Kent State @ Wisconsin

Unless I see a significant improvement in releasing the ball (quickly) and escaping the rush by our QB then the Badgers will not beat the elite programs like O$U. 

Taylor and the defense cover up a lot of warts by the QB.   I have nothing against Jack Coan but he doesn’t have the skills to raise this program to the next level which is Bama and Clemson and yes, Ohio $tate. 

Wilson did - but unfortunately played for just one season.  Mertz has the pedigree to be very successful but not this year.   The Badgers are all in on Coan which is fine but that should remove them from playoff or NC discussion.  

Forget about the Buckeyes let’s see if they get past M$U first.   You know Sparty will crowd the line and force Coan to beat them.  We will find out soon enough. 

Always the optimist.  Does it rain everyday where you are?      

Tschmack posted:

Unless I see a significant improvement in releasing the ball (quickly) and escaping the rush by our QB then the Badgers will not beat the elite programs like O$U. 

Taylor and the defense cover up a lot of warts by the QB.   I have nothing against Jack Coan but he doesn’t have the skills to raise this program to the next level which is Bama and Clemson and yes, Ohio $tate. 

Wilson did - but unfortunately played for just one season.  Mertz has the pedigree to be very successful but not this year.   The Badgers are all in on Coan which is fine but that should remove them from playoff or NC discussion.  

Forget about the Buckeyes let’s see if they get past M$U first.   You know Sparty will crowd the line and force Coan to beat them.  We will find out soon enough. 

I agree with you on Coan I just don't know if he has the talent to beat an elite defense like O$U's (and he could struggle against MSU). I think that UW has the receivers to get open but can Coan get them the ball quickly before Chase Young can get to him?  But, I do think it is possible to run on O$U.  One matchup to watch is UWs line vs. O$Us middle linebackers who are small and not that great.

As many know I live about 45 minutes from Columbus and I can tell you Buckeyes fans are all very nervous about Bucky and they are talking about that game constantly.

I also agree let's take it one game and let's see them get past MSU and Illinois first then we can talk about taking on O$U.

The Buckeyes consistently have top notch WRs and DLs and RBs and DBs.  

In recent years,  the Buckeyes have hit big plays over the top where they can showcase their athleticism and run past the Badgers DBs. 

On defense, they can flat out get after the QB whether it’s been the Bosa types or like this year Chase Young.   Their LBs tend to be smaller but they can run.  DBs are ballhawks as usual. 

Unless Taylor runs for 200+ yards and the Buckeyes turn it over a bunch I don’t see UW beating them.  Not with Coan at QB.  The shame is it’s the only average position on the entire team.   

I don’t know think it will be a cakewalk at all v Michigan State or Iowa.  Both teams will play tough, physical D and the team that makes the least amount of mistakes will probably win in low scoring contests. 

Agree on Coan. He's an upgrade from Hornibrook. He's a guy that makes it that much more likely you'll beat the decent teams you should beat (Northwestern, Purdue, MSU, etc.). He won't make stupid mistakes and won't take any chances. That gets you what Wisconsin gets to every year. 10 or 11 wins in a good year and 7 or 8 in a bad year. When Taylor gets controlled and you need the QB to make tough throws to take advantage of less separation that Badger WRs get against NFL-caliber defenders, Coan is not the guy to make those throws. 

Playing a guy like Mertz would mean risking a few mistakes in games against the decent teams Wisconsin should beat. But it would also add a dimension against a team like Ohio State that otherwise isn't there. 

Great comments guys.  I think one thing IMHO that has to happen is the UW defense to play out of their minds and keep the scoring down.  If they can somehow stop Dobbins and get to Fields that will negate that speed.  As strong as O$U is at WR, DB, and DL one area they haven't been that great is on the OL and I like UWs matchup there.

But, I still believe at the end of the day if UW cannot run the ball the speed of OSU will eventually win the game.

I figured Michigan State wasn't that good when they only scored 7 in their 1 loss but I was clearly wrong and I agree they will be one of the toughest games the Badgers will have all year.  I think somehow, someway, Badgers pull it out vs. MSU. 

OSU looks fantastic.  You just have to hope that Jim Leonhard figures out a way to slow them down.  If there is someone that can figure out a way to do it, it's him.  What a great defensive coordinator that guy is if he has some material to work with. 

The talent difference between OSU and the Badgers is ridiculous

In the last 4 years OSU has signed 66 4 and 5 star recruits.

Wisconsin signed 14, with zero 5*.  Every O lineman they've signed (most are 3*) is from Wi, Mn or Il.

So what are you saying? Dumb kids don't want to play for Wisconsin?

Lee Evans was a 3 star guy and he could have started on just about any team in the country.   Same thing with Melvin Gordon, albeit was more of a 4 star guy. 

The problem is you can only coach up and scheme up so much if you don’t have talent to match up and in the end it leaves you zero margin for error.  

What has hurt the Badgers in game v the Buckeyes is once OSU skill players find a crease or get open they just run away from Badgers defenders.  It also seems like the quickness of the Bucks DL gives the Badgers OL fits. 

Where UW can match up (usually) is their DL v the Bucks OL.   

ESPN radio this past Sunday had a sports analyst who said with OSU's last performance, they are the top team in the country.

I'll hearken back to Northwestern AT Bucky.  Final 24-15, two defensive touchdowns.

36 rushes for 130 yards and a 3.6 yards/attempt average.

I just saw that Northwestern made the Bottom 25 list.

I get that every game is its own game, but still.  You manage 136 rushing yards against Northwestern at home, OSU is probably not going to be pretty.