Illinois Snowflakes: The Defense

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on

This will be your repository for hot takes regarding the defensive performance in our game versus Illinois. 

LSAClassOf2000

October 22nd, 2016 at 6:58 PM ^

The loss of the shutout aside, numerically that was another nice performance by the defense, I though. 172 yards allowed on 38 plays, which is 4.5 yards per play on average, but that number is padded some by a couple notable moments for Illinois in the passing game, of course. 

77 yards of rushing allowed on 23 carries, or 3.35 yards per carry was a nice performance against the run. 

dragonchild

October 22nd, 2016 at 7:14 PM ^

I mean, if you take out all the big plays, the 2010 defense was awesome.

Hard to blame the team, though.  They haven't played a competitive game in three weeks and pitched 7 shutout quarters in that stretch.  Even Harbaugh would have trouble keeping a roster of blue-chippers focused in such a sensory deprivation tank.

SD Larry

October 22nd, 2016 at 7:00 PM ^

Held Illinois to 172 yds. total offense, and less than 100 when it mattered.  Came out of the game healthy.  Dymonte Thomas pic was an outstanding play, but there were many others by our ferocious defense. 

wolverine1987

October 22nd, 2016 at 7:21 PM ^

It doesn't qualify as a "concern," but with the quality of our d-line to get one sack seems disappointing somehow. I suppose it's a testament to how high our expectations are because of how good they are, but you would expect agsint a mediocre team we would get a few more shacks. Whatever though.

BLHoke

October 22nd, 2016 at 7:28 PM ^

You know your defense is special when the only thing you really have to be pissy about is blowing the shutout on a ball that should've been intercepted... Hill, who played GREAT today I might add, looked like he opted for the more conservative PBU option instead of being aggressive and trying to catch an under thrown ball.




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BLHoke

October 22nd, 2016 at 7:32 PM ^

As for the lack of sacks... I think you have to give Illinois OL some credit for holding up pretty well in pass pro... And I think Don Brown, by his standards called a pretty conservative game against a grey shirt QB making his first start in front of 114K+ because he knew the only way the Illini have a shot at making a game of it is sending extra defenders and not getting there in time, and then lucking up and hitting some big plays down field. No way was that kid ever going to sustain 8-14 play 70-80 yard drives all day long.




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Perkis-Size Me

October 22nd, 2016 at 7:54 PM ^

It was good enough today against an inferior opponent.

It won't be good enough next week against Sparty. They're bringing the whole kitchen sink next week. This defense had be ready for fucking anything next week. Because Dantonio will pull out all the stops next week.




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TheReal_GR3

October 22nd, 2016 at 7:57 PM ^

I've been thinking this for a couple weeks but it seems Peppers has not been as involved in defensive plays since Colorado, which I thought was his best defensive games in his career.

With that said I went and took a look and he tackles have actually decreased each game... 9 vs Colorado, 6 v Penn State, 3 Wisconsin, 2 v Rutgers, 2 v Illinois. And from what I can see only 0.5 TFL in the last 4 games and no sacks. 

Peppers is always out there but he doesn't seem to be moving around as much as he was ealier in the season and seems be getting less chances to blitz or get in the backfield against the run. 

Has anyone else noticed this? 

Epic-Blue

October 22nd, 2016 at 8:07 PM ^

I have noticed. He has basically been non existent on Defense. Not sure what the problem is? He did nothing today. 1 tackle...this Heisman rah rah crap is unfair for Jabrill. It's putting way to much pressure on this kid.




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bcnihao

October 22nd, 2016 at 8:31 PM ^

I thought Peppers was very involved on defense in the Rutgers game--contained a jet sweep, forced an early throw by blitzing, etc. 

I havn't rewatched today's game, but it seemed as if Illinois was often running to the other side of the field, away from Peppers.  And he still tracked down the runner, from across the field,  to push him out of bounds on one of Illinois' biggest gains.

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

October 22nd, 2016 at 9:26 PM ^

on most downs and then energized on a few. DL was average. Other than one awful play or two the safeties were ok. Brown called a low we pressure game with infrequent pressure,

This D can be great.

gbdub

October 23rd, 2016 at 1:04 AM ^

Jesus. We gave up one score and 200 yards to a B1G opponent and won by 33 in a game where we called off the dogs after going up 4 scores in the 2nd quarter.

From the comments you'd think we won a squeaker against Akron or something.




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