Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE
The Wisconsin Badgers are almost in panic mode after their stunning loss to the Oregon St. Beavers this past weekend. They’ve fired their offensive line coach after a road performance that was atrocious on the part of the offensive line, but the entire offense shares blame for this one. The O-line coach just happened to be someone that could be put on the chopping block thanks to two weeks of off play by that line. Unfortunately what they come home to may not be welcomed warmly.
What the Badgers will be getting this weekend is the likelihood of another tough test with the only silver lining being that it will be played in friendlier confines.
The Utah St. Aggies may not be a highly-ranked opponent, but they are still dangerous. For starters, the Badger offensive line is going to be the precise area of attack for the Aggies defense. Just last week against the Utah Utes, the Aggies defense was so effective at getting to the quarterback that Ute quarterback Jordan Wynn retired from football after the game due to past shoulder issues combined with the damage he suffered against the Aggies.
With the Badgers’ having a definitive poor performance to look at on film this week as well as there being a coaching change between games, it should be interesting to see how they deal with it all. The fact that the people in charge of protecting running backs Montee Ball and James White, as well as quarterback Danny O’Brien have been vulnerable, expect the key to this game being the battle at the line of scrimmage.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Aggies get to deal with a less than stellar defense from the Badgers, but a defense that should test the Aggies. The Aggies offense has had fair success against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds and the Utes, but the Badger defense does have its strong points. And those strong points are especially brought out by offenses that are inferior.
The Badgers defense deserves a lot of credit for not letting the game against the Beavers last week get out of hand. The Beavers had the ball for around eleven minutes longer and gained over 100 yards more through the air than the Badgers. And yet the game was only 3-0 into the second half and the Beavers only scored one touchdown in the game.
What this means for the Aggies is that quarterback Chuckie Keeton better be coming to play, otherwise the Badgers could be involved in another low-scoring game and the Aggies could be in store for some adversity they’ve yet to experience this season.
However this game is looked at, the Aggies should come into Camp Randall Stadium loaded with confidence. Maybe not confidence that they will win, but confidence in themselves and how they’ve played so far in this season. Confidence that they can win.
