2-0

[Rickster]

luckily we changed our minds and went to a puppy pool party on Sunday so I didn't miss the game...especially that 2nd half

Rock Solid stuff
- you had a feeling the offense would get its collective (bleep) together as the game went on and boy did they....5 second half possessions, 5 scores, 0 punts....wow....I mean, the turnovers helped, but still ....that's how you put a team away
- I feel like we're watching a star being born in Valentine....that kid has some serious getty-up-and-go when he sees a hole develop. I feel like he could easily avg 5.0 ypg.
- another play action pass in the red zone to a TE for a TD???!!?! Yes please and thank you. 2nd game in a row and what a catch by Rusk.
- Heckle needs to be on the field a lot more...that was a game turning/winning play.
- Altmeyer had a rough first half, but it can't be overstated how much it helps to have an experienced QB with toughness...
- second half adjustments, especially by Lunney ...it took longer than I would've liked but eventually our approach adjusted and put the offense in a better place. Duke was shooting gaps and sending 7 or 8 on almost every snap. There're ways to deal with that and we finally did in the 2nd. That counter QB sweep with the TE pulling and blocking in front in the 4th qtr....brilliant! or the wild cat formation run for TD by Beatty....brilliant! counter action plays and quick slants is how you deal with a D that's going all out to get penetration. That counter QB sweep should've been called 10 times I thought, but hard to nitpick a win like that.
- and give the D credit, Jacas was barely noticeable (aside from 1 strip sack fumble TO), but a solid overall team effort going on the road and holding a good offense to 2 TDs and 2 figgies. Creating 4 turnovers is going to win the game 19 out of 20 times.

Things we better improve soon
- our O line is nowhere near as good as everyone thought they would be...I felt like Lunney took so long to change up the play calls because he kept thinking the O line would be better. Duke has a good front 7...but still. At some point we need all that experience on the O line to equate to more production
- while the D was good overall as mentioned above, I thought the tackling was not as good. Lots of arm-slinging missed tackles and bad angles taken.
- slow start ...do that against OSU and we'll get blown out like at OR last year. we had I think 12 plays that lost yardage in the first 6 possessions. That's an L in most games.
- I think we need another WR to step up and be a more consistent producer. Beatty is doing his thing, and I like Bowick as a good red zone target, but I just don't feel like any other WR has become a reliable chain mover and go to option. Sooner or later a D is going to concentrate on Beatty and force the ball to someone else. Who will step up?

[ChiefSTL]

Valentine sure does have an extra gear that we haven't seen in awhile. His pass blocking is the biggest thing he's gotta improve on, which will hopefully come in time. But his patience and knowing when to turn it on is the biggest improvement from last year. Loved seeing him break some tackles too.

Heckel is a heck of an athlete. I expect him to start taking more snaps away from Patterson.

You're right about Altmyer starting slow. But then man, he made some big time throws later on.

O-line for sure has been the weakest unit so far. JC Davis had a rough start, but then had some big time downfield blocks too. They better get it together by the Indiana game.

Conversely, man our d-line looks good. The held the point of attack very well. We're a solid 2 deep across the 3 spots on the line.

Linebackers have to tackle better. James Kruetz had a really rough game. He took a bad line on multiple tackles when he filled in for Rosiek. I'd think Hood/Heyden should take more of his snaps.

I'm not really worried about WR. I think Clement and Dixon are both plenty good. We've just been spreading it around so much outside of Beatty. Elzy had the bad drop early, but made a couple of really good catches later on. Bowick looks like a heck of a red zone target.

Good road win, great to be 2-0. Big one against Indiana in 2 weeks. I'll be heading up next Saturday for the Western Michigan game.

[Rickster]

You're right about Altmyer starting slow. But then man, he made some big time throws later on.

I'm not really worried about WR. I think Clement and Dixon are both plenty good. We've just been spreading it around so much outside of Beatty. Elzy had the bad drop early, but made a couple of really good catches later on. Bowick looks like a heck of a red zone target.

I was texting buddies in the first half "Altmeyer is off today" and "it's been a couple years since he's looked this bad" and "he's hesitating, that sack was on him". Then the rest of the afternoon was reply texts "That was a good throw there" and "so was that one" and "so was that one".

I hope you're right about the WR. I think Elzy is my pick. He's 3 years now in this offense and has the size to go get catches. What I've seen from Clement and Dixon is they need to be really open. That's just my perception.

[hdhntr148]

That's what you expect from a BB team. solid not great first half, then make halftime adjustments to your attack and D. Then go out and whack and dominate your opponent.

This is a really terrific Illini team which will only get better as the Oline and WR corps gets better and develops more depth. QB is experienced and cool under pressure. BB and the Oline coach will get that figured out and improve.

watched some of IN games and IMO IL are better. they are more flash in pan with weak schedule last year.

Of course only time and games will tell.

[Vinegar Ben]

Pass protection has been poor in the first 2 games. luke is going to get hurt unless the O line starts protecting him. I will say sometimes Luke holds the ball a little long but sometimes he makes good plays out of that. Stupid penalties will lose them close games. I wish the would play Valentine more, Feagin is big but not physical, seems to me he goes down easily. We need a tough runner.