The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Rutgers Edition
In yet another attempt for the Badgers to play a complete four quarter game at least one side of the ball came to play against Rutgers. Week after week the Wisconsin Badgers' defense has been by inconsistencies from poor tackling to below average play in the secondary. It's quite obvious the defensive personnel isn't quite at the level needed for this defense to succeed, but at least against Rutgers they took a positive step foward. After weeks of being gashed by lesser caliber rushing attacks they stifled Rutgers' rushing offense holding them to 69 yards on the ground, with 20 of those yards gained a single carry by Gavin Wimsatt, averaging a mere 2.9 yards per attempt. Overall the defense took significant strides in the right direction with their tenacity in the trenches, their improved tackling and their better fundamentals in the passing game. All in all we should be happy with the result against Rutgers.
However, as the defense showed marked improvement, the offense seemed to be caught in a quagmire. The persistent problem of poor offensive line play continued to plague the team. It became abundantly clear that without the quick thinking, pocket presence, and sheer grit of quarterback Tanner Mordecai, this game could easily have descended into the dreaded realm of an "away game at Ryan Field" type of game. The pieces of the puzzle seem to be there, scattered across the field in flashes of brilliance and potential. Yet, the puzzle itself remains incomplete as poor execution and lack of talent at certain are problems that don't show signs of being a quick fix. And while the blame can be spread around the offensive line's woes have cast a shadow over what could be a high-octane offense.
The Badgers' journey towards fielding a complete and dominant team this season continues to be an up and down rollercoaster ride of promise, progress, regression, and challenges. The defense's resurgence gives us hope, while the offense stands at a crossroads, teetering on the edge of greatness and uncertainty. The season is far from over, and the schedule ahead gives hope of improvement, but it is hard to look down the road when that road was built with such hype. To go forward we must look back, so let's look back at the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly for the Rutgers game.
The Good - Well hello there Jackson Acker. Chez Mellusi he is not, but his performance against Rutgers highlighted that he is more than a capable replacement. Braelon Allen may have had the edge in the box score statistics, but Jackson, who has undergone the transition from fullback, showcased explosiveness and power in his carries that some might say outshined Braelon. He managed to accumulate an impressive 65 rushing yards, and his contribution didn't stop there. Jackson also added another 14 yards through the air, showcasing versatility in his skill set that is needed to be a contributor in the Air Raid Offense.
One aspect of Acker's addition to the offense that might be overlooked is how much tread he has left on his tires. While Braelon continues to show the physical toll that comes with the territory of being the primary running back, Jackson emerges as a reliable alternative with fresh legs and less wear and tear. The prospect of relying on him as the new "number two" in the team's one-two punch combination doesn't seem daunting at all; rather, it brings a sense of reassurance after the crushing blow that was Chez's injury.
The Bad - The performance of the offensive line continues to be a tale of highs and lows. On one hand, the run-blocking efforts against Rutgers was mostly solid leading to over 200 yards on the ground with a respectable 4.6 yards per carry (remember sacks count against rushing totals). That is a respectable outcoming given what was thought to be a formidable front seven of the Scarlet Knights. However, on the flip side, pass blocking continues to be an issues. Tackles Riley Mahlman and Jack Nelson again acted more like turnstiles then then did B1G caliber players. Give Rutgers credit they have talent up front and they mixed in some nice blitzes that kept the offensive line off guard, but there comes a point when our highly regarded prospects need to wake up and play up to their potential.
It's games like this that we should be truly thankful for the presence of Tanner Mordecai. The quarterback's quick thinking, innate pocket presence, and ability to navigate the chaos in the pocket are a saving grace, preventing what could have easily spiraled into a completely different game. As the season progresses, the mixed performance of the offensive line remains a puzzle that demands solving. While the run-blocking unit displays promise, the pass protection deficiencies must be addressed. Tanner Mordecai's heroics serve as a reminder that a single player's contributions can be the fulcrum that tilts the balance between victory and defeat.
The Ugly - I could be lazy and just give a two word response here: Tanor Bortolini. If he wasn't sending snaps careening in all directions, he was getting a straight arm to the chest or neck and was driven straight back into the backfield. I feel sorry for the kid because his next film session with Jack Bicknell Jr. is goin to be a rough one.
As the game wore on I was clamoring for the return of Cincinnati transfer Jake Renfro. With no injury designation this week I thought at least he would get some reps, but as the game wore on the hesitance to make such a significant change mid-game was understandable. The fear of introducing new dynamics and potential disruptions to the offense was a legitimate concern. Rutgers would undoubtedly had tried to exploit any weaknesses in Renfro who hasn't played a competitive snap since 2021. But something has to change, and change quickly. Another dismal performance against Iowa, a team known for its tenacious defense, could not only spell the difference between a win and a loss but could also pose serious risks to the well-being of the offensive skill position players. The coaching staff needs to make make the difficult decision to look past the future to stop the team from collapsing right now.
PLAY OF THE DAY - Small Maroon Zip 63 Y Basic
note: terminology is my own and not an accurate representation of how Phil Longo calls plays.
4 yard TD pass to Tucker Ashcraft
Situation- 10:57 left in the 4th Quarter. 2nd & Goal from Rutgers’ 4 yard line.
Personnel- 13 personnel (Z Ashcraft, Y Seagreaves, H Rucci, X Williams, F Allen)
Concept- Mesh
Progression - Peak Flat then read Mesh under basic.
Defense- Goalline 3-4 front, Man coverage with in/out switch