Well Ron Zook finally did something. Although instead of learning how to adjust at halftime, or going back to the basics that made your QB the all-time leader in yards, it was bench him. After 2 good quarters of football, and then 3 bad offensive series, Illinois was basically out of the game. And now it is Ron Zook's time to panic. Congrats Ron, because most of Illini Nation panicked as soon as Arrelious Benn injured his ankle during the Mizzou game. Although to be completely fair, this probably was not Zook's decision, it was Mike Schultz's. It is glaringly obvious that Juice Williams is not suited to run what Schultz wants him to. It is also glaringly obvious that Schultz has taken a QB who broke 3 stadium records last season and destroyed all of his talent, skill, and confidence.
If Shultz has his way, which it is obvious now that he will, Illinois will basically run the zone read, and throw screens to its running backs and receivers all day long. There will of course be 2-5 passes over 15 yards, but Eddie can't throw those. Be prepared for these things to occur on Saturday:
1) Eddie will botch at least 3 zone reads
2) Eddie will fumble at least 2 times
3) Eddie will throw an interception on one of the play action passes down the field
4) Eddie will run the ball at least 20 times because he hates to pitch or hand-off on the zone read and option.
5) Rejus will have 5 catches that will amount to either no gain, or at the most 5 yards because they are bubble screens
6) Illinois will go 3 and out at least 4 times in the first half and the defense will get tired just like it did against Penn State.
7) Michigan State is going to blitz the hell out of Eddie because they know that at the first sign of pressure, he is going to tuck the ball and run.
8) Illinois' offense is going to be even more horrific to watch because they are not going to want Eddie to make mistakes. If you thought the Mizzou game was boring to watch, this week will make that offense look like the Saints.
Here is the real question: Is this the same as 2007 when Juice was benched to get his head on straight? Will Zook actually pull Eddie as soon as he starts screwing up, or this a decision for the future? I personally can't imagine that Zook and Co. are giving up on this season, and hoping to get Eddie ready for starting next season. I also can't imagine that the Illinois coaches think that Eddie McGee is the QB who can turn this team around. Before you guys start screaming about how Eddie helped us beat ISU, remember that ISU isn't an FBS school. Also they are 2-3 themselves, and to be honest, Eddie looked completely average in that game. He was 13-17 for 164 yards, and ran 18 times for 55 yards... AGAINST AN FCS SCHOOL!!! Also both times he has gotten to play he threw an interception on his first series, both of which there wasn't a receiver in the area. This hurts the receivers more than anything. The only game that Rejus has played in where he didn't catch a ball was against ISU.
Basically what Illinois is trying to do now is play ball control offense and hope that the defense can keep them in the game. With Juice Williams at QB, every fan in the country was calling for Illinois to open up the playbook and let him throw the ball. That is not what Schultz wants to do at all, so instead of the half hearted attempts we have seen lately, they decided to take Juice out of the equation. They are hoping that Schultz's game plan of running and short passes will work. I for one am not going to hold my breath.
FC Porto – Đại diện tiêu biểu của bóng đá Bồ Đào Nha
10 months ago
1 comment:
I've decided I'm going to disagree with your post. I agree that Schultz has been garbage and I also agree that Eddie hasn't done much to impress up to this point. However, after four games, it's become fairly obvious that Schultz and/or Zook aren't going to change the approach. They are either unable or unwilling to make the proper adjustments. If the coaches aren't willing to change, then it seems like the only hope is to switch Juice for the next guy. This could make things worse, but I'm not quite sure how. Now, ignoring McGee's deficiencies to this point, let's looks at the stats on Juice since the middle of last year as taken from a poster on scout:
2008:
@ Wisconsin - 17-32, 53%, 221 yards, 2 td, 3 int, qb rating 56.9 (loss 27-17)
Iowa - 22-37, 59%, 272 yards, 1 td, 2 int, qb rating 68.8 (win 27-24)
@ Western Michigan - 20-45, 44%, 328 yards, 1 td, 2 int, qb rating 58.4 (loss 23-17)
Ohio State - 17-26, 65%, 192 yards, 2 td, 1 int, qb rating 97 (loss 30-20)
@ Northwestern - 20-36, 55%, 212 yards, 0 td, 1 int, qb rating 61.3 (loss 27-10)
2009:
Missouri - 18-28, 64%, 179 yards, 0 td, 1 int, qb rating 67.4 (loss 37-9)
@ Ohio State - 13-25, 52%, 77 yards, 0 td, 2 int, qb rating 24.9 (loss 30-0)
Penn State - 20-36, 55%, 263 yards, 1 td, 1 int, qb rating 75.6 (loss 35-17)
That's 7 TD to 13 interceptions. Obviously, Eddie has shown to have turnover issues, but he's got a little cushion for error given Juice's issues in this category. As for missed zone reads and inability to handle the blitz, I see this as a wash at best between the two. Juice only sees the primary receiver and crumbles at the sign of the blitz. Eddie could have this same problem, but again what's the difference if he does? So, what is the point of switching to Eddie? Well, for one, I think attitude could be one positive. Maybe it's because he just isn't that smart or doesn’t know how hopeless the team has been this season, but Eddie seems to have some energy and excitement left in him. I haven't seen any excitement out of Juice all season. He looks like a zombie standing on the sidelines and I don't think his head is in the game. Secondly, although it's against a division II school, McGee has the only win for the team this season. Juice has not won since the Iowa game last year. I know ISU sucks, but I'll take a win as a win and Eddie was at the helm. Lastly, these coaches aren't going anywhere. Regardless of the outcome this year, Zook isn't going anywhere. We have at least another year of this nonsense. If Eddie isn't the answer, then we need to prove it sooner rather than later. That is a bit of a loser attitude for this season, but I don't think Juice in his current state can win for us. If we don't see more of Eddie this year, it will make him the definite starter for next year. If Eddie definitely isn't the answer, we need to get him out the coaching staff's head before we wash a third season down the tubes next year. At this point, I don't see much of a better option for this season. As it stands, I see the options as this:
1. The coaches learn how to coach their talent and Juice starts to live up to preseason expectations running this offense - nope
2. Everything stays the same and all of the sudden the gameplan works in the fifth week - in other words, all of the other coaches somehow become worse than the Illinois staff. nope
3. Coaches continue their current plan and go with Eddie – not good, but only viable hope at this point
4. The coaching staff skips over McGee and goes with Charest - Could be interesting to see what he can do, but we won’t see it
Obviously, I can understand the argument against Eddie and I don't think he is going to be the answer. I've seen him play enough to know he is all over the place and terribly unstable. But, for some reason, the coaches think they have a system that works. With that mentality, the only hope I can see for them is to switch the players into some magical chemistry that finds a way to win.
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