Mills' Seven Storylines: After the Cornhuskers
Plenty of crooked numbers were on display during Wisconsin's 38-17 win against Nebraska. Now, it is time to analyze what matters and why.
Consider this: the drive from Camp Randall to Memorial Stadium totals slightly over seven hours.
Additionally, on Oct. 7, the Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers after a 7:00 p.m. central start time airing on BIG Ten Network.
Furthermore, during Saturday’s matchup, both teams scored seven points in the third quarter.
Alright, alright. If you haven’t guessed it by now, it is time for another edition of Mills’s Seven Storylines.
1. Freedom and Familiarity
The Freedom Trophy will remain in Wisconsin for at least another year. After the Badgers’ 38-17 victory over the Cornhuskers, the program claimed its fourth trophy. Introduced in 2014, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has little familiarity with the trophy, though. For the fourth consecutive year, Wisconsin cements its 2017 victory into the trophy’s wooden base. Although the trophy itself showcases half-sections of each stadium, it might as well depict the entirety of Camp Randall until Nebraska captures a win.
2. That’s going to cost you
Entering Saturday evening’s game, UW averaged 5.3 penalties per game. After the first quarter, Wisconsin owned four penalties, which cost the team 50 yards. Fortunately, there might have been more if Nebraska head coach Mike Riley accepted an offensive pass interference call. Saturday, the Badgers were sloppy in the first half. Coming into the Nebraska game, UW was averaging 5.3 penalties per game, with a total of 21 penalties for 186 yards through four games. Although Paul Chryst’s team rebounded, a sluggish start might put them in an early hole against more well-rounded offenses.
3. Far and Wide
The aftermath of Wisconsin’s victory is an optimistic sign for a program vying a return to the BIG Ten championship, and more. In the latest AP Coaches Poll, UW is seventh overall. More specifically, the Badgers rank ninth in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 14.2 points per game. Additionally, they are one of nine teams to allow less than three rushing touchdowns in 2017. From an offensive stance, UW is fourth in the country in time of possession (35:11).
4. It’s my ball (or score) now
At Memorial Stadium, Nebraska quarterback Tanner Lee was picked off only once. However, Wisconsin set the tone early when Chris Orr caught a pass intended for running back Devine Ozigbo. (A picture, or video, is worth a thousand words. Check out the replay below.) Since the start of the season, Wisconsin has returned three interceptions for touchdowns. From a non-pick six viewpoint, UW has 225 interception returning yards in 2017. Evidently, Jim Leonhard is adjusting well as he works through his first season as defensive coordinator.
5. Comfortable footing
Nebraska competed for a considerable amount of time, but the Badgers' rushing game was just too much to overcome. During the fourth quarter, UW rushed for 125 yards on 22 attempts. Amazingly, the offense never attempted a pass. Overall, the team totaled 353 net yards on the ground while averaging 7.2 yards per rush. Although Jonathan Taylor (249 yards, 2 TDs) stood out once again, other Wisconsin running backs contributed. Senior transfer Rachid Ibrahim was the team’s second-best rusher at Memorial Stadium and he rushed for 51 yards. Do not forget about Bradrick Shaw (43 yards) or Chris James (11 yards), who filled in when needed.
6. The (injured, tough, resilient, adaptable) Wisconsin offensive line
Two of UW’s top three guards were unavailable against Nebraska. Even left tackle Michael Deiter played with a fragile ankle. In total, the effects of the injury bug were evident on Saturday and are forcing the Badgers to adjust lineups frequently. In the past, Wisconsin struggled to combat offensive line injuries, but this 2017 roster is strategizing its deep bench lineups well so far.
7. Kicking it off the right way
The 6 foot, 182-pound Zach Hintze continues his impressive 2017 campaign. The sophomore recorded five touchbacks on seven kicks against the Huskers. Through four games, Hintze has 26 kickoffs and averages 64.4 yards per kick. His 2017 touchback total sits at 19. As he continues to fill in for the injured P.J. Rosowski, special teams coach Chris Haering must be pleased with the depth at his disposal.
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Jonathan Mills is a staff writer and covers Wisconsin football/basketball for BadgerBlitz.com on the Rivals.com network. Follow him on Twitter at @realJ_Mills