Illinois football postgame chat: 4 p.m. Saturday
Saturday, November 14, 2009 - 4:00pm
Talk with football beat writer Bob Asmussen after the Illinois-Northwestern game
Talk with football beat writer Bob Asmussen after the Illinois-Northwestern game
Welcome to another chat. I'm going to answer a few questions, then take about a 15-minute break to get back to my stories. Thanks for participating.
Bob,
you're nuts.
Peace.
William,
You're right.
Very cute column on the bowls. You must wonder where some reader's heads are.....
rrinner,
I won't be including Illinois in the bowl lineup this week.
Bob,
Having watched a good portion of the Northwestern game I don't see things being much better for next year. For the Illini to be better they need much better talent on the field than they have right now and that doesn't happen over night. Everyone can blame Zook all they want to but he isn't out there playing the game! on the other hand I don't find Zook a very good game coach and I'm not sure why everyone thinks it will get better in one year. Do they think the coaching staff and team will have an epiphany and turn everything around in one season? Since all of the media people say Zook is good for another year then everyone better be prepared for another year like this one. I hope I am wrong but I don't see where Zook is going to change anything next year. Maybe Florida saw what was coming and pulled the trigger that Illinois is not capable of doing. Thanks for the vent.
Jake,
Venting is what we are here for. The schedule for next season isn't user friendly, with trips to Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Fresno State and the St. Louis game against Missouri.
Bob, Just a statement for you and the readers ... Let's turn the heat up to get out of this mess for next season. Can't bear to see a repeat. RG and RZ need to go.
Zooked,
Again, venting is permissable.
Bob,
Was any of the people in the pressbox screaming at the field when Illinois was running the ball in the 4th qtr down 21-3?
Brad,
The press box is supposed to be quiet. Not that it is. I was on the field for most of the fourth quarter and heard plenty of noise from the crowd.
Bob, what is your opinion on Illinois' decision to go for two after their first touchdown and then go for the onside kick? Once they missed the two-point conversion it forced them to have to score two touchdowns. Why would they do that so late with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter?
Adam,
I didn't like the two-point try. Get the points when you can. I understand that the chart says go for two in that situation, but you also have to have a feel for the game. The Illini could have gone for two after the next touchdown and cut the margin to three.
I thought the onside kick was a good idea. I don't think Northwestern expected it as much as they would have after the next score. And it worked thanks to the Northwestern field goal kicker.
Where can I send Mike Shultz his ticket to get the hell out of town? That game reminded me so much of Minny last year. So vanilla on offense, and he only opens it up once NW was dominating the game.
How can Guenther give a vote of confidence and still mean it after this crock of afterbirth today? Totally outcoached by the 'great' Pat Fitzgerald, and the best WR on the field was a former walk on from 1A North Boone High School.
Director of ...,
Mike Schultz can be reached at the Illinois football office. I think I would address it: Memorial Stadium, ...
I think Ron Guenther believed in the vote of confidence at the time. We'll have to see what happens in the next three weeks to see if he means it in December.
What was the plan on the offensive side of the ball today? When we looked good running, we would pass. When we looked good passing, we would run. What gives? Our play calling is beyond frustrating
Bart,
I think the offensive coaches were hoping Jacob Charest would play better earlier in the game, like he did late Saturday. He didn't, so they had a problem on offense. The interception late in the half was obviously a huge play. If they had it to do over again, the coaches call a run and they live with the boos going off the field.
Bob,
A few things:
1) We got Zooked again. I am starting to wonder if this guy has a clue or if he just guesses. You have comitted to Charest as the QB, then after a struggle of a first half, but one you survive behind only 7-3, you bring in the "Human Ball Hog" Eddie McGee, in which no one on the offense but Eddie touches the ball the entire 3rd quarter. Then to start the 4th, you bring back Charest. What the heck. What a HUGE error to bring in McGee, who is not a QB, but yet extremely questionable decisions have become the norm. No ne on the offense should ahve taken the field in the 3rd quater b/c, as normal when McGee is in, he will call his number every time, regardless of what the defense is showing. Like it was 1 on 11.
2)Mikel LeShoure is without a doubt the teams best RB. In the first half, he carries the ball 12 times for 77 yards. In the second half 1 carry. Again Zooked. If the team has 30 carries in a game, LeShoure should get 25 of them. The fact that this rotation continues, furthers the notion that we have a staff that really isnt sure what the heck they are doing.
3) If there is a worse secondary in the nation, I would love to watch them play. Our secondary is so brutal that NW (and most teams we play) are able to play pitch and catch at will b/c our awsome schemes call for the 15 yard cushion. Play the 2 young safeties, b/c the vets are not good, in fact they are BRUTAL and all i think all illini fans have seen enough. If the Co D coords are not fired or reassigned to lesser positions the minute the final game is over, then it will show the administration has no idea what is going on or they just dont care about winning.
The effort today was good, but what has become the norm in the Ron Zook era, mond boggling decisions and terrible schemes, especially on defense. At least the the 2 week "fake rally" is over and the nonsenses about a bowl game can stop.
The Illini had a chanced but once again we got Zooked! The program is ina sad state
Matt,
Thanks for your comments.
I'm going to take a break to get back to my stories. I'll be back at about 4:25.
I'm back. I'll answer a few more questions, then take another break.
What did you think of Illinois running the ball so much in the 4th quarter? It worked, sort of, but seemed like a bad call to me with the deficit and time remaining? Is this Zook or Schultz?
Will,
I think in this case, it was Mike Schultz looking for something that would work. He wanted Northwestern to respect the run a bit. I don't think it meant the game. What you like to see in a team that's behind is a sense of urgency. I think that was there.
What in the world were the officials thinking with that call at the end? I thought the rule in college football was once a player makes contact with the ground they're down or did they change the rules yesterday?
Tim,
The officials said they didn't think Fayson had control of the ball, so it was live. I can't wait to see it at home on tape. I think Ron Zook's reaction shows he thought it was the wrong call.
Now, what happens if the pass is rules a completion? Maybe Chris Duvalt gets open again and Jacob Charest hits him. We'll never know.
Bob,
I was hoping for some remarks to my statements as illinois, as you are closer to the team and might have some insight to these mind boggling decisions.
Matt,
Sorry. My bad.
I agree with your first two points 100 percent. I didn't think they would go to Eddie McGee. I understand wanting to get a running threat out there, but do it a play or two a time, not for a quarter. I do think the break did Jacob some good.
I agree that Mikel Leshoure should be the primary ball carrier. If I'm the coach, he gets 30 carries a game. But Jason Ford has been pretty good in recent games.
The secondary problems seem to run across the board. Of course, Terry Hawthorne, as talented as he is, has some bad plays. When the young guys get older, I think it will be a very good group. But you're right, the unit is very poor right now. Cincinnati might brutalize them.
YOu didn't really address the earlier question on LeShoure? Was he injured? Why did they go away from him in the 2nd half when he was so dominating in the early going?
Groundhogday,
We didn't get an answer on Leshoure from the coaches. He was in the postgame press conference. I think the coaches wanted to take turns with the guys.
I don't think he said anything about being hurt.
If Zook truly does come back next year, which assistants won't?
Craig,
It's too early to tell, but I think there will be some changes. I think you need to see what happens in the final two games. Don't assume anything and count on Zook trying to keep everyone on the staff that he can keep.
Bob, I can't take talking about this season anymore, so let's talk about next year. I know it was only Camp Rantoul but is Nathan S. better than Jacob C. based on your observations in Camp? I know it is not alot to go on but want your thoughts.
Scott,
I think they both have their strengths (how's that for politically correct?)
I wish I could have seen Nathan during practice this season because I've been told he's made great strides. Ask me again halfway through spring practices and I promise an honest appraisal.
I should have paid better attention to them at Camp Rantoul. They really looked good to me. I think Illinois has options.
Do you think Juice plays again?
Marcus,
Juice will start against Cincinnati, barring a setback to his ankle. Charest may or may not play, based on how the game goes.
IF we let a few assistants go, would it really be possible to bring in capable replacements with Zook on the hot seat next year?
Groundhogday,
I think so. There are good people out there who are looking to coach in the Big Ten. If we are talking about non-BCS jobs, not so easy. But Illinois is a place coaches want to work for.
I'm taking another short break. Be back in 15 minutes.
I'm back. Sorry about the delay.
Zook is now 1-4 against Northwestern. Why is that alone insufficient for his firing? AD Guenther said that 5 yrs is too premature but the die is cast. Northwestern is not a good program. We should be beating them easily.
J.C.,
If you want to make a case against Ron Zook, you can use several areas, including the record against the Wildcats. The bottom line for Ron Guenther is the overall performance and where he thinks the program goes next season with Ron Zook in charge. If he thinks it can be turned, he will stick with Zook.
J.C.,
If you want to make a case against Ron Zook, you can use several areas, including the record against the Wildcats. The bottom line for Ron Guenther is the overall performance and where he thinks the program goes next season with Ron Zook in charge. If he thinks it can be turned, he will stick with Zook.
Why does Zook keep using Dufrene when it's obvious that ML and Ford are the better RB's? 2)Why continue to use Eller..it doesn't matter if he kicks great in practice...he's not getting it done during the game---ALL YEAR.
Cruz,
I believe Reggie Mitchell sets the running back rotation. Obviously, Ron Zook could say no, but I don't think he will do that.
I don't think you will see Matt Eller try a field goal against Cincinnati unless Derek Dimke struggles. The change was needed Saturday.
Is Uh-oh going to miss the rest of the season? I was hoping to hear annother announcer butcher his name before he graduates.
Jose,
His name isn't all that hard to pronounce. And I can say that because of my own name.
He wasn't suited up. I hope he gets back on the field, but it doesn't look promising. I feel bad for him. A great kid.
Zook has to go... he makes bonehead every game. I turned the game off at 14-3 because I knew from watching that this team had no chance of coming back.
He puts McGee in the game, he stuck with Eller for 2 games too many, and he allows Shultz to turn into Ron Turner, and run, run, run, and pass when even a PeeWee level DB knows it is coming
Thank god for basketball!!!
Chad,
You are not alone in your feelings. What did you watch instead?
What are the chances that Ron Guenther will have a chat with Cinci's coach after the season?
will134,
I don't think the chances are good. The two-game winning streak strengthened his idea of keeping Ron Zook. Brian Kelly might be moving after the season, but I don't think it will be here.
Is there any discipline on this team? Tavon Wilson gets beat deep on teh sideline, the NW WR makes a great effort and barely drops the ball when he hits the ground. Tavon WIlson dances? Why? He didnt a darn thing ont hat play to hel his team, in fact HE GOT BEAT. Why do the coaches let this happen. If i was the coach, Wilson would have been sitting next to me for a few minutes. It is a joke how undisciplined this team is and how the coaches do nothing about it