What did we learn Illinois edition

[Jason Sitoke]

I didn't like the 3rd down play.  Even though 44 was wide open for an easy TD.  Because if you don't connect (they didn't) you have an awkward 4th and 3.... with 3 minutes left in a tied game.  I wanted the Huskers to go for it, but it's short FG distance.  And defense already looked tired.  So yeah, send out the kicking team.  Just didn't kick it through.  

You have your stud qb with an easy TD throw vs sending your backup kicker out from the left hash with plenty of time left. 
 

I honestly don’t get the criticism of the play call. Dude was a mile open. Couldn’t ask for a better call. Just missed it. 

 

[admo]

You have your stud qb with an easy TD throw vs sending your backup kicker out from the left hash with plenty of time left. 
 

I honestly don’t get the criticism of the play call. Dude was a mile open. Couldn’t ask for a better call. Just missed it. 

It was a great play design and yes he was wide open.  Just didn't connect.

 

[floridacorn]

You have your stud qb with an easy TD throw vs sending your backup kicker out from the left hash with plenty of time left. 
 

I honestly don’t get the criticism of the play call. Dude was a mile open. Couldn’t ask for a better call. Just missed it. 

My only critique of that sequence is that I'm surprised a heavy formation got anybody open because I thought NU was zero threat to run in that situation.  They struggled to get 1 in short yardage and threw on 2nd and goal from the 3.  No chance they are pounding the ball twice there.  They wanted the FB in the flat & he was covered.  They got the TE deep and the H-back running a shallow cross was wide open as well.  Of course you kick the FG in that situation.  

 

[gossamorharpy]

Just rewatched, what a battle.

I’m curious what our total yardage is in OT over the past 10 years. I’d be shocked if it wasn’t negative and in the triple digits 

 

[Danimal]

Key Stats:

1. Illinois had fewer total yards against Kansas and Central Michigan than Nebraska ( the OT yards made it close to CMU)

2. The Altmeyer led Illini team only scored 7 points at home vs Nebraska in 2023. 

The O has improved considerably while the D has taken a step back. 

White got totally outcoached and his defense got worked by a totally meh offense, very disappointing performance. 

 

[Danimal]

I felt the same. Even on 3rd & 3, there isn't a reason to go deep. Use 2 downs to get 3 yards, run the ball. From there you run out the clock and go for an easier FG.

Even with the passing call in that scenario, trotting out our kicker was dicey. You can feel that the team doesn't have confidence in the Special Teams. Should've went for it on 4th & 3.

That being said, Nebraska was terrible on defense today, especially in the secondary. Even on plays where Nebraska was able to force a bad throw, Illinois had wide open guys all over. Indiana is going to torch Nebraska if they don't figure something out. 

Our kicker can't be trusted and our defense was getting pushed around. Given that situation our best chance to win was going into that 3rd and 3 with a "we have two plays to get 3 yards, keep the drive going and the clock burning" mindset. If we get a 1st down there we're in great shape. 

 

[teachercd]

No QB run game makes the traditional run game look even worse.

TR and NH get almost no push anymore.

Sad loss and I feel a pretty big set back for the season.

 

[Waldo]

No QB run game makes the traditional run game look even worse.

TR and NH get almost no push anymore.

Sad loss and I feel a pretty big set back for the season.

I noticed the same thing last night with TR and NH. White’s unwillingness to bring pressure and sit back and let them throw at will was frustrating. Altmyer threw nearly all of his passes to the sidelines, and we still couldn’t figure out how to slow that down. 
 

Illinois looked like the better coached team. Nebraska averaging nearly 100 penalty yards in their 2 P5 games and the false start to begin OT felt like the most Nebraska thing ever. 

 

[Scarlet]

Nobody, other than maybe the hype machine, learned anything new that we didn't see show up during the NIU game.  It's a story as old as football especially in the Big 10.  If you can't stop the run, get some semblance of pressure, and if you can't generate a run game you're going to have a tough season.  

 

[teachercd]

Nobody, other than maybe the hype machine, learned anything new that we didn't see show up during the NIU game.  It's a story as old as football especially in the Big 10.  If you can't stop the run, get some semblance of pressure, and if you can't generate a run game you're going to have a tough season.  

The lack of pressure was really an issue.

Illinois did not really get pressure either.

Two lame teams

 

[Undone]

This game shouldn't have gone into overtime, and I feel bad for Raiola that he was asked to win the game on that last drive in regulation.

I cannot believe that after all of the pieces we put together on this team over the last 20 months that we don't have a reliable field goal kicker. Make the field goal and then seal it with your defense.

 

[Undone]

Illinois looked like the better coached team.

Yes, I was saying that from the 2nd quarter to the end of the game.

The lack of pressure was really an issue.

Illinois did not really get pressure either.

Two lame teams

Agree that lack of pressure was a huge issue for us. This game is one of those where most fans will fixate on what happened right at the end - especially what the QB does/doesn't do - when really the defense was pretty mediocre all night.

That said I think it's a bad sign that we couldn't average 1 TD per quarter and at least get to that 28-ish point mark in this one. Not a good sign.

We asked Raiola to throw post routes to win the game (not referring about the play to Lindenmeyer) and we couldn't run the ball.

The freak interception on the would-be TD pass to Neyor was such a big play in the game also.

 

[Packerhuskerfan]

On that 3rd and 3 late, we should have played it safe and tried to get an easy first down.  If at 4th and 1, go for it.   Could have made sure we score or no one.  If we had to do FG after getting more 1st downs if we don't get a TD, more likely just an extra point type with next to no time.

Our kickers aren't good.  A new kicker should be number 1 get in off season.

Defense is going to be be worse this year.  They gave up pretty much every play action.  Hardly any pressure.

We still can't win close games. 6 or 7 wins is the ceiling, probably will be 5 again.  I just don't see this team wining a bunch of shoot outs with a rookie QB no matter the stars behind his name.  Hopefully, DR doesn't transfer after a year or two.

 

[Undone]

On that 3rd and 3 late, we should have played it safe and tried to get an easy first down.  If at 4th and 1, go for it.   Could have made sure we score or no one.  If we had to do FG after getting more 1st downs if we don't get a TD, more likely just an extra point type with next to no time.

The mindf*** of the whole thing is that the coaches had no faith in Alvano, and also no faith in the run game.

I understand what people are saying when they say that the pass to Lindenmeyer was a good play call because it got a guy open in the end zone, so the win was right there.

But that play was low percentage. That's why I think it deserves some criticism. It's not just a black and white thing where you debate over whether a call was "good" or "bad," it's about the percentages.

Then on the other hand we hadn't run with much push on short yardage plays all night. That's a tough one for the coaches for sure, I'm absolutely not going to sit here and call Satterfield an idiot or anything like that.

The whole thing just exposes that we probably weren't nearly as good as I thought we were.

 

[Red Five]