Wisconsin Badgers

[drjensen]

Loved the game, B1G showed the ACC how real football is played, Wisconsin beef pushed em around and wore em down. I guess it is just the way it worked out but I'm not a fan of a team basically playing a home game in the bowl season, Miami and Memphis both had that luxury this year. Both lost, but still......
I'm surprised more has not been posted about Mark Richt's meltdown just before halftime. Somebody might get their wrists slapped for that transgression.

[bamorin]

Dec 31, 2017 12:26:19 GMT -5 drjensen said:

Loved the game, B1G showed the ACC how real football is played, Wisconsin beef pushed em around and wore em down. I guess it is just the way it worked out but I'm not a fan of a team basically playing a home game in the bowl season, Miami and Memphis both had that luxury this year. Both lost, but still......
I'm surprised more has not been posted about Mark Richt's meltdown just before halftime. Somebody might get their wrists slapped for that transgression.

Still don't know why he was allowed on the sidelines after that.

[drjensen]

Dec 31, 2017 12:31:01 GMT -5 bamorin said:

Dec 31, 2017 12:26:19 GMT -5 drjensen said:

Loved the game, B1G showed the ACC how real football is played, Wisconsin beef pushed em around and wore em down. I guess it is just the way it worked out but I'm not a fan of a team basically playing a home game in the bowl season, Miami and Memphis both had that luxury this year. Both lost, but still......
I'm surprised more has not been posted about Mark Richt's meltdown just before halftime. Somebody might get their wrists slapped for that transgression.

Still don't know why he was allowed on the sidelines after that.

He should have been ejected from the game; as it was a major bowl game I suppose the refs held their cool and didn't want to possibly affect the outcome of the game. I have always admired Richt as a coach and don't ever remember seeing him lose his cool like that. That doesn't give him a pass however. I think this off season there will be some changes made in the rules about the interactions of players, coaches, and refs. One good change would be disallowing a ref from assisting a player to his feet. There should be no contact between a ref, coach, or player no matter what how good the intentions are. If aggressive contact is made, ejection should come with it.

[canefan]

Dec 31, 2017 12:26:19 GMT -5 drjensen said:

Loved the game, B1G showed the ACC how real football is played, Wisconsin beef pushed em around and wore em down. I guess it is just the way it worked out but I'm not a fan of a team basically playing a home game in the bowl season, Miami and Memphis both had that luxury this year. Both lost, but still......
I'm surprised more has not been posted about Mark Richt's meltdown just before halftime. Somebody might get their wrists slapped for that transgression.

Congratulations on your win. However, you pushed us around? We held you to 142 yards rushing and a 3.2 ypc average while rushing for 170 and a 6 ypc average. Rosiers interceptions were the difference in the game.

[daleko]

Jan 2, 2018 12:58:22 GMT -5 canefan said:

Dec 31, 2017 12:26:19 GMT -5 drjensen said:

Loved the game, B1G showed the ACC how real football is played, Wisconsin beef pushed em around and wore em down. I guess it is just the way it worked out but I'm not a fan of a team basically playing a home game in the bowl season, Miami and Memphis both had that luxury this year. Both lost, but still......
I'm surprised more has not been posted about Mark Richt's meltdown just before halftime. Somebody might get their wrists slapped for that transgression.

Congratulations on your win. However, you pushed us around? We held you to 142 yards rushing and a 3.2 ypc average while rushing for 170 and a 6 ypc average. Rosiers interceptions were the difference in the game.

As the sole survivor for Wisky on the board, thanks. and thanks to everyone else for the support and kind words. Wisky played well at Qb and that the Wisky difference. The D did what they have done all yr. QB? this was the first time. J Taylor going for 137 V a good Mimi D was a plus. Most clubs will take that in a win. On to next yr. Maybe we'll visit again in the big 4.

[bamorin]

Jan 3, 2018 21:07:08 GMT -5 daleko said:

Jan 2, 2018 12:58:22 GMT -5 canefan said:

Congratulations on your win. However, you pushed us around? We held you to 142 yards rushing and a 3.2 ypc average while rushing for 170 and a 6 ypc average. Rosiers interceptions were the difference in the game.

As the sole survivor for Wisky on the board, thanks. and thanks to everyone else for the support and kind words. Wisky played well at Qb and that the Wisky difference. The D did what they have done all yr. QB? this was the first time. J Taylor going for 137 V a good Mimi D was a plus. Most clubs will take that in a win. On to next yr. Maybe we'll visit again in the big 4.

the cheese-eaten fat bastards should win the West next year, Hornibrook to a big step up between the B10CG and the Bowl game. The team that will push Wisky next year for the west will be Purdue. Push, not take. Nebraska is 2-3 years away from having enough talent to win the west.
In the East, it will come down to (in no particular order) MSU, OSU, PSU, Maryland. (provided maryland can keep something better than 5th string QB on the field)

[canefan]

Jan 4, 2018 10:04:51 GMT -5 bamorin said:

Jan 3, 2018 21:07:08 GMT -5 daleko said:

As the sole survivor for Wisky on the board, thanks. and thanks to everyone else for the support and kind words. Wisky played well at Qb and that the Wisky difference. The D did what they have done all yr. QB? this was the first time. J Taylor going for 137 V a good Mimi D was a plus. Most clubs will take that in a win. On to next yr. Maybe we'll visit again in the big 4.

the cheese-eaten fat bastards should win the West next year, Hornibrook to a big step up between the B10CG and the Bowl game. The team that will push Wisky next year for the west will be Purdue. Push, not take. Nebraska is 2-3 years away from having enough talent to win the west.
In the East, it will come down to (in no particular order) MSU, OSU, PSU, Maryland. (provided maryland can keep something better than 5th string QB on the field)

I would like that. We should be much improved in the secondary next year, although we don't know yet if our starting DT's are going pro. But I think every position group on offense will be much improved.

[daleko]

With “dual-threat left tackle” Deiter coming back, Wisky will have a talented, game ready, two deep rotation on the OL.  Talented '18 signee from Michigan can RS and build up his 6'5" 280 frame. Add in a cpl of 6'6" commits in '19, another from Michigan, and the OL beat continues.

Wisconsin OL Michael Deiter to return for fifth year

Redshirt lineman Michael Deiter, a key member of the Wisconsin Badgers’ offensive line, is set to return for his final year in Madison.

Wisconsin’s official Twitter account sent out two tweets on Wednesday afternoon, the first with the message, “Gonna be good to have all five of these guys back next season...” and the the second announcing Deiter as a “2018 Way-Too-Early Piesman Trophy Watch List” candidate.

A UW official later confirmed Detier’s return to B5Q.

Deiter has started all 41 games in his Wisconsin career at center, left guard, or left tackle. This past season, he started all 14 games at left tackle with redshirt freshman Tyler Biadasz emerging at center. The redshirt junior earned second-team All-America honors from Sporting News and consensus first-team All-Big Ten honors.

All five of Wisconsin’s starters from 2017 are now returning—Deiter, left guard Jon Dietzen, Biadasz, right guard Beau Benzschawel, and right tackle David Edwards. Deiter, Benzschawel, and Edwards all earned some form of All-America recognition, with Biadasz also claiming Freshman All-America status from both USA Today and the Football Writers Association of America.

Back in 2015, offensive line was a seemingly depleted position group for the Badgers with several combinations utilized. Now, offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph and the coaching staff will boast a two-deep of game-ready players. That gives Rudolph the ability to find his best five linemen and the ability to maximize the best combination of players for an offense returning 10 of 11 starters overall.

It should bear watching during spring practices where Deiter finds himself on the line, whether he stays at left tackle or slides back inside. At left guard, there is Dietzen and walk-on Jason Erdmann, who played in all 14 games as a redshirt sophomore. At center is Biadasz, who established himself well in his first year starting.

The tackle spots will be the most intriguing on the line to watch heading into the season, especially if redshirt freshmen Cole Van Lanen and Patrick Kasl continue to develop. Van Lanen spelled Deiter during the Northwestern game and also worked in as an extra lineman in a jumbo-type package with jersey No. 85. Kasl admirably filled in for Edwards during Wisconsin’s 34–24 win against Miami after the latter left the game with a left leg injury.

Edwards worked at left tackle last spring as well, so there are options at both spots for Rudolph and head coach Paul Chryst.

Benzschawel has locked down right guard (30 of 36 career starts) with would-be redshirt senior Micah Kapoi behind him on in the two-deep

[daleko]

Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Biadasz named to 2017 FWAA Freshman All-America Team

More honors for Badgers after a successful 2017 season.

It has been over a week since the Wisconsin Badgers ended their 2017 season on a winning note, but the recognition keeps coming for their talented student-athletes.

The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) named Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor and center Tyler Biadasz to its Freshman All-America Team on Monday.

According to UW, it was the first time in the history of the football program that multiple players were named to this distinction by the FWAA.

These are not the first honors claimed by both players this season, however, as both were instrumental to Wisconsin’s 13-1 season and a second-straight New Year’s Six Bowl win.

For Taylor, that is just another tip of the cap for an amazing true freshman season where he ran for nearly 2,000 yards (1,977) and scored 13 rushing touchdowns. He earned second-team All-America honors from the likes of eight publications and websites on way to being named a Doak Walker Award finalist, Maxwell Award semifinalist and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award semifinalist.

Previously, Taylor also earned Freshman All-America honors from ESPN and USA Today while claiming consensus first-team All-Big Ten selections and the conference’s freshman of the year award.

Biadasz, a redshirt freshman, played in all 14 games for the Badgers and earned Freshman All-America (USA Today) and consensus third-team All-Big Ten selections as well.

Wisconsin averaged 222.9 yards on the ground, second in the Big Ten to Ohio State, while tying Rutgers for least sacks allowed per game (1.5) in the conference.

[daleko]

What will Wisconsin’s 2018 offense look like?
Good news: Plenty of firepower returns for the Badgers.

The 2017 Wisconsin Badgers earned their place in school history as one of the most successful teams on the field. The 13-win season was the first in school history, with both a mix of young players and upperclassmen bonding to take UW within one game of a College Football Playoff berth.

Looking ahead to 2018, the defense has its holes to fill, but Paul Chryst’s offense will have most of its starters back, with the only concrete exceptions being redshirt seniors, fullback Austin Ramesh and tight end Troy Fumagalli.

Quarterback Alex Hornibrook should once again command an offense boasting the return of most starters, giving Wisconsin a chance at a dynamic balanced attack with a Heisman Trophy candidate and at least four young receiving targets that should give opposing defenses fits.

Quarterback
Barring any injury or unforeseen circumstance, Hornibrook will be the starter.

Hornibrook completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 2,644 yards with 25 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Those 25 scores through the air rank him second all-time in a single UW season behind Russell Wilson. He made his mistakes, but he also picked himself back up, and like any good quarterback, brushed them off as he went back out on the field. Another year in Chryst’s system should only lead Hornibrook to become even better on the field.

Behind him, Jack Coan won the No. 2 job over Karé Lyles to start the 2017 season. Coan’s skill set is intriguing, as seen in spring and fall camps, with a good arm and intriguing mobility. How far he develops will be worth the watch this year.

Lyles and Danny Vanden Boom will have another year of experience underneath them, with then 2018 quarterbacks Chase Wolf and walk-on Nate Carter beginning to learn from the likes of Chryst and newly minted position coach Jon Budmayr.

Running back
Like offensive line and wide receiver, the depth at running back is bountiful—though injuries showed many contributors were needed.

Jonathan Taylor will have an opportunity to improve on the 1,977 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns from his freshman campaign behind an experienced offensive line and blockers.

The New Jersey product showed a maturity well beyond his years with his patience, vision, and humility during the course of the season, and combined with his college-ready strength and speed, he ran over and past opponents to become the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a Doak Walker Award finalist.

Taylor needs to improve on holding onto the ball, as he lost a handful of fumbles this season, but it will also be intriguing how much more involved in the passing game he becomes—both blocking and receiving.

Bradrick Shaw and Chris James will provide complements to the Heisman Trophy candidate, a reversal of what many expected to be the makeup of Wisconsin’s 2018 rushing attack.

As seen in previous years, injuries always creep up, so their roles could become more if something happens to Taylor. Shaw (96 carries, 365 yards, four touchdowns in 11 games) will be returning from a left leg injury that ended his season prematurely during the win at Minnesota (and after he was hampered with a knee injury early on) while James (51 carries, 233 yards, one touchdown) re-emerged at times after missing five games himself.

The unit loses graduate transfer Rachid Ibrahim (28 carries, 130 yards), who became a third-down back in Chryst’s offense as a blocker with seven receptions, 63 yards.

As most walk-ons do at Wisconsin, Garrett Groshek made his reps count when called upon. The former prep quarterback standout was utilized in a wildcat look and also provided relief for Taylor at times to be third on the team in rushing (61 carries, 297 yards, two touchdowns). Yes, he even got to complete a pass this season to Hornibrook during the Big Ten Championship Game.

How Taiwan Deal and Sam Brodner rebound remains to be seen, and there is also incoming freshman Nakia Watson, who ran for nearly 2,000 yards in Texas prep football.

Again, it is never bad to have too much depth in college football.

Fullback
The one position where a loss will be seen is at fullback, where Ramesh fullback-dove the #FullbackDive, smacked opponents while opening holes for his tailbacks, and went #AirRamesh in the passing game.

His loss will be felt in multiple areas of the offense due to that versatility, but would-be senior Alec Ingold has the abilities to continue the excellence seen at the position. It appeared Ingold underwent some procedure based on a Jan. 5 tweet, so we have asked UW for an update.

This season, Ingold only carried the ball 10 times for 25 yards, but accounted for three rushing touchdowns. As part of a three-touchdown performance against Indiana in early November, he also reeled in an 18-yard touchdown pass in the 45–17 win.

Maybe the one thing about this position group is it is not as deep as it has been the last two seasons. Walk-on Aaron Maternowski is no longer on the roster, leaving Jake Whalen as the only other fullback besides Ingold. There is also a report from BadgerBlitz.com’s Jon McNamara in early December saying Whalen would not be with the team in the spring due to injuries, and we have reached out for UW to confirm.

Wide receiver
This position group, with a two-deep of wide receivers in Quintez Cephus, A.J. Taylor, Kendric Pryor, and Danny Davis that gave opposing secondaries fits in 2017, could be the most exciting on Wisconsin’s offense in the upcoming season.

And that’s saying something with a Heisman Trophy candidate in the backfield.

Wisconsin’s wide receivers caught 17 touchdown passes on the season, all by the newly-minted Four Horsemen (nickname pending once I speak with them during spring practice).

Cephus’s breakout season was cut short due to a right leg injury against Indiana, but he still wound up third on the team in receptions (30), second in receiving yards (501), and first in both yards per catch (16.7) and receiving touchdowns (six).

After the surgery, Cephus was seen around practice on a walking scooter that allowed him to move without putting pressure on his right foot.

According to Jeff Potrykus’ article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Dec. 28, Cephus hopes to be able to accomplish “at least individual work” during the upcoming spring practice sessions a couple of months from now.

If you would have said at the beginning of the season that Cephus, along with seniors Jazz Peavy and George Rushing, would be out for most of the season, it may have significantly tempered expectations for this position group.

Yet Taylor, Pryor, and Davis all stepped up—along with walk-ons Adam Krumholz and Jack Dunn—and became greater threats in the Badgers’ offensive attack.

Taylor (31 receptions, 475 yards, four touchdowns), a former prep running back, will again have the opportunity to improve at receiver. He recorded a game-high eight receptions for 105 yards and a score in the Orange Bowl, and his presence in his third year at Wisconsin should be felt.

Pryor worked back from a facial injury suffered during fall camp to play in 10 games, catching 13 passes for 179 yards with a score. He also made highlights in the run game, rushing for 63 yards on five carries with two touchdowns.

The last signing for the class of 2017, Davis pushed for playing time early, playing in 12 games and winding up second on the team in yards per catch (16.1) on 26 receptions. His three-touchdown performance in the Orange Bowl could be a sign of greater things to come, as he was named one of the potential “breakout players for 2018” by ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg earlier this week.

Krumholz and Dunn also filled in admirably when injuries hit the receivers for snaps on the field, and it should bear watching how they progress and compete with would-be redshirt freshmen Emmet Perry, Cade Green, Deron Harrell, and fellow walk-on Sam DeLany.


“This receiving corp is deep,” Davis said back in December. “With Emmet and Cade and Sam DeLany, Deron, it’s crazy how deep we are. This spring, there will be a lot of guys making plays and things like that. It’s going to be fun. We just go out there and compete and play for each other, and we’ll be good.”

How Class of 2018 wide receivers Taj Mustapha—an early enrollee—and A.J. Abbott, along with designated “athletes” Aron Cruickshank and Isaac Guerendo, impact the depth chart remains to be seen, but as seen the past couple of years, there have been early and immediate contributors to Ted Gilmore’s unit.

Tight end
All-American tight end Troy Fumagalli finished his storied Wisconsin career—from walk-on to Burlsworth Trophy finalist—with a win and also leading the team in receptions (46) and receiving yards (547) this season.

This position group does have unproven players, but also potential depth that could help mitigate Fumagalli’s departure.

Both Kyle Penniston and Zander Neuville contributed to the offense in 2017, and now will have to shoulder the responsibility of keeping production high.

Penniston is perceived to be the more immediate receiving threat of the two, but only caught seven passes for 56 yards and a touchdown this season. His progression in both the run and pass games will be key to give UW options at every skill position.

Neuville was ruled out for the rest of the season with a right leg injury after the win at Minnesota, and it remains to be seen how much time he will miss in this offseason after undergoing knee surgery.

Behind them, Luke Benzschawel and Jake Ferguson should also contribute. Benzschawel, for most of the season, was out with a right leg injury, but at 6’6, 261 pounds could be like Neuville in being that on-the-line tight end who can block and catch passes.

Ferguson was named the offensive scout team player of the year in 2017.

“I’ve actually not thrown to him too much just because we’ve been in different rotation, but from what I’ve seen, he’s made some crazy catches,” Hornibrook said in early December. “Just his body control, and I think that’s probably one thing, he’s really athletic when he’s catching the football. Sometimes people will be stiff and things like that, but he looks really fluid.”

Offensive line
If Michael Deiter returns, the Wisconsin offensive line should return all of its starters plus competent back-ups that will allow Joe Rudolph to again find his best five linemen to anchor the offense.

If injuries or other circumstances do not hit the line, it could be Wisconsin’s deepest in years. That can only help the offense, one that rushed for 3,121 yards and 28 touchdowns and only gave up 21 sacks in 2017.

Deiter, a second-team All-America honoree by the Sporting News and a consensus first-time all-conference selection, admitted he submitted feedback to the NFL Draft Advisory board back in December. His future on Sundays is likely as an interior lineman, so if he returns, it will be interesting to see where he is placed on the line.

At left tackle, former four-star lineman Cole Van Lanen played at times with Deiter dinged up with an ankle injury but also as an extra lineman wearing No. 85 in a jumbo-type package later in the season. Rudolph mentioned back in October after Van Lanen took over for Deiter during the Northwestern game how he liked how the Green Bay native had been progressing.

Jon Dietzen, along with walk-on Jason Erdmann, solidified the left guard position this season. Redshirt freshman Tyler Biadasz’s emergence during the spring and fall camps allowed Deiter to bounce around the line, as the would-be third-year player earned Freshman All-America honors from USA Today and was a consensus third-team All-Big Ten pick.

The right side of the line, with Beau Benzschawel and David Edwards at guard and tackle respectively, should cement their spots and develop further heading into 2018. Both earned various All-American selections, with Edwards a first-team honoree by the AFCA and The All-American and Benzschawel a first-team selection by Sports Illustrated.

There’s also Patrick Kasl, who filled in admirably for an injured Edwards at right tackle during part of the second half of the Orange Bowl. Throw in the likes of Micah Kapoi, who has played in 35 games now heading into his redshirt senior season, and there appear to be game-ready players in the two-deep.

[daleko]

www.buckys5thquarter.com/2018/2/9/16997792/wisconsin-athletics-alando-tucker-hired-beau-allen-super-bowl-amazing


One last signee for National Signing Day...a special one

Wisconsin released a must-watch video on Wednesday about six-year old Nolan, who according to UW “was born with a condition that damaged his bladder and kidneys.” He was able to “sign” a letter of intent with UW in a cool moment as he was greeted by his new teammates.

Signing vid

Rumor has it he got one of the oranges from the bowl, ya that Orange Bowl, on Chryst's desk.

[daleko]

www.buckys5thquarter.com/2018/2/7/16974176/wisconsin-football-recruiting-2019-commits-targets-national-signing-day

I post this w the knowledge that it's early and will most certainly change BUT this may be the only time Wisky is ranked above #30, certainly the only time at #3. So post it I will. 
247sports.com/Season/2019-Football/CompositeTeamRankings

24/7 2019 Football Recruiting Composite Team Rankings

1
Georgia
Total: 7 5: 3 4: 4 3: 0 95.52 167.16

2
Miami
Total: 10 5: 0 4: 1 3: 9 87.91 154.70

3
 Wisconsin
Total: 8 5: 0 4: 4 3: 4 89.48 142.31
(Total 8, 0 - 5*, 4 - 4*, 4 - 3*, 
4 Ole Miss
Total: 8 5: 0 4: 1 3: 7 87.40 127.38

5
 Oklahoma
Total: 5 5: 0 4: 4 3: 1 93.35 113.30

6
South Carolina
Total: 7 5: 0 4: 2 3: 5 86.98 111.04

7
LSU
Total: 6 5: 1 4: 2 3: 2 89.01 110.32

8
Brigham Young
Total: 8 5: 0 4: 2 3: 6 84.41 106.56

9
Alabama
Total: 4 5: 1 4: 3 3: 0 96.30 103.08

10
Michigan
Total: 4 5: 1 4: 2 3: 1 95.41 99.78

11
Texas A&M
Total: 5 5: 1 4: 2 3: 2 90.44 99.66

12
Florida State
Total: 4 5: 1 4: 2 3: 1 92.01 86.45

13
Michigan State
Total: 4 5: 0 4: 3 3: 1 91.39 84.00

38 Ohio State
Total: 1 5: 0 4: 1 3: 0 97.16 27.16

[bamorin]

Feb 14, 2018 12:01:09 GMT -5 daleko said:

38 Ohio State
Total: 1 5: 0 4: 1 3: 0 97.16 27.16

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[/quote]
betting by 1st week of Feb next year, this number will be a lot smaller.

Ba( 38 beat ya to it)Morin......

[daleko]

Feb 14, 2018 17:43:25 GMT -5 bamorin said:

betting by 1st week of Feb next year, this number will be a lot smaller.

Ba( 38 beat ya to it)Morin......

I suspect the numbers will be reversed between Wisky & TOSU. But ol' Wisky just stumbles along. Win a few more than they lose. Fans are happy, particularly the ones who lived 30 yrs in the desert. Waiting for the godFather & Chryst to come.

[daleko]

2018 Wisconsin quarterbacks preview: Alex Hornibrook returns
Ohhhh yes, it begins.
By Jake Kocorowski@JakeKocoB5Q Mar 3, 2018, 10:23am CST
............................Quarterback Alex Hornibrook capped off his redshirt sophomore campaign with his best performance of the season, completing 23 of 34 passes for 258 yards and four touchdowns—with no interceptions—in Wisconsin’s 34–24 win over Miami in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.



In a 13–1 season that was highlighted by an undefeated regular season and the Badgers’ second straight New Year’s Six Bowl win, Hornibrook made errors but also stepped up and showed he could recover from mistakes, making the necessary reads and throws to lead this offense............................................

www.buckys5thquarter.com/2018/3/3/17073926/wisconsin-football-2018-alex-hornibrook-jack-coan-kare-lyles