After a dismal performance against Iowa, the Badgers are looking to save their season and maintain their hope of making a bowl game. While the top two quarterbacks, Brooks Bollinger and Jim Sorgi, sustained injuries against Iowa, it remains uncertain as to who will be at the helm of the Badger offense versus Illinois.
Further, the past week for the Wisconsin football team has been one that they would all like to forget. Standout wide receiver Lee Evans was arrested for possession of marijuana, while running back Anthony Davis was stabbed in a domestic dispute just hours after eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark for the second time in two years. Alvarez has remained focused throughout these off-field distractions and looks ahead to his squad’s game Saturday against Illinois. Here are The Badger Herald’s five keys to victory.
1. Stop Brandon Lloyd
Lloyd, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound wide receiver has been the Illini’s go-to-guy on offense. He was recently named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which recognizes college football’s best wide receiver. Lloyd averages 100.8 yards and six catches per game. He is just 93 yards away from 1,000 yards on the season for the second consecutive year. Lloyd is an explosive, intelligent wide receiver who has been known to pick defenses apart with his ability to make big plays and score. The Badger defense must concentrate on stopping the pass and force Illinois’ running game to be the focus of its offensive attack.
2. Dwayne’s world
True freshman running back Dwayne Smith will be relied upon heavily for the Badgers in the likely absence of the injured Davis. In limited action this season, Smith averages 5.5 yards per carry and has notched four touchdowns. He has shown that he has the ability to break loose from defenders and penetrate the defense downfield. With a passing game that has been lacking for the Badgers, they must depend on its running game to build a foundation for offensive success Saturday. Look for Smith to surprise the Illini with his elusiveness and powerful drive through the holes created by the offensive line. If Smith can have a big game, so will the Badgers.
3. Leadership must prevail
Even if Brooks Bollinger is hurt and Lee Evans is stuck in street clothes, the team must remain focused on the most important task: winning. Every sports team, whether it’s at the professional, collegiate or even high school level, has its distractions and problems off the field. Successful teams bounce back from these disruptions and find a way to win. The Badgers, in a fragile stretch of the season, need to look to seniors Bollinger, Evans, Al Johnson and B.J. Tucker for the motivation and drive that will sustain a bid to a bowl game. Wisconsin football needs its leaders to guide the team to victory, both mentally and physically.
4. Hot corners
The Badger secondary must be on its heels, as Illinois’ passing game is one of the best in the country. The Illini average 275.8 yards per game through the air, which ranks 19th in the NCAA. Furthermore, Illinois has had the most potent passing game in the Big Ten. Cornerbacks B.J. Tucker and Scott Starks must be ready for Illinois, as it depends on the pass for most of its offense. To help the corners, Wisconsin’s defensive line must pressure Illinois quarterback Dustin Ward and force him into making poor decisions throwing the ball down the field. Illinois’ receivers are quick and used to making big plays, and it is vital for the secondary to shut them down.
5. A touchdown shoot-out
The Badgers scored just three points last week in Iowa City and are averaging less than 23 points per game. If the Badgers hope to win this game, they must put a myriad of points on the scoreboard hanging from the Field House. Illinois averages 29 points per game, and the Illini are capable of scoring much more than that with to their ability to throw the ball. The offense could use some help from the defense and special teams to put some points on the board and need to come off firing from the first snap of the game.
