ESPN notes the entire offense as the Wisconsin Badgers’ biggest offseason question

The story of the 2020 Wisconsin Badgers was the night-and-day difference between the wins and the losses.

The story of the 2020 Wisconsin Badgers was the night-and-day difference between the wins and the losses.

When the team was successful, the offense was firing on all cylinders and the defense complemented the unit.

When the team lost, the offense turned the ball over constantly and left the defense in impossible positions.

So it makes sense that entering the 2021 season, the biggest question surrounding the team will be the offense and how it performs with most meaningful contributors back.

ESPN agrees. It released its biggest offseason question for teams in the top 25, and the offense was the center of the Wisconsin Badgers’ biggest question.

Here’s what ESPN had to say:

“Everything about the Badgers’ offense comes in question form in 2021. What was real about the Graham Mertz we’ll see moving forward — the brilliant start (74% completion rate, seven TDs, no interceptions in his first two games), or the lengthy malaise (passer rating under 100 for games 3-6)? Will the run game rebound after posting extremely mediocre numbers for most of the year? Is blue-chip repeat freshman Jalen Berger still the next great Badgers back? Can the line replace its left side (tackle Cole Van Lanen, Jon Dietzen) without another step backward? What was more telling in 2020: the three games over 40 points or the three games under 10? Things are probably fine here, but that midseason malaise is hard to forget. — Connelly”

I don’t think I could’ve said it better myself.

While I have faith the wide receiver group will be a healthy and productive one and in Graham Mertz’s development, it’s fair to ask questions about every aspect of the unit.

To me, here are those questions ranked in order of importance:

  1. Will Mertz take a step forward and consistently produce week-in and week-out?
  2. What will the offensive line look like without Cole Van Lanen and Jon Dietzen?
  3. Can the skill position group stay healthy?
  4. Can the offense as a whole maintain consistency, or do we see the boom and bust pattern of 2020 repeat itself?
  5. Is Jalen Berger the next great Wisconsin running back? (This shouldn’t even be a question. He is.)

These questions will not be answered until the Badgers take the field in about six months, but we will have somewhat of an indication as spring and summer practice get going.

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