Big Sigh! We were supposed to play tonight and a lot of us had plans to be there. Win, lose or forfeit (didn't they forfeit lol) this was a must see event for many Redbird Football Fans. Maybe it's wrong to dwell on something that will not come to pass but for one day, this day 9/4/2020, maybe it's ok to talk about what might have been. What follows is what I would have posted in the predictions thread that previews the game.
To be honest I didn't see us winning. We had a chance for sure and I wouldn't have missed it for anything, but Illinois has been pointing to the 2020 season since the Lovie era began. Lovie Smith has been a disaster on the recruiting trial . But Lovie has been able to hold on to some players from early recruiting classes and he has taken advantage of the booming transfer market to fill some of the gaping holes in the roster. If you put the two together you have a moderately talented but highly experienced Big 10 squad for the '20 season.
Let's start at QB, the most important position on the field. Brandon Peters, a Michigan transfer, is similar to Brady Davis but he's more proven. Both QB's are Pro-style pocket passers at heart. Both can scramble but Peters has demonstrated more composure in the pocket. He's not known as a runner but he can burn you for positive yardage if you leave him an opening. Davis was looking for a huge step forward this season. He's eager to show what he can do with healthy receivers. That's all positive but Peters has more "been there actually done that" on his resume. Edge to the Illini.
The running back position is also similar. Both the Illini and the Redbirds have had success recruiting RB's. Former Redbird Robinson is getting good press with the NFL Jaguars. Illinois had Reggie Corbin and he was good for Third-team All Big Ten. They also had a RB transfer out to Vanderbilt (Ke'Shawn Vaughn) that ended up being a 3rd round NFL draft choice. So both programs have had talent at this position. This year the Redbirds reloaded with Jeff Proctor and a host of younger, unproven but talented players. Proctor was prepping hard for this season. The Illini counter with players like Mike Epstein and Ra'Von Bonner. Epstein has been slowed by injuries during his career but he explodes into space and he's added muscle during his many years. Advantage Illini.
Offensive Line - The Illini aren't all that talented up front but it's a highly experienced unit. Due to weakness they had some O-Linemen thrown into the starting lineup early in their careers. They had some growing pains but the added experience was due to pay off this year. The Redbirds would have had the best O-Lineman on the field with Drew Himmelman, and it would have been exciting to see Megginson go against old chums, but slight edge to the Illini on this one.
TE - We're feeling really good about Taula and Gillum but again the Illini counter with an impressive duo of their own. Daniel Barker had a good season for them last year and he's being challenged by Luke Ford, a 4-star transfer from Georgia. Ford comes from tiny Carterville, IL but he had offers from all the SEC powers.
WR - tough match up here. The Illini have Josh Imatorbhebhe, a USC Trojan transfer. Both Devin Taylor and Charles Woods would have had a chance to test their mettle against a NFL-caliber receiver. He's a 6'2 220lb grown-ass man. Like I say, tough match up. He's open even when he's covered. Yeah we're good if Edgar and Grimes are healthy but again the Illini are better. Bottom line their offense is more proven/better.
I'm short on time so I'll speed through the defense. That's a shame because ours is better. I'll focus on the heart of that superiority. Our DL is better. If we're playing tonight then Romeo McKnight is still with us. He's a pro prospect. Jason Lewan has gotten better and better. He was up to 6'6 290 last season. Did he top out or is he up to 300? I'll bet he's stronger regardless of the weight. Brandon Simon gets good pressure off the edge. John Ridgeway?? Deep, Deep Sigh. I really wanted to see this one. JR would have gone up against Illini Doug Kramer, a highly experienced Big 10 Center. Nothing he hasn't seen before. What could have been even more interesting is the possible double team he could have faced from the guard position. The Illini have Peorian Kendrick Green at G. You might say JR and Kendrick are acquainted. I'll add a picture of Ridgeway pinning Green at the State Wresting Tournament. JR looks happy. Green does not. Do you think Green remembers? Do you think he wants a piece of Ridgeway? Green now squats 700 pounds! He might want to use some of that leg strength to punch a hole in the unprotected side of our nose guard while he's engaged with the center block. Again, JR has seen the double team before but it might have come with more vengeance this time. The Illini think this would have been a big game for us. Trust me, this would have been a big game for a lot of them - especially Green.
That matchup alone would have been worth the price of admission.
I'm out of time, our defense is better, but a slight edge to the Illini overall. One funny bounce could have changed everything. Would have been a great game.
To be honest I didn't see us winning. We had a chance for sure and I wouldn't have missed it for anything, but Illinois has been pointing to the 2020 season since the Lovie era began. Lovie Smith has been a disaster on the recruiting trial . But Lovie has been able to hold on to some players from early recruiting classes and he has taken advantage of the booming transfer market to fill some of the gaping holes in the roster. If you put the two together you have a moderately talented but highly experienced Big 10 squad for the '20 season.
Let's start at QB, the most important position on the field. Brandon Peters, a Michigan transfer, is similar to Brady Davis but he's more proven. Both QB's are Pro-style pocket passers at heart. Both can scramble but Peters has demonstrated more composure in the pocket. He's not known as a runner but he can burn you for positive yardage if you leave him an opening. Davis was looking for a huge step forward this season. He's eager to show what he can do with healthy receivers. That's all positive but Peters has more "been there actually done that" on his resume. Edge to the Illini.
The running back position is also similar. Both the Illini and the Redbirds have had success recruiting RB's. Former Redbird Robinson is getting good press with the NFL Jaguars. Illinois had Reggie Corbin and he was good for Third-team All Big Ten. They also had a RB transfer out to Vanderbilt (Ke'Shawn Vaughn) that ended up being a 3rd round NFL draft choice. So both programs have had talent at this position. This year the Redbirds reloaded with Jeff Proctor and a host of younger, unproven but talented players. Proctor was prepping hard for this season. The Illini counter with players like Mike Epstein and Ra'Von Bonner. Epstein has been slowed by injuries during his career but he explodes into space and he's added muscle during his many years. Advantage Illini.
Offensive Line - The Illini aren't all that talented up front but it's a highly experienced unit. Due to weakness they had some O-Linemen thrown into the starting lineup early in their careers. They had some growing pains but the added experience was due to pay off this year. The Redbirds would have had the best O-Lineman on the field with Drew Himmelman, and it would have been exciting to see Megginson go against old chums, but slight edge to the Illini on this one.
TE - We're feeling really good about Taula and Gillum but again the Illini counter with an impressive duo of their own. Daniel Barker had a good season for them last year and he's being challenged by Luke Ford, a 4-star transfer from Georgia. Ford comes from tiny Carterville, IL but he had offers from all the SEC powers.
WR - tough match up here. The Illini have Josh Imatorbhebhe, a USC Trojan transfer. Both Devin Taylor and Charles Woods would have had a chance to test their mettle against a NFL-caliber receiver. He's a 6'2 220lb grown-ass man. Like I say, tough match up. He's open even when he's covered. Yeah we're good if Edgar and Grimes are healthy but again the Illini are better. Bottom line their offense is more proven/better.
I'm short on time so I'll speed through the defense. That's a shame because ours is better. I'll focus on the heart of that superiority. Our DL is better. If we're playing tonight then Romeo McKnight is still with us. He's a pro prospect. Jason Lewan has gotten better and better. He was up to 6'6 290 last season. Did he top out or is he up to 300? I'll bet he's stronger regardless of the weight. Brandon Simon gets good pressure off the edge. John Ridgeway?? Deep, Deep Sigh. I really wanted to see this one. JR would have gone up against Illini Doug Kramer, a highly experienced Big 10 Center. Nothing he hasn't seen before. What could have been even more interesting is the possible double team he could have faced from the guard position. The Illini have Peorian Kendrick Green at G. You might say JR and Kendrick are acquainted. I'll add a picture of Ridgeway pinning Green at the State Wresting Tournament. JR looks happy. Green does not. Do you think Green remembers? Do you think he wants a piece of Ridgeway? Green now squats 700 pounds! He might want to use some of that leg strength to punch a hole in the unprotected side of our nose guard while he's engaged with the center block. Again, JR has seen the double team before but it might have come with more vengeance this time. The Illini think this would have been a big game for us. Trust me, this would have been a big game for a lot of them - especially Green.
That matchup alone would have been worth the price of admission.
I'm out of time, our defense is better, but a slight edge to the Illini overall. One funny bounce could have changed everything. Would have been a great game.
