[media-credit name=’MATTHEW KUTZ/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]The Badgers' first road test will also be their toughest challenge so far this season. Coming off of Camp Randall victories against Bowling Green and Temple the last two Saturdays, the Badgers (2-0) will play their first road game Saturday against the University of North Carolina (0-1).
Two weeks ago, the Badgers were lit up for 458 passing yards and five touchdown passes by Bowling Green quarterback Omar Jacobs, incurring significant blame on the Badgers' secondary. After taking the fault for their dreary performance against Bowling Green, the Badger defense stepped up last Saturday, shutting out Temple.
"North Carolina is a much better football team, better athletes, deeper than Bowling Green would be," head coach Barry Alvarez said.
This week, Wisconsin faces another formidable passing attack, led by fifth-year senior quarterback Matt Baker. Last week, in a 27-21 loss against No. 17 Georgia Tech, Baker threw for 280 yards to seven different receivers, including touchdowns to Derrele Mitchell and Jarwarski Pollock. Baker also scored UNC's only other touchdown on a 10-yard run.
Defensive coordinator Bret Bielema acknowledged the potential matchup problems inherent in the Tar Heels' offense.
"North Carolina has a lot of skill players," the second-year assistant coach said. "They've got, in my opinion, four or five wide receivers who could probably start at any program, so that's going to create some issues. The tight ends line up as wide receivers, so we've got to identify those sets and understand what they are trying to do."
But the wide receivers are not Bielema's only concern. Baker's mobility under center could also pose problems for the UW defense.
"Omar [Jacobs], we thought was a running threat, though he didn't hurt us in that capacity, but [Baker] has the ability to run the football," Bielema said. "The first touchdown he scored was pure scramble. All his guys were covered and he created the touchdown. So that's the part we've always got to be aware of."
On top of North Carolina's strong passing attack, the Tar Heels also have a strong offensive line. Sophomore defensive lineman Nick Hayden knows the Badgers will have to work hard up front to contain Baker.
"They've got an athletic line," Hayden said. "This is probably the most athletic line we've seen all year."
The Wisconsin secondary will also have to put the pressure on Baker and try to force a turnover or two, as he threw three interceptions against Georgia Tech after throwing two interceptions in just 36 pass attempts last year.
The Badgers were troubled in that area more than once last Saturday. They came away with one interception, but saw a few other opportunities slip through their grasp.
On offense, sophomore quarterback John Stocco has been very efficient this season. With a 69 percent completion percentage and a four-to-one touchdown to interception ratio, Stocco faces a UNC defense that allowed 353 passing yards against Georgia Tech.
Against Temple and Bowling Green, Wisconsin stifled the run, allowing just 83 rushing yards in the two games; however, the opposing attacks were nothing too impressive. It could turn out to be a similar story this week as North Carolina rushed for just 61 yards on 26 attempts as a team last week.
For the Badgers' offense, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on junior transfer Brian Calhoun, who has rushed for 300 yards and two touchdowns in what has amounted to about five quarters of football this season. With a solid 5.6 yards per carry, Calhoun faces a UNC defense that allowed 4.2 yards per carry against Georgia Tech.
The game could very well come down to special teams. Against Temple, Brandon Williams showed that he is capable of scoring touchdowns in the return game.
"Brandon gives us someone who has speed, who likes to be there, who likes the challenge," Alvarez said. "Brandon wants the ball in his hands and has been a playmaker for us ever since we've had him."
The North Carolina Tar Heels present a legitimate threat to the Badgers' undefeated record, but if the secondary can remain as steady as it was a week ago, Wisconsin should be in good shape.
"I think they're a very good team," Alvarez said. "This will be our sternest test."