Wisconsin Football 2022- The Jim Leonhard Show ends, the Luke Fickell era begins

[UpandIn]

1 hour ago, madbad2000 said:

It's a huge deal based on talent and position, but an even bigger deal once we see who he brings with him.  Look for some talent at WR and other offense to follow him.  There is so much value in getting that stud QB early for another level of recruitment.  Evers in a Longo offense is ridiculous to think about.

Yeah, maybe it's the level of excitement around Mertz and then his failure to live up to expectations, but...that shouldn't stop us from rejoicing in this one!

[madbad2000]

1 hour ago, UpandIn said:

Yeah, maybe it's the level of excitement around Mertz and then his failure to live up to expectations, but...that shouldn't stop us from rejoicing in this one!

I don't think the Mertz outcome should tarnish or temper future hype.  He was highly rated at a position we needed and helped recruit others.  It was a great time and he failed to develop how we hoped.  The hype around Evers is higher because of what he brings to the table, the coaching staff/system and also the hope that this move salvages our recruiting class/portal moves.   It's a very big deal and a great surprise to drop before national signing day.

[UpandIn]

8 hours ago, madbad2000 said:

I don't think the Mertz outcome should tarnish or temper future hype.  He was highly rated at a position we needed and helped recruit others.  It was a great time and he failed to develop how we hoped.  The hype around Evers is higher because of what he brings to the table, the coaching staff/system and also the hope that this move salvages our recruiting class/portal moves.   It's a very big deal and a great surprise to drop before national signing day.

I still think Mertz could have been a good QB if he'd have a good OL. That's been the biggest difference IMO. The good OL's kept long drives going, 5-6 yards a carry, wore the D down, 8 in the box...and then Mertz could have had success. 

Now...in Kentucky with IIRC, UGA, LSU, 'Bama, UT and Florida. Maybe SC as well and then Louisville. If he was trying to improve his NFL prospects...and their OL was BRUTAL this year.

 

Anyway, Evers...helps when you can make plays on your own. And we're still in on Armstrong. I don't know what Fickell can do for us next year, but he looks like he's building one helluva program moving forward. 

[homer]

 

[stoutdude04]

If nothing else, this change has clearly changed the outlook of the program for the near future.  

[Samurai Bucky]

It will be interesting to see how much more they fill in the gaps from the Transfer Portal.  Evers was a good start.

Durand seems to be a good OL get from Arizona.  Would be nice to see some more linemen.  Also, only one Defensive End.

[stoutdude04]

19 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

It will be interesting to see how much more they fill in the gaps from the Transfer Portal.  Evers was a good start.

Durand seems to be a good OL get from Arizona.  Would be nice to see some more linemen.  Also, only one Defensive End.

Yea - it seems like they are picking up a good chunk of athletes.  Would be nice to get some beef.

[CheezWizHed]

9 hours ago, homer said:

 

Just so he doesn't go around leaking our offense and defensive secrets!

[Jim French Stepstool]

8 hours ago, stoutdude04 said:

Yea - it seems like they are picking up a good chunk of athletes.  Would be nice to get some beef.

On the D-line, yes. I feel pretty good about some of the young O-linemen already in the program who haven't been factors yet. 

Heavy on the DBs so far, both in #s and talent. Looks like a pretty good bet they're looking to stay with the 3-3-5 look used in Cincy.

Speaking of DBs, I'd like to give a personal standing O to Jay Shaw for deciding to play in the bowl game even though he's leaving. Imagine that, a healthy player on a team actually finishing out a season. 

[LouisEly]

They need to grab one or two DL and another OL.  Elijah Jeudy, the transfer DL from Texa$ A&M who visited, signed with Nebraska.  Jamel Howard is still out there.

I'm guessing the top two guys on their board still out there are Malik Elzy, WR, and Jamel Howard, DL, both from the Chicago area.  Also Joe Crocker, the OT from Tennessee who decommitted from Mississippi State and took an official visit to UW last June.

[nate82]

So far the signings are:

 

Wisconsin Class of 2023 signees

PLAYER	POS	STARS	RANK	STATE
James Durand	OL	4	341	AZ
Braedyn Moore	S	4	342	OH
Amare Snowden	CB	4	426	MI
Nate White	RB	3	668	WI
Jonas Duclona	CB	3	688	FL
Jace Arnold	CB	3	728	GA
Trech Kekahuna	WR	3	765	NV
A.J. Tisdell	CB	3	770	TX
Justin Taylor	S	3	919	IL
Tyler Jansey	ILB	3	985	IL
Jordan Mayer	OLB	3	996	PA
Cole Lacrue	QB	3	1,020	CO
Christian Alliegro	OLB	3	1,073	CT
Tucker Ashcraft	TE	3	1,400	WA

[patrickgpe]

some flips made it not so bad, but 247 sports still ranks the class 57th right now. 

[RedStickBrew]

1 hour ago, patrickgpe said:

some flips made it not so bad, but 247 sports still ranks the class 57th right now. 

I believe those rankings are based on points and the more recruits you have signed the higher the points/ranking.  Wisconsin only signed 15 recruits which places them below several teams that have signed more recruits. I think the class looks a little better if you look at average points per recruit.

[Samurai Bucky]

8 hours ago, LouisEly said:

Elijah Jeudy, the transfer DL from Texa$ A&M who visited, signed with Nebraska.

I heard Nebraska has access to Buffet (as in Warren) type money.  Is that true, or is that a bunch of horse hockey?

[Jim French Stepstool]

6 hours ago, Samurai Bucky said:

I heard Nebraska has access to Buffet (as in Warren) type money.  Is that true, or is that a bunch of horse hockey?

Good thing you weren't referring to buffet (as in steam tables). For a minute there I thought Nebraska hired Brett Bielema?.

[LouisEly]

17 hours ago, Samurai Bucky said:

I heard Nebraska has access to Buffet (as in Warren) type money.  Is that true, or is that a bunch of horse hockey?

A bunch of horse hockey.  Buffet is an alumnus of UN-L, but I haven't heard of him donating any stupid kind of money to the football program or any NIL efforts.  Nebraska's coach tweeted a few things suggesting that they lost some recruits to Miami and somewhere else due to money, so Buffet isn't bankrolling any NIL efforts.

[CheezWizHed]

3 hours ago, LouisEly said:

A bunch of horse hockey.  Buffet is an alumnus of UN-L, but I haven't heard of him donating any stupid kind of money to the football program or any NIL efforts.  Nebraska's coach tweeted a few things suggesting that they lost some recruits to Miami and somewhere else due to money, so Buffet isn't bankrolling any NIL efforts.

Warren Buffet knows a bad investment when he sees it!

[nate82]

3 minutes ago, CheezWizHed said:

Warren Buffet knows a bad investment when he sees it!

He is also very cheap and doesn't really spend money on anything.  He doesn't even leave tips when at a restaurant. 

[igor67]

I am a little surprised he never bought in to owning a sports team of some type, the thinly veiled monopoly aspect of sports fits his normal investing preferences. Then again he also like physical products.

[UpandIn]

6 hours ago, nate82 said:

He is also very cheap and doesn't really spend money on anything.  He doesn't even leave tips when at a restaurant. 

That's...not true. He doesn't live an extravagant lifestyle, lives in the house he grew up in(I believe) and doesn't spend copius amounts of money on frivolous things, so it seems like a stretch. 

But he tips...and I know he tips because they made such a big deal about how he "only" tips ~25% and not like a "real billionaire." 

 

I mean, he may be spending money on the Nebraska FB program despite the fact that he went to a different State School, but it is unlikely. But this describes him as kinda miserly and cheap(literally) when I think he's just a simple man. 

[Brewcrew82]

1 hour ago, UpandIn said:

I mean, he may be spending money on the Nebraska FB program despite the fact that he went to a different State School, but it is unlikely. But this describes him as kinda miserly and cheap(literally) when I think he's just a simple man. 

He didn't go to a different state school. UNL is the University of Nebraska. 

[LouisEly]

Badgers get a commitment from 2024 4-star QB Mabrey Mettauer.  I'm a bit concerned that in his social media post he referenced Phil Longo and his "Air Raid" offense.  The data implies the opposite, as NC averaged ~10 more rushing plays per game than passing plays from 2019-2021 and it was about equal in 2022.  And that Air Raid doesn't play in November.  Just ask Maryland.

[areacodes]

48 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

Badgers get a commitment from 2024 4-star QB Mabrey Mettauer.  I'm a bit concerned that in his social media post he referenced Phil Longo and his "Air Raid" offense.  The data implies the opposite, as NC averaged ~10 more rushing plays per game than passing plays from 2019-2021 and it was about equal in 2022.  And that Air Raid doesn't play in November.  Just ask Maryland.

Isn’t that what Longo’s offense has been called?  Even though, as you pointed out, it has ran more than passed on overage.

Is it more to do with him pairing a vertical passing game with the run game?

[Jim French Stepstool]

9 hours ago, LouisEly said:

Badgers get a commitment from 2024 4-star QB Mabrey Mettauer.  I'm a bit concerned that in his social media post he referenced Phil Longo and his "Air Raid" offense.  The data implies the opposite, as NC averaged ~10 more rushing plays per game than passing plays from 2019-2021 and it was about equal in 2022.  And that Air Raid doesn't play in November.  Just ask Maryland.

He was quoted as saying he likes the run/pass balance of Longos' offense, or words to that effect. So I don't think he's expecting to throw the ball 52 times a game ( at least let's hope not).

[CheezWizHed]

Just so it is more of a pro-style offense and not the Gary Anderson-like option offense.  Yes, you can win with the right players in option football, but I find it very boring to watch. 

When I first heard bits about Fickle's preferred offense, it sounded more option focused (i.e. wanting a QB that could run), but it seems like there will still a strong passing game focus.