For the Illinois Fighting Illini, the future is now, and Aaron Bailey needs to get on the field to be a part of it. The year to redshirt Aaron Bailey was last year; not this year. He burnt his shirt for 2014? So what! Don’t complain about that. Illinois needs him to start playing a significant role; and now. Reilly O’Toole is to Big Ten quarterbacking what Christian Ponder is to NFL quarterbacking.
No one should be subjected to the horror of watching them play. On any team they should be thirds string at best.
With Aaron Bailey adding a running dimension to the team today, he gave the Illini something they sorely lack a running dimension within the offense. Bailey making plays makes Beckman look even more foolish for not playing him sooner. His effectiveness on the ground
At Big Ten Media Day I asked Tim Beckman if Bailey will switch positions, or if the team will ask him to convert to another position. Beckman said he will not, and that they recruited him as a cornerback, he wants to be a QB, and they will honor his wishes. And that’s commendable, and it’s a feel good idea. I asked this question while Beckman was on the podium doing Q&A before the Big Ten Network audience.
BTN Analyst Gerry DiNardo was co-hosting the broadcast and during break he said that my question about Aaron Bailey was the most interesting one.
Thanks Gerry!
He agreed with me that they need to get him on the field and help a team that lacks depth.
So maybe the way to do that is through making special packages for him. Even when Wes Lunt returns. At the very least, he should be #2 on the depth chart. He’ll start all the games that Lunt does not. Bailey is just a much better athlete than almost everybody on the Illini roster.
“oh my god, he’s so fast. He’s so athletic,” said Illini DL Austin Teitsma.
“He’s somebody that we’re going to definitely have to use out there because he’s too athletic not to. You can’t not use him, he’s a freak”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and very often writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2