Let’s talk Illinois



  • I hope Grimes can take a few plays from Andy Ks playbook, use more RPO and design creative running plays.

    I would also like to see a few plays with our backup QB.



  • @AsadZ We all were worried about JDs health coming in and still don’t wish that upon anyone but the question looms. Were we a better football team with Jason Bean? JD looked unbelievable at times but has the limited practice time and injuries made the game get away from him? He looks worse than he did as a 17 year old true freshman. We just have to hope this is a transitional period of him finding his groove. On the side of the coin, we can’t wait a half of a season for him to figure it out. I’d say Illinois is probably the 3rd or 4th easiest game on our schedule which is pretty weak. If I’m coaching this week, Ballard is getting first team reps.



  • Just so I have this right:

    1. fire everyone
    2. Jalon can’t play and is soft
    3. Lance can’t coach
    4. the stadium is never getting done
    5. the sky hasn’t just fallen, we also got hit by a meteor and a hurricane
    6. the season is over
    7. shut down the program
    8. go to the big east

    Lots of drama queens here lmao. Take a Xanax.



  • The Day After…I guess our title hopes are dashed? Ha. I’m still happy with a bowl game. Always my goal until proven otherwise.

    I will say many of us KU fans hoped the program had turned some kind of corner. Maybe we’re stuck in the traffic circle still.

    Illinois seems like a team that kept things close in most games last year. Maybe not as bad a loss as we think, but that sure seemed like a game we could have and should have won. In fact i wasn’t even worried after a few bad plays and turnovers. I thought we’d come back and dominate easily. Then stupidity kinda set in. Why can’t the adults on the sideline see what the rest of us were seeing? Make the right play calls! Put people in position to succeed! Seems pretty simple viewing from the couch. I don’t really know the coaches, so i cant say if Grimes or his understudy are capable. Something went drastically wrong. I hope they can fix whatever “it” is.

    Like others, i think i saw a grimace on JD’s face early on. Maybe he was hurt? I know i’m just waiting for it to happen. Not wishing for it of course, but always a worry when the back is involved.

    On to next week.



  • But seriously, is qb going to be a position battle?





  • Forgot to set the DVR so I can’t go back and watch. Had a penalty negate a TD to Grimm early in the 2nd quarter. Game play by play calls it offensive pass interference. From the stands Lance looked like he was arguing with refs, but never saw replay. Was it a legit gripe? Anyone remember?



  • One more gripe for the upcoming week. We have DirecTV and they are currently arguing with the ABC/ESPN nation and as a result I won’t be able to watch Friday when they play UNLV. grrrr. first world problem I know, but grrrrr…!



  • @FarmerJayhawk you got it 98% right. Add tornado to number 5 and you just made the KUBuckets Hall of Fame



  • @rockchalkjayhawk Grimes has been ran out of town every he has been for pretty much the same thing we saw last night. Lack of common knowledge of the game.



  • @kjayhawks and by everywhere you mean one time



  • @wissox said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    One more gripe for the upcoming week. We have DirecTV and they are currently arguing with the ABC/ESPN nation and as a result I won’t be able to watch Friday when they play UNLV. grrrr. first world problem I know, but grrrrr…!

    me neither buddy , unless a Miracle - -just pathetic



  • Just saw this from an Illini fan: “Great win! Thanks KU coaches for not feeding Neal more.”



  • The one main concern I had late in the game was play calling. Hanni and Lawerence mentioned it, saying well – -you know what we are going to see a lot of on this series- -this came on our next possession right after Daniels 2nd pick of the game.

    They said we are going to see a lot of Devin and Daniel on this series. So what we do , we go out and first play ball goes to Devin for Seven yards , right about mid field Then what do we do? - - - - - we chuck the ball deep for the next two plays which obviously didn’t work-- -hadn’t worked sll night, could not get separation BUT hey let’s chuck it up anyways.

    The BIG question on this is WHY ? Why in the hell throw deep twice in a row late in the game when it hasn’t work all night , WHY do we go away from the run game ? - I would say here we come , you haven’t showed me squat stopping ou run ALL NIGHT LONG w averaged close to Eight yards per, fort the game -they didn’t stop us in the run ALL FRICKEN NIGHT, and what do w do ?—w throw the fricking ball not only throw but deep twice. Again I’d be sayin I’m RUNNIN now stop me , until you prove you can shut our running game down - - -I’m still bringing it.

    Having sid that for people who is saying fire Grimes - - -run him out – - - You don’t fire an OC TWO GAMES into the Season.-- lot’s of work to do, that was just ugly



  • @wissox I won’t be able to watch either.

    I’ll be watching Remember The Titans.



  • @FarmerJayhawk The genuine concerns at this point are Grimes play calling and Daniels decision making. The play calling was atrocious and didn’t play to Daniels or the rest of the offenses strengths at all. There was no reason last night for the run pass balance to be 50/50. It really should’ve been much closer to 60/40 in favor of running the ball. Also, the situational play calling was not good either. Grimes has one of the top backs in the country and threw on a third and short on both their second and third to last possessions. KU still had the lead on that third to last possession when Grimes threw on both 2nd and 3rd and 3 with Daniels hovering around 50% completion. There was still 13 minutes left so I get passing in 2nd and 3 and taking a shot, but passing on 3rd and 3 when you have Neal and Hishaw in the backfield is incredibly dumb play calling. Who cares if Illinois knows that ball should go to Neal or Hishaw in that situation, KU’s line and Neal and Hishaw are good enough to get 3 yards. Devin Neal only touching the ball twice the entire 4th quarter is inexcusable.

    Grimes also didn’t call plays to Daniels strengths as a passer. Daniels has never had the biggest arm so why is Grimes calling so many deep passes? How many of those deep passes were incomplete because of being badly underthrown including Daniels third INT of the game?

    The first two of Daniels INT’s were really bad because of Daniels decison making. The first pick was Daniels trying to make a Mahomes style play/throw and he doesn’t have the arm strength. The pick six should’ve been tucked and run because of that screen was a busted play from the start, but Daniels didn’t recognize it.

    There’s genuine reason for concern at this point going forward because of Grimes play calling and Daniels decison making.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 I know zip about Grimes, but at what point does Lance step in and say “I’ll call the plays”



  • @FarmerJayhawk either way you want to slice it, last night was one of the worst play calling performances in the history of the game of football. Baylor fans went nuts with joy when he left. It’s looking like the worst coordinator hire in CFB thus far.



  • @kjayhawks yeah, the way I want to slice it is not make up that he’s been fired from everywhere.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 it absolutely wasn’t our best night, no doubt about it. But I do believe they’ll adjust and get it together. Daniels and Grimes are too good not to.



  • @FarmerJayhawk I didn’t say he was fired everywhere but there is a reason he don’t last long and fan bases do a happy dance when he leaves.



  • @kjayhawks you did, that’s fine. Keep the narrative in your head. I missed the celebration from Provo when he left after they led the country in yards per play and went 11-1 or Baton Rouge where they had a top 20 rushing offense and went 9-4 the year before he left



  • @FarmerJayhawk The lack of situational awareness from Grimes play calling is very concerning for someone in his 7th year as an OC.



  • @kjayhawks said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @FarmerJayhawk either way you want to slice it, last night was one of the worst play calling performances in the history of the game of football. Baylor fans went nuts with joy when he left. It’s looking like the worst coordinator hire in CFB thus far.

    I do believe that Coach L haas the final decision about play calls , if there is a play and he doesn’t like that particular call for that situation he can always shut it down- - he has the last say on any play if he wans.



  • @FarmerJayhawk well you and I usually agree on most things. I’ll agree disagree with you buddy but I hope he fired sooner rather than later



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 exactly, if you would told me this was his first season in football, I would’ve believed it no questions asked.



  • @kjayhawks said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @Texas-Hawk-10 exactly, if you would told me this was his first season in football, I would’ve believed it no questions asked.

    I’m not at your level of being down on the team. Not once have I said that Daniels should be benched or anyone be fired. Right now, you sound little like a certain someone who only shows up when there’s something negative going on with the basketball team.



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 haha I’m pretty ticked off I can’t argue that. Most QBs that have 6 turnovers in 6 quarters get benched from what I’ve seen of American football. Grimes I no faith in, he won’t be here longer than a year or two. He’ll leave or get canned in that time frame.



  • Bears won today the same way Illinois won yesterday. Turnover prone team who generally outplayed the victors. Gain more yards? Lose. More Time of Possession? Lose.



  • @wissox Turnovers can do that to a team real fast. If KU doesn’t turn it over they likely win by 3 touchdowns



  • IMO there is only one way to to make last night be okay…… Win in Manhattan



  • @wissox How did Caleb look? He had flashes of brilliance in the pre-season.



  • @kjayhawks said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @rockchalkjayhawk Grimes has been ran out of town every he has been for pretty much the same thing we saw last night. Lack of common knowledge of the game.

    Hmm, why the hell did we hire him? Best available?



  • @dylans I did not watch but looking at stats he did okay.

    How Bears won the game was incredible, sometimes your opponent mess up things.



  • @dylans Like a rookie with talent but who really only played about a half game in the preseason. Didn’t make any bad throws, had several drops that would have been bigger plays, but also took a 19 yard sack. To me most glaring was he looked slow.



  • @AsadZ said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    How Bears won the game was incredible, sometimes your opponent mess up things.

    Exactly, like we did against Illinois!



  • My hot takes:

    1. I’m not impressed with the offensive coordinator. Of course, there was some poor execution, but the play calls seemed unwise.
    2. This year is all about “Can you win when you are the team circled on the other team’s calendar?” Illinois wanted revenge. UNLV will want the same. Then you’ve got WV who will remember the last time KU visited Morgantown.

    Winning when you are taking the other team’s best shot and they are passionately preparing for you is very different.



  • @rockchalkjayhawk said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @kjayhawks said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @rockchalkjayhawk Grimes has been ran out of town every he has been for pretty much the same thing we saw last night. Lack of common knowledge of the game.

    Hmm, why the hell did we hire him? Best available?

    Our #1 choice had leukemia and Grimes was the best available. 2 time Broyles finalist, not too shabby



  • @FarmerJayhawk said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @rockchalkjayhawk said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @kjayhawks said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @rockchalkjayhawk Grimes has been ran out of town every he has been for pretty much the same thing we saw last night. Lack of common knowledge of the game.

    Hmm, why the hell did we hire him? Best available?

    Our #1 choice had leukemia and Grimes was the best available. 2 time Broyles finalist, not too shabby

    @FarmerJayhawk Hey you seem to be the only poster standing up for Grimes. I don’t know any better, so no clue, but why the positive tone when most others are down on him?



  • @nuleafjhawk said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    I’M. SO. PISSED.😡🤬😡🤬

    First time I’ve been mad about KU football in awhile. It’s usually apathy.



  • Lessons learned?



  • @rockchalkjayhawk said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @FarmerJayhawk said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @rockchalkjayhawk said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @kjayhawks said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @rockchalkjayhawk Grimes has been ran out of town every he has been for pretty much the same thing we saw last night. Lack of common knowledge of the game.

    Hmm, why the hell did we hire him? Best available?

    Our #1 choice had leukemia and Grimes was the best available. 2 time Broyles finalist, not too shabby

    @FarmerJayhawk Hey you seem to be the only poster standing up for Grimes. I don’t know any better, so no clue, but why the positive tone when most others are down on him?

    Really two things, first it’s faith in Lance. I don’t think he would hire someone who flat wasn’t any good. Honestly all of his assistant hires (on and off the field) so far have been really good. Second, it’s just Grimes’s record. 2 time Broyles finalist, shoot even made Zach Wilson look great. One off night does not make a bad coach. JD hits a couple throws that he should’ve and we’re talking hey love the aggressiveness/let Jalon cook



  • @FarmerJayhawk said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @rockchalkjayhawk said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @FarmerJayhawk said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @rockchalkjayhawk said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @kjayhawks said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    @rockchalkjayhawk Grimes has been ran out of town every he has been for pretty much the same thing we saw last night. Lack of common knowledge of the game.

    Hmm, why the hell did we hire him? Best available?

    Our #1 choice had leukemia and Grimes was the best available. 2 time Broyles finalist, not too shabby

    @FarmerJayhawk Hey you seem to be the only poster standing up for Grimes. I don’t know any better, so no clue, but why the positive tone when most others are down on him?

    Really two things, first it’s faith in Lance. I don’t think he would hire someone who flat wasn’t any good. Honestly all of his assistant hires (on and off the field) so far have been really good. Second, it’s just Grimes’s record. 2 time Broyles finalist, shoot even made Zach Wilson look great. One off night does not make a bad coach. JD hits a couple throws that he should’ve and we’re talking hey love the aggressiveness/let Jalon cook

    Fingers crossed your faith and Lance’s faith prove undebatable on the field!



  • @Crimsonorblue22 Don’t get hyped about KU football?



  • @nuleafjhawk I think we’ll learn from our mistakes. Besides I watched at my son’s house, 1st bad luck thing, and the neighbors were outside and came in to watch some, 2nd bad thing, last time both these things plus their dog happened, we lost a bb game. Chaos! Crims wasn’t happy! I was trying to break the jinx of watching away from my house. You can imagine my face when I saw the neighbors, I knew he’d invite them in. 0-2



  • Worried this is a 2008 type season. All the expectations, but some changes and challenges that haven’t been overcome yet. There is still time but that was not supposed to be our first real test. Even still, we failed it.

    Some positives are the defense is continuing to show improvement even from last year. That run D was SOLID and the pass D would have been solid statistically without some pretty spectacular catches. The D did the job. Would never have thought the offense would be the issue at this point…



  • I don’t think anyone has lost faith in Lance at this point. JD doesn’t look like the same kid that threw for 500 plus yards vs Arkansas in the bowl game. I think we need to give him more time but we can’t afford him to throw away this season trying to get there. If he has another game full of turnovers, we have to go elsewhere at the QB position. Grimes has to call plays to help build JD back up and use our very talented trio of running backs. That flat out has not happened the first two games.



  • @benshawks08 think maybe you mean 2009. Yes I’m very pleased with the defense thus far and there is just too much talent in the is offense to only put 17 on the board.



  • @benshawks08 said in Let’s talk Illinois:

    Worried this is a 2008 type season. All the expectations, but some changes and challenges that haven’t been overcome yet. There is still time but that was not supposed to be our first real test. Even still, we failed it.

    Some positives are the defense is continuing to show improvement even from last year. That run D was SOLID and the pass D would have been solid statistically without some pretty spectacular catches. The D did the job. Would never have thought the offense would be the issue at this point…

    2008-2009. The orange bowl was in 2008 but in my head that is the 2007 season. I see how that might be the wrong way to think of it.



  • @Crimsonorblue22 Man that’s a lot of things to keep track of to make sure we don’t jinx the Jayhawks.


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