Quick takeaways from Illinois’ blowout loss to Purdue

Illinois lost 44-19 on Saturday. Here are our rapid takeaways.

Luke Altmyer is a talented mystery.

Luke Altmyer can change games with his legs. His 39-yard scramble to open the game was a shot in the arm of an offense that needed it.

That drive stalled. It included a criminal overthrow to 6’6+ tight end Henry Boyer. That’s simply unacceptable in a game of inches. In the opening game against Toledo, Altmyer showed tremendous accuracy on shorter routes and quick hitters like slants. That accuracy has been spotty at best in the intervening weeks.

This year, he has to be the guy for Illinois. John Paddock is a gutsy, experienced player. But what he put on tape in his one full year as a starter at Ball State combined with his series in the Penn State game doesn’t provide much optimism.

So either Altmyer can find an actual get-right spot soon, or this season could go the way of the Lovie Smith years.

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