The Wisconsin Badgers had a tough 38-14 loss at the hands of the No. 19 Alabama Crimson Tide last week, struggling on all fronts as they dropped their first game of the season.
It was a rough day at the office for quarterback Danny O’Neil and the offense, who dealt with untimely penalties, sacks, and turnovers that derailed drives for the Badgers.
On Wisconsin’s first drive, an offensive pass interference on a converted third down killed the drive. Then came O’Neil’s interception after getting great
field position. Then came a drive with back-to-back sacks on second and third down. Then came a 15-yard personal foul on Joe Brunner on the following drive when Wisconsin was in Alabama territory with a 1st & 10.
That, merged with defensive woes, gave the Crimson Tide a 21-0 lead at halftime. That lead became 35-7 before Wisconsin touched the field on offense in the second half. And, after going 10 plays and 54 yards to nearly reach the endzone, O’Neil had another untimely interception, sealing the deal for the Badgers.
It was mistake after mistake for the Badgers against an opponent whom they had to play clean football against.
Still, it was a game that Wisconsin was expected to lose by a significant margin, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise. Instead, it proved to be a litmus test of where Wisconsin’s youth-laden team currently stands amongst college football’s best.
Heading into Week 4, quarterback remains a big debate after a poor performance from O’Neil this past weekend behind a makeshift offensive line. Do the Badgers keep him in consideration for the starting job when Billy Edwards returns from injury? Or should they hand the job back to the starter and go from there?
Well, in our weekly reacts poll, 74 percent of fans believed that O’Neil should get a fair shot in the starting battle.
After an impressive first start against Middle Tennessee, where he threw for over 280 yards and three touchdowns, it would make sense why people would want to see more of O’Neil.
But, at the moment, it seems pretty clear that Wisconsin’s most ideal offense is with Billy Edwards under center. With his ideal size, Edwards can more effectively function in the quick passing game and the play-action game, which are two key facets for Jeff Grimes’s passing offense.
Edwards’s arm can also challenge defenses more vertically, which would help open up the run game if Wisconsin can get more consistent explosives. And his experience in the pocket could help him behind a makeshift offensive line that O’Neil doesn’t seem to trust at the moment.
Currently, Edwards is day-to-day this week, according to head coach Luke Fickell. If he is able to go, he’ll be facing off against his former team, the Maryland Terrapins, in his return from injury. That game is essentially a must-win for the Badgers if they want to reach a bowl game, given how the rest of their schedule looks.
