What areas to watch from Wisconsin football vs. Alabama
What's different about this Badgers team compared to last season's, and will it make a difference?
There are plenty of things different about this season’s University of Wisconsin football team heading into its matchup against Alabama compared to last year’s squad.
But mindset might top them all.
The Badgers fell 42-10 to the visiting Crimson Tide last September in a game that got out hand with 28 unanswered points between the end of the first quarter and opening drive of the third quarter. Wisconsin lost starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke seven plays into the game, and scrutiny abounded on social media for a fourth-and-1 play called out of the shotgun.
There’s for sure been plenty of changes to the Wisconsin (2-0) roster and staff as they approaching taking on No. 19 Alabama (1-1) for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff Saturday (ABC). Gone is Phil Longo and the Air Raid scheme, and Jeff Grimes’ “NFL-style” system is more similar to the “identity” of Badgers offenses. The changes to the defensive front stand out with the additions of transfers that are versatile to face various offenses this season.
“I think just what we have as a group — and whether everybody's seen it yet or hasn't seen it yet, whether it's Game 1 or Game 2 — I just think that the biggest difference is, hey, there's some different mentality of the things that we can do and what we know we need to do,” coach Luke Fickell said. “And I think that's where it's got to kind of start.”
“Is there some different spots and positions? Yes. I've said it, multiple times. I think that for the most part … I think we're in a better place at every position. I think obviously the depth on the offensive line is the one spot that continues to be an issue or stand out a little bit to you. But as a whole and as a team, I think where we are and the things that we're doing, I think that's where everything's got to start.”
Here are the key areas that Badger Observer will keep tabs on when Wisconsin and Alabama face off inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.
What variation of the Wisconsin offensive line will be seen this week?
Fickell didn’t provide much of an update Monday on starting center Jake Renfro, saying “we don’t a whole lot about” the status of a key cog on the offensive line. A healthy (or healthy enough?) Renfro, with his experience, can improve the chances Wisconsin has running the ball against Alabama’s defense that has 15 tackles for loss this season.
Regardless if it’s Renfro or sixth-year graduate Kerry Kodanko, the team needs to do better running between the tackles. Wisconsin’s averaging 159 yards rushing on 4.3 yards per attempt through two games.
The Crimson Tide didn’t record a sack during its first two weeks. The Badgers didn’t allow one against Middle Tennessee, but the difficulty level exponentially ramps up starting this weekend.