Notes: Bobby Engram on Mertz, OSU's front seven, Burkett's development

MADISON - Offensive coordinator Bobby Engram met with the media as the Badgers prepare for their first road test, the mighty No.3 Ohio State Buckeyes.

Engram addressed a number of topics, including Graham Mertz’s development, the Buckeyes defensive front, and Myles Burkett’s development.

Graham Mertz is playing the best football of his collegiate career through three weeks of the season. Yes, Wisconsin has other problems, but Mertz isn’t one of them right now. He’s displayed an enhanced level of poise and decision-making, traits that were so elusive for him up to this point.

“First and foremost, he’s working,” Engram told reporters. “Working really hard on his craft to get better…Really getting back to the fundamentals of playing the position: drops, movement in the pocket, accuracy, decision-making.”

Mertz is putting it all together in his third year as the starter for the Badgers. He’s in command of the offense, and this focus on fundamentals seems to be allowing his natural talent to be put on display.

“He’s really worked hard in each one of those areas. He’s done a lot of film work, where he’s grown. He's off to a good start, we just have to keep it going.”

The Buckeyes always seem to have a dominant defensive front. What they lack in the star power of previous Buckeyes teams (see Chase Young or Nick Bosa) they make up for in talent across the board. They’re getting contributions from a number of different players in the trenches, almost all of whom are former blue-chip recruits. Michael Hall, a redshirt freshman defensive tackle with two sacks already, is one of the biggest problems they present.

“He’s quick and explosive, both of those things, but I think he uses his hands really well. Linemen, if they’re not good with their punch, and if they’re not balanced, he can get around them pretty quickly,” Engram said.

“They’re gonna challenge us in terms of, they wanna play a lot of single high coverage, they wanna play man, they wanna get in your face…They have a package they feel really good about…It’ll be a great opportunity, a great test for our skill positions across the board.”

Wisconsin, as per usual, will look to run early and often. Thus, the battle at the line of scrimmage will be critical. The Buckeyes have an embarrassment of riches in the trenches, but so does Wisconsin. That’s where the game will be won or lost Saturday night.

Dean Engram was finally utilized offensively in week three, and made some nice plays on his way to a three-catch, 63-yard day. With his father calling plays, what was the reaction to his son’s first career receptions?

“Man, I’m calling plays, it’s on to the next one,” Bobby Engram said. “Happy for him, he’s worked hard. We have a talented group, and he’s working and he’s scraping and he’s fighting to get better and earn some playing time. So I’’m proud of him for that, proud of all of our guys for their work ethic. I think it’s a healthy level of competition in that room that you want, that keeps everybody improving and getting better.”

Engram finally got a chance to show what he can do, and he displayed great hands on top of the shiftiness he was showing all camp. He’s clearly going to have to earn every snap in a crowded room, but it’s encouraging to see him contribute. Engram apparently didn’t see his son’s fired-up reactions after his catches, but he wasn’t surprised.

“I wasn’t…I was trying to get to the next call. He’s intense, though.”

Myles Burkett came in for mop-up duty once again in week three. This time, though, he actually played a little football, doing more than just turning and giving the ball to Julius Davis. He finished the day 4-of-5 passing for 84 yards, and made some nice passes into tight windows.

“It’s so much, but I was proud of the way he stood in the pocket,” Engram said when asked about what’s changed since Burkett's first collegiate appearance two weeks ago. “The plays that we’re calling for him, he has a good feel for how to be successful, how to get through his progressions. He’s working, but a lot of room to improve, we gotta keep challenging him to grow and get better.”

The true freshman looked like an entirely different quarterback in the span of two weeks. Yes, it’s different when you actually attempt passes, but he looked exponentially more comfortable and in control of the offense. On top of that, the kid can throw. The experience he’s getting now is fantastic for the young quarterback’s development.

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