Wisconsin Football 2024

[Jim French Stepstool]

20 minutes ago, CheezWizHed said:

So I wonder if Longo's firing was more about offensive philosophy, failed execution, or lack of improvement? 

Failed Execution: This would be an easy one to point to, but he started with zero WRs, TEs, an average OL, and had to play most of the two seasons with a backup QB. WR and TE talent was improved this year.  Perhaps a bit more talent on the OL, but not outstanding either. 

Philosophy: Air Raid was certainly departure from the Alvarez, Bielema, Chryst RB heavy offense for decades. But the execution of it looked different than expected.  Perhaps the backup QB constantly shunted those plans?  Not sure who the next OC might be, but I wouldn't expect us to go back to the ground-n-pound offense necessarily. 

Lack of Improvement: My main guess here is that the team simply didn't improve.  Felt like we were in neutral most of the time.  Never getting better, making the same mistakes... We've had improvement from year 1 to year 2 by bringing in better players but I can't think of too many guys on the offensive side that have improved much from year 1 to year 2. 

I think there was a rude awakening re the system Longo brought with him, in that you need the people to make it work & the personnel here weren't a great fit. The TE & receiver group IMO improved this year, but moderately. Obviously you can't lose your starting QB in back-to-back years, especially when your backup isn't a fit for the offense (and regardless of how much he's criticized, even if he's at the top of his game he still isn't a proper fit).

The O-line certainly wasn't up to the task of just mauling people up front in the run game, compared to the groups Alvarez & Bielema had. But they were brought here with that legacy & certainly with the run game as a priority, and their lacking in that area doesn't automatically make them fits for a totally new system. The foolish mistakes, confusion & hesitancy they showed in '23 was laughable, and after getting a lot of it cleaned up this year they still aren't that great a group (as the last three games have shown).

Your 3rd paragraph is spot-on. But on the offensive side of the ball I'm not sure they've brought in better players this year with the exception of more talent at TB. Mostly agree about the lack of improvement too. Kekahuna is better, but I think that's simply a byproduct of going from freshman to sophomore year. I think Vinny Anthony is better, but not a particularly great fit for this offense. In the line, I think Riley Mahlman & Joe Brunner are better than they were last year. That's about it.

[LouisEly]

37 minutes ago, CheezWizHed said:

So I wonder if Longo's firing was more about offensive philosophy, failed execution, or lack of improvement? 

Much like the Chryst firing, it was as much about interpersonal skills and decision-making as it was on-field performance.  It started with the Bicknell fiasco last year and bringing in an OL coach who clearly was not a good fit from the get-go.  Add that to Braelon Allen's comments about lack of accountability, rumors of not getting along with other coaches, and philosophical differences with Fickell about the run game, and you have Longo just not being a good fit.  The execution and improvement weren't enough to overcome those things.

Chryst was fired more for half-arsing or just not doing parts of his job, coupled with bad decisions about OC hiring and recruiting, than he was for his record. 

[Samurai Bucky]

When Longo was brought in, it reminded me of the change in philosophy Gary Andersen brought with him.  It wasn't an Air Raid type of situation, but it was a change from the standard Badger philosophy.

Kudos to Fickell to having the huevos to do this now.  It was obvious to everybody that things just weren't working on the offensive side of the ball.  Here is another tweet from Potrykus that sheds some good light on what might have happened if he let him stay on.

Here are some things that frustrated me about the offense:

• Dead ball penalties.  There simply seems to be a lack of discipline on the offensive side of the ball.  This improved over last year.  I went to one game last year against Buffalo, and their heads weren't where they should have been.  This is coaching.
• Make your offense fit your players.  Is your offense so structured that there aren't plays designed to fit better with your backup quarterback?  They started using motion a little more, but probably not enough IMHO.  This is coaching.
• Braedyn Locke.  He has made some poor decisions.  However, I don't know if he was put into a position to succeed.  Did you notice something on the late touchdown that was called back due to a penalty?  He threw the touchdown pass LEFT HANDED!!!!!  Nobody mentioned anything on TV and I haven't seen anything on Social Media regarding that.  How many times was there a run / run option where he didn't keep the ball?  Keep the ball to, at least, keep the defense honest.  I'm not saying Locke shouldn't be blamed for what happened, but I think the coaching staff has to do a better job.  So this is Player Performance and Coaching.
• Trying to throw a football through the head of a needle.  If the pass was 5-15 yards, Locke seemed like he had to throw it 100MPH to get it through the traffic.  Were there any plays called where he could put touch on it?  Yeah... the opening play where he doesn't float it over the outstretched hand of the Edge rusher... he should have done much better.

I also saw something where people think they can't get athletes to come to Wisconsin.  Sorry... I don't buy it.  They need to have a great win against Nebraska this weekend to show the offense they can win.  I believe Fickell will be able to keep a good number of the guys who show they can get open.

I still don't have full trust in Tressel's defense, but a team doesn't hold the #1 team in the Country to 16 points without doing something right.

I am hoping for two more wins.  This means the ax stays in Madison, another bowl game, and a positive outlook for 2025.

[JosephC]

7 hours ago, Samurai Bucky said:

When Longo was brought in, it reminded me of the change in philosophy Gary Andersen brought with him.  It wasn't an Air Raid type of situation, but it was a change from the standard Badger philosophy.

Kudos to Fickell to having the huevos to do this now.  It was obvious to everybody that things just weren't working on the offensive side of the ball.  Here is another tweet from Potrykus that sheds some good light on what might have happened if he let him stay on.

 

I think Potrykus forgot about Pelini.  Controversial for sure, but in terms of W/L he was pretty successful at Nebraska.

And I definitely didn't interpret the tweet as a "what might have happened if Longo stayed" comment.  I think it's more along the lines of, "did McIntosh screw up when he went away from the Alvarez tree?"  He brings up Callahan...Nebraska went from Osbourne to Solich (who was Osbourne's OC) to Callahan and there was a huge drop-off with Callahan.  Solich had a 58-19 record (.753 winning percentage) to Callahan's 27-22 record (.551).  As of now, Chryst at Wisconsin was 67-26 (.720 winning percentage) and Fickell sits at 13-11 (.542).

I posted it on the previous page or the one prior to that, Fickell deserves 4 full seasons to see if he can improve dramatically on that 13-11 record.  I believe that and I am sticking with that.  But the early returns are not looking good.

[igor67]

I'm normally patient, but with the transfer rules, I think you have to see results by season 3. Your not relying on your first group of recruits to be seniors in the same way that you used to.

[LouisEly]

Wisconsin flipped 4-star DE Jalen Williams from Michigan.  Allegedly, Williams is close with QB Carter Smith, the Michigan de-commit who was also on an official at the Oregon game with Williams.

Williams had been connected with UW before when Scruggs was the DL coach.  Scruggs went to Michigan, but then resigned after getting arrested.

[Jim French Stepstool]

 QB Cole Lacrue is reported to be heading for the portal. He was a Chryst recruit that decided to hang around after the coaching change & hasn't seen a snap in his two seasons here.

He's also behind Mettauer. This MIGHT mean he knows Mettauer is staying put (kids do talk among themselves) so he sees no path to PT in Madison. Another possibility is the aforementioned Carter Smith might be in the grapevine as joining Williams, also blocking him. He's a Colorado native (the previous staff at CU recruited him) but even though they'll be looking for a QB I doubt that's in the cards. Tulane also looked at him & would probably be a more realistic target.

[yourout]

Rewatched the game and they never picked up a first down in the fourth quarter in four possessions.

[LouisEly]

16 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

QB Cole Lacrue is reported to be heading for the portal. He was a Chryst recruit that decided to hang around after the coaching change & hasn't seen a snap in his two seasons here.

He's been injured most of the time.  He was injured last year, and was listed as "Out" on the injury report the last couple of weeks.  He may have gotten the Isaac Guerendo treatment and was told that if you're not available, you're of no use.

[LouisEly]

22 hours ago, LouisEly said:

Allegedly, Williams is close with QB Carter Smith, the Michigan de-commit who was also on an official at the Oregon game with Williams.

Some chatter about Carter Smith trending to UW today... fingers crossed.

[JosephC]

4 hours ago, LouisEly said:

He may have gotten the Isaac Guerendo treatment and was told that if you're not available, you're of no use.

Yeah right.  More like, "you are third string at best behind Allen and Mellusi, those guys can find holes that are smaller than 10 yards wide."

[LouisEly]

1 hour ago, JosephC said:

Yeah right.  More like, "you are third string at best behind Allen and Mellusi, those guys can find holes that are smaller than 10 yards wide."

No, that's actually what happened with Guerendo.

[HarryDoyle]

No badger fan should be upset about a quarterback hitting the transfer portal.

[yfinn6]

30 minutes ago, HarryDoyle said:

No badger fan should be upset about a quarterback hitting the transfer portal.

Especially if it's true that Carter Smith is going to UW.

Though they'll need depth, too. I would hope that Mettauer doesn't leave, too. 

[homer]

James Thompson has been upgraded to questionable. Sounds like he may play before the end of the season. 

[Sixtolezcano]

Two missed field goals…oh boy.

[yourout]

Any chance Oregon state's looking for a football coach again?

[Jim French Stepstool]

It looks like the offense post-Longo has much less progression in it AFA looking for a target is concerned. Whatever the difference, Locke looks much more comfortable. But the run game isn't there on a consistent basis compared to the way Nebraska is running the ball, and that's always more important. It's a big part of the reason they're stalling out on drives. Throw in Vakos having a lousy half, the defense being mostly poor, the PI, the late fumble............

Momentum-wise, things really seemed to turn after the INT by Barten, when on the very next play Ashcraft dropped a pass that would've made it no worse than 2nd & short. Spiraled from there IMO.

[JosephC]

I might not watch these games anymore, but I still pay a bit of attention.  Just checked the box score, and it looks like Fickell probably should have fired the defensive coordinator too.

[adambr2]

Remember when we hired Fickell and the whole culture of Badger football was going to change, the recruits were going to flock to UW and we were going to start be a playoff caliber team in a couple seasons?

That was a pretty fun couple months of thinking all that.

[yourout]

6 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

Remember when we hired Fickell and the whole culture of Badger football was going to change, the recruits were going to flock to UW and we were going to start be a playoff caliber team in a couple seasons?

That was a pretty fun couple months of thinking all that.

I heard Mac is in the market for a Delorean

[yourout]

1 hour ago, JosephC said:

I might not watch these games anymore, but I still pay a bit of attention.  Just checked the box score, and it looks like Fickell probably should have fired the defensive coordinator too.

I'd clean house. Next year will be a disaster no matter what and another year would just delay the inevitable.

[RedStickBrew]

This is tough to watch but I am a Badger fan and am willing to live with the pain during the CLF rebuild. It’s going to take another year or two to get the talent built up on this roster. This next recruiting class looks pretty solid again but it’s going to be a couple years before they are contributing 

[nate82]

I still think Fickell was the right hire.  The defense didn't look good today which is weird as the defense lately has looked decent.  The OL is still having issues where they look good for stretches then completely fall apart.  I don't think it is a coaching problem I think it is the players not executing the coaching.  You can be the greatest coach but if it goes in one ear and out the other there really isn't much you can do coaching wise that is a player problem. 

I think the Badgers have a lot of player problems on the OL and that is why the running game comes in spurts every once in awhile there are holes and other times the OL forgets what they are even doing.  You can see at times there is some solid coaching going on and things get fixed and then all of a sudden they are back to where they were for no apparent reason. 

I don't think there needs to be a house cleaning at all.  This team has some really good talent especially at the skill positions.  They need to fix the OL and the QB situation if they fix those two spots I think this team will surprise people next year.  This was always going to be a 3-5 year fix as PC completely gave up on recruiting and left the team in a really bad spot recruiting wise.  We are just starting to see better recruitment and we just need to live through what PC did to the program recruiting wise. 

[homer]

1 hour ago, yourout said:

I'd clean house. Next year will be a disaster no matter what and another year would just delay the inevitable.

I think buying out Fickell would be worse than giving him a other year  I'd let it ride one more season.