again, context is important, but i thought the Sydney Brown comparisons were spot on.
Pregame: Illinois vs Kansas, Saturday, September 7th, 6:00pm CT, FS1
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lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
This is such a big game because you win this game and we have a legitimate shot on the road at Nebraska which would start us 4-0.
Sure, Oregon & PSU might be “guaranteed” losses, but that Michigan game starts looking winnable with a win here.
Go win us this one boys
Sure, Oregon & PSU might be “guaranteed” losses, but that Michigan game starts looking winnable with a win here.
Go win us this one boys
I was impressed that after Barna got the sack he got a hug from Seth Coleman, what impressed me was the size of Barna next to Coleman. I can see why he projects well going forward.
TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
We have the advantage in the trenches (I'd hope) and they have it with the skill positions. To win we'll have to win the turnover battle, and somehow slow them down in the redzone. Having Kruetz, a faster linebacker, and a healthy Bailey should help to get more speed on the field we didn't have last time.
Would be great to jump on them early and hit them with a heavy dose of Feagin and then RPO to ZF and Pat. Not predicting a win, but I can see it happening.
Would be great to jump on them early and hit them with a heavy dose of Feagin and then RPO to ZF and Pat. Not predicting a win, but I can see it happening.
The line isn’t inexperienced by any means. Go ahead and dial up those blitzes. Could be a long night for y’all.
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
Isn't it Lance's offense?And it is worth nothing...they lost their OC. I mean...not saying they'll be this bad but we know what happened to this program after losing their OC...
They lost their OC to PSU...
Follow up an impressive win with another. We haven't done that enough.
Most certainly. Also, do some research and see what Jeff Grimes did his first year with Baylor when he had a similarly experienced and talented offensive roster. That’s what y’all should be preparing for.
I think one of your guards only has like three starts to his name, but beyond that I think the issue has been missed time due to health for a few of the guys, right?
KU rotated at Guard quite a bit last season so the even though he may be lacking starts, he’s got plenty of meaningful snaps under his belt. They lost an all-conference caliber center, but they replaced him with a highly experienced (32 starts at TAMU, and physically much bigger) transfer.
The 5 “starters” don’t have a ton of snaps together so they’ll take some time to gel as a unit, but the experience and talent is there. Also, the tackles swapped sides a couple weeks into camp, which was a little awkward to hear. Bryce Cabledue has played his whole career at RT, and has switched to LT for his senior season. Logan Brown (former transfer from Wisconsin) was slated to play LT but switched back to his more experienced side at RT. I have faith in the new o-line coach to get them right, but playing you guys next week will definitely show us where we’re at.
Huge game, but hard to put this above the game against Michigan State and Michigan in 2022 IMO
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
@IlliniInBuckeyeState is your man, but someone else reported hearing on the radio that we are within 1,000 of a sellout … so 59,670 tickets sold if that’s true.
I'm looking for a win of the Bielema, bruising, ball-control variety. Win the field position battle, ToP, TOs, get Feagin plenty of touches and ~100 yards, allow Altmyer time to throw,,, nothing fancy, grind it out:
KU 20-31 UI
KU 20-31 UI
I received an email saying such as well.@IlliniInBuckeyeState is your man, but someone else reported hearing on the radio that we are within 1,000 of a sellout … so 59,670 tickets sold if that’s true.
Establishing the running game and controlling the clock will be huge. If it’s a shoot out I don’t like our odds. We need to play bully ball. Hopefully we don’t use the same defensive game plan from last year.
I don't see PSU as a "guaranteed" loss. Michigan either.
I'm with you. After beating Michigan at Michigan(stolen from the zebras)and beating Penn State and the destruction of Wisconsin I don't count us out against anyone. Bret knows how to prepare his team to focus and be sharp on these BIG games. I've got confidence the defense will be much improved from last year. Coach Henry has a year under his belt and the new DB coach seems to have these boys ready to play. Fenelus was probably not a good choice to pair with a new DC learning on the fly. I'm doing my best to temper expectations but man would it feel great to actually be the team that has marked improvement and go out and take 8 or more wins this year. So often in the past we never kept our foot on the gas and teams crept back into games. Even the 2nd stringers seemed to be more disciplined and not get out of position trying to do too much. The Kansas game will definitely show us what this team is all about. I think a lot of us were worried because all the players that have been studs up to now have been Lovies recruits. Now we are just seeing players coach B has recruited step up into bigger roles. Coach Stepp seems to have these receivers playing really well too. Sample size is small but I'm excited and not as nervous as I was going into the Eastern game for sure. I want so bad to be back in the top 10 in defensive rankings and I want Purdue to struggle mightily on D. If Bielema and Walters & co.designed this defensive scheme we are gonna find out who is better at calling it and making tweaks and adjustments.
I think we have a little more to prove. I’d say KU -6
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