First game of the Fickell Era; Buffalo vs Wisconsin Week 1

[LouisEly]

Regarding the D-Line:

1) Most of the time they only had two DL on the field.  They're not going to get much production from the DL with only two DL going up against five OL.  In the second half it looked like they played three DL more frequently, but I don't have numbers to back that up.

B) Buffalo completed 26 passes for 194 yards, but 51 of those yards were on one play.  Outside of that pass, the average yards per completion was 5.72.  They were throwing quick passes more than UW was.  Hard to get pass rush when the ball is out of the QBs hands within two seconds.  And, to his credit, their QB did a good job of throwing the ball away when he sensed pressure.

[BrewerFan]

4 hours ago, nate82 said:

The Leonhard style of defense of playing too much zone and playing it at the wrong time killed the defense in the 1st half. 

They played a man heavy scheme at Wisconsin. That was the big reason for the OSU beatdowns. Benton got manhandled, they couldn't get pressure and...they were just chewing up the secondary. Leonhard was an aggressive DC...pretty much the opposite of what they played yesterday(or Barry). 

 

[BrewerFan]

6 hours ago, homer said:

I guess it's good they play two halves. And we have no idea if they are mediocre. But if they are mediocre based on last year's results then I guess so is UW. 

Right. Of course it is. But the concerns posted in the 1st half were entirely warranted. I doubt he was citing the posts from when the score was 38-10 or 31-10...but rather 14-10.

[CheezWizHed]

Unfortunately, I did not get to watch the game (still need to figure out a good way to watch them out of market). 

These "preseason" games are always a bit interesting.  First live action for this team that has a lot of new faces playing together.  It will take some time to build that trust and confidence to play as a team.   

It was also Mordecai's first game playing in front of the home fans too... However, despite our hopes of him being night and day better, most ratings I saw in the offseason only had him a few spots ahead of Mertz. 

I do think our WR play is a major part of our problems.  When I saw Dike still as the #1 WR that did concern me that we didn't make much for upgrades (except our depth certainly being better).

There are two more "preseason" games before Purdue to see the team (coaches included) figure out our identity as a team.  What are we good at?  Who are our playmakers? Where are the weak links? 

[CheezWizHed]

Question on Mordecai's INTs - Were they the result of poor accuracy, misreading the defense, WR/QB not on the same page, or just good defensive play on a 50/50 ball? 

[LouisEly]

7 minutes ago, CheezWizHed said:

Unfortunately, I did not get to watch the game (still need to figure out a good way to watch them out of market).

I"m out of market and have YouTube TV.  It was on FS1.  Even if for some reason you get a different game live they almost always show a replay of the game sometime within the next 2-3 days.

[nate82]

1 hour ago, CheezWizHed said:

Question on Mordecai's INTs - Were they the result of poor accuracy, misreading the defense, WR/QB not on the same page, or just good defensive play on a 50/50 ball? 

One he threw behind the receiver and the other he got happy feet and threw to the linebacker near the line of scrimmage.  Both interceptions were 100% his fault.

[homer]

2 hours ago, LouisEly said:

I"m out of market and have YouTube TV.  It was on FS1.  Even if for some reason you get a different game live they almost always show a replay of the game sometime within the next 2-3 days.

Another option is Sling.

 

[CheezWizHed]

I think FS1 has changed since I last tried it.  I used to get regional (MN) sports only.  Good to know you can get all the games again.

[Samurai Bucky]

Regarding the defense:

It appeared the DBs were not quite on the same page earlier in the game.  There is definitely a different pace in a live game vs. a scrimmage.  They will need to do better next week.

Blitzing seemed to be a little plain Jane.  That might be because I have been used to seeing Leonard do some complex things along with it being the first time they were playing under Tressell.  To me, the defense is going to be the weak point of this team -- not the offense.

QB Play:

I don't remember too many times where Mordecai was moved out of the pocket.  I don't know if Longo typically moves his QBs or not.  The decisions he made on the two interceptions were not only poor, but very poor.

Special teams:

Is this punter for real?  Maybe that is an area where Fickell needs to focus his recruiting efforts.

[nate82]

7 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

QB Play:

I don't remember too many times where Mordecai was moved out of the pocket.  I don't know if Longo typically moves his QBs or not.  The decisions he made on the two interceptions were not only poor, but very poor.

Mordecai moved himself out of the pocket by moving into pressure.  A lot of the issues Trubisky had Mordecai has.  His footwork is just bad right now.  He basically sacks himself without the defense providing pressure.  It is like he doesn’t trust the offensive line and is moving before he has to.

Hopefully he improves a bit as he didn’t look good at all other than checking down to the RB’s.  

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 hours ago, Samurai Bucky said:

 

I don't remember too many times where Mordecai was moved out of the pocket.  I don't know if Longo typically moves his QBs or not.  The decisions he made on the two interceptions were not only poor, but very poor.

Special teams:

Is this punter for real?  Maybe that is an area where Fickell needs to focus his recruiting efforts.

I don't expect him to roll out all that often. The time you gain by rolling out is, theoretically at least, mitigated by having dumpoffs to the backs available. I'm sure they have stuff in their playbook that calls for him to move but I suspect it's limited.

I don't know how Bertrams' career will go during his next (potentially) 50 or so games. All I know is he has one game under his belt, and it didn't go well. Let's see how it goes from here. He was originally recruited/signed by USC, so bringing him in isn't some kind of reach. I understand he had knee surgery a year or two ago, hopefully that isn't hampering him.

[Jim French Stepstool]

5 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

Question on Mordecai's INTs - Were they the result of poor accuracy, misreading the defense, WR/QB not on the same page, or just good defensive play on a 50/50 ball? 

IMO the first one was 1 & 4. The second one was 2.

Just one more word re Mordecai. Yes, he had two picks. Let's also remember he goes 25-31 passing for around 250 yd if Skyler Bell catches a ball that was dropped right into his lap.

[BrewerFan]

15 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

IMO the first one was 1 & 4. The second one was 2.

Just one more word re Mordecai. Yes, he had two picks. Let's also remember he goes 25-31 passing for around 250 yd if Skyler Bell catches a ball that was dropped right into his lap.

Also worth nothing that Mertz was like 29 of his first 31 with 5 TDs in his first 31 pass attempts for the Badgers.

Then after the 5 TD game vs Illinois, he had a very efficient game in a blowout vs Michigan.

 

So early results aren't everything. 

[Oxy]

23 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

I think FS1 has changed since I last tried it.  I used to get regional (MN) sports only.  Good to know you can get all the games again.

FS1 is Fox's national sports network...Bucky was on everywhere.  Fox Sports North used to be the regional sports network Brewers/Bucks games were on.  That no longer exists.  College football has always been on nationally (or BTN).