“We’ve got to be able to triumph in those moments and make a good call as coaches”
Illini must win this week.
'*'Bret Bielema and football 101...
-“We’ve got to be able to triumph in those moments and make a good call as coaches”…..Bielema after the Illini's 15-13 loss in Iowa City....yeah I know many fans will point out the non-call pass interference against Iowa....three catches Illini receivers didn't make would have changed the outcome (agree)......crappy spot on the Isaiah Willliams catch...'Big Ten refs screwed us (Illinois) again'....disagree they don't screw Illinois over they are just not good at being refs....John Paddock went back to being an average MAC quarterback.....Bielema/assistants out-coached by the Hawkeye staff.....reasons/excuses for the 'L'.
When hired Bielema pushed the 'teaching football 101' to his coaches/players....how much he had learned 'working for Bill Belichick' in the NFL....that 'education' included being more proficient in situational football/game/clock management...well Bielema needs a refresher course cause as Illini head coach past three seasons....haven't been any consistent examples of him being good at any of the above.
Bielema's 'coaching' 2nd half of the loss pissed me off again....one score game vs. Iowa small margin for error both teams....Illinois blows a timeout 3rd quarter for no good reason.....down 15-13 later 4th quarter Illini 4th and 3 around midfield two timeouts left....Bielema sends on the punt team....then takes a timeout...sends the offense back out goes for it....pass batted down Iowa ball game over....another 'what the fuck are they doing?' Bielema moment....head coach during that drive has to tell his offensive coordinator....'4th and less than 4 we are going for it have your gotta have it plays ready'....attention to detail/being prepared...football 101....nope....in-decision......Bielema pre-season bragged about 2023 his '15th year as a head coach'......too many times same mistakes when it comes to 'running a game' from someone with that kind of 'experience'.
Players expected to 'improve' off season should hold the head coach/staff same standards to 'improve' at their jobs off-season...just a thought.
*Friday's Big Ten games...
-Iowa (9-2) (+2.5) at Nebraska (5-6) 11AM central kickoff
Ferentz's team Big Ten West champs.....Three of the last five seasons Hawkeyes have won nine or ten games....example of competent coaching vs. so many clown car staffs in the West.....Iowa getting points supposedly 'resting' players for the Big Ten championship game....Nebraska wins the scrimmage by 3.
-Penn State (9-2) at Michigan State (4-7) (+21) 6:30 central kickoff
Give Sparty credit...lost their head coach....got whupped a few times.....still fighting till the end...this week Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith reportedly Michigan State's top target to replace Mel Tucker...Penn State looking to cement a playoff spot runs it up.....Nittany Lions by 24.
*Saturday's Big Ten games...
-Northwestern (6-5) (+3.5) at Illinois (5-6) 2:30 central kickoff TV: Big Ten Network
1987....last game of the season Northwestern beat Illinois 28-10 'friends and family' in attendance type of game at Dyche Stadium...1986 Northwestern 23 Illinois 18 in Champaign...two years in a row shitty 'Mildcats' had beaten White's team...87' game Illini defensive players had taken orange magic markers to their shoes 'looks like spilled kool-aid on those shoes' 'their moms probably had to help them color em' in' yukked it up the Northwestern play by play guys (Tim Weigel?)......only local TV those days had to listen to the game on radio......after that loss done with Illinois football fuck them....1985 such a disappointment followed by losing seasons 86-87....so much bad football....find better things to do how Illini losing to Northwestern affected me....January 1988 White fired John Mackovic hired was back on the bandwagon.......Wildcats don't beat themselves while Illinois will....another one score game.....take Northwestern and the hook.....Illini win by a field goal.
-Ohio State (11-0) (+3) at Michigan (11-0) 11AM central kickoff
Liked what one Buckeye media type wrote, 'Wolverines going for the three-cheat' Big Ten East champs....don't trust the Ohio State offensive line/quarterback enough to win on the road....the Har-Bo's by 10.
-Indiana (3-8) (+3.5) at Purdue (3-8) 11AM central kickoff
Hoosiers and the 3.5.
-Wisconsin (6-5) at Minnesota (5-6) (+2.5) 2:30 central kickoff
'Row the boat' 'D' been on the field way too much this season/walking wounded....Goofs offense is just bad....Badgers by a touchdown.
-Maryland (6-5) at Rutgers (6-5) (+1) 2:30 central kickoff
Scarlet Knights fallen off the cliff since 6-2 start...their offense can't score...Terps can score....Maryland by 13.
*Illini pick up a commitment from a JC wide receiver...
-Few weeks ago Iowa Central Community College wide receiver Mario Sanders committed to Illinois after an official visit to Champaign....He had offers from several FCS schools along with Utah State....redshirt freshman at Central with three years of eligibility...Sanders his conference's offensive player of the year...originally from Minneapolis (MN.) North High School.……on film looks like a slot receiver/return man at Illinois.
Positives-dominated at his level this fall.....quick and fast...excellent hands and body control....instant acceleration up the field after catching the ball...has some make you miss ability returning punts/kicks...will go over the middle make the tough catch...improved as the season went on running routes...plays hard/hustles......competitor.
Negatives-Tiny....listed at 5-foot-10, 191-pounds....looks more like 5-foot-8, 170-pounds size why power five schools passed....small hands/catch radius...QB going to have to be right on target with passes to Sanders......at his size going to be hard to find over the middle in the Big Ten....strength? few times receiver went up against press man coverage had trouble getting off the cornerback jam why have to play him in the slot.
Summary-With Isaiah Williams possibly leaving after the 2023 season.....Illini needed a slot receiver that can play right away and Sanders fits the bill....slot/gadget type of player you can use all over the field getting him 5-7 touches per game along with his return ability.....Boom or bust type of player.....Sanders potential to be a Steven Williams type or another Terrence Smalls.....Smalls a 5-foot-9 JC wide receiver/return man signed Illini class of 1998 most remembered for getting trucked after catching a punt vs. Louisville carted off the field...left after one season in Champaign.