Illinois Info

[wkato]

We have a handful of freshmen playing important spots, plus transfers like Dowdell…those guys aren’t burdened by the last 7 years like kids that have been here a few years are.

Just find it odd we score all the points in the first half and then hit the second half and nothing against nobodies. Come these bigger games they'll need to get TD a few times in the second half to secure wins.

 

[nostromo78]

Not sure I buy into “ NU does too much hitting during the week”. I believe they’ve been purposefully conservative in all three games on offense in the second half, while defense has seemed to maintain the same intensity all game long.

Right. I thought people used to complain that Frost never hit during practice, now we do it too much?

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

We have a handful of freshmen playing important spots, plus transfers like Dowdell…those guys aren’t burdened by the last 7 years like kids that have been here a few years are.

so yer sying they aren't unburdened by what they haven't seen? and what has been? ..and what hasn't been seen?

 

[scarletred]

Just find it odd we score all the points in the first half and then hit the second half and nothing against nobodies. Come these bigger games they'll need to get TD a few times in the second half to secure wins.

I’m confident we’ll score more in the second half Friday night, but I doubt we’ll have a 3 score lead at halftime… but damn well hope so..

 

[Charlie Marlow]

Illinois plays a bit like the old KSU teams did. Minimize mistakes, and hope the other team loses so you can win, while limiting your own mistakes and making the other team drive the ball.

If you play a clean game against Illinois and have equal or more talent, you will win.

It’s pretty much every BiG TeN WeSt team in a nutshell. Some just do it better than others

 

[SuhisKing]

Right. I thought people used to complain that Frost never hit during practice, now we do it too much?

Probably the same people.

 

[Badger Pete]

Bert will be t

This is what Illinois games always look like to me. It's Illinois just doing enough to keep them in it for you to make a mistake.

They are also 116th in the country at 7+ tackles for loss a game on their offense. I think our defense is the difference with that statistic.

Nebraska is 1-3 vs Illinois over the last four games, including losing to Lovie Smith in 2020.

 

[Badger Pete]

This is what Illinois games always look like to me. It's Illinois just doing enough to keep them in it for you to make a mistake.

They are also 116th in the country at 7+ tackles for loss a game on their offense. I think our defense is the difference with that statistic.

I agree, NorthWill, but don't underestimate Fat Boy Beilema. He is going to attack the 3-5-3 with the run game, like he did at Wisconsin and Arkansas. Hit or miss, don't underestimate Illinois, as Huskers are 1-3 in last four games.

That said, I hope the Huskers lay down the hammer and win by 24 points.

PS: "Bielema coached Wisconsin to victories in 17 of his first 18 games. That represents the third-best start to a head coaching career in Big Ten history." All Barry Alvarez' recruits.

 

[Antwill]

I still think NU does too much hitting during the week, and come the 2nd half we are either petered out, our legs are getting shot, or we just can't maintain that physical toughness needed to have a chance to have a great year. It's gonna bite us in the ass before too much longer. They are good physically in the first half, then just kind of plateau in a slight downward direction. Doesn't seem to matter how many plays they are involved in.

BALDERDASH!

Signed,

Tom Osborne

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

BALDERDASH!

Signed,

Tom Osborne

I "think" Osborne teams only did 1's v 1's about once a week, but could be mistaken. In the event this team keeps coming up empty in the 2nd halves of games this year, what would be a logical explanation?

Are we being out schemed at halftime? Are our halftime adjustments being out countered by the other team's coaches? We have to be one of the lowest 2nd half scoring teams in the country, don't we?

 

[SomedayHusker]

Watched highlights from the Kansas game. I came away not impressed with Illinois or Kansas. It was a sloppy game. They WILL turn it over against us. Kansas QB sucks, doesn’t climb the pocket and stares down receivers. We will be able to run on them. I may bet an unhealthy amount on us at least winning and some on the spread. Should be a lock of the week to win.

 

[beaglehusker]

I "think" Osborne teams only did 1's v 1's about once a week, but could be mistaken. In the event this team keeps coming up empty in the 2nd halves of games this year, what would be a logical explanation?

Are we being out schemed at halftime? Are our halftime adjustments being out countered by the other team's coaches? We have to be one of the lowest 2nd half scoring teams in the country, don't we?

How many times a week do you think the current team do 1's v 1's

 

[Dean Pope]

Has anyone watched them this year at all? I watched a little bit of the game with KU and it seems as they have a decent WR and similar to previous years Altmeyer is going to try and run against us. Their D seems solid and to me it feels like a better version of UNI coming in. We need to be much more ready to play in this one. Seemed to play a lot of guys in the box and we might be able to get them deep with Lloyd or Barney if we can protect DR. I think this is the first game DR is going to have some legit pressure on him and we will see how he does.

It's interesting that UTEP was the perfect team to play before Colorado and Northern Iowa was a good team to help us get ready for Illinois.

 

[dinglefritz]

I "think" Osborne teams only did 1's v 1's about once a week, but could be mistaken. In the event this team keeps coming up empty in the 2nd halves of games this year, what would be a logical explanation?

Are we being out schemed at halftime? Are our halftime adjustments being out countered by the other team's coaches? We have to be one of the lowest 2nd half scoring teams in the country, don't we?

I think the biggest thing is that knock on wood we haven't had many significant injuries so far. Rhule has tailored his current practice philosophy after talking to Osborne and a former NFL player who played for Pete at Seattle during a Super Bowl run. One thing that many successful people do is to learn from other successful people whether it's in business or sports.

 

[merk0714]

I "think" Osborne teams only did 1's v 1's about once a week, but could be mistaken. In the event this team keeps coming up empty in the 2nd halves of games this year, what would be a logical explanation?

Are we being out schemed at halftime? Are our halftime adjustments being out countered by the other team's coaches? We have to be one of the lowest 2nd half scoring teams in the country, don't we?

In 2 games we put the backups in. In the colorado game it was penalties that kept 14pts off the board

 

[dinglefritz]

In 2 games we put the backups in. In the colorado game it was penalties that kept 14pts off the board

This is an interesting discussion. The right answers won't probably be known until the end of the season. IF we start losing guys to practice injuries........

 

[10Trvln]

I "think" Osborne teams only did 1's v 1's about once a week, but could be mistaken. In the event this team keeps coming up empty in the 2nd halves of games this year, what would be a logical explanation?

Are we being out schemed at halftime? Are our halftime adjustments being out countered by the other team's coaches? We have to be one of the lowest 2nd half scoring teams in the country, don't we?

I’m sure that has more to do with feeling in control of the game, going conservative, and playing backups than in does with tackling during the week.

 

[dinglefritz]

I’m sure that has more to do with feeling in control of the game, going conservative, and playing backups than in does with tackling during the week.

Another factor IMO is that we're getting #1 reps for some of our young backups when we're going good on good. My impression is that those same guys who rotate on D and O are getting valuable practice reps on bloody Tuesday. Hopefully we stay healthy doing it.

 

[drubendall]

What we need to do is learn how to score in the second half of the game. We seem to go flat in the second half.

Interesting thoughts on that from Mike Schaeffer. Rhule does not care about style points. it’s like he was using the second half to allow more subs in to see how they would perform in game situations. He wants to know what he has. he’s had control of the first three games by the second quarter.

Letting backups play is good for preparation and morale. In the past, he said, he only wanted two backs, but he’s still letting all 4 play.

So I don’t think it was the letdown that I originally believed to be the case. Very much an NFL philosophy. Stack up more wins during the game and take home the W.

 

[drubendall]

so yer sying they aren't unburdened by what they haven't seen? and what has been? ..and what hasn't been seen?

That bimbo has ruined that word for quite some time.

 

[drubendall]

Watched highlights from the Kansas game. I came away not impressed with Illinois or Kansas. It was a sloppy game. They WILL turn it over against us. Kansas QB sucks, doesn’t climb the pocket and stares down receivers. We will be able to run on them. I may bet an unhealthy amount on us at least winning and some on the spread. Should be a lock of the week to win.

I could see this being a fairly boring game in the 20s. I imagine Rhule wants to keep developing the run for a tough Big Ten schedule. Dylan is coming along nicely. We don’t need hero ball. he’s playing well, but the run game makes his life so much easier.