While there was definitely evidence of a prepared team willing to fight, the 24-10 loss for the Wisconsin Badgers against the Michigan Wolverines still ended with a frustrating thud. Yes, the Badgers did
better than Vegas thought they would, but that’s little comfort after a third straight defeat.
Let’s get to the grades.
OFFENSE
There was the first drive, where new quarterback Hunter Simmons efficiently drove the Badgers down the field for a surprising touchdown with a deft combination of passing and running. And then there was the rest of the game, where Wisconsin managed only a late field goal (more of this later) and was pretty much bottled up by Michigan’s superior talent.
Wisconsin has too good an offensive coordinator to score only 10 points in consecutive games, and the offensive line was, unshockingly, overmatched, but played better than it did against Maryland. But, we may have something in Davis Heinzen at center.
Free Advice: GET THE DAMN BALL TO VINNY ANTHONY ALL DAY LONG.
GRADE: C-
DEFENSE
There was nothing particularly pretty here, but the front seven played big boy defense for most of the day and made Michigan work for every point. The Badgers’ retooled defensive line was very solid, and the team’s pass rush, while never a huge factor, still made things uncomfortable from time to time for the super talented Bryce Underwood.
While it wasn’t a total disaster, the secondary was, again, not good enough. The puzzling fall off in Ricardo Hallman’s play continues, and I won’t give cornerbacks coach Paul Haynes a pass. His corners have been subpar all season, and that’s on him. The safety room without Preston Zachman is also nothing to write home about.
Still, limiting Michigan to only 24 points in The Big House is a win of sorts.
Grade: B
SPECIAL TEAMS
Totally uneventful, and that was a beautiful thing. Punts averaged over 45 yards, and Nathanial Vakos hit his only field goal attempt. Coverage was also decent, and there were no kick blocks.
GRADE: A-
COACHING
This was, in some ways, the best day of coaching all season in the sense that the Badgers were well prepared and came to fight. Grimes’ first series was a thing of beauty, and there was logic and coherence in the defensive game plan.
Unfortunately, what will stick with fans is Luke Fickell waving the white flag late by not taking any timeouts down 14, soon after settling for a field goal down 17.
Yes, it was highly unlikely that Wisconsin was going to win that game, no matter what Luke Fickell did at the end, but it still sent a limp and very unsavory message to the same players you’re asking to fight hard until the final whistle. When you don’t do the same thing as a coach, it matters and lowers my overall grade here.
Also, why was Danny O’Neil out there for drive No. 2 after what Simmons had just done? It was scripted, but given how Simmons looked, it was some mind-boggling coaching. An inability to work on basic adjustments is almost worse than making huge mistakes.
GRADE: C-
OVERALL
Yes, most of us thought it would probably be worse, and the Badgers may have found something in Simmons. But if we’re being honest, did the Badgers show anything on Saturday that makes you believe they’ll put up a serious challenge to Oregon, Ohio State, or Indiana? Not really, and I remain unconvinced this team has the coaching to beat Iowa or Illinois, either.
GRADE: C+
