Sometimes you just have to go back to basics. Sometimes you have to go back to where you came from.

After the shellacking the Badger football team took from UNLV Saturday, the Wisconsin offense shriveled in the cold, damp conditions at Camp Randall, resembling nothing of the unit that posted 48 points and almost 600 total yards against Akron a week prior.

Sure, the Badgers were without Anthony Davis, but the offense never found rhythm amidst five critical turnovers. Backup tailback Dwayne Smith fumbled the ball on consecutive carries and his confidence was shot. Quarterback Jim Sorgi had no choice but to force the ball in a vain attempt to get Wisconsin back in the ballgame, delivering two interceptions into the hands of Rebel safety Jamaal Brimmer.

In short, it was a complete disaster. One would never think that an offense as talented as Wisconsin’s would be held to only a field goal, but the Badgers didn’t execute in the slightest despite being “aware” of the defensive pressure UNLV was going to come with. It was a dejecting outcome, with consequences that could carry over to next weekend’s game against North Carolina.

With as paltry a performance as the Badgers posted, it may not be a bad idea to go back to the basics this week in practice and for next weekend’s game. A return to good, old-fashioned smash-mouth Wisconsin football might just be what the doctor ordered.

With the different formations and a rotation of wide receivers as complex as anything Madison has ever seen in the Alvarez era, Jim Sorgi has looked out of sync for much of the season.

Through the first three games of the season, Sorgi had problems hitting his receivers, overthrowing them with a consistent basis. Even on most of his completions this season, the Badger receivers have had to adjust to the ball.

But Sorgi has an arm just as strong as and probably better than any quarterback to come through Wisconsin in the last fifteen years.

“I think any offense we’ve ever had here has been a reflection of our personnel,” Alvarez said. “The Ron Dayne, Mike Samuel offense. If you look at what we did with Brooks Bollinger, where we incorporated more of the quarterback run with him and mixed things up with run and pass. I think if you go back and look at the people we’ve had, we’ve always tried to tailor the offense accordingly.”

Behind a talented arm and a deep wide receiving corps, the Badgers have started to stray from the offensive mold that has brought three Rose Bowl victories to Madison. It produced outstanding numbers against Akron and was effective against West Virginia. It might make sense, but with the change in philosophy, the Badgers are overlooking their greatest weapon in Anthony Davis.

Davis should be back to play this weekend against the Tar Heels. His sprained ankle is currently in a boot and he will be evaluated during the week, but the junior has come back and played from much worse.

With Davis, the Badgers gain the back that has been their bread and butter for over a decade. Why not let him loose and let him run? Smith sees every third series as the feature back to keep Davis fresh while redshirt freshman Booker Stanley has shown flashes that he is a capable back as well. It’s a loaded deck.

Get back to the old fashioned. Go old school. Go back to, and I quote Mr. Alvarez, the “three yards and a puff of rubber” formula for at least the first quarter of Saturday’s game.

In sticking with the run, the passing game will open up as the defense cheats up to keep the running game in check. Sorgi just needs to get comfortable, stop moving his feet and lay the passes out there. In the past three seasons we’ve seen what he’s capable of and the connection he has with Lee Evans. He can lay it up there as much as he wants, but no quarterback is as effective when the running game is on all cylinders.

Set the tone with Davis and use Sorgi when needed. The most effective and consistent the Badgers have looked this season has been when Davis is grinding it out. Look at the final quarter of the West Virginia game. Davis and the offensive line got it done when they needed to. Sorgi and his bevy of receivers make a nice complement, but Davis is the heart of the Badger offense. Nothing was more evident Saturday.