Badger Football 2021

[tmwiese55]

Why do people think it's Chryst and not the QB/OL?

 

 

We've won a lot of football games in the last 25 years with some pretty average QB play. Even at times mediocre QB play. We now have a bad QB, because the average/good QB left because he lost his starting gig because of injury. We have a bad OL, a group of average RB's (at a school that specializes in running the ball), and here we are. Who recruited these guys? Who's in charge of the people recruiting these guys?

 

Their recruiting the last 4ish years is the best it's ever been. They're not getting the results out of it though. Something is off in the training/development, schemes, strength/conditioning, etc on the offensive side of the ball. IMO, it all starts with OL. I think I saw a Mich was credited with a pressure on literally every pass attempt on Saturday. Barring something crazy, Chryst won't get fired this year (have to remember the cheapness of UW here and paying him out) but they'll do a massive shake up on offensive side of the ball. Presumably Rudolph will be pushed out. I'd guess they'll save face and not 'fire' him but he'll retire or shift to some administrative role or something.

[RobDeer 45]

I too agree that it appears there is something going on with the development or play calling on the O side. Not sure what it is, but this team has no offensive identity. We need to get back to running the ball and play action. Also, what happened to the jet sweep? That seemed to really keep the defense honest and give them another look. I haven't even seen the motion that much this year (didn't see the MI game, was just listening on the radio). I'm not saying that's the key to the O, just seemed like a good play that worked in our scheme. Anyway, I don't even know if we can get back to running and placation because I don't know if we have the OL/RBs to do it. I think we need to try though. It seems like they tried to open everything up when they went to Mertz and I'm afraid he's just not that guy. Not sure how he turns it around, but a solid running game would help take some pressure off I'd think.

[nate82]

Are we at the point where the finger needs to be pointed at the coaching staff now?

 

The same problems keep on coming up every single game. The play calling is an extremely simplistic version of a high school playbook. The offensive line seems to be getting worse as the season is going on giving the QB no chance at doing anything positive or negative. The offensive line is even poor at run blocking. Why is this happening? This appears to be a coaching problem as the recruiting has been really good. The recruiting is coming together and has been really good but the player development side is just awful unless the player is on the defensive side of the game.

 

I don't believe there is a single player on the offensive side of the ball that has improved since coming to the program. The best player on the offensive right now in Ferguson hasn't improved and is still the same player he was last season if anything he has regressed. This all screams to me as a leadership problem on the offensive side of the team. This is all on PC he is failing at getting his coaches on the offensive side to develop the players. The offensive line has regressed, WR lol what are those is basically what the team thinks of that position, TE, RB and QB are all significantly worse since the 90's. The talent is there except at WR and maybe RB where the team shouldn't be playing this bad. I don't expect them to be undefeated but they could have won at least two of the games against Michigan, Notre Dame and Penn State. Right now it looks like this team will barely win more than 5-games this year.

 

The talent that the team has at QB, offensive line and tight end shouldn't be playing this bad. This is all on the coaching staff and their failure to develop these players. PC needs to be fired but they won't do that instead they will just try and push him out and see if PC will instead leave for something else so they won't have to pay him. Hopefully the team can recruit someone with an offensive mind that can get around run ball up middle run ball left run ball right throw ball to 5-yard routes over and over again. There are other coaches out there that are running far more complicated schemes with lesser skilled players so don't tell me it is the players who can't run the scheme. If the players can't run the scheme then that is exactly a coaching problem. That is the job of the coach is to make them ready to run the plays and if the players are failing to run the plays that is on the coaches because they are failing to get them to run the plays correctly. This is not rocket science if the players can't run the plays then the coaches you know need to do their job and coach them up so they are able to run the plays.

[tmwiese55]

Yea I think we all agree it's on the offensive coaches. But, firing the HC any time there is a dip or bad year often isn't the solution and I don't think it should be here too. 2-3 years of it, sure. Unless something really drastic happens this year like not winning another game where it's clear he's lost the locker room. But for a 2nd-3rd tier program you have to understand bad years are going to happen. Adjust, improve, learn from it and try to get better. Mass firings every three years is what leads to being MN and ILL type programs. Go back and look at like 92-2013ish and you'll probably be surprised to see some pretty blah years in there and we didn't fire everyone. In general, stability is crucial for a developmental program like UW or say someone like Iowa.

[BillScottCanRake]

Yea I think we all agree it's on the offensive coaches. But, firing the HC any time there is a dip or bad year often isn't the solution and I don't think it should be here too. 2-3 years of it, sure. Unless something really drastic happens this year like not winning another game where it's clear he's lost the locker room. But for a 2nd-3rd tier program you have to understand bad years are going to happen. Adjust, improve, learn from it and try to get better. Mass firings every three years is what leads to being MN and ILL type programs. Go back and look at like 92-2013ish and you'll probably be surprised to see some pretty blah years in there and we didn't fire everyone. In general, stability is crucial for a developmental program like UW or say someone like Iowa.

 

Stability is the key to weathering down years, and each time the Badgers have dipped for multiple years since 1993 they have rebounded well. Previous staffs have done a great job correcting issues and not letting the lean years last more than 2 or 3 seasons.

 

From 1995 - 1997, Wisconsin was 20-15-2, before going 21-3 with 2 Rose Bowl wins in 1998-1999.

 

From 2001 - 2003, Wisconsin was 20-20 prior to going 31-7 over the next three years.

 

In 2007 and 2008 Wisconsin was 16-10 before going 10-3, 11-2, and 11-3.

 

I also think Iowa is a great comparison, and if you look at their yearly records the ebbs and flows are similar to Wisconsin.

 

With that said, I think it will be important for this team, both the coaches and the players, to make some corrections in the coming weeks. I don't expect they will win-out or anything, but this team should be able to play much better than they have. If we don't see those things, my trust in the coaching staff will waiver.

[tmwiese55]

Yes, good post. my trust is already wavering, but have to resist the urge to overreact.. Since he's been back The O hasn't been anything close to what it was when PC was the OC, and we're at like 6 years now. 2009-11ish offense combined with our current D level is a legit big time contender. Unfortunately back then the D was blah and the reverse has been the case the last several years.

 

Corrections have to made or the rebound similar what you give examples of are less likely to occur. I know I'm beating a dead horse, but I've never seen an explanation as to why it hasn't happened, but putting the old O line coach back in place seems so obvious of a move this offseason.

[PinaMadness]

Cue up the local sports journalists coming to defend the honor of Coach Chryst.

 

[RobDeer 45]

Whenever I'm struggling with a coach/manager, I try to always remember what realistic expectations should be for people in WI. For the pros, we are a small market which has many challenges, not just financial. With Badger football, we've been spoiled a bit. I think we have to be realistic, that we aren't going to over be a powerhouse. We can however be a very good team that's in the next tier. One that has a shot at doing something special every 5-10 years. It hasn't happened but we've come close. So when we are frustrated about PC, do we think we'd get any better with anyone else? The only tricky situation here is Jim Leonard is sitting there and it's not too often you might have a true WI guy in the perfect spot to take over. That's the only thing that's maybe making me question PC more right now. I don't know if we want to lose Leonard. I also don't want to jump to such a quick reaction because PC has done a good job overall. It's just so weird how bad things seem right now. A complete mess. Leadership on the team an issue? That can definitely cause a program to skid for a few years.

[LouisEly]

Their recruiting the last 4ish years is the best it's ever been.

The last two years, yes. The last four years, no. The 2018 recruiting class had one low 4-star according to 24/7, Jack Sanborn. 2nd highest rated recruits that year were Nakia Watson, Aron Cruickshank, and Boyd Dietzen, none of whom are still with the program.

 

In 2019 they had Brown and Mertz, but the only other 4-star was a low 4-star in Tippman and he's been good enough to push a senior 4-star out of the starting lineup. Brown has been hurt - missed all of 2019 w/shoulder injury and couldn't practice that fall, then no spring practice and limited fall practice in 2020, then had a concussion in fall camp this year and missed more time.

 

For the 2019/2020 recruiting classes, keep in mind the loss of practice time in spring and fall of 2020. That makes it hard to develop your young players.

 

The OL right now is starting two mid-3-star tackles, a former walk-on at LG, and a redshirt sophomore and redshirt freshman at C and G.

[tmwiese55]

So you got back to 3 years of being better than they've ever been, seems right around 4ish to me. And the years prior were their normal area of finish, but in there was the best QB recruit we've ever had in Coan and better more athletic WRs than previously. And every year since they've been back they've gotten top level OL recruits with offers from other big time programs. Yet the O has been blah the whole time.

 

Point wasn't to nitpick, it was to say their recruiting hasn't fallen off the cliff to be taking bums as the posts before were hinting at. We've never recruited top 15, yet they've won because of the development and that hasn't been happening. Since they've been back they've recruited at least to our norms, and noticeably better in the last few years than we've ever done before, especially at QB with our top 2 guys back to back. The question to your post as to why those guys are playing again leads back to why aren't those much higher ranked kids being developed up to be playing. If a development program doesn't develop, it's going to struggle.

 

Specific looking and a bit into OL. Quickly going back to look. The SRs right now are 4 star Lyles, Beach and Bruss. Some sites probably give the last two guys 3 stars, some 4 stars. But each had major offers like MI, ND type places. Lyles could've gone literally anywhere. Yet the results aren't there right now. The 18 class didn't take OL that year. But 17 ( 5 years, so 4ish) had multiple 4 stars and other borderlines ones too, including OLs i mentioned. 19 was probably their best class ever including a top 5 OL and another high OL. All guys now in their 3rd year already, yet here we are. So 5 years back was very good class probably best we'd ever doen to that point, 4 so so, 3 best probably ever again.

[balsamlaker]

Instead of firing coaches, I could see UW "encouraging" a couple of coaches to look for a new job. Rudolph may have to take a major paycut to do it, though.

[tmwiese55]

Yea a 6-6 or 7-5 type year isn't just going to be looked past. Something will happen to 'address' it. And really something does have to happen on the O side, benefit of doubt has been given for a while already.

[MrTPlush]

Wisconsin a 12 point favorite. Vegas must be predicting a 12-0 game.

[yourout]

Wisconsin a 12 point favorite. Vegas must be predicting a 12-0 game.

That's nuts.

The odds of them losing are better than they are of them winning by 12 in Champaign.

[PinaMadness]

Berger is gone.

 

[balsamlaker]

Wouldn't be shocking to see UW head back to the transfer portal to get another running back.

[yourout]

Berger is gone.

 

 

 

Sad but expected.

[Sixtofan]

Expected? What did he do?

[yourout]

Expected? What did he do?

 

Not sure exactly what he did but the writing has been on the wall since the first game.

 

I am guessing he and Chryst did not see eye to eye on things and he spoke his piece.

 

Probably best for both to move on. I believe he did not play enough to burn his redshirt and that is why he did not play on Saturday.

[LouisEly]

According to several very reliable sources, Berger on multiple occasions was not meeting team expectations and was given ample opportunity to correct that and finally enough was enough.

 

Berger is a very quiet and introverted person. The last thing he would do is "speak his piece". It was his behavior, not his voice.

[MrTPlush]

Expected? What did he do?

 

It seemed pretty obvious from Week 1 something off the field (at least the game day field) wasn’t right. PC has been dodging and/or totally changing the subject when asked question about Berger.

[Sixtofan]

Ah, thank you. I live out of state so I didn’t know if there were specific things that were known locally.

[tmwiese55]

Obviously with this news they really need Allen at RB. Who knows, maybe Allen's presence has been a part of Berger's poor attitude, idk. But pretty much ever since Allen decided to try RB I've been thinking the best thing for him and NFL money would be to stick at LB. I'm sure it's probably more fun/cool to be the star RB. But RBs don't get paid and especially his power running style is less and less in demand in the NFL.

 

He seems like he's going to be a great RB for UW so not like I'm going to complain. But can't help think he might be losing out on a ton of money going this route. Kid is a freak and we've been pumping out LBs like crazy to the NFL, barring injury I'd be shocked if he wasn't a top 2-3 round pick.

[stoutdude04]

The Badgers tell you where you are playing...not the other way around.

[tmwiese55]

The Badgers tell you where you are playing...not the other way around.

 

Well, all reports here have been kind of the opposite of that, they planned D the whole time but he asked for it and they gave him a chance to see how it went before deciding.