Wisconsin Football 2024

[nate82]

1 minute ago, yourout said:

Such a bad front 7.

The LB’s are having to cover too much ground and blockers.  The d-line just doesn’t have anyone that requires a double team or can take on more than one lineman.

Also the d-line then comes up with a big stop where they at least held their ground.

[homer]

hilarious hearing these announcers question the 4th down calls

[nate82]

Just now, homer said:

hilarious hearing these announcers question the 4th down calls

That one was a bit questionable but still on the side of you go for it there.  Especially how the Badgers defense has been pushed around in the run game.  

[homer]

why are there no posts since we went up 14?

[yourout]

Just now, homer said:

why are there no posts since we went up 14?

Roseanne Barr win.

Ugly as hell.

Still don't feel very good about where the program is headed 

[nate82]

Game 1 the good:

1. CB’s look solid not much to complain about here.  Maybe a bit to physical at times.

2. Walker and Mellusi looked really good in the run game.

3. Offensive line didn’t commit dumb penalties and didn’t look overmatched like last year.

4. Van Dyke looks mobile enough to run the offense.

the bad:

1. Receivers dropping very easy passes.

2. D-line is still getting pushed around.

3. Defensive play calling.  They were caught a few times blitzing in the wrong direction leaving a WR wide open.

4. Poor tackling and gap integrity.

5. Special teams looks to be a problem this year.

the ugly:

1. Offensive play calling was too conservative.  Very little motion and not much creativity other than on the 2-pt conversion.

2. Offensive line still not getting to that second level on run plays.

3. Route running was very questionable at times by the WR’s.

4. Couldn’t get the TE involved enough.

5. Western Michigan’s OL got to the 2nd level too many times.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Maybe the biggest positive I saw was in the second half, we actually started to wear them down a bit with the O-line. That might not seem like a big deal since it was WMU, but I don't know if we could've done that last year w/o having to wade through a bunch of false starts & holds. Having depth at RB is refreshing. Still, there was a play in the 1st half when we were in the red zone, 1st & ten and lined up in an empty backfield, which is nuts.

Van Dyke needs to be better moving forward, but his combination of running ability & throwing is a step up from last season. I see people complaining about not throwing more deep, vertical routes. I kinda agree, but on the other hand they really don't have receivers built for that or an offensive philosophy that integrates it. I'd like to think part of it is holding back the playbook for B10 opponents, but they never really did it last year either. Maybe Vinny Anthony, as the year unfolds..........

They got good stuff from the TEs, and I liked the formation with both of them on the field. Helps to make up for no fullback, and as pass catchers they both fit the 3-7 yd flips out in the flat that Longo loves to throw.

The front seven mostly didn't impress. But Neal plugged pretty well, and Pius & Hills made plays later on. Too soon to judge, but the depth could really be a problem.

I was actually disappointed that the secondary didn't make more plays, but I saw they never threw at Hallman (which I didn't notice, embarrassingly) & there wasn't enough of a consistent pass rush to help them out. Need to find a way to get someone like Peterson on the edge because I remember one safety blitz, and the rotation to cover for the safety was non-existent.

All in all, much stuff to clean up, and people like Barten & Neal HAVE to stay healthy. But after one week, saying they're "this" or "that" is IMO a fools' errand.

 

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, nate82 said:

That one was a bit questionable but still on the side of you go for it there.  Especially how the Badgers defense has been pushed around in the run game.  

Another positive. I don't blame WMU for going for it, but our O-line was starting to get some push & stopping them there was going to give us the ball at the 50 & put a real damper on their upset hopes, and we did it. Can't say I expected that. Curt Neal might be every bit as valuable as Van Dyke, AFA needing him to stay healthy.

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, nate82 said:

The LB’s are having to cover too much ground and blockers.  The d-line just doesn’t have anyone that requires a double team or can take on more than one lineman.

 

James Thompson was a huge loss.

[nate82]

15 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Van Dyke needs to be better moving forward, but his combination of running ability & throwing is a step up from last season. I see people complaining about not throwing more deep, vertical routes. I kinda agree, but on the other hand they really don't have receivers built for that or an offensive philosophy that integrates it. I'd like to think part of it is holding back the playbook for B10 opponents, but they never really did it last year either. Maybe Vinny Anthony, as the year unfolds..........

First half Van Dyke was ok, not great but also not bad either.  He was just ok in the first half but in the second half a lot of mistakes.  The Badgers don't have that vertical threat but you still have to show it to make the defense honor it.  Once the Badgers showed they were not going to run those plays the short and middle passing lanes started to get clogged. 

The very little presnap movement is starting to get aggravating.

As for the deep routes Fickell did admit that they were too conservative with the play calling and they need to get better at that in the post game interview on the field on FS1.  I found that to be interesting that the whole game plan for today was to be very conservative.  He also talked about a few other things that they need to work on.

25 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

They got good stuff from the TEs, and I liked the formation with both of them on the field. Helps to make up for no fullback, and as pass catchers they both fit the 3-7 yd flips out in the flat that Longo loves to throw.

I came away the opposite on this.  I think they didn't do enough.  The TE's were there in the passing game and then all of a sudden disappeared.  I think they needed to get them involved more in the passing game.  Where has Nowakowski been the last few years?  He looks like an actual TE and he looks to have some good hands at least on the few plays they threw to him today. 

9 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

James Thompson was a huge loss.

This is a huge loss and I am not sure the defense will be able to recover from this and by the defense I mean the D-line.  The LB's made some nice plays but they are being asked to do too much.  If someone on the d-line doesn't step up it is going to be a waste of some good LB's.  I am actually kind of intrigued by this LB core and they maybe one of the better LB's the Badgers have had in a few years now.

 

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, nate82 said:

First half Van Dyke was ok, not great but also not bad either.  He was just ok in the first half but in the second half a lot of mistakes.  The Badgers don't have that vertical threat but you still have to show it to make the defense honor it.  Once the Badgers showed they were not going to run those plays the short and middle passing lanes started to get clogged. 

The very little presnap movement is starting to get aggravating.

As for the deep routes Fickell did admit that they were too conservative with the play calling and they need to get better at that in the post game interview on the field on FS1.  I found that to be interesting that the whole game plan for today was to be very conservative.  He also talked about a few other things that they need to work on.

I came away the opposite on this.  I think they didn't do enough.  The TE's were there in the passing game and then all of a sudden disappeared.  I think they needed to get them involved more in the passing game.  Where has Nowakowski been the last few years?  He looks like an actual TE and he looks to have some good hands at least on the few plays they threw to him today. 

This is a huge loss and I am not sure the defense will be able to recover from this and by the defense I mean the D-line.  The LB's made some nice plays but they are being asked to do too much.  If someone on the d-line doesn't step up it is going to be a waste of some good LB's.  I am actually kind of intrigued by this LB core and they maybe one of the better LB's the Badgers have had in a few years now.

 

I'd like to know what he meant by 'too conservative', because they very seldom if ever threw deep last year. I like the idea of them mixing in some go routes, I'll just have to see it to believe it. Things did get clogged up more than you'd like to see. It didn't cause big issues because they were able to get the run game going btwn the tackles. Could that be an issue in the big ten? Absolutely. If ever there were games where they planned to keep things under wraps, this one & next week are it. We'll see, I guess.

I suspect letting the TEs get their feet wet early was by design. I could be wrong but I don't see them catching more than a combined 3-4 balls a game on average. If they DO stretch the field more with the wides that might open them up a bit. Nowakowski was always a willing blocker who started as a FB and you're right, his hands seem more than good enough. I feel he's someone that they viewed as a blocking TE who's surprised them a bit.

Not totally convinced re the LB corps, but as you said there's an awful lot on their plate due to the line being thin. The two FCS-level guys they brought in are gonna get every chance to make a difference. Hills actually made a play or two.

[Jim French Stepstool]

5 hours ago, nate82 said:

I do not.  It was rather boring to watch and many of those maulers were poor pass blockers.

Some of them had bad feet re pass blocking, but I found nothing boring about those lines. Keeping the ball away from an opponent for half a quarter or more while the clock burned was a beautiful thing to watch.

[homer]

12 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Another positive. I don't blame WMU for going for it, but our O-line was starting to get some push & stopping them there was going to give us the ball at the 50 & put a real damper on their upset hopes, and we did it. Can't say I expected that. Curt Neal might be every bit as valuable as Van Dyke, AFA needing him to stay healthy.

They were a 23 point underdog on the road. Midfield 4th and a yard with 8 minutes left in the game and down 7? That should be an automatic "go".

[yourout]

Impressed with Penn State.

Especially the QB.

That's a good squad.

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, homer said:

They were a 23 point underdog on the road. Midfield 4th and a yard with 8 minutes left in the game and down 7? That should be an automatic "go".

What I'm saying is, I can't say I expected us to stuff the play & get the ball back. Stopping the 4th & 1 was, at that point in the game, pleasantly surprising to me.

The risk on their part was giving us the ball at midfield & either not getting it back, giving up another score, or getting pinned deep if we punt. But yeah, I agree it was certainly worth the risk to them.

[LouisEly]

On 8/30/2024 at 8:25 PM, yourout said:

I can't wait till Tressel is gone. Worst DC we have had in 20 years.

It certainly isn't a good look when a guy who was one of the top graded players at his position the prior year barely sees the field and doesn't even play a couple of games then makes the 53 of a NFL team 

[LouisEly]

WMU has a couple of really good interior OL and a really good RB, and when a team has both of those you cannot run a 2-4-5 defense, particularly when your top DL is out for the year.

[yourout]

2 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

WMU has a couple of really good interior OL and a really good RB, and when a team has both of those you cannot run a 2-4-5 defense, particularly when your top DL is out for the year.

Leonard was light years better than Tressel scheming linebackers lanes to attack with.

Generally speaking when his defenses were beaten it was largely a talent deficit. 

The last season plus we constantly don't have good gap discipline and really struggle to make plays in space because the linebackers don't break down and are out of control.

[Jim French Stepstool]

South Dakota......an FCS program, but a pretty good one. Air Raid, shotgun, throw the ball down field, behind your back or between your legs, whatever. What I most want to see is UW control the line of scrimmage today, on both sides of the ball. If anything keeps them from winning some of the 'gettable' games down the road, it would be failing in that regard.

[nate82]

That was a very good first possession minus the Mellusi fumble.

[yourout]

Tressel is a terrible DC.

[yourout]

Much better start.

[homer]

D Line does not look much better this week. Alabama may rush for 300 yards.

[yourout]

1 minute ago, homer said:

D Line does not look much better this week. Alabama may rush for 300 yards.

I think it's by far the weakest position group.

[yourout]

Holy crap that's some bad run defense.