I come to praise Bret Bielema. He looks like a much better football coach than he did 13 months ago. And I'm not comparing last season's 2-4 start to this season's 7-3 record (10-6 since the midpoint of last year, with 14 of 16 games against P4 competition). I don't think Illinois is that much different than it was 13 months ago in personnel. Sure, Altmyer is better, but last year he had a really good WR corps, a better OL, and a DL that was much more talented. This team is different, but it's not more talented than the 2023 team.
However, we are significantly better coached. BB has appeared to embrace analytics on 4th down (we haven't had a ton of these situations, but he's been very aggressive when we have). And most importantly, our offense has been much more willing to throw the ball downfield and uses the pass to set up the run. I don't think this has been as noticed as it should be (especially since Bret still seems to like to talk about the run), but Illinois has largely progressed into modern football. And lo and behold ... Illinois is winning more games overall, and Illinois is winning A LOT more close games. You play to win, you usually win. You play to avoid losing ... well ask the Bears how that works out.
The game against MSU was legitimately fun. MSU came into the stadium ready to lose. They aren't a horrid team, but Illinois is clearly better. Even when MSU had some chances to put the pressure on, Illinois made key plays. Illinois scored a TD - and then another - rather than settling for FGs in the 4th. And MSU couldn't make enough plays with the pressure on them. I feel really good about Rutgers, because (a) I think this Illinois is actually better right now than it was a month ago and (b) Rutgers is due for a letdown after two solid efforts to get bowl eligible. Jump on RU early at that 11 a.m. start (12 p.m. EST).
On a weird note, I'm pretty sure Kansas is currently the best team Illinois has beaten. They are now 4-6 ... and in Sagarin's Top 25. Can they beat Deion? Probably not, but that's a great game.
Speaking of the Bears, Matt Eberflus must have worn a dunce cap as a child. Total idiot, really a dumb football coach. Thought most of those guys were now just hype men who are assistant position coaches. Way to lay on the ball with 35 seconds left and a weak-legged (but extraordinarily accurate) kicker. You get that to 35 yards, and Santos has never missed a single FG from inside 40 in his career. And yet ... Eberflus too stupid to know this. Also just really dopey to not go for it on 4th and 2 from midfield.
Speaking of 4th and 2, give Sean McDermott coach of the week for putting it away by going for it and getting rewarded early this evening. That's what winners do. To come full circle, I think Bret understands this today ... and I don't think he understood it when we hired him.
However, we are significantly better coached. BB has appeared to embrace analytics on 4th down (we haven't had a ton of these situations, but he's been very aggressive when we have). And most importantly, our offense has been much more willing to throw the ball downfield and uses the pass to set up the run. I don't think this has been as noticed as it should be (especially since Bret still seems to like to talk about the run), but Illinois has largely progressed into modern football. And lo and behold ... Illinois is winning more games overall, and Illinois is winning A LOT more close games. You play to win, you usually win. You play to avoid losing ... well ask the Bears how that works out.
The game against MSU was legitimately fun. MSU came into the stadium ready to lose. They aren't a horrid team, but Illinois is clearly better. Even when MSU had some chances to put the pressure on, Illinois made key plays. Illinois scored a TD - and then another - rather than settling for FGs in the 4th. And MSU couldn't make enough plays with the pressure on them. I feel really good about Rutgers, because (a) I think this Illinois is actually better right now than it was a month ago and (b) Rutgers is due for a letdown after two solid efforts to get bowl eligible. Jump on RU early at that 11 a.m. start (12 p.m. EST).
On a weird note, I'm pretty sure Kansas is currently the best team Illinois has beaten. They are now 4-6 ... and in Sagarin's Top 25. Can they beat Deion? Probably not, but that's a great game.
Speaking of the Bears, Matt Eberflus must have worn a dunce cap as a child. Total idiot, really a dumb football coach. Thought most of those guys were now just hype men who are assistant position coaches. Way to lay on the ball with 35 seconds left and a weak-legged (but extraordinarily accurate) kicker. You get that to 35 yards, and Santos has never missed a single FG from inside 40 in his career. And yet ... Eberflus too stupid to know this. Also just really dopey to not go for it on 4th and 2 from midfield.
Speaking of 4th and 2, give Sean McDermott coach of the week for putting it away by going for it and getting rewarded early this evening. That's what winners do. To come full circle, I think Bret understands this today ... and I don't think he understood it when we hired him.
