Two years into the new-look offense, Wisconsin is still searching for an identity.
Through the first year and a half of the new-look offense, the Wisconsin Badgers are still answering one major question: what is their identity?
The previous Badgers offenses had a clear directive: run the ball down opponents’ throats and force them to do something about it.
However, with the Air Raid coming to Madison, Wisconsin has changed a few things up, while still placing an emphasis on running the football. But, through 15 regular season games, the Badgers have averaged a paltry 22 points per game, ranking in the bottom half of college football, while scoring over 30 points just once in the past 12 games.
Looking back at the Alabama game, Wisconsin faced a dilemma to end the half, as they were trailing 14-3, but were moving the ball downfield, reaching a 3rd & 3 at the Alabama 27-yard line. It felt like clear four-down territory with just 39 seconds on the clock, which is why it would make sense to run the football in that position, but the Badgers threw the ball instead and Braedyn Locke failed to connect on a near touchdown pass with Will Pauling.
The Badgers ultimately settled a field goal, which they missed, and Alabama blew the game open with a 17-second scoring drive that took just two plays to go 73 yards for the score.
In hindsight, did Luke Fickell make the right decision there?
“Well, that’s the situation. That’s why in some ways maybe you kick yourself because get two or three yards or get a yard on that and then maybe you would run that thing down there again and take another shot at it,” Fickell acknowledged. “But with the time, the key was to end the half with the ball. And if you can do that, you put yourself at least in a position. No, you don’t get the ball the second half knowing you’re going to come out and you’re going to have to play four quarters. So either way, there were some other situations.”
Knowing that Wisconsin wasn’t getting the ball to start the second half and that the directive was to end the half with the ball, it was questionable to even try the field goal in that situation, and it cost the Badgers.
But, they were looking to take some of those downfield shots, which ultimately didn’t convert on several occasions in the game.
“We missed the fourth down in the first drive. I think, again, you’re going to keep taking those shots, but in order to beat a team like that, you’re going to have to execute a lot more than we did,” Fickell said.
As for the team’s identity?
“Well, we still got to figure that out,” the head coach said. “It’s still early and I think we can run the football. I think we can do some things up front. Offensive line wise that gives us a chance. And I think that you saw that in the first half. I didn’t say that we’re blowing people off the ball. I mean, that’s a big and good looking defensive line and the guys that they roll through there that you’re going to see all year, and I think those guys can do that. And I think that’s where we got to hang our hat on.”
Interestingly, Fickell immediately pointed to the idea of running the football, rather than capitalizing on chances in the air, signifying his belief of where Wisconsin is currently best at. The space game that the Badgers have been trying to execute hasn’t opened up as the Badgers have expected thus far, which has hurt the run game in return, as the shotgun runs aren’t as beneficial to the backs, especially if there isn’t a threat of a running quarterback.
Now, the Badgers will be a different-looking team with Braedyn Locke out there, and that could be why those shots won’t be as big of a focus in comparison to running the football.
“I think we’ll be a little bit different if Braedyn the quarterback, meaning there’s some situations that there’s some things that he does better that we’ll have to lean on those guys up front, maybe even a little bit more. But all those things kind of coming together. We knew this was going to be a battle. And I don’t mean this game. I meant this season, you know, and we can’t jump to conclusions. I know that’s your guys job, but the number one thing in that locker room, I told these guys, is we’ve went through this.”
“The leadership group talked about these things and what are you going to do when you’re 2-0? What are you going to do if you’re 4-0? What are you going to do if you’re 2-1? How are you going to handle these things? How are you going to handle what everybody wants to say about you? So it’s a part of it. We understand that. We know we’ve got a hell of a long way to go to figure out what we are and what we can hang our hat on. But I have faith and trust in those guys in that locker room, and that’s what you got to continue to ride with.”
Locke revealed after the game that playing up-tempo could be the strongest facet of his skillset, which is something Wisconsin will likely rely on more when they come out of their bye week.
But, most importantly, they need to start finding answers offensively after continuing to deliver subpar results on that end to start the year.