Wisconsin at Northwestern 10/8

[HarryDoyle]

Let's see if the change in leadership lights a fire under this team.

[Samurai Bucky]

Consensus had them opening at -9.5 but moved to -10.  O/U is 44

[HarryDoyle]

At least they moved the ball well.

[yourout]

That field goal attempt was very 2022.

[nate82]

The offensive play calling is better even if the results haven't shown up yet.  Maybe it is just how bad Northwestern has looked defensively but the offensive side actually looks like it prepared for the game this week.  

[yourout]

Nice start.

[LouisEly]

Bortolini starting over Beach.  Didn't hear anything about an injury or illness, but maybe he got sick last night/this morning.

Dackovich with I believe his first offensive snaps, at least his first not in garbage time. 

Isaiah Mullens out. 

[HarryDoyle]

8 minutes ago, nate82 said:

The offensive play calling is better even if the results haven't shown up yet.  Maybe it is just how bad Northwestern has looked defensively but the offensive side actually looks like it prepared for the game this week.  

Leonhard stated he wanted to return to their identity of running the ball and that's exactly what they're doing.

[HarryDoyle]

Got away with a fumble there. Looked like one live too.

[yourout]

3rd and three at midfield is not the time for the wildcat

[HarryDoyle]

9 minutes ago, yourout said:

3rd and three at midfield is not the time for the wildcat

There is never a good time for the wildcat. Just when I got done complimenting them on returning to their identity.

[HarryDoyle]

Looking light years better than they have looked all year, although Northwestern is not a very high bar.

[nate82]

Running game not having all that much success against Northwestern but the passing game wow.  Mertz looking good so far with his passes.  A few that have been inaccurate and a few where the ball went through the receivers arms.  

[yourout]

1 minute ago, nate82 said:

Running game not having all that much success against Northwestern but the passing game wow.  Mertz looking good so far with his passes.  A few that have been inaccurate and a few where the ball went through the receivers arms.  

It's going to take some time to fix the oline so the run game is going to be spotty.

[nate82]

Hey a RB catching a pass what a new concept!

[LouisEly]

22 minutes ago, yourout said:

3rd and three at midfield is not the time for the wildcat

If Allen had run straight instead of pussyfooting around and going to the outside there was a small seam.

[bjkrautk]

Northwestern is not good.

[yourout]

Terrible spot

[HarryDoyle]

Northwestern. Wow.

[yourout]

10 minutes ago, HarryDoyle said:

Northwestern. Wow.

Granted NW sucks but team showing some energy.

[yourout]

Nice pushoff

[yourout]

In the ironic department the offense looked a bit like the BB units that Chryst coordinated

[Jim French Stepstool]

3 hours ago, LouisEly said:

Bortolini starting over Beach.  Didn't hear anything about an injury or illness, but maybe he got sick last night/this morning.

Dackovich with I believe his first offensive snaps, at least his first not in garbage time. 

Isaiah Mullens out. 

Dakovich seeing the field is mildly newsworthy, as before today it appeared Jaylin Franklin was the 4th TE. As long as Rucci is out, the depth behind Eschenbach is a question mark.

NW obviously is challenged offensively, but I like the fact that Mullens and, for about half the game, Benton were out & things still held up well. That includes the secondary. No Jamar Fletcher shutdown corner but it seems like there are a lot of people who are athletic enough to make plays. I'm a Latu fan, even moreso after today.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Random thoughts:

Interesting "new sheriff in town" statement when they threw on the first two plays. Both were pretty safe throws, but the tone of the passing game seemed to be that there were throws Mertz could successfully make. That didn't always seem to be the case earlier.

When you make a change in-season it's always interesting to see if there are any personnel changes. LouisEly mentioned Dakovich appearing at TE. True freshman Vinny Anthony getting his hands on the ball a couple times was another. Bortolini replacing Beach could be due to health; it'll be interesting to find out. Not sure but Tatum Grass may have had more snaps than normal at LB.

Mostly inexperienced; but the talent at WR is pretty evident. 

You gotta just shake your head, after looking at how seldom Dike got his hands on the ball the first five weeks.

Gee, I wonder if Bobby Engram on the sidelines MIGHT be a weekly thing?. I'm assuming the playcalling was all, or mostly, his responsibility. It's just easier for a lot of guys to be aggressive in that role when you're not the head coach, whether it makes sense or not.

[yourout]

https://badgerswire.usatoday.com/lists/film-room-a-look-at-the-wrinkles-jim-leonhard-added-to-wisconsins-offense/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2XNDQ_lN2AHNLEdEy3CAL9b-IbtiSHg1A9duiSSPmqMTW6OqWj8DB702U

Interesting article about offensive tweaks on Saturday.