Wisconsin was okay last year, but it wasn’t the debut everyone was looking for out of Luke Fickell. It might have taken a season to get the right parts and systems in place, but can the Badgers be a factor despite dealing with a tougher schedule? Here are three questions to ask all the Wisconsin types still around at Big Ten Media Days.
3. Will the passing game start to work?
You broke it, you bought it, Luke Fickell and the new coaching staff. You changed up the Wisconsin offense to try creating more pop and balance, and instead the passing game was among the most inefficient in the Big Ten. Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke will try changing that.
2. Will the pass rush improve?
It was a key part to Fickell’s great Cincinnati teams, but it wasn’t all that great last season. It had a few nice moments, but it wasn’t consistent and didn’t take over in big games. That’s what William & Mary transfer John Pius is for, but it has to work. The Badgers got picked apart too easily against accurate passers.
1. Is there any shot of getting back to Wisconsin being Wisconsin with the ground game?
Wisconsin won when it ran well - it won when it ran a lot - and didn’t win when it didn’t commit to the bit. There’s a new offensive line coach, the front five should be a bear, and the rotation of backs is fine. Now it has to start being more effective.
