HuskerOnline – Nebraska Opponent Spring Review: Wisconsin

As Nebraska enters a vital fifth season below head coach Scott Frost in 2022, we determined to have a look at the place issues stand with the Huskers’ 12 opponents popping out of spring practices.

Immediately, we proceed with Wisconsin, which is hoping some offseason shakeups can spark one other run at a Massive Ten West title in 2022.

Jon McNamara from BadgerBlitz.com gave his ideas on the Badgers” offseason and their upcoming matchup with Nebraska in Lincoln.

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1. Engram brings a brand new identification to the offense

Wisconsin has turn into often known as a program of stability over the previous couple of a long time, however the Badgers shook issues up on the offensive facet of the ball this offseason.

In one of the vital energetic winters below head coach Paul Chryst, UW introduced in former Penn State star receiver and long-time NFL assistant Bobby Engram as its new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.

That rent was particularly notable as a result of, till now, these had been the roles – together with calling the performs – that Chryst dealt with himself alongside together with his head teaching duties.

It’s nonetheless unknown whether or not Chryst will flip over full play-calling management to Engram this fall or if will probably be a shared duty between them, however Engram’s affect ought to change issues up in Madison to some extent.

2. Bostad’s return to the offensive line

From 2008-11, Bob Bostad oversaw one of the vital spectacular stretches of offensive line play Wisconsin has ever had.

Together with serving to information the Badgers to back-to-back Massive Ten titles in 2010 and ’11 because the staff’s offensive line coach and run recreation coordinator, he groomed eight NFL draft picks over 4 seasons, together with three first-round choices.

Bostad left UW for the NFL from 2012-15 after which rejoined the staff in 2017, however as the within linebackers coach.

However when Joe Rudolph left to take a job at Virginia Tech in January, Chryst didn’t hesitate to offer the keys to certainly one of Wisconsin’s proudest items again to Bostad.

Expectations for that group are very excessive, because the hope is that Bostad can return the o-line to its once-dominant kind.

3. How far can Graham Mertz take the Badgers?

After storming onto the scene as a redshirt freshman in 2020 and throwing 5 touchdowns within the season opener, Wisconsin’s offense has been a blended bag below quarterback Graham Mertz.

A former highschool All-American and the highest-rated quarterback signee in program historical past, Mertz solely threw for 1,800 yards and had extra interceptions (10) than he did landing passes (9) final season.

Having began the previous 20 video games for the Badgers, Mertz will as soon as once more take the reins of the offense in 2022 with a profession report of 13-7 as a starter.

Wisconsin will at all times rely closely upon its operating recreation, particularly with star operating again Braelon Allen returning. However for the UW to achieve its full potential, it is aware of it wants extra stability and manufacturing by the air.

Is Mertz lastly able to play as much as his lofty recruiting profile? Or will or not it’s extra of the identical in his third season below heart?

A brand new offensive coordinator would possibly assist his growth, however Wisconsin’s offense will solely go so far as Mertz takes it.

McNamara: “Final yr’s recreation was sort of a nail-biter, and I believe if there had perhaps two or three extra minutes, perhaps Nebraska comes out on prime.

“Clearly, I don’t have an ideal perspective on Nebraska proper now, however they’ve been aggressive each yr, and have at all times performed Wisconsin extraordinarily robust.

“This yr, going to Nebraska, I sort of take a look at that recreation as a toss-up. I believe it may go both manner. I believe Nebraska is transferring in the proper route, and I believe Wisconsin has gotten higher. I believe that one will go right down to the wire.”

McNamara: “I believe that is most likely about an eight- or nine-win Wisconsin staff, and any time you’re round there, you’re going to have a shot at making it to Indianapolis for the Massive Ten title recreation. That’s simply the way in which the divisions have performed out.

“So I really feel like Wisconsin will completely be within the combine for the Massive Ten title dialog as a result of they do play within the Massive Ten West.

“I believe the offensive line shall be improved; they need to have the ability to run the soccer, they usually have a greater set of receivers than they did a yr in the past. The protection misplaced some guys, however they reloaded, and I believe they need to be good, too.

“That’s why quite a lot of that may experience on what Graham Mertz is ready to do. I’m taking a look at this as perhaps a two or three-loss staff, and perhaps when all is claimed and finished, they end 9-3. That’s what I’ll say proper now.”