2021 Wisconsin Badgers Football

Norte Dame has Jack Coan at the helm….will be very interesting!  And illuminating.

I am always leery when UW is ranked pretty high and there are high expectations. But looking at their schedule I think if they can get out of September in good shape I like their chances. 

Speaking of the schedule what is with PSU and ND being early kickoffs?

I’m really surprised the Notre Dame game isn’t a night game.  What a missed opportunity.

Going to find out early just how good this team is.  Not an easy schedule to begin the season.

@The Heckler posted:

I am always leery when UW is ranked pretty high and there are high expectations. But looking at their schedule I think if they can get out of September in good shape I like their chances.

Historically you’re right. But usually that’s been because they were rated based on a list of false assumptions. And there are lots of them with this team:

1. Mertz will be great
2. They have a star RB on the roster
3. The OL is elite
4. The defense will be great again
5. The secondary has enough speed

If these are all “yes, they are” then 2021 is going to great…

Good article on the Badgers RB room and Gary Brown’s impact:

https://247sports.com/college/...-Guerendo-169556660/

There hasn’t been a lot of talk about how good Chez Mellusi might be. He’s the most experienced guy in the room. Jalen Berger has never run for 100 yards in a game. Hell, he’s never carried the football more than 15 times in a game. But Mellusi’s career highs in carries is 8 and yards and yards is 57 (which he’s done twin with- once on a single carry). Could Braelon Allen end up at the RB1? Where does heralded recruit Julius Davis fit? The RB position is a key to the whole season. Berger and Mellusi have been getting all the RB1 reps.

Also worth noting- if your team suffers a COVID outbreak, you forfeit the game this year.

Berger is more of a change of pace guy than a featured RB.  He’s sort of like Aaron Jones that way.

I like what Mellusi brings to the table but similar to Berger he’s not really a workhorse.

Braelon Allen is a guy to watch.  Physically, he’s a freak of nature.  He sure doesn’t look like a 17 year old kid.  He played like a man amongst boys this past season.  Surely, he needs more experience at RB but athletically and physically he checks all the boxes.

If there’s anything that concerns me, it’s the offensive skillies. RB by committee with no one really emerging? Bad sign. Danny Davis hurt and no one really jumping out at camp- bad sign, as well.

OL isn’t proven. Will Mertz have time? Will play action be effective? Lots of questions…

Everything I’ve read about their recent practices/camps is the OL is really good and really deep.  No real surprise there.

The other consistent theme is how disruptive and fast and athletic the DL and LBs have been.  It’s entirely possible the Badgers may have the best front seven in college football.  

In a nutshell, they are national championship level in those areas of the game.

The wild card is Mertz.  If he can play at a decent level they have enough good pieces around him to contend for the Big Ten title and even compete for a playoff spot.   If he’s average, they are probably a 9 win team.

I think they will be fine at RB and WR as long as they don’t get a crap ton of injuries in those areas.

Badgers release their depth chart:

https://wisconsin.rivals.com/n...es-first-depth-chart

Chez Mellusi will start at RB… no other surprises.

Check that- one surprise is Sophomore Joe Tillman beating out SR Kayden Lyles for the starting C position.

Once Allen learns the offense… they weren’t going to play anyway.

Regarding #Badgers Leo Chenal missing the first two games after testing positive for COVID-19: He was asked on media day about getting vaccinated. He politely declined to comment on the matter.

— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) September 4, 2021

Is it Penn State week yet?