have been making easy tackles. What would work is to fake the toss and run a counter, you can trap block the de. It’s a very simply double wing play.
 
#52      
Dkayak
ChiefKingfisher said:
Win one of the next two and I’ll be thrilled.

Lose both (most likely outcome) and we still have an excellent shot at a bowl game.

Win both and the playoff chatter begins.
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Exactly my thoughts. My main desire for the next two is playing clean, competitive games w/o injuries. Winning either is a bonus, icing on the cake of a great year of steady progress.
 
#56      
TheDrinkinLincoln
Our OL is concerning, CMU looked to stack the line making sure we can't easily double (which shouldn't be a trouble) and then brought secondary blitzes/ delayed LB blitzes that threw our tackles for a loop.

I do think they need more time to gel, but we need really work on our communication along the line and really nail down our doubles and work to the second level of Feagin is going to be effective ever. Feagin is so slow to the hole that we really gotta blow the DTs off the ball for him to be effective. These deficiencies could be masked a little. I noticed in some of the Shotgun snaps Luke was shuffling forward on the handoff that helped Feagin build up a little more momentum. Another thing I think we should be doing is getting Feagin in motion and flip it out past the tackle to him so he can get up to speed. We saw it a few times against KU and it was effective when our OTs or WRs didn't hold.

It seems Brett and Lunney have decided 3Qs of just pounding the ball effectively or not wears down the defense for Valentine to be more effective. Our line looks so much better when we have a back that gets up field quickly.
 
#57      
Illiniam1984
TheDrinkinLincoln said:
Our OL is concerning, CMU looked to stack the line making sure we can't easily double (which shouldn't be a trouble) and then brought secondary blitzes/ delayed LB blitzes that threw our tackles for a loop.

I do think they need more time to gel, but we need really work on our communication along the line and really nail down our doubles and work to the second level of Feagin is going to be effective ever. Feagin is so slow to the hole that we really gotta blow the DTs off the ball for him to be effective. These deficiencies could be masked a little. I noticed in some of the Shotgun snaps Luke was shuffling forward on the handoff that helped Feagin build up a little more momentum. Another thing I think we should be doing is getting Feagin in motion and flip it out past the tackle to him so he can get up to speed. We saw it a few times against KU and it was effective when our OTs or WRs didn't hold.

It seems Brett and Lunney have decided 3Qs of just pounding the ball effectively or not wears down the defense for Valentine to be more effective. Our line looks so much better when we have a back that gets up field quickly.
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That’s why Valentine should be the starting running back. He’s bursts through the holes quicker. Use Feagin primarily as a fullback in short yardage situations.
 
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#59      
band camp
Schitts Creek Ok GIF by CBC
 
#60      
Mr. Tibbs
Illiniam1984 said:
That’s why Valentine should be the starting running back. He’s bursts through the holes quicker. Use Feagin primarily as a fullback in short yardage situations.
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I’m starting to think this as well

use Valentine to help establish the run and get Feagin more snaps after that . We just aren’t getting many holes right now inside the tackles
 
#61      
Second place is 1st loser
lstewart53x3 said:
I like our chances to win 6 or 7 this year, but I just don’t see us winning this one.

First road game of the year, which is almost always a loss.

We can’t run the ball and struggle with stopping the run.

I see us losing this one and Penn St, but then beating Purdue & Michigan.
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We can beat the three average to below average teams that we played with this issue. We won't win many after if it remains a problem.
 
#63      
Fly Illini Fly!
I think the teams to watch out for to jump us would be A&M and Memphis.

In terms of teams ranked in the T25, BC and Zona both lost. IMO, Zona shouldn't be ranked - was trailing an FCS team in the 4th and got absolutely blasted @K State 2 days ago.
 
#66      
Pikeillinifan
Fly Illini Fly! said:
I think the teams to watch out for to jump us would be A&M and Memphis.

In terms of teams ranked in the T25, BC and Zona both lost. IMO, Zona shouldn't be ranked - was trailing an FCS team in the 4th and got absolutely blasted @K State 2 days ago.
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Indiana could jump in above both of them.
 
#68      
mhuml32
Nebraska has the 3rd best defense by SP+


If you want optimism - Nebraska starting a true freshman QB and he's played against really poor defenses through three weeks. SP+ defensive ratings so far:

UTEP: 115
Colorado: 86
Northern Iowa: FCS

Illinois: 30



Slip-ups are going to happen. The script likely needs to follow the KU game where turnovers are needed to help out the offense.
 
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