Q&A: Illinois O-coordinator Billy Gonzales

[Crusader]

You had a pretty good gig before this. Was it just your previous relationship with Tim Beckman and the chance to call plays that made this job attractive?


Billy Gonzales: Definitely. I've known Coach Beckman for 12,13, 14 years now. He does a great job. He's very detailed and organized, very cool, clear, concise and direct in his teaching. When you have the opportunity to [call plays] and get a chance to step back and see who you'll be working for and with, that's the biggest thing. Coach Beckman has done a great job of hiring guys that are like him, with the same drive, the same direction. It's a good thing right now.

How would you describe your offensive philosophy?

BG: The biggest thing is, Coach Beckman had a fantastic offense at Toledo. Some of the things they did there, as far as upbeat tempo, spread, will be the things you hear us talk about. We'll have an offense that will be multiple, obviously, and will be able to get lined up quickly with the speed and tempo. The philosophy is, if you get 100 shots at a target, your chances of hitting it go up if you can get 30-to-40 more chances. So if we can get a bunch of plays called and score a bunch of points, that's ultimately our goal.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/44971/qa-new-illinois-oc-billy-gonzales

[Musson]

Or when it goes bad, it is over real quick like.

Just as long as they don't go back the damn prairie dog all heads turning to the sideline for conformation....

I might have to not watch

[BYS]

Just as long as they don't go back the damn prairie dog all heads turning to the sideline for conformation....

 

The most annoying thing EVER.

[Musson]

If it is a good play, you know how to run it, just run the MFer. Don't need to look over and see anything. FOCUS ON THE PLAY AND RUN IT!!!!

[BYS]

They have good plays?

[abwly45]

If it is a good play, you know how to run it, just run the MFer. Don't need to look over and see anything. FOCUS ON THE PLAY AND RUN IT!!!!

So you must like the Mike Martz offense    No audibles ever. 

I would rather the QB call the check or play kill than the coaches.  Which is what causes the head turn.  But most coaches don't trust their qb's to make those calls.   

[Musson]

When all you are going to do is run a read option to the right, there isn't a reason to need all that head turning crap. Just run the play.

I agree we have to trust our QB to make easy audibles check to a bread and butter play.  It is not rocket science. Stay ahead of the chains and you just need 3 1/2 yards a play.  Find a soft spot and QB sneak that shizz if you have to.

But the prairie dogs.....totally uncalled for.

[illiniman94]

If it is a good play, you know how to run it, just run the MFer. Don't need to look over and see anything. FOCUS ON THE PLAY AND RUN IT!!!!

Dude, so if they bring 9 guys up in the box you don't audible out of the run?   Or if you get single coverage on your stud you don't  audible to a fly pattern?

I do agree that the look over thing is annoying, and frankly I don't know how it isn't motion when you are set and then lift out of stance.....

I think you need to let your QB call audibles himself.

As far as a speed offense goes, I have never seen us be successful when we hurry to the line to run a play...never.   I am okay with uptempo, our high school team went 10-0 this year running it, but just be smart with it and know when to take the air out of the ball.

[illiniman94]

If it is a good play, you know how to run it, just run the MFer. Don't need to look over and see anything. FOCUS ON THE PLAY AND RUN IT!!!!

So you must like the Mike Martz offense    No audibles ever. 

I would rather the QB call the check or play kill than the coaches.  Which is what causes the head turn.  But most coaches don't trust their qb's to make those calls.   

LOL  I swear I hadn't read your post before my audible post.

[Musson]

These guys should ALL be able to recognize what you are describing. Don't need to look to anyone. You are D1 football players. We should easily have audibles game planned in that everyone knows and has checked to hundreds of times in practice.

Just no stinking prairie dogs!!!!!!!!