Week 2 Illini Football Thoughts

The art of illusion can apply to football scores, precious metals or women wearing makeup, but all that glitters is not gold and Illinois' lopsided victory against the 1AA Redbirds leaves little luster as the game fades in our rear view mirror. The plucky, yet undermanned Redbirds, led by first year coach Brock Spack played with poise and purpose until the final whistle prevented the Illini from adding a meaningless score. In fact, the final Illini drive would have drawn howls of protest had the shoe been on the other foot.

Regrettably, we are a Program without an identity; we lack the discipline and character necessary to transform ourselves into a consistent winner, on and off the field. The coaching staff must accept responsibility for a defense that covers no one and elicited the following halftime comment form the ISU Head Coach "we've got guys running open all over the field, we just need to get them the ball" indeed they were, and ISU did get them the ball to the tune of 354 passing yards. At times, it looked like our pass defenders thought they were playing flag football and arms reach was enough to down the opponent. Hicks, Bellamy, Edwards and Hardeman appear to be playing the Cover Too. Change the scheme and alter the personnel. Thirteen penalties for 115 yards could be overlooked if it were an aberration, but sadly, that is what has become the norm from a team that lacks discipline in execution and technique. Special Teams continue to be an albatross on a team with more problems than virtues.

Big Ten experts routinely rank our talent in the upper echelons of the Conference and yet we aren't played by less talented squads with frequent regularity. I'm not ready to give up on this season or these kids, but this Staff needs to coach players up and find a way to win or forever lose the faith and confidence of Illini Nation. One winning season in five years will not suffice and the AD and Head Coach must fix this posthaste or accept full responsibility for their collective failure and bear the consequences. The upcoming schedule appears daunting with away games at improved Purdue and Indiana and a revitalized Michigan squad visiting Memorial Stadium in contests that looked like wins in the preseason and now loom as potholes on a treacherous path. In fact, there are no easy wins left on the schedule after watching our first two games. Cincinatti on the road and Fresno State at home appear as threatening clouds in a gathering storm for a team that may be reeling and beaten down from a rugged B10 schedule.

I am looking at my computer screen and I feel like I'm staring into the equivalent of the Illini Football Abyss, but all is not lost. Stop being passive and establish aggressive defensive schemes. Football is a game of controlled violence and the Illini need to define themselves as feared warriors worthy of opponents respect. Pittsburgh Steeler Coach Mike Tomlin when asked who would win last Thursdays game against Tennessee responded without hesitation, "the most violent team." Let's start by playing press coverage and blitzing from different angles when on defense. Play kids who perform with abandon within the rules and care more about winning than personal glory. Demote or fire assistant coaches based on measurable performance standards. These may be desperate times, but the talent is present and the spirit is willing. Show us leadership that speaks to the concept that we would rather die with a sword in our hand than be beaten to death with our own shields.