An Old School Big10 Match-up - Minneosta vs. #24 Illinois
Oct 15, 2022 2:46 pm
Coach ,
Illinois at Minnesota is an intriguing match-up. Illinois is getting it done this season in being fundamentally sound, playing great defense, and taking care of the ball and the clock.
Minnesota is putting up a lot of points, with a balanced offense and maintaining the ball as well.
Both teams are shutting down opposing offenses and are at the top of national rankings.
Tail of the Tape: Match-up Illinois vs Minnesota
Minnesota Offense
#1 3rd Down .703,
#1 TOP AVg 37
#2 fum 4int
#6 Rushing 244.4 ypg
#13 Total 494.6 ypg
#20 Completion 68.5% Only 4 INt
#21 Scoring O 38.6 ppg
Minnesota Defense
#1 Total Defense 222.o
#1 3rd Down Defense .179
#2 Pass Defense 140.6
#2 Scoring defense 8.8
#6 Rush Defense 81.4
Illinois Offense:
#6 TOP avg 34
#17 Completion 68.9%
#20 163.14 Passing Efficiency Only 3INT
Balanced Offense: Pass 211ypg + Rush 195.8ypg
TO Margin +2
Illini Defense
#1 Passing Efficiency Defense 80.71
#1 Scoring defense 8.0 ppg
#2 Red Zone Defense .556
#3 Rushing Defense 67.2 ypg (2.33 yards per rush)
#3 Total Defense 227.8 ypg
#4 4th Down Defense .125 stopped 7 of 8 attempts
#6 First Downs Defense 74 allowed
#6 3rd Down .264
#6 Turnovers Gained - 14 turnovers
#7 Interceptions 9
#9 Passing Yards Allowed 167.0 per game
#12 Sacks 3.5 sacks per game
#17 Tackles For Loss 7.2 per game
MInnesota Golden Gophers
They are playing an elite level of defense. They have a balanced and powerful attack, but all of it is built on a foundation of a strong culture.
For the Gophers, PJ Fleck continues his process of building a strong culture. He has been persistent in applying their philosophy of “Row the Boat,” and the Gophers continue to trend upward. Let’s take a look at Coach Fleck’s process and what he call HYPPR.
H.Y.P.R.R.” (“How Yours Process Result Response”)
PJ Fleck is known for building cultures and the system he has installed to build his team’s success. Fleck believes this will change your program and you start the process this way. He explains (click on image for video)::
The balanced offense has it’s foundation in a strong run game which starts upfront. Offensive Line Coach Brian Callahan builds the line around “Big 5.”
Coach Callahan believes in placing a priority on vision for the offensive line. He includes it as one of the Big 5 - Stance, Eyes, Hips, Hands, and Feet. Callahan trains his linemen by making what they are looking at on every single play very specific. For example, the target can be a knee, an arm, a shoulder. They look at the target and understand how their eyes progress through having a specific progression of where their eyes go throughout the course of a play and the different scenarios that happen as explained in this video (click on image for video):
In a game like this establishing the line of scrimmage and the run game will be key.
#24 Illinois Fighting Illini
Brett Bielema’s tenure has been shorter than Coach Fleck’s but he’s been able to engineer a quick turnaround of the Illini program by building it on sound fundamentals.
In an era of soundbytes we can find plenty of examples of coaches talking about the importance of fundamentals, but at Illinois they are truly living it, and that starts at the top. Coach Bielema explains his philosophy here (click on image for video):
Video: Smart. Dependable. Tough.
The fundamentals are showing up big time on the defensive side of the ball in what has become a top ranked defense in 2022.
The defense is led by Defensive Coordinator Ryan Walters. He puts a lot of time into thinking about 2nd down. He calls it the forgotten down, but he believes it is an important part of defense’s success and he spends time understanding how his opponent handles it as well as how he game plan’s his calls. Here is an example of how he handles a 2nd and 2-6 on track. He shares 3 situations here - 2&3 expecting run, 2nd & 3 expecting pass, 2& 4 across the 50 expecting pass. The examples give good insight into how he thinks about this down as a play caller. (click on image for video):
Video: 2nd & 6 on Track Preview
For more on from the entire defensive staff fundamentals and techniques click here.
On the offensive side, the Illini also have a balanced attack (Pass 211ypg + Rush 195.8ypg)
that possesses the ball (#6 time of possession) which works well in playing complementary football.
A key for the Illini will be to put points on the board against a staunch Gopher defense, and the fringe area is where they will need to capitalize with explosive plays that gain a big chunk of go the distance. Offensive Coordinator Tony Peterson explains the approach in this area and shows some play examples here (click on image for video):
The entire offensive staff has presented in our clinics with a focus on fundamentals and technique development. Click here for their clinics.
This will be a fun one - a throwback to the past days of the Big Ten where the running game and great defense were the focus.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski
Be sure to check out the coaching points from the staff in these Coaches Clinic Match-ups
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#3 Alabama HC HC AHC OC WR at #6Tennessee OL
#4 Clemson OC DC at Florida State DC OL
#10 Penn State HC HC HC DC STC DB at #5 Michigan ST
#7 USC HC HC DC at #20 Utah OL
#8 Oklahoma State TE at TCU
Auburn HC at #9 Ole Miss OC DC
Boston College DC at #14 Wake Forest HC RB DL DB
#16 Mississippi State HC STC at #22 Kentucky HC RB
#15 NC State HC DB at #18 Syracuse HC
#19 Kansas OC OC QB GM at Oklahoma OC
#21 Cincinnati HC OL DL at SMU HC
Minnesota at #24 Illinois HC LB DC
Iowa State HC QB/PGC LB at #22 Texas HC HC OC/OL OC/OL WR DB ST
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Arkansas HC STC OL OL at BYU DL
Arkansas State ST at Southern Miss DC
Colgate at Army HC DC ST OC QB TE
Baylor HC HC OC DC OL at West Virginia DB
Old Dominion OC/QB DL at Coastal Carolina HC OC OL LB
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LSU ST ST OC OC DC at Florida HC DC LB
WCU at Furman DL
Georgia Tech HC at Vanderbilt ST OL
Maryland HC OL OC at Indiana HC OC
Kent State HC OC at Toledo OL/OC
Miami OC OL at Virginia Tech HC HC
Ohio HC OL at Western Michigan HC OC
Tulane DB at South Florida ST OL
Washington St OLB at Oregon State STC RB