Illinois Football Thread

[BearDen]

based on what?

???

 

[BearDen]

I’ve never said this before but...**** Lovie.

 

[run and shoot]

I’ve never said this before but...**** Lovie.

that's cool. The fact remains, he got us to SB, ✔ without a Qb ✔ and he left here as a winner. ✔

What I don't like is that soft Cover2 D. I'd like to have seen more blitzing

 

[BearDen]

that's cool. The fact remains, he got us to SB, ✔ without a Qb ✔ and he left here as a winner. ✔

AKA he coached an embarrassing loss in a super bowl.

 

[Midwaymonster75]

I don't understand the dynamics of college football or what attracts top parents/players to a program.

$$$$

 

[run and shoot]

AKA he coached an embarrassing loss in a super bowl. ✔✔✔

I'd like to have seen more blitzing on Manning. I fault him for that. But with Grossman at Qb what would u have done?

 

[BearDen]

Member that time Lovie got fired and received zero offers in the NFL afterwards?

 

[BearDen]

I'd like to have seen more blitzing on Manning. I fault him for that. But with Grossman at Qb what would u have done?

I fault him for firing the staff members that brought the Bears to the Super Bowl despite Rex. Also he sucked as a coach

 

[BearDen]

Bald dude who was on the staff of a great team that the Bears made coach for no reason, and then he proceeded to be too stubborn to bring in a real OC and refused to give up playcaling. Remind you of anyone?

 

[run and shoot]

I fault him for firing the staff members that brought the Bears to the Super Bowl despite Rex. Also he sucked as a coach

Rex Grossman named all-time worst Super Bowl quarterback
_________________________________________________________________________________

In February 2007, it was announced that Rivera's contract with the Bears would not be extended due to failed negotiations. Around the same time, he interviewed for several vacant head coaching positions around the league, including with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys.

So going back to the question, as a HC, what would u have done differently in that SB? I gave ya my take.

 

[BearDen]

Rex Grossman named all-time worst Super Bowl quarterback
_________________________________________________________________________________

In February 2007, it was announced that Rivera's contract with the Bears would not be extended due to failed negotiations. Around the same time, he interviewed for several vacant head coaching positions around the league, including with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys.

So going back to the question, as a HC, what would u have done differently in that SB? I gave ya my take.

>>>post 36

 

[run and shoot]

>>>post 36

Bald dude who was on the staff of a great team that the Bears made coach for no reason, and then he proceeded to be too stubborn to bring in a real OC and refused to give up playcaling. Remind you of anyone?

I suppose you're talking Nagy.
On the 2007 team Offensive Coordinator – Ron Turner Quarterbacks – Pep Hamilton. These guy's called the offense.
On D... Rivera, called plays. Right? Like I mentioned, Smith stopped Rivera's attack on Manning in the SB. Which I disagree with.
___________________
The Bears' coaching staff also saw significant changes during the off season. The team did not re-sign defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, whose contract expired at the end of the 2006 season. He was replaced by linebackers coach Bob Babich, who had followed head coach Lovie Smith from the St. Louis Rams Eventually, five assistant coaches, including quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson, would leave the Bears for other teams
___________________
I interpret the coaching losses to Bear management

If you're saying Smith was calling D plays I'd have to look into it. The D was pretty good as I remember.

So I 'm not sure of the tie-in to the SB loss solely on D play calling, if that's what u mean. With Grossman at Qb, what could have been done?

 

[baselman1974]

The Bears lost Tommie Harris and Mike Brown to injury. That D if healthy would've pummeled the Colts. Instead we saw the Bears trying to make Grossman win the game.

 

[BearDen]

I suppose you're talking Nagy.
On the 2007 team Offensive Coordinator – Ron Turner Quarterbacks – Pep Hamilton. These guy's called the offense.
On D... Rivera, called plays. Right? Like I mentioned, Smith stopped Rivera's attack on Manning in the SB. Which I disagree with.
___________________
The Bears' coaching staff also saw significant changes during the off season. The team did not re-sign defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, whose contract expired at the end of the 2006 season. He was replaced by linebackers coach Bob Babich, who had followed head coach Lovie Smith from the St. Louis Rams Eventually, five assistant coaches, including quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson, would leave the Bears for other teams
___________________

If you're saying Smith was calling D plays I'd have to look into it. The D was pretty good as I remember.

So I 'm not sure of the tie-in to the SB loss solely on D play calling, if that's what u mean. With Grossman at Qb, what could have been done?

Could’ve did what was working and continued to run the ball instead of letting Grossman lose the game

 

[run and shoot]

Could’ve did what was working and continued to run the ball instead of letting Grossman lose the game

Ok so we agree....this does come back to rex and us not having a Qb ( see that article link). Now I'd have to go back and analyze the exact situation as to why he threw the 2 picks.

 

[TL1961]

This is a fascinating discussion of Illini football.

 

[Parade_Rain]

I hope that's true. I won't kid myself into thinking Illinois is real attractive to top coaches, but I have seen ten or twelve names mentioned so far and I kind of think it won't be any of them.

But of the names mentioned, more than a few would be ok by me. Some I know almost nothing about.

I am not interested in a HC running the option right now, even if from Illinois, that much I can say.

It would be nice if we brought in a coach who knows that the forward pass is a legal play. I like that we ran the ball well under Rod Smith for the most part, and I hope we always have a good running game. But in today's college football, Illinois would get 200 yards passing on a good day. That has to change.

As the saying goes, if you aren’t hearing no, you are aiming too low. Initially. I think Whitman is going after a big fish and if he doesn’t land that one, then he goes and gets a quality coach like Leipold, if possible. We know that Fleck was going to be at Illinois, if Lovie had not said yes. In hindsight it stinks he said yes. Hopefully Whitman took no advice from Ron Turner this time around.

As for the style of O, as long as it isnt the triple option, I think it’s fine. FI, Leipold is a run spread guy. Looking at types of athletes Illinois usually gets, that isn’t a bad concept. His QB runs. AJ Bush did a good job for Rod Smith. Running to setup the pass. It doesn’t matter to me if a coach is hired that runs the Air Raid. Recruit to the system, teach well, coach well and game plan well. The Big West should be attractive to coaches. It’s wide open.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Could’ve did what was working and continued to run the ball instead of letting Grossman lose the game

What does Grossman have to do with Illinois football?

 

[MarkBear]

I'll admit, I didn't follow Ill. real close. I did say on several occasions was they didn't seem to have a Qb.
What I saw here with the Bears is him turning the offense over to the OC. And that's what most OC's prefer. What I did see here was a cycling through of various offense coaches to accommodate jay. So that shows somebody cared...right?
Smith always gave total support to Grossman. To a fault IMO. I still think it's amazing we got to a SB without a Qb in 2007

An argument could be made that the OC's and cutler failed Smith. Typically, ya work with what the GM gives ya. Lets
face it when have we ever had a good pass pro OL, even before Smith and after. I can remember one time 35yrs ago.
On wr's, at one point, Smith had Forte, Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshall and Bennett on offense....right?
So, I'm trying to understand specifically what did Smith say or do to make u feel he didn't want a good Qb or good offense?

J’Marcus Webb, Frank OhMyHell, Roy Williams, letting Olsen go, Hester as a wide receiver..

 

[run and shoot]

J’Marcus Webb, Frank OhMyHell, Roy Williams, letting Olsen go, Hester as a wide receiver..

Olsen was traded for a third round draft pick . Martz didn't feel he fit his offense. His offense was never TE oriented.
Roy Williams signed a 1yr deal and was toward the end of his career.
In 2012, Webb was listed as the starting left tackle ahead of Chris Williams. In 2013, after the Bears signed Jermon Bushrod, Webb shifted to right tackle. On August 30, 2013, Webb was placed on waivers by the Bears.

I go back to my observation..... Smith had Forte, Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshall and Bennett on offense....right?
He always gave support to jay and Grossman. To a fault. Turner was fired to accommodate jay and hired Martz, who jay approved.

So from what I've seen he never had a Qb here or at Illinois. I just haven't seen any evidence show Smith didn't care and or didn't want a competent Qb.