Tag: Zack Baun

Wisconsin at Nebraska: Breakdown with Prediction

What does Wisconsin need to do in order to beat Nebraska on the road? Jonathan Taylor RB, Jack Coan QB, Zack Baun LB, Noah Burks LB

Wisconsin has always been able to successfully run the football against Nebraska and on Saturday that shouldn’t change. Considering Nebraska’s rush defense in the Big Ten ranks toward the bottom as they’re allowing 219.5 yards over Big Ten play and have allowed an average of 5.3 yards per carry.

The Badgers will rely heavily on Jonathan Taylor to have success against the Cornhuskers rush defense. In two career games against Nebraska Taylor has averaged 235 yards on an average of 24.5 carries and has five combined touchdowns.

Wisconsin’s offensive line should be able to get the better push against Nebraska’s defensive line to make sure Taylor doesn’t get tackled behind the line of scrimmage.

Taylor has caught a pass in every game this year but has only caught three passes over the last three games. With the success Taylor has had against Nebraska he should be more involved in the passing game than he has over the last three weeks.

Jack Coan is going to need to limit his mistakes and make sure he doesn’t kill any offensive drives. If Coan can generate a rhythm against Nebraska’s secondary, which is allowing 201.5 passing yards in addition to Taylor’s success on the ground the Badgers should develop a balance on offense.

Defensively, it comes down to Wisconsin’s defense ability to contain Adrian Martinez.

Wisconsin will need to keep him in the pocket in order to make sure he can’t extend plays with his feet. It starts with Zack Baun and Noah Burks keeping contain and taking him down when they have a chance as Martinez’s 399 rushing yards leads the team.

One of Martinez’s favorite targets is JD Spielman as his 689 receiving yards leads the team. True freshman wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson is questionable for the game. If Robinson can’t go it will take away one of the Cornhuskers more consistent players on offense as he has 453 receiving yards and has rushed for 326 yards.

In the end, Wisconsin is able to contain Martinez enough and is able to limit his impact and prevent him from consistently connecting with Spielman through the air. In addition, thanks to Taylor’s ability to effectively rush the football the Badgers win 31-to-21.

 

What are the Five Keys to a Wisconsin Victory over Nebraska?

What are the five keys to a Wisconsin victory when the Badgers travel to play Nebraska.

Entering the season, Nebraska was the favorite to represent the west division in the Big Ten championship game. The season for the Cornhuskers hasn’t gone as planned, as they are currently on a three game losing streak and have lost four of the past five games. Nebraska will look to get back on track against Wisconsin following their bye week.

Here are the five keys for a Wisconsin victory over the Cornhuskers:

1) Keeping containment of Adrian Martinez 

Martinez has been able to hurt teams multiple ways, whether that’s through the air or with his legs as he’s averaging 270.1 yards of total offense. In particular, Wisconsin can’t allow for Martinez to get out of the pocket and be able to extend plays, making it important that the combination of Zack Baun and Noah Burks are able to play well in space to avoid allowing Martinez to break a tackle. Wisconsin’s ability to slow Martinez down by either sacking him or keeping him contained will help Wisconsin’s defense control the game.

2) Jonathan Taylor’s success on the ground

Nebraska’s rush defense has struggled over conference play, as they’re allowing teams to rush for an average of 219.5 yards per game. In two career games against Nebraska, Taylor has rushed for over 200 yards both times and has registered five combined touchdowns. Taylor should consistently pick up positive yards against Nebraska’s defense considering the Cornhuskers are allowing 5.3 yards per carry, which will allow for Wisconsin to be able to effectively move the football down the field.

3) Limiting JD Spielman

Wan’Dale Robinson is questionable heading into the game against Wisconsin. If Robinson can’t go, it will make Spielman an even bigger target for Martinez. Specifically, Spielman has been able to make big plays in the passing game, averaging 19.6 yards per reception and in six different games he has caught at least one pass of 40 yards or more. In order for Wisconsin’s defense to succeed, they can’t allow for Spielman and Martinez to create chunk plays through the air.

4) The play of Wisconsin’s fourth down defense 

Nebraska’s field goal kicking has been shaky this year, as the Cornhuskers have used four different kickers this year as they’ve gone a combined 7-for-14. Meaning if Nebraska is facing a fourth and manageable in Wisconsin territory, they’re likely going to go for it. Wisconsin’s defense on fourth down is allowing their opponents to convert on 70 percent (7-for-10) of their fourth down tries.

5) Winning field position

Anthony Lotti has been up and down this year and in order to limit Nebraska’s offense, it will be important for him to consistently get good punts off. Lotti has attempted 35 punts this season with 14 of them landing inside the 20-yard line. Lotti’s ability to pin punts inside the 20 and make Nebraska have to work with a long field will assist Wisconsin’s defense in hopes that it will lead to a short defensive drive for the Badgers on that side of the field.

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.