Tag: wisconsin badgers news

Badgers PFF grades: Top 5 defensive players from the win over Purdue

Here’s a look at the top 5 highest graded defensive players from Wisconsin’s victory over Purdue, according to Pro Football Focus:

Madison, Wis. – In his first home game as interim head coach, Jim Leonhard and the Wisconsin Badgers (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten), who were one-and-a-half point favorites, took care of business, winning 35-24 at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Against Purdue, the Wisconsin Badgers’ defense was missing some pretty important tools from its toolbox – but in the end, it didn’t matter.

Outside linebacker Nick Herbig didn’t play, and nose tackle Keeanu Benton was on a pitch count – but the defense as a whole found a way to slow down one of the Big Ten’s best offenses.

In total, UW allowed 431 total yards on 5.5 yards per play and won the turnover battle, forcing O’Connell to throw three interceptions on the day – one of which was a pick-six returned by safety John Torchio for a touchdown.

Inside linebacker play has been a real question mark so far this season, but I thought Maema Njongmeta and Jordan Turner played one of their best games as a pairing – which made a significant difference.

The Jewelry Thief stole the show on homecoming weekend, registering 10 tackles, two interceptions, a pass deflection, and a touchdown.

Here’s a look at the five highest-graded defensive players from Wisconsin’s victory over Purdue, according to Pro Football Focus.

Badgers PFF grades: Top 5 offensive players from the win over Purdue

Here’s a look at the top 5 highest graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s victory over Purdue, according to Pro Football Focus:

Madison, Wis. – In his first home game as interim head coach, Jim Leonhard and the Wisconsin Badgers (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten), who were one-and-a-half point favorites, took care of business, winning 35-24 at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

After riding the struggle bus against Michigan State, Wisconsin’s offense bounced back, registering 381 total yards (203 passing, 178 rushing) on an impressive 7.6 yards per play.

Bobby Engram and company displayed a disciplined, yet balanced, offensive attack – which was highly encouraging. 

Led by standout offensive performances from Graham Mertz, Braelon Allen, Isaac Guerendo, and Skyler Bell, the Badgers made a point to get the ball to its playmakers – and beat down a good Purdue football team as a result. 

Here’s a look at the five highest-graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s victory over Purdue, according to Pro Football Focus.

Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen reaches significant career milestone

Braelon Allen reached a significant career milestone this past weekend:

Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen has proven himself to be one of the best tailbacks in the country and is the latest standout in a long line of stars at RBU.

This past weekend, Allen carried the ball 29 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns; that rushing total helped the Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, native eclipse the 2,000-yard career rushing yards mark – a feat that he only needed 19 games to accomplish.

Allen became the fifth-quickest in program history to surpass that 2000-yard threshold, trailing only Ron Dayne (13), Jonathan Taylor (15), P.J. Hill (17), and Anthony Davis (18).

The 6-foot-2, 236-pound RB has carried the ball 133 times for 757 yards rushing and eight touchdowns through seven games and currently sits at 17th all-time in career rushing yards at Wisconsin.

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Wisconsin WR Markus Allen enters the transfer portal

A Wisconsin Badgers reserve WR has entered his name into the Transfer Portal:

Madison, Wis.– Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Markus Allen, whose been with the program for the past two seasons, announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal on Sunday evening. 

Allen took to Twitter to announce his decision:

“First want to thank everyone in the Wisconsin Football program for everything they’ve done up to this point. For helping me academically and athletically form the strength staff all the way down to the trainers. Truly love the bonds I’ve made with he great people and the memories with brothers. Thank you Coach Chryst & the Coaching Staff for giving me an opportunity at the University of Wisconsin. With that being said I would like to announce that I have officially entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. With 3 years remaining of NCAA Eligibility.”

Per the 247Sports composite, Allen was the No. 380 overall prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, the No. 61 WR in the country, and the No. 10 player in Ohio.

Allen, a former three-star prospect, appeared in eight games for the Badgers, registering 10 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown. 

With the 6-foot-1, 215-pound wideout leaving the program, he becomes the third player to enter the transfer portal since Paul Chryst was fired as head coach, joining Deacon Hill and Logan Brown, respectively. 

Allen had fallen behind Chimere Dike, Skyler Bell, and Keontez Lewis on the depth chart, making a clear path to playing time uncertain moving forward. 

The Ohio native has three years of eligibility remaining.

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Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

Badgers PFF grades: Top 5 defensive players from loss to Michigan State

Here’s a look at the top 5 highest graded defensive players from Wisconsin’s loss to MSU, according to Pro Football Focus:

Interim head coach Jim Leonhard and the Wisconsin Badgers (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten), who were seven-and-a-half point favorites, failed to win back-to-back games for the first time this season, losing a 34-28 heartbreaker in overtime at Spartan Field on Saturday afternoon.

Wisconsin’s defense held up against the run, but overall it lacked identity. UW gave up seven plays of 20+ yards through the air and allowed 389 total yards of offense on 5.9 yards per play.

According to Pro Football Focus, the defense had 13 missed tackles – which has been a serious area of concern all season long.

Inside linebacker Maema Njongmeta turned in an impressive individual performance against Michigan State, registering 11 tackles, three pressures, and one pass deflection.

Wisconsin’s defense has talent but has noticeable warts and isn’t good enough to bail the program out when the offense stalls.

Here’s a look at the five highest-graded defensive players from Wisconsin’s loss to Michigan State, according to Pro Football Focus.

Badgers PFF grades: Top 5 offensive players from loss to Michigan State

Here’s a look at the top 5 highest graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s loss to MSU, according to Pro Football Focus:

Interim head coach Jim Leonhard and the Wisconsin Badgers (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten), who were seven-and-a-half point favorites, failed to win back-to-back games for the first time this season, losing a 34-28 heartbreaker in double-overtime at Spartan Field on Saturday afternoon.

Just one week removed from Wisconsin’s best offensive performance of the season, the Badgers reverted to who we thought they were, mustering 283 total yards (131 passing, 152 rushing) on a mere 4.5 yards per play.

Sophomore running back Braelon Allen, who was without his partner in crime, Chez Mellusi, was asked to carry a significant load on Saturday to the tune of a career-high 29 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

The offensive line, however, was a disaster against MSU, allowing five pressures while also picking up five penalties – three of which belonged to left guard Tanor Bortolini.

Coach Leonhard has his work cut out for him moving forward because the program needs an offensive identity – and fast.

Here’s a look at the five highest-graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s loss to Michigan State, according to Pro Football Focus.

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Michigan State Spartans game recap: Everything we know

Wisconsin #Badgers vs. Michigan State game recap:

Interim head coach Jim Leonhard and the Wisconsin Badgers (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten), who were seven-and-a-half point favorites, failed to win back-to-back games for the first time this season, losing a 34-28 heartbreaker in overtime at Spartan Field on Saturday afternoon.

Sputtering offense, losing the turnover battle, getting penalized eight times for 72 yards, and consistently poor tackling isn’t a recipe for success – who would have thought?

One week after Wisconsin’s best offensive performance of the season, the Badgers took steps backward, mustering 283 total yards (131 passing, 152 rushing) on a mere 4.5 yards per play.

Wisconsin’s defense lacked identity, gave up several big plays through the air, and allowed 389 total yards of offense on 5.9 yards per play.

According to Pro Football Focus, Wisconsin’s defense had 13 missed tackles – which isn’t going to cut it.

The program’s odds of winning a Big Ten West title seems out the door at this point, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but a bowl game isn’t a guarantee, either.

Here’s a recap of Wisconsin’s road loss to the Michigan State Spartans:

ESPN’s FPI projection for Wisconsin’s contest vs. Michigan State

Wisconsin enters Saturday’s contest vs. Michigan State as seven-and-a-half-point favorites:

The Wisconsin Badgers (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) enter Saturday’s road contest against the Michigan State Spartans as seven-and-a-half-point favorites and are looking to stay hot after a convincing 42-7 win over Northwestern this past week. 

Ahead of Saturday’s matchup, ESPN’s FPI model gives Wisconsin an 52.5% chance of winning on the road against the Spartans in East Lansing. 

This projection makes a lot of sense. Despite it being a road contest, both teams have endured their fair share of struggles this season – but neither are lacking talent. I anticipate a pretty even matchup between the two programs. 

For Wisconsin, I’d love to see the Badgers come out and play with the same energy they did last weekend and continue building on it as they push for a Big Ten West title (someone has to win it). 

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Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

Wisconsin releases week 7 injury report for contest vs. Michigan State

Seven players are ruled out, and six others are listed as out for the season in Wisconsin’s injury report for week 7 vs. Michigan State:

Madison, Wis. — On Monday, the University of Wisconsin released its official injury report ahead of its week seven matchup vs. the Michigan State Spartans. 

The unranked Wisconsin Badgers (3-3) are coming off an impressive performance against Northwestern in Jim Leonhard’s first game as head coach. Still, UW has seven players ruled out due to injury against Michigan State and six others listed as out for the season.  

It seems as though Wisconsin loses a significant contributor just about every week, which held true yet again—this time, losing senior running back Chez Mellusi, the Badgers’ No. 2 RB behind Braelon Allen.

UW will need as many healthy bodies on the field as possible this weekend as the Badgers look to keep things rolling under coach Leonhard and push for a Big Ten West title.

Here is a look at Wisconsin football’s injury report for Week 7:

Film Room: A look at the wrinkles Jim Leonhard added to Wisconsin’s offense

Film Room: @DillonGraff look’s at the new wrinkles Wisconsin added to the offensive playbook. #Badgers

Wisconsin Badgers interim head coach Jim Leonhard took over the program on short notice and quickly acknowledged that the offense needed to make some adjustments – as not to beat a dead horse.

Making said adjustments seems easy on paper, but doing this during week six of the college football season gives little time to overhaul what the team has been running since spring and fall camp began.

Before his first game as head coach, Leonhard asked his offensive staff to find a way to manufacture touches for the team’s best playmakers and make them more dynamic.

“We have to play off our passing game,” said Leonhard. “Teams are going to stop the run. They are going to load the box and dedicate a lot of attention to our running backs and o-line. We have to be able to balance that a little bit.”

Bobby Engram heard this message clearly and answered the call, producing a season-high 515 total yards (322 passing, 194 rushing) and scoring 42 points on 7.6 yards per play.

During the 42-7 throttling of Northwestern, anyone with two eyes could see that things looked much different, specifically as it pertained to the offense.

With the proverbial handcuffs removed, the coaching staff added several wrinkles on offense that kept the Wildcats off-balance all afternoon and accentuated the strengths of UW’s best weapons.

Graham Mertz threw for 299 yards and five touchdowns, Braelon Allen rushed for 135 yards with a passing touchdown, and Chimere Dike caught 10 passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns.

If I had told you that would be the outcome after the Illinois game, you would have thought I was using illicit drugs – and I wouldn’t have blamed you.

Wisconsin’s top playmakers had a field day against Northwestern and, to the untrained eye, played loose, confident, and fast, a stark contrast from the offense we’ve watched over the past couple of seasons.

Let’s take a look at a few of the unique offensive installations implemented against Northwestern: