Why to Like Wisconsin in 2018

Okay, I will admit that I like the Badgers. I like their old school pound them in the middle offense that relies on huge, strong offensive linemen, plus bigger running backs. They even use the tight ends and the fullbacks which have been abandoned by many college coaches these days. They also play tough defense. It’s a style of football that I really like and with the right quarterback in place, I feel like you can win with this type of team.

However, having said that, I feel like Wisconsin is also often overrated in the polls.

But, not this year.

I don’t know if this is a national champion quality team, but I do think they have the ability and if the ball bounces right for them, this could be a playoff team.

It all starts up front and Wisconsin has an offensive line like no other in college football. Some experts consider a whopping three of their five starters in the offensive line as possible first round

NFL Draft picks. Those early predictions with the draft don’t always come true, but these are good offensive linemen and should play in the NFL

Michael Deiter started at left tackle last season, but moves inside to left guard for his senior season because that’s his best position. Last year’s left guard was former walk-on Jason Erdmann who played the position very well.

Replacing Deiter at left tackle will be either Cole Van Lanen, or Jon Dietzen, or even redshirt freshman Tyler Beach.

Former starter at left guard Erdmann will back up either Deiter, or right guard Beau Benzschawel. Both Deiter and Benzschawel are All Americans and possible first round draft picks. They are the best of the best in college football at their positions.

The other potential first rounder for the Badgers up front is right tackle David Edwards.

Not to be out done, center Tyler Biadasz is in the running for the nation’s top center. This is a very big, quick and talented offensive line and that’s where it all begins for any good offense.

Make no mistake about it, Wisconsin’s offense is really good and should be even better this season.

Sophomore Jonathan Taylor is a super star. As a true freshman last season, Taylor came out of Salem, New Jersey a year ago and blew everyone away with an astonishing 1,977 yards which broke the freshman rushing record of ex Oklahoma super star Adrian Peterson.

Taylor is a bigger back at about 220 pounds and he’s fast enough to have been the New Jersey state 100 meters champion as a senior at Salem.

Of course, it’s Wisconsin and they are going to have solid, to great, running backs which means there will be quality depth. Taylor will be backed by Chris James and Bradrick Shaw.

At Wisconsin, the problem has often been at quarterback. Alex Hornibrook is back for his third year as a starter going into his redshirt junior season.

Last season, he turned the ball over too much with 15 interceptions. But, on the positive side, he also threw 25 touchdown passes and expect both numbers to get better this season. It will not only be a year of experience behind him, but he returns all of his receivers other than super tight end Troy

Fumagalli.

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Zander Neuville and Kyle Penniston will try and take the place of Fumagalli at tight end. I really believe that the Wisconsin receivers will be the difference between this team and past season’s teams. Experienced quarterback Hornibrook will have the options of handing off to maybe the nation’s top running back and throwing to a multitude of talented receivers.

The Badgers’ offense will be really strong this season, but what about the defense?

In the 2017 season, the Badgers finished second in total defense. That’s pretty typical in Madison, Wisconsin. They lost a defensive coordinator and his replacement is every bit as good as the last one. They do more with less than any team in the country. Now, they did lose a few quality players from that defense, but the machine continues.

The Wisconsin defense is all about the linebacker and they return linebackers aplenty.

TJ Edwards and Ryan Connelly return at the inside linebacker positions and they were the leading tacklers for the Badgers last season.

Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel returns for his last year, while the other outside linebacker is coming off an injured season. Zack Baun injured his foot last season and missed the entire season, but he has the looks of another really good linebacker.

The linebackers are deep and talented and can count on Alabama transfer Christian Bell from Hoover, Alabama for future stardom. He is big, fast and aggressive.

Wisconsin’s front three is also really good and I especially like Isaiahh Loudermilk who is 6-7, 295 and has that JJ Watt kind of feel to him.

Across the line is another end, Garrett Rand, from Chandler, Arizona. He was a 4 star recruit a few years ago and will help keep the opponent’s offensive linemen off of the Badger linebackers. At the nose guard is man-mountain Olive Sagapolu. He controls the line of scrimmage with his 6-2, 350 frame.

It’s really hard to run on the Badgers.

The defensive weakness and one of the team’s few troubled areas could be the secondary. D’Cota

Dixon is their most experienced player as a redshirt senior and he was one of the team’s top tacklers a year ago at strong safety.

The other safety should be either Eric Burrell, or Scott Nelson, neither of whom have a lot of experience, if any at all.

One cornerback should be sophomore Dontye Carriere-Williams who played a lot as a freshman. The other corner will be green with either sophomore Madison Cone, or redshirt freshman Faion Hicks.

If these guys come through, and I don’t like ifs very much. then this team could be really, really good.

The Big 10 is not what it was just a few short years ago. There are a few really good teams in the league now and some others are improving quickly. Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State have been better in recent seasons. Wisconsin has dominated in the West, but that could change with Northwestern getting better, the addition of Scott Frost at Nebraska and Jeff Brohm at Purdue. I also have faith in Lovie Smith at Illinois and when his teams gain experience and a talented quarterback, they will be tough.

But, this is the team that could send Wisconsin to their first ever playoff berth, if for no other reason than they have the best offensive line in the country.

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