And any recruit with eyes will ask why we don't teach the basics of zone blocking and leave.
OT decommit
- Thread starter 83cy
- Start date
One thing I think we have always been missing is that attitude. The mean streak. The will to dominate. Our lines always play soft. Even Simmons who had that early on isn't pancaking guys anymore. I don't get it.
In the legendary words of fake General Phillips(played by Tommy Lee Jones)
" You don't win wars with niceness." I'll add football games to that list.
I still think it is much more about the blocking scheme and coaching, than just guys who aren't good enough physically.
Is player development or our OL coach?
By my count we have 19 scholarship OL on the 2022 roster and only 2 (Downing & Ross) are seniors. Thirteen will have 2+ years of eligibility after this season.
Sure the transfer portal might have some good options, but if we can't build a solid OL based on what's currently on the roster, we have bigger problems.
I think that's why everyone is freaking out. These guys have gotten worse since last year. Why can't the guys behind them beat them out? O line has been plain bad most of Campbell's tenure.
Hate to break it, but on the call in show Monday, Matt praised the development of the O lineman; including praise for Miller.
That's coach speak. Plus he knows them as human beings more than we are going to.
That's why OL & OC coaching changes seem warranted. Guys like Simmons, Downing, etc have played a lot of snaps at ISU and they seem to have regressed. It would be one thing if they hit a ceiling with their strength & conditioning. But their technique & teamwork should get better with age!
If we have missed on the vast majority of our last 20 OL recruits- then our issues are BIG!
Have you EVER heard Campbell be critical of a player or position group?
He's trying to win 2 games, no reason to chip away at player confidence publicly. I'm sure they get the message in team meetings.
That's true, and it's why I don't listen to coach pressers. They're completely worthless if you're looking for Campbell to say anything that could be construed as negative about his players. He just won't (and really shouldn't) do it.
It's what he does (not says) with his staff in the offseason that will be more telling than anything he would ever say.
During his press conference this week he praised this year's senior leadership. He couldn't have been more complimentary of kids like Johnson and Vance.
But it was interesting that he mentioned the culture in last year's locker room was lacking. Curious statement with all the seniors playing in the NFL. That was first time I have heard about locker room issues in 2021.
We'll see about the rising program narrative for the Illini. They very well could end up like Indiana: A breakout year and then back to shitsville...
Could be worse. At least we aren't losing the #1 OL recruit in the nation like Iowa probably is...
