Like you, I’d like to see us play to win, but so far that doesn’t seem to be Bret’s style. I’m afraid we’ll again see repeated fruitless runs into a wall for three quarters, trying to wear them down for more creative play calling in the fourth quarter. Hope I’m wrong though.
Illinois at Nebraska, Friday, September 20th, 7:00pm CT, FOX
Krombopulos_Michael
- Aurora, Illinois (that’s a suburb of Chicago)
If we can actually wear them down that way I’m all for it. Win pretty or win ugly I don’t think many of us here should care. Just win baby.
A lot of experts seem to be picking Neb because their stats are so much better than ours, but I don't think they've placed enough weight on the opponents both teams have faced. We both played an unranked FCS team. The huskers also played # 129 ranked UTEP and #70 ranked Colorado (per Teamrankings.com). We played #108 CMU and #32 KS. Our stats would look a lot better if we hadn't played anyone in the top 69. It's our passing game vs their running game. Take the Illini and the points.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
I think our secondary will get at least 2 turnovers against a frosh QB1 .....Now he is a talented frosh but we have elite defenders and I hope our DC will try to rattle him with some opportune blitz's that will result in overthrows and TO's for the Illini..........
Our running game needs to have better production this game.....Seems to me that Feagin is a tad b it slower hitting the creases compared to last year........Laughery needs to come into this game with confidence and Valentine is that jitterbug that can burst a long one at any time......McCray had some good runs last game and I hope he continues to stay healthy.....
luke needs to be accurate as bryant and Franklin will catch the ball if Luke leads them accurately.......
finally , we have 2 great kickers so don't overlook that aspect if we get within 55-60 yards...........
JMHO............
Our running game needs to have better production this game.....Seems to me that Feagin is a tad b it slower hitting the creases compared to last year........Laughery needs to come into this game with confidence and Valentine is that jitterbug that can burst a long one at any time......McCray had some good runs last game and I hope he continues to stay healthy.....
luke needs to be accurate as bryant and Franklin will catch the ball if Luke leads them accurately.......
finally , we have 2 great kickers so don't overlook that aspect if we get within 55-60 yards...........
JMHO............
splitter
- and not Nebraska
If we can actually wear them down that way I’m all for it. Win pretty or win ugly I don’t think many of us here should care. Just win baby.
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
I'd be interested to see the comparison of the defense of the teams Nebraska's faced so far this year to ours. I think we're their first real defensive test and that makes it a ripe opportunity to rattle a freshman quarterback's cage. He's a 5-star so I don't think it'll totally put him off his game, but if we can put the crowd back on their heels, we might have more of a chance to sneak out with a W.
Feagin, Laughery, McCray, and Valentine are four backs who should be able to run 2 back sets effectively.
Perhaps we have some RPO possibilities from 2 back sets.
Luke should be able to throw effectively on some first downs.
Luke running (out of bounds or sliding) should be effective.
This should be the game Lunney calls an almost perfect offense (he's called enough imperfect ones, we are really overdue).
Our defense is more than good enough.
There is certainly reason for optimism.
Perhaps we have some RPO possibilities from 2 back sets.
Luke should be able to throw effectively on some first downs.
Luke running (out of bounds or sliding) should be effective.
This should be the game Lunney calls an almost perfect offense (he's called enough imperfect ones, we are really overdue).
Our defense is more than good enough.
There is certainly reason for optimism.
madillini4
Ozamataz Buckshank
- Millywaukee
There's certainly a few ways this game could go, but my biggest worry would be Nebraska jumps ahead early, the crowd starts really getting into it, and their o-line dominates us so badly in run protection that Nebraska never needs to put the ball in Raiola's hands to test the secondary. I do think there's a universe though where we score on our first drive, our defense strings enough consecutive good plays each drive that the game turns into a slog through most of the first half with a 1 possession game at halftime, we force Nebraska to be a bit too impatient in the 2nd half and have a big interception and then Luke seals this one up with a long drive filled with backbreaking 3rd down completions after we take back the lead leaving Nebraska befuddled and bewildered at what just happened.
That said, gut feel is Nebraska's oline and dline are just going to be way too much for us and that their obliterate us in the run game on both sides of the ball allowing them to limit the number of plays our safeties and nickels are able to get involved in, as well as forcing Luke into obvious passing downs where they can pin their ears back and straight pass rush. And this being our first road game of the season in a primetime game doesn't make me feel any better
As such, I've got:
Nebraska: 31
Illinois: 13
That said, this is probably good news for 2 reasons. First, my picks have been a disaster this year (2-1 Straight up, 0-3 ATS) and second, my gut feel is that if we get worked this game, we're going to show up in Happy Valley and push them to their limits. In any case, I've got fairly low expectations for this one, but looking forward to being dead wrong. Let's keep this magical start going and get the upset!
That said, gut feel is Nebraska's oline and dline are just going to be way too much for us and that their obliterate us in the run game on both sides of the ball allowing them to limit the number of plays our safeties and nickels are able to get involved in, as well as forcing Luke into obvious passing downs where they can pin their ears back and straight pass rush. And this being our first road game of the season in a primetime game doesn't make me feel any better
As such, I've got:
Nebraska: 31
Illinois: 13
That said, this is probably good news for 2 reasons. First, my picks have been a disaster this year (2-1 Straight up, 0-3 ATS) and second, my gut feel is that if we get worked this game, we're going to show up in Happy Valley and push them to their limits. In any case, I've got fairly low expectations for this one, but looking forward to being dead wrong. Let's keep this magical start going and get the upset!
If we lose, hopefully within 1 possession. We can win by a lot, would be fine with that.
Neb defense is stout. Hoping the offense has balance where Illini do not abandon the run, a la Tony Peterson vs iowa(was it Iowa?). Put stress on the defense and don’t run vanilla plays. Go for it. Lunney/ BB I’m interested in play calls.
Defense I’m interested in how they play run/ balance with pass def.im hoping Pass def is strong enough where wr cannot get open therefore LBs and Bailey can support run game. But raiola may be too good to do this. Disguise def and mix up playcalling.
Can’t be predictable on both sides. Think I’m most interest in how OC and DC call game. Put pressure and stress on both sides, make them think.
Neb defense is stout. Hoping the offense has balance where Illini do not abandon the run, a la Tony Peterson vs iowa(was it Iowa?). Put stress on the defense and don’t run vanilla plays. Go for it. Lunney/ BB I’m interested in play calls.
Defense I’m interested in how they play run/ balance with pass def.im hoping Pass def is strong enough where wr cannot get open therefore LBs and Bailey can support run game. But raiola may be too good to do this. Disguise def and mix up playcalling.
Can’t be predictable on both sides. Think I’m most interest in how OC and DC call game. Put pressure and stress on both sides, make them think.