Tag: Caesar Williams

NEVER A DOUBT: Badgers take early punch, then roll over Gophers, 38-17

They came. They saw. They conquered. After the Gophers held the ball for 15 seconds early in the game to take the lead, well, the Badgers did the rest. Wisconsin dominated Minnesota en route to a 38-17 victory in Minnesota. By the time it was all …

They came. They saw. They conquered.

After the Gophers held the ball for 15 seconds early in the game to take the lead, well, the Badgers did the rest.

Wisconsin dominated Minnesota en route to a 38-17 victory in Minnesota.

By the time it was all over, the boat was officially sunk.

And more impressively, the Badgers did it behind a total team effort.

On the offensive side of the ball, Jonathan Taylor scored three touchdowns running for less than 100 yards. Jack Coan threw for nearly 300 yards, and two scores.

Wideout Kendrick Pryor had a highlight play to pad to the Badgers’ lead.

 

As good as the offense was, the defense was even more impressive.

The Badgers held a strong Minnesota offense to just 10 points until garbage time, forcing a turnover and a whopping five sacks in the win.

Caesar Williams got a pick, and Chris Orr and Zack Baun dominated.

The Badgers have a huge test ahead against the Buckeyes.

But for now, the Badgers will enjoy this big victory over their arch rivals.

Bryson Williams to Miss Game Against Minnesota

Bryson Williams set to miss his third straight game with a left leg injury against Minnesota.

Wisconsin for a third straight game will be without starting nose tackle Bryson Williams with a left leg injury. Williams sustained his injury during Wisconsin’s win against Iowa.

True freshman nose tackle Keeanu Benton will fill in for Williams as Benton has played well this season. Benton on the year has registered 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack as his biggest impact has been his ability to help open up rushing lanes for Wisconsin’s linebackers to make plays in the backfield.

Outsdie of Williams being listed as out for Wisconsin the Badgers also listed starting left tackle Cole Van Lanen and starting cornerback Faion Hicks both as questionable with a head injury.

Van Lanen missed Wisconsin’s win over Purdue as redshirt sophomore Tyler Beach filled in as the starter at left tackle. If Van Lanen can’t go against Minnesota Beach will once again receive the start, which would be his third start.

Hicks has started nine games this season and has appeared in all 11 games this season. On the season Hicks has registered 19 tackles, one pass breakup, and one tackle for loss.

Wisconsin has started five different cornerback combinations this year and if Hicks can’t go Rachad Wildgoose who has started two games this season will likely be the starter opposite of Caesar Williams who has started the last four games.

Notes: Wisconsin Beats Purdue at Home 45-24

Game notes from Wisconsin’s senior day 45-24 victory over Purdue.

MADISON, Wis. – News and notes from UW Athletics after No. 12 Wisconsin’s 45-24 victory over Purdue at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday.

TEAM NOTES

  • Today’s captains: senior OLB Zack Baun, junior C Tyler Biadasz, senior ILB Chris Orr, junior RB Jonathan Taylor.
  • Wisconsin moved to 9-2 on the season, reaching the 9-win threshold for the 6th time in the last 7 seasons and the 9th time in the last 11 years. Ohio State (9) is the only other Big Ten team more than six 9-win seasons in the last 11 years.
  • Paul Chryst improved to 51-14 (.785) in his fifth season as Wisconsin’s head coach. He is the 5th coach in program history to win 50 games at UW.
  • Under Chryst, Wisconsin is:
    1. 33-10 (.767) in Big Ten Conference play
    2. 24-5 (.828) vs. the Big Ten West Division
    3. 15-3 (.833) in November games
    4. 5-0 vs. Purdue
  • Wisconsin is 51-14 (.785) since the start of the 2015 season. Entering today, only Clemson (66-4, .943), Alabama (64-5, .928), Ohio State (59-6, .908), Oklahoma (55-9, .859) and Georgia (51-14, .785) own higher winning percentages during that 5-year span.
  • UW is 40-11 (.784) in conference play since 2014, when the Big Ten went to its current divisional alignment. Only Ohio State (47-4, .922) has a better league record over that span.
  • The Badgers have won 26 of their last 32 Big Ten games, dating to the 2016 season.
  • Wisconsin finished with a season-high 606 total yards of offense, the team’s highest output since racking up 627 against Nebraska on Nov. 15, 2014. UW has now topped 500 yards in 3 games this season.
  • The Badgers rushed for a season-high 403 yards, their highest total since piling up 417 rushing yards against New Mexico on Sept. 8, 2018. UW’s 403 ground yards are the team’s most since totaling 581 rushing yards vs. Nebraska on Nov. 15, 2014. Saturday marked UW’s 3rd consecutive game with at least 300 rushing yards, and 5th 300-yard outing of the season.
  • UW also posted 203 passing yards, marking the second time this season that the Badgers have totaled at least 200 rushing yards and 200 passing yards in a game.
  • The Badgers went 9-for-11 on third down, their best mark in a Big Ten game since at least 1997.
  • Wisconsin recorded its 2nd TD drive of at least 90 yards this season with a 9-play, 95-yard march in the 3rd quarter. All 95 yards came on the ground, capped by a 6-yard TD run by Garrett Groshek.
  • UW’s longest scoring drive since an 11-play, 95-yard TD drive vs. Iowa on Sept. 22, 2018.
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Who are Three Defensive Players to Watch when Wisconsin Hosts Purdue?

Badgers who could play an important role in Wisconsin’s success against Nebraska. Zack Baun OLB, Caesar Williams CB, Chris Orr MLB

Here are three defensive players for the Badgers who could play an important role in Wisconsin’s success against Purdue:

1) Zack Baun, OLB

Baun had an effective game a week ago, as he registered two sacks in Wisconsin’s win over Nebraska. Baun has a chance of registering his third multi-sack game of the season, considering the Boilermakers allow an average of three sacks a game over Big Ten play. Baun’s ability to generate pressure against Aidan O’Connell, a walk-on quarterback, will be critical in possibly creating an extra offensive possession. Baun’s ability to create pressure should force him to speed up his decision making, which could lead to a mistake by O’Connell as he threw two interceptions in Purdue’s last game.

2) Caesar Williams, CB

Williams has started the last three games at cornerback and over that time he has a combined 10 tackles. Williams will likely have to cover David Bell at times, making it important that his consistent tackling continues, considering Bell has become one of the top targets in the passing game over the last five games. He has registered 48 of his 65 catches on the season over that time span for 491 yards and four touchdowns. If Williams can slow him down and limit his yards after the catch, that will take one of Purdue’s more consistent offensive players away and limit what Purdue can do on offense.

3) Chris Orr, ILB

Orr is averaging 1.14 sacks over Big Ten play, which leads the league as Orr can assist Baun in creating pressure against O’Connell in the backfield. Orr certainly has had an impactful year and if he and Baun can consistently create pressure it should lead to Wisconsin getting off the field quickly against the Boilermakers. It will also be important that Orr and Baun are able to create third and longs, which should allow for Jim Leonhard to dial up the pressure against Purdue that’s converting 40.5 percent (45-for-111) of their third downs.

Who are Three Defensive Players to Watch when Wisconsin Travels to Nebraska?

Badgers who could play an important role in Wisconsin’s success against Nebraska. Zack Baun OLB, Keeanu Benton NT, Caesar Williams CB

Here are three defensive players for the Badgers who could play an important role in Wisconsin’s success against Nebraska:

1) Zack Baun, OLB

In the win over Iowa, Baun finished the game with six tackles but for the first time this year, he failed to make either a tackle for loss or register a sack. In order for Wisconsin’s defense to have success in defending Adrian Martinez and Nebraska’s offense, he can’t afford to have another game where he doesn’t make a play in the backfield. Nebraska is allowing 2.2 sacks over conference play, and Baun will have a chance of being able to make a play in the backfield if he can keep containment of Martinez. That’s easier said than done, considering Martinez’s 399 rushing yards leads the team. Even if Baun can’t register a sack, he still has the ability to speed up Martinez’s decision making or force him to throw the football away. Martinez has shown he’s a threat with his legs, but he also has two capable playmakers in wide receivers JD Spielman and Wan’Dale Robinson, who can beat Wisconsin’s secondary for a big play.

2) Keeanu Benton, NT

Wisconsin will have a chance of limiting Martinez if they are capable of creating rushing lanes for Wisconsin’s linebackers to create pressure in the backfield. That will begin with Benton and him getting the better push. Despite being a true freshman, Benton has been able to hold his own throughout the season. Thanks to his wrestling background and him being a standout wrestler for Janesville Craig High School, he understands leverage as it has also allowed him to shed his blocker and register three tackles for loss and one sack on the season thus far.

3) Caesar Williams, CB

Outside of limiting the success Martinez has on offense, the Badgers defense will need to be ready to defend wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson if he’s available to play. Robinson left the Purdue game two weeks ago with an injury and he might not play the Cornhuskers on Saturday. If Robinson can go, he has shown to be a threat in not only catching the football, but also rushing it too. Robinson has 453 receiving yards on 40 receptions, which leads the team. He also has rushed for 326 yards on 85 carries. If Robinson can’t go, it will take away one of Nebraska’s most consistent playmakers on offense. The Cornhuskers do have JD Spielman who they can rely on in the passing game, as he has caught 35 passes for 689 yards. Williams’ ability to make plays on the football as he has four pass breakups on the year will go a long way in helping slow down Nebraska’s passing attack that’s averaging 208.3 yards over Big Ten play.