BrutusBobcat
Icon and Entertainer
Sorry for jumping the gun, Clarity. :)
This is the game I am revved up for. We've got a bye, then NW to get tuned up for Barry and the boys. So what do we know?
We know some Jim Leonhard returning punt and creating some special teams mayhem. I like the way Sirjo was down field and in the returner's face a few times against NCSU, and he's going to need to be bringing some of that.
Anthony Davis may or may not be back. He's due to be re-evaluated this week, I believe. Booker Stanley has been solid in replacing him, but either way, we're going to be facing a team that will test our rushing defense. Given that TA McLendon saw only marginal success, I'm optimistic on that matchup if it's Stanley. I am little more wary about Davis, but he may be rusty with a long layoff this early in the year. He's only seen Central Florida so far.
Wisky hasn't seen much of a defense yet, but Stocco has done alright for them so far. He hasn't made a lot of mistakes, and has seemingly thrown well enough to keep the ball moving. He's used a lot of receivers, particularly Stanley coming out of the backfield (8 rec for 65 yards, no TDs) and WR Jonathan Orr (5 rec for 70 yards, 1 TD).
Their third down efficiency has been right around 40%, and surprisingly, they have 3-4 tries at fourth down per game. Here's why:
Their kicking game looks weak right now, with kicker Mike Allen at only 50%. He's 1 for 3 beyond 30 yards, and his lone "long" FG is 40. Advatage Buckeyes, and in a big way.
Summing all of that up, I don't see Wisconsin putting many points on the board. Certainly, the weather in the Arizona game was a big factor. We'll see a lot more about them when they play Penn State this week. I think that's a "must watch" game for us Buckeye fans. Both Wisky and PSU have some things to prove in that contest.
Wisconsin's defense has been outstanding, giving up 6, 3 and 7 points in their first three games. Their rushing defense is the core of what they do. None of their first three opponents have managed 100 yards on the ground, so we're going to need to get better quickly. It could be a long day for Mr. Ross. That is also not from lack of effort. UCF managed 53 on 35 carries; UNLV got 72 on 27 tries; Arizona managed 96 on 33 attempts.
What their defense hasn't done much of is earn turnovers. One INT and one fumble recovery against UCF, and that's it. They are negative on the year in turnover margin, with three lost fumbles and one INT.
For the season, they're giving up around 10 yards per catch, and holding opponents to under 50% completions. They've given up one TD in the air and had one INT. No opposing quarterback has had much of a game against them so far, with UCF's Moffett reaching the high water mark of 177 yards. They lead the B10 in passing D, followed by OSU, and are second in total defense, also followed by OSU.
With 9 sacks on the year, they're not only bringing solid coverage, but they are also bringing pressure. Erasmus James is their sack leader, but DT Anttaj Hawthorne is another guy you need to get some bodies on, as we well know.
This game is going to be a fun one. Wisky in many ways looks similar to OSU. They take care of the football, commit few penalties, their defense is build on a solid D line, and their secondary players cover and tackle well. Alvarez coaches the same fundamental game that Tressel does -- field position, defense, special teams, no mistakes. For people who love well played football, this should be the game of the year.
Where we have the edge is in place kicking, a better passing game, and a defense that has started taking the ball away. The return games are probably a wash, and the defenses may be close to equal (other than turnovers). Right now, you'd have to say Wisconsin's running game has a solid edge, and a bigger one when Davis returns. I think we have the better linebackers; they probably have some better individual talents on the d-line, whereas we have more depth.
So, watch the PSU-UW game this week! There's a lot we're going to learn about Wisky. It's our next big test now that the Wolfpack has been tamed. The Badgers may march in unbeaten and well into the top 20, with their next two games being PSU and Illinois at home in Madison.
This is the game I am revved up for. We've got a bye, then NW to get tuned up for Barry and the boys. So what do we know?
We know some Jim Leonhard returning punt and creating some special teams mayhem. I like the way Sirjo was down field and in the returner's face a few times against NCSU, and he's going to need to be bringing some of that.
Anthony Davis may or may not be back. He's due to be re-evaluated this week, I believe. Booker Stanley has been solid in replacing him, but either way, we're going to be facing a team that will test our rushing defense. Given that TA McLendon saw only marginal success, I'm optimistic on that matchup if it's Stanley. I am little more wary about Davis, but he may be rusty with a long layoff this early in the year. He's only seen Central Florida so far.
Wisky hasn't seen much of a defense yet, but Stocco has done alright for them so far. He hasn't made a lot of mistakes, and has seemingly thrown well enough to keep the ball moving. He's used a lot of receivers, particularly Stanley coming out of the backfield (8 rec for 65 yards, no TDs) and WR Jonathan Orr (5 rec for 70 yards, 1 TD).
Their third down efficiency has been right around 40%, and surprisingly, they have 3-4 tries at fourth down per game. Here's why:
Their kicking game looks weak right now, with kicker Mike Allen at only 50%. He's 1 for 3 beyond 30 yards, and his lone "long" FG is 40. Advatage Buckeyes, and in a big way.
Summing all of that up, I don't see Wisconsin putting many points on the board. Certainly, the weather in the Arizona game was a big factor. We'll see a lot more about them when they play Penn State this week. I think that's a "must watch" game for us Buckeye fans. Both Wisky and PSU have some things to prove in that contest.
Wisconsin's defense has been outstanding, giving up 6, 3 and 7 points in their first three games. Their rushing defense is the core of what they do. None of their first three opponents have managed 100 yards on the ground, so we're going to need to get better quickly. It could be a long day for Mr. Ross. That is also not from lack of effort. UCF managed 53 on 35 carries; UNLV got 72 on 27 tries; Arizona managed 96 on 33 attempts.
What their defense hasn't done much of is earn turnovers. One INT and one fumble recovery against UCF, and that's it. They are negative on the year in turnover margin, with three lost fumbles and one INT.
For the season, they're giving up around 10 yards per catch, and holding opponents to under 50% completions. They've given up one TD in the air and had one INT. No opposing quarterback has had much of a game against them so far, with UCF's Moffett reaching the high water mark of 177 yards. They lead the B10 in passing D, followed by OSU, and are second in total defense, also followed by OSU.
With 9 sacks on the year, they're not only bringing solid coverage, but they are also bringing pressure. Erasmus James is their sack leader, but DT Anttaj Hawthorne is another guy you need to get some bodies on, as we well know.
This game is going to be a fun one. Wisky in many ways looks similar to OSU. They take care of the football, commit few penalties, their defense is build on a solid D line, and their secondary players cover and tackle well. Alvarez coaches the same fundamental game that Tressel does -- field position, defense, special teams, no mistakes. For people who love well played football, this should be the game of the year.
Where we have the edge is in place kicking, a better passing game, and a defense that has started taking the ball away. The return games are probably a wash, and the defenses may be close to equal (other than turnovers). Right now, you'd have to say Wisconsin's running game has a solid edge, and a bigger one when Davis returns. I think we have the better linebackers; they probably have some better individual talents on the d-line, whereas we have more depth.
So, watch the PSU-UW game this week! There's a lot we're going to learn about Wisky. It's our next big test now that the Wolfpack has been tamed. The Badgers may march in unbeaten and well into the top 20, with their next two games being PSU and Illinois at home in Madison.
