The Wisconsin offense can best be described as being satisfactory, decent, respectable and at times maybe even above average. However, there seems to be something missing from the Badger offense. UW has not yet reached its top level of play.
Now 0-2 in the Big Ten, the offense needs to step up its intensity and look to make an improvement in the homecoming game this weekend against No. 4 Ohio State.
UW has been very productive, averaging 28.4 points per game; however, its longest run has been for only 39 yards, and that was by senior quarterback Brooks Bollinger.
Neither running back has had a run for over 30 yards, and no wide receiver has had a catch for over 50 yards.
“We haven’t been making the big plays,” head coach Barry Alvarez said. “Like we did a year ago, we need to find ways to make the big plays.”
Making the big play is that little bit of edge that keeps the defense on their toes. Right now, Wisconsin is lacking that important edge, and it must look to create it if it wants to compete with rival Ohio State.
Another thing the Badgers must look to do is limit mental mistakes, the most costly of which have been penalties.
“We have to get a block on a defensive back without holding, and that’s something that we’ve always done well,” Alvarez said. “It might be because of immaturity and the lack of strength of some of the young receivers. I am not sure of that, but that’s one way instead of a 15- or 20-yard run you’ve got a 60-yard run.”
Freshman running back Dwayne Smith understands the penalty problem, especially when it comes to the holding calls,
“We haven’t been straining; we haven’t got our feet in the blocks,” Smith said. “That puts us out of position. We just need to focus and concentrate.”
Along with penalties, the wide receivers need to focus on catching the football before looking upfield. There have been a numerous plays this season where Bollinger has put the ball in the hands of a wide receiver downfield, and the ball has been dropped due to a lack of concentration.
The top wide receivers, red-shirt freshman Jonathan Orr and true freshman Brandon Williams, are both young and need to gain more game experience in order to abolish those mental mistakes.
Alvarez and offensive coordinator Brian White are going to need to get creative if they hope to topple the vaunted Buckeye defense. This might entail employing a different strategy than those used in previous games.
Consistency needs to be found on the field, and someone needs to step up and take over the game. After posting 29 points in the first three quarters at Indiana last Saturday, the Badgers were held scoreless in the final 15 minutes, culminating in a 32-29 loss. The Hoosiers seemingly came to expect the tendencies of the Wisconsin attack.
One remarkable attribute the offense has earned over the first seven weeks has been its ability to retain possession of the ball. Senior quarterback Brooks Bollinger has thrown only three interceptions compared to eight touchdowns, and he has rushed for another four. Sophomore running back Anthony Davis, freshman running back Dwayne Smith and the receiving core have been good about holding onto the football after hauling in a catch.
The running game has been fairly solid in the opening weeks of conference play with Davis averaging 4.6 yards per carry, while Smith is picking up five yards per attempt. The young wide receivers have seemed to improve as the season has progressed and appear to be learning from their early-season mistakes.
So far this season, Ohio State has displayed an offensive explosion, and the fate of the game will rely heavily on whether or not the inconsistent Badger offense can keep up with it in a scoring marathon.
This will depend on their big-play capability and consistency on the field. If Wisconsin can open up its attack early in the game, it could be a long day for the Buckeye defense.
