Ask beat writer Bob Asmussen about the Illinois football team
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:28 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Welcome back to another Camp Rantoul chat. Tomorrow will be the last one. The regular football chats will start next week at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Hope that works for everybody.
Let's get to the questions.
Ndamukong S. from Detroit, MI — 12:28 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Bob, first thanks for all your hard work.
Can you elaborate on why Cornell is battling Thornton and not Hunt at Left/Weak-side Guard?
I thought Petrino's scheme was to put his two best linemen right next to each other, and that this meant Allen and Thornton.
Now if Cornell is playing well, that's great, but would he not then be fighting Hunt at Right/strong-side Guard, given how good Thornton is?
In other words, I thought UI's guards go: 1. Thornton, 2. Hunt, 3. Cornell, where the number 1 guy plays on the weak-side, so if 3 is battling for a spot it would against 2, at Right/strong-side.
Sorry for the wordiness, and thanks for helping sort out the situation!
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:32 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Ndamukong,
Like you, I thought Hugh Thornton was considered the top guard. Turns out that isn't the case. The coaches think Randall Hunt is doing the best job at the position and deserves to be a starter. After I heard that from Joe Gilbert, I watched Hunt more closely and he does seem to be a different guy. And you can't argue his experience. He's a guy who had a rare five spring practice seasons.
Jack Cornell is playing better and I think that's a big reason he has moved into contention. Also at play is the reality that Thornton is the third tackle, behind Jeff Allen and Ryan Palmer. If something happens to one of those guys, Thornton is the starter.
Long term, I think Hugh Thornton can be an All-Big Ten player or better. But he is still young.
Charley from Bellingham, WA — 12:32 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
With the likelihood of Darius Millines and Evan Wilson getting early significant play time this season, is this a reflection more of their talents/skills or more of the reflection of the quality competition in their respective positions?
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:34 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Charley,
It is definitely a reflection of their ability. After watching the guys work in the spring and at Camp Rantoul, I'd say receiver has turned into a plus. Jarred Fayson, Jack Ramsey, Eddie McGee, Fred Sykes, A.J. Jenkins and Steve Hull are all playing well. So, for Darius and Evan Wilson to move into contention means they are playing very well. Millines was really good at the Rantoul High scrimmage. And Wilson has been good throughout Camp Rantoul.
Chester from Sherman, IL — 12:34 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
U mentioned that tomorrows practice may be moved to the morning. Any confirmation on that yet?
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:35 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Chester,
No confirmation yet, but it is very, very likely. As soon as I get the official word, I will post it on HQ. If that doesn't work for you, send me an email at asmussen@news-gazette.com and I will get the word to you directly.
Hopefully, that works.
Salt from Ormond Beach, FL — 12:35 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Who do you predict will be the studs making the biggest game changing plays this season (freshmen included)?
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:37 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Salt,
I'll go with two guys, both kind of obvious: Mikel Leshoure and A.J. Jenkins. They both have 70-yard touchdown potential, as do some of their teammates.
Among the freshmen, Evan Wilson has been very, very good throughout Camp Rantoul. If he plays, he could have a Brandon Lloyd-as-a-freshman type impact. Did I just write that?
Mike from Wheaton, IL — 12:37 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Bob, how is the pass protection shaping up in the 1st & 2nd O-line?
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:39 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Mike,
I think the pass protection has been good. What has been better on the line is the way the guys have been blocking for the run. Huge holes with plenty of time to get through them. That could be a real good thing for Leshoure, Jason Ford and friends.
Martin O'Donnell was at practice Wednesday night and liked the looks of the line, though he expressed concerns about the depth. Remember, he was an All-American.
Scott D. from Lebanon, PA — 12:39 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Evan Wilson's name is popping up quite a bit on HQ lately. What's the inside scoop?
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:41 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Scott D.,
Pretty simple: he's been making plays. And making plays. And making plays. Every time you look up during a passing drill, he is at the other end of a throw. I think he plays a significant role this season.
Credit the Illinois coaches for finding him in Georgia and convincing him Illinois is the place to be. For him, that looks like an accurate statement.
Don from Taylorville, Il — 12:41 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Missouri recently lost their leading returning wide receiver to a broken wrist. It appears that their wideouts should be fairly "inexperienced and green." Do you think pressuring Gabbert with blitzes often will be part of our gameplan or do you think we will just "pick our spots."
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:43 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Don,
Based on talks with Vic Koenning, I think Illinois will go at Gabbert from every possible angle and at all times. Koenning watched Gabbert sit back like he was at a picnic last season and pick apart his Kansas State defense. That makes me think he wants to get in his face. Younger receivers might not be as good in that situation, but understand that Missouri still has plenty of talent at that position, starting with Wes Kemp.
BigToe from Pana, Illinois — 12:43 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Bob - No remarks about our friends in Iowa this time.
This question might be off topic but I think 2010 sees the 20th anniversary of Howard Griffith's record breaking t.d. performance against Southern Illinois. Do you know if the U of I has anything planned to mark the occasion when the Illini meet SIU this season?
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:45 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Big Toe,
I hope Illinois is planning to honor Howard. That was one of the best performances in Illinois football history.
Speaking of that, in the Aug. 29 News-Gazette, we are going to present the 10 best Illini at each position. We put together a panel of experts, including Griffith, to help us with the rankings.
There are also best play, game, team, categories. Griffith's eighth touchdown made the cut among the best plays.
Luke from Olney, IL — 12:45 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Hey Bob,
Was wondering how Coach Vic was going to address the poor play in the secondary last year as well as the lack of pressure from the DLine spots?
Also, I noticed that a lot of the kids have switched to the Xenith helmets. I coach JV and Varsity in Olney and a lot of our kids have switched to them. They seem to like them and I was wondering if you have talked to any of the players who have made the switch and got their opinions on them?
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:47 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Luke,
Vic Koenning hasn't talked a lot about what happened last season. He is trying to put together the best lineup he can within the framework of the defense. I get the feeling this is a combination Zook/Koenning defensive scheme.
I haven't asked about the helmets, but now you've got me curious. I will check with a couple of the guys after tonight's practice and report back to you Friday. One thing I know, the players always want the latest, best equipment. Can't blame them for that.
Todd from Decatur, IL — 12:47 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
I can see McGee and Wilson having Shawn Wax type impact this season . . do you?
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:49 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Todd,
How about Jason Dulick-type impact? Or Mike Bellamy?
McGee, especially, has to be an important part of the passing offense. I think he will be. Let's just throw a number out there: 32 catches. That would be a good season for McGee and give him a chance to try receiver at the next level.
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:50 PM on Thu, 08/19/2010
I'm going to cut it off for the day. Thanks again for all of the great questions. We'll do it again Friday.
I'll check on the helmets and on Friday's practice schedule.
Welcome back to another Camp Rantoul chat. Tomorrow will be the last one. The regular football chats will start next week at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Hope that works for everybody.
Let's get to the questions.
Bob, first thanks for all your hard work.
Can you elaborate on why Cornell is battling Thornton and not Hunt at Left/Weak-side Guard?
I thought Petrino's scheme was to put his two best linemen right next to each other, and that this meant Allen and Thornton.
Now if Cornell is playing well, that's great, but would he not then be fighting Hunt at Right/strong-side Guard, given how good Thornton is?
In other words, I thought UI's guards go: 1. Thornton, 2. Hunt, 3. Cornell, where the number 1 guy plays on the weak-side, so if 3 is battling for a spot it would against 2, at Right/strong-side.
Sorry for the wordiness, and thanks for helping sort out the situation!
Ndamukong,
Like you, I thought Hugh Thornton was considered the top guard. Turns out that isn't the case. The coaches think Randall Hunt is doing the best job at the position and deserves to be a starter. After I heard that from Joe Gilbert, I watched Hunt more closely and he does seem to be a different guy. And you can't argue his experience. He's a guy who had a rare five spring practice seasons.
Jack Cornell is playing better and I think that's a big reason he has moved into contention. Also at play is the reality that Thornton is the third tackle, behind Jeff Allen and Ryan Palmer. If something happens to one of those guys, Thornton is the starter.
Long term, I think Hugh Thornton can be an All-Big Ten player or better. But he is still young.
With the likelihood of Darius Millines and Evan Wilson getting early significant play time this season, is this a reflection more of their talents/skills or more of the reflection of the quality competition in their respective positions?
Charley,
It is definitely a reflection of their ability. After watching the guys work in the spring and at Camp Rantoul, I'd say receiver has turned into a plus. Jarred Fayson, Jack Ramsey, Eddie McGee, Fred Sykes, A.J. Jenkins and Steve Hull are all playing well. So, for Darius and Evan Wilson to move into contention means they are playing very well. Millines was really good at the Rantoul High scrimmage. And Wilson has been good throughout Camp Rantoul.
U mentioned that tomorrows practice may be moved to the morning. Any confirmation on that yet?
Chester,
No confirmation yet, but it is very, very likely. As soon as I get the official word, I will post it on HQ. If that doesn't work for you, send me an email at asmussen@news-gazette.com and I will get the word to you directly.
Hopefully, that works.
Who do you predict will be the studs making the biggest game changing plays this season (freshmen included)?
Salt,
I'll go with two guys, both kind of obvious: Mikel Leshoure and A.J. Jenkins. They both have 70-yard touchdown potential, as do some of their teammates.
Among the freshmen, Evan Wilson has been very, very good throughout Camp Rantoul. If he plays, he could have a Brandon Lloyd-as-a-freshman type impact. Did I just write that?
Bob, how is the pass protection shaping up in the 1st & 2nd O-line?
Mike,
I think the pass protection has been good. What has been better on the line is the way the guys have been blocking for the run. Huge holes with plenty of time to get through them. That could be a real good thing for Leshoure, Jason Ford and friends.
Martin O'Donnell was at practice Wednesday night and liked the looks of the line, though he expressed concerns about the depth. Remember, he was an All-American.
Evan Wilson's name is popping up quite a bit on HQ lately. What's the inside scoop?
Scott D.,
Pretty simple: he's been making plays. And making plays. And making plays. Every time you look up during a passing drill, he is at the other end of a throw. I think he plays a significant role this season.
Credit the Illinois coaches for finding him in Georgia and convincing him Illinois is the place to be. For him, that looks like an accurate statement.
Missouri recently lost their leading returning wide receiver to a broken wrist. It appears that their wideouts should be fairly "inexperienced and green." Do you think pressuring Gabbert with blitzes often will be part of our gameplan or do you think we will just "pick our spots."
Don,
Based on talks with Vic Koenning, I think Illinois will go at Gabbert from every possible angle and at all times. Koenning watched Gabbert sit back like he was at a picnic last season and pick apart his Kansas State defense. That makes me think he wants to get in his face. Younger receivers might not be as good in that situation, but understand that Missouri still has plenty of talent at that position, starting with Wes Kemp.
Bob - No remarks about our friends in Iowa this time.
This question might be off topic but I think 2010 sees the 20th anniversary of Howard Griffith's record breaking t.d. performance against Southern Illinois. Do you know if the U of I has anything planned to mark the occasion when the Illini meet SIU this season?
Big Toe,
I hope Illinois is planning to honor Howard. That was one of the best performances in Illinois football history.
Speaking of that, in the Aug. 29 News-Gazette, we are going to present the 10 best Illini at each position. We put together a panel of experts, including Griffith, to help us with the rankings.
There are also best play, game, team, categories. Griffith's eighth touchdown made the cut among the best plays.
Hey Bob,
Was wondering how Coach Vic was going to address the poor play in the secondary last year as well as the lack of pressure from the DLine spots?
Also, I noticed that a lot of the kids have switched to the Xenith helmets. I coach JV and Varsity in Olney and a lot of our kids have switched to them. They seem to like them and I was wondering if you have talked to any of the players who have made the switch and got their opinions on them?
Luke,
Vic Koenning hasn't talked a lot about what happened last season. He is trying to put together the best lineup he can within the framework of the defense. I get the feeling this is a combination Zook/Koenning defensive scheme.
I haven't asked about the helmets, but now you've got me curious. I will check with a couple of the guys after tonight's practice and report back to you Friday. One thing I know, the players always want the latest, best equipment. Can't blame them for that.
I can see McGee and Wilson having Shawn Wax type impact this season . . do you?
Todd,
How about Jason Dulick-type impact? Or Mike Bellamy?
McGee, especially, has to be an important part of the passing offense. I think he will be. Let's just throw a number out there: 32 catches. That would be a good season for McGee and give him a chance to try receiver at the next level.
I'm going to cut it off for the day. Thanks again for all of the great questions. We'll do it again Friday.
I'll check on the helmets and on Friday's practice schedule.