Bulletin Board Material: August and September 2012 Entries

Credit is also due to the Illini offense... in the first half.  Scheelhaase commanded the offense well, and his 64-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Lankford seemed to announce that the Illini would be in control of this from the get-go.  Scheelhaase went 11-for-18 in the game, with 126 yards, a touchdown, and interception, adding a rushing score to put Illinois up 17-0 going into the half.  After his injury, sophomore Reilly O'Toole only added seven yards to the team's total, and couldn't lead the Illini past mid-field for the remainder of the contest.  Again, the seriousness of Scheelhaase's injury is unknown, but we saw drastically difference offenses in the first and second half.  That's not a coincidence.

Another bright spot: TE Jon Davis leading the Illinois rushing game, getting in time at H-back.  His 54 yards led the team, and while being a relatively small number, he did it on just six carries.  On his first two, he had runs of 17 and 18 yards, and his 6'3", 240lb. frame clearly gave the defense a tougher time in terms of bring him down.  I expect Beckman to plug Davis in there for about a half dozen carries every week.

Remembering that WMU lost Carder's top three targets to graduation last year - and there never really was a rushing threat - it's still difficult to evaluate what this says about the Illini moving forward.  More than anything else, what's important to note is that they came out ready to play.  It's not uncommon for even some of the top teams in the country to spend a quarter or two... or four... with what can best be described as "first-game jitters".  The Illini had none, and that's on the coaching staff, which is a promising sign.  An important rematch with Arizona State awaits...

8-22-12

It's time for another football season!  A year full of haves, have-nots, will-not-bes, and hopefully a few pleasant surprises.  Yes, it's my first year of Illinois high school football, and I'm thrilled to finally get the season going.  Between Noah Newman and myself we're trying to pay a visit to each of the teams in our viewing area, and are ready to put on our analyst hats.

I will admit, despite seeing (live or on tape) more than a hundred high school games each year, none of them involved teams from here in Illinois, so feel free to take my analysis with a grain of salt.  I've done my research on recent history, and we've talked with coaches and players, asking them to evaluate themselves, so we have a pretty good foundation for a 2012 season preview.  Also, there are always a few key pieces of information that I know will generally shape a football season, especially a high school football season:

-How did they do last year?
-Who's coming back?
-What's the talent/leadership like at quarterback?
-Size, size, size

Now, since it is an election year, and we newsy folks don't want to give off the impression that we're biased, each team gets one paragraph, followed by a prediction.  Noah and I have gone down each schedule for each team.  Now, we may not necessarily agree on head-to-head matchups, which is why in our first post, a disproportionate amount of teams are picked to make the playoffs, and for accountability's sake, we make sure to identify the prognosticator after the prediction.

Our first set of predictions comes out of an intriguing Okaw Valley Conference, which remains familiarly top-heavy.  There is, however, some interesting activity in the middle of those standings, and both Noah and I think there will be some teams losing the grip on their playoffs spots, as well as some that are ready to end postseason droughts:

Argenta-Oreana Bombers (2-3, 4-5)
The term "dark-horse" comes to mind when watching the Bombers.  A-O was on the outside looking in during the 2011 playoffs, but they weren't far off.  They'll return QB Gage Eller, and a big chunk of an offense that showed flashes last year -- in three of their wins, the Bombers scored 46, 49, and 52 points.  Coach Chad Eisenmenger has said their biggest issue at camp was finishing, and claimed the team has had trouble focusing through an entire practice.  Their first three games are by no means easy, but they are manageable (@ Shelbyville, at home vs. St. Teresa, and @ Sullivan).  A 3-0 start could be just what the Bombers need to hone that focus, and build confidence, for a solid regular season run.  The rest of their schedule won't do them any favors, which is why I won't necessarily put them in the playoffs just yet, but this team could have a surprise in them.  If they get just one, I think they'll be in the postseason.  As it is... PREDICTION: 4-5 -Loveless

Central A&M Raiders (3-2, 6-5)
A 2011 playoff team, the Raiders seem poised for improvement in Mark Ramsey's 30th season as head coach at Central A&M.  Curt Ramsey, Mark's son, returns to quarterback the team, and by what I've seen, he'll get plenty of time in the pocket.  The most jaw-dropping sight at their practice: The offensive line.  Curt Ramsey claims the five starting linemen total 1,400 lbs.  I didn't have a scale handy, but I'm inclined to believe him.  I expect an improved offense, and if the defense improves even slightly, the Raiders could be in store for not only a return trip, but a higher seed in the playoffs.  PREDICTION: 6-4, loss in 1st round  -Loveless

Clinton Maroons (1-4, 2-7)
The Maroons seem to have become accustomed to the lower half of the standings.  In 2011, John Hayden's squad finished 2-7 for the third consecutive year.  This season, they're returning more than a dozen players with varsity experience, and have found themselves in a previously-unexpected QB competition.  Hayden said he hasn't yet named a starter in a battle between senior Greg Osgood and sophomore transfer Zach Pate, who last season was at Sacred Heart-Griffin.  Their biggest problem: the offensive line - undersized, and lacking depth.  That will be an issue for a team that hopes to rely on the run game. PREDICTION: 3-6 -Loveless

Maroa-Forsyth Trojans (5-0, 12-1)
Josh Jostes enters his 13th season as the team's head coach. He's built the program into a perennial powerhouse, but he didn't do it overnight. The Trojans were just 1-8 in 2000, and they suffered four losing seasons before finally making the playoffs in 2004. They haven't missed the playoffs since- look for that trend to continue this year. The Trojans have reloaded quite well. Sophomore Jack Hockaday takes over under center. It's hard to replace Logan Stelzreide, but Hockaday is a phenomenal athlete and should put up big numbers on that brand-new turf. This team will be really really really good again, but it's hard to see them matching what they did last year, especially on defense (they replace the entire defensive line). PREDICTION: 11-1, loss in quarterfinals  -Newman

Meridian Hawks (0-5, 0-9)
The Hawks dealt with all sorts of issues -- from depth, to maturity -- in 2011.   Some of that may linger, at least early in the season, but second year head coach Matt Bryant is confident his returning cast will at the very least improve the 2012 version.  The monkey on their back is that zero in the win column, which actually dates back to 2009 (they were 0-9 in 2010 as well).  Bryant said his team has talked openly about that dubious distinction, and he's hoping they use it as motivation.  Hopefully, they won't be discouraged after week 1... the Hawks travel to Tolono to take on Unity (11-1 in 2011). PREDICTION: 2-7 -Loveless

Monticello Sages (4-1, 7-4)
It's Cully Welter's fourth season as Monticello's Head Coach, and he's turned the Sages into a perennial playoff contender. This year he's hoping they take the next step, and become one of the top dogs in the Okaw Valley. With 36 upperclassman on the team, including a stud running back in Ryan Donahue, there's a good chance the Sages contend for the Okaw Black title. They've got Tolono Unity at home in week 7...if they can win that game, I see them going undefeated in the division. PREDICTION: 7-2, loss in quarterfinals -Newman

St. Teresa Bulldogs (3-2, 7-3)
A program like St. Teresa doesn't really do the whole "down year" thing, but this just may be one. They're coming off a respectable season, and a playoff berth in the tough Okaw Valley Conference. Some may notice though, that their 7-3 record was, remarkably, their worst since the 2001 season (4-5).  At first glance, it looks like that downward trend will continue.  St. Teresa is noticeably undersized, a side effect of graduating 19 seniors last year.  Only two starters return, and that means the Bulldogs could struggle to hang on to that last playoff spot out of the Okaw's Black Division. PREDICTION: 4-5 -Loveless

Shelbyville (0-5, 2-7)
Year one of the Stan Wienke era didn't go smoothly, as the Rams went 0-5 in the Okaw Black Division, finishing 2-7 overall for the fourth year in a row. Despite the poor record, Shelbyville was actually one of the best offensive teams in the conference, scoring 26 points per game, but their defense was perhaps the worst, allowing over 43 points per contest. Another problem last year -- injuries. The Rams struggled to stay healthy, with 13 guys on the injured list at one point. The injury bug is back- one of their starting linebackers was injured in practice this week, and could miss most of the season. The QB-WR duo of Tucker Schwengel and Nate Standerfer is capable of a special season. It's probably the best passing attack in the conference. Bottom line- if the defense keeps them in games, the Rams could be headed to the playoffs for the first time in seven years. PREDICTION: 5-5, loss in 1st round -Newman

Sullivan-Okaw Valley (2-3, 3-6)
This could be the best team that no one saw coming in 2012.  The Redskins haven't been to the playoffs since 2001, but their motto "It begins with us" could be more than just another slogan.  Last season, the Rockets had a 2-3 record in their division.  Considering the fact that you could count on one hand how many on their roster had varsity experience prior to the season, that was pretty impressive.  Most of the team returns from last year, including senior Caden May.  May was a quarterback for the first six games last year, and despite starting just three games at runningback, he earned honors as an all-Okaw honorable mention RB, gaining more than 700 yards on the ground.  It will be exciting to see what he'll do with a full season of RB reps for the first time.  Noticing that St. Teresa has major questions in every position group, the Redskins see a golden opportunity snatch up that last playoff spot, and I think that playoff drought will come to an end.  PREDICTION: 5-5, loss in 1st round -Loveless

Tolono-Unity  (5-0, 11-1)
The Rockets are ready to begin their quest for their 19th straight playoff appearance, a streak that isn't in jeopardy one bit this season.  Unity lost more than half of their starters on each their offensive and defensive sides, and coach Scott Hamilton said the biggest deficiencies are on the offensive line and secondary, though I don't think that's cause for concern.  Based on what I saw in practice, they've got plenty of size to fill the line, and it looks like good speed and ability in the defensive backfield.  However, I think the losses could be enough that a talented team like Monticello could give them trouble in week 7.  Unity opens the season at home against Meridian, but everyone, including most of us in the media, are already looking at week 2: Unity @ Maroa-Forsyth.  Don't believe the "one-game-at-a-time" rhetoric... The Rockets are already scheming for the Trojans.  During practice this week, they were running plays for their defense specifically based on plays M-F ran at their scrimmage on Aug. 17.  They know, as well as we do, that the Okaw Valley championship could be decided before we even hit September.  PREDICTION: 9-2 loss in 2nd round -Loveless

Tuscola (4-1, 11-3)
Tuscola has made the state title game four of the past five years. Over the past two decades they've been one of the best small school programs in the entire state. They haven't missed the playoffs since 1993. Much like Maroa, they don't rebuild, they reload. And they'll have to reload again this year, because they had a special group of seniors graduate. Players and coaches think they'll be right back at the top of 1A....and considering what they've accomplished over the past few years, I'll take their word for it. PREDICTION: 9-3, loss in quarterfinals -Newman

Warrensburg-Latham Cardinals (1-4, 1-8)
When fumbling the football, missing tackles, and dumb penalties are the things you're still working to fix in week two of camp, you know you're starting from the ground up.  That's where second year head coach Tanner Lawson's team is entering the season.  Their only win last year was against the a winless Meridian team.  A good chunk of the 2011 squad were freshman and sophomores, and while that doesn't necessarily mean success this year, it could be a reason for the Cardinals to think a year or two ahead. The Cardinals may be a marginally better team than they were in 2011, but like many of the teams at the bottom of the Okaw Valley standings, their schedule isn't doing them any favors, and I think the other teams in the conference are getting better a little quicker than the Cardinals.  PREDICTION: 0-9 -Loveless

8-20-12

We got the chance to see the Illini football team for the first time in eight days today.  Practices have been closed since the last day of Camp Rantoul, and since we last talked with coach Tim Beckman, the focus has shifted squarely toward Western Michigan.

The head coach said he thought the team came out a bit sluggish following their only day off during the entire camp schedule, but he said the team finished practice strong, and will need to keep it up with their opener 12 days away.

"We practice a lot like they do in the pros, where your 2s will run the 'looks,'" said Beckman, who told media Monday they'd been gameplanning for the Broncos for a couple of practices now.  "That's what we're going to ask our 2s to do - to give great pictures of Western Michigan, because they're a very good football team."

Here are a few notes from today's practice:

- Graham Pocic -- the standout center, who's been at guard during camp -- was in at right tackle today.  Beckman didn't say this was where he wants Pocic during the season, but seems to want to assurance that it's an option if needed.  QB Nathan Scheelhaase was asked if the "musical chairs" on the O-line would affect him: "From a quarterback's standpoint, you just want to make sure you pick up what the defense is bringing, picking up the extra guys that they may be blitzing, so that's really what I've got to focus on.  I have confidence in the guys in front of me that they'll be able to stop the guys in front of them."

- Speaking of position-switches, tight end Jon Davis, as expected, is getting serious practice time in other offensive positions.  Today, it was at runningback, where there are some depth issues.  RB Donovonn Young, who had a standout year as a freshman in 2011, admits the backfield is lacking experience, but says it's not lacking talent.  Davis is a willing, and able, body to add a bit of depth when needed.  "I'm just trying to do whatever the coaches ask me to do.  if they ask me to be in the backfield, that's what I'm going to do."

Beckman added, "He's a young man who can flex out, he can play the true tight end position and play in the backfield. He can play multiple positions and that's what we'll utilize him for."

- The Illini appear to be moving toward a receiver-by-committee offense in 2012.  While no one seems to want to name the next big "playmaker", Scheelhaase did offer up a handful in his receiving corps that he'll be comfortable targeting in a number of situations: "I think those guys on the outside, Ryan Lankford, Darius Millines, Spencer Harris -- they all stepped up and made play in this last scrimmage we had, and really in the last few weeks, they're really getting things rolling."

Lankford is another guy in a position group that lacks significant experience, and he talked about mixing in guys like Davis, and Terry Hawthorne to deal with their depth issues: "Our coaches do a great job of knowing what guys have which strong points.  Bigger guys, they'll put them in a position where they can use their size.  Faster guys, put them in a position where they can use their speed."

- Apparently, Beckman isn't only trying to keep players on their toes during practices, but he'll keep a few secrets from his coordinators as well.  "I'll put the ball down, and not tell them the situation in the meeting, and then they've got to call the plays," said Beckman. " I think it's important, and it's something coaches did for me when I was coordinating, is put me in situations as a coordinator that I had to make a call, and that's what we do a lot out here during practice."

- One piece of injury news: Sophomore LB Henry Dickinson is out for the season.  Beckman said he broke his leg and ankle in normal practice drills on Tuesday.  Dickinson saw limited time last season, and mostly on special teams, but Beckman said he'd been really impressed by Dickinson's progress during camp.  He was doing a great job, he really was.  It's unfortunate, there's no question about it," said Beckman.  Dickinson will use a medical redshirt this season, and will be expected to return next season.