Some teams have problems defending the pass, while some have trouble with the opposing run game. And then some defenses have trouble defending either.
Wisconsin’s defense is having its share of problems with the run game, but the secondary is one of the best in the Big Ten. The lack of success on the offensive side of the ball doesn’t help the cause though.
Oregon will spend this week trying to figure out the best way to exploit that with their two-headed monster at tailback of Jordan James and Noah Whittington. Expect quarterback Dillon Gabriel to have a few more runs than he normally would.
The Badgers are giving up 165 yards on the ground, but they are only allowing 159 yards through the air. A major reason the secondary is so good is cornerback Ricardo Hallman. He locks down his side of the field to the point where quarterbacks aren’t even attempting to throw his way and for good reason.
Hallman was a Third-Team All-American last season with his seven interceptions. He doesn’t have any this year, but it’s difficult to pick off a pass when the ball is consistently on the other side of the field.
“It’s smart as a coach to not to throw at a gut who is going to make a lot of plays on the ball,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “But it’s more challenging for a defense when you can work the entire field, but there’s a reason people aren’t testing him because he’s a talented player.”
Wisconsin has just three interceptions as a team this season and fellow defensive back Preston Zachman has two of them to go with his 41 tackles. Linebacker Jaheim Thomas is the team’s leading tackler with 52 of them and safety Hunter Wohler is right on his heels with 51 tackles.
“They’re good tacklers and they do a great job is disguising coverage,” Lanning said. “They have some mix-ups there. This is one of the more talented secondaries we’ve seen.”
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