When I think of Minnesota and a potential sustainable offense, given the talent we recruit, it seems that Wisconsin comes up in my mind as the one to compare.. We have roughly the same recruiting on offense as far as the ratings of players.. Wisconsin has developed their guys better, for sure.
If you look at the QBs that Wisconsin have had in their offense since 2000, it is not exactly going to overwhelm anyone with their talent.. Obviously the playmaker was Russell Wilson but he played more at NC State and minor league baseball than was developed at Wisconsin... They have brought in 4 star QBs and virtually none of them have panned out for the Badgers. Scott Tolzien was by far the most accurate QB as he went over 70% completion percentage one year and was close to that in his career stats. The rest of the guys were probably under 60% completions with NOT MUCH ABOVE a one-to one ratio in TDs to interceptions..
Yet so many of their guys have hung around the NFL for a bit.. Maybe not playing much but they were there... Wilson, Tolzien, Brooks Bollinger, Jim Sorgi, Joel Stave, Bart Houston.. Then others that just produced when they needed to like John Stocco...NFL coaches must like them as game managers for backups... I cant see NFL owners and coaches colluding to piss off Minnesota fans by drafting or signing UDFA Wisconsin QBs so they must have something going for them.. These guys I listed were not highly rated for the most part. but proved as good leaders.. None of them ran the ball worth anything.. YES YOU CAN JOKE ABOUT HOW EASY IT IS FOR BADGER QBS IN JUST TURNING AROUND AND HANDLING OFF THE BALL TO STAR RUNNING BACKS but those Badger QBs got their share of awards in bowl games and even Big Ten conference awards. THE POINT IS, QBs can be developed.
We dont have to have a guy that dominates in the air but he does need to be able to move the team through the air at times..AGAINST GOOD TEAMS SPECIFICALLY!! Keep the team on the field after 3rd downs.. That is what Wisconsin QBs do well in passing situations.. We have as talented of guys at QB as Wisconsin had, in some years.
No doubt that the run game plays a big part. Wisconsin will force you to move your safeties up in run support so it opens those square ins or crossing patterns for the receivers where they may see only one safety high and that is it.. Keeps those paths open for the QB and if the LBs drop deep to help, they have the TEs and RBs underneath that the QBs can throw the ball.. That has been their game since Alvarez arrived in Madison... We have the type of talent to play that style of game and succeed.. If you think it cant work, watch Ohio State-Wisconsin games up to when Urban Meyer was announced as coach.. WIsconsin gave some great Buckeye teams fits... The QB did not dominate as those Badger teams were led by defense and ball control running but the QB stepped up when they threw the ball.. I think it is an issue of coaching these guys up as much or more than just recruiting better talented QBs. We do need more depth at the position but we just need Morgan or Annexstad to step up in to a starting role where they dont feel they need to be a star, but to execute when the time comes to perform.
AND YES, I AGREE WITH EVERYONE THAT WE NEED RECEIVERS THAT ARE ACTIVE,RUN GOOD ROUTES, and CATCH THE BALL ONCE IT GETS TO THEM..All part of a successful passing game, when needed.
If you look at the QBs that Wisconsin have had in their offense since 2000, it is not exactly going to overwhelm anyone with their talent.. Obviously the playmaker was Russell Wilson but he played more at NC State and minor league baseball than was developed at Wisconsin... They have brought in 4 star QBs and virtually none of them have panned out for the Badgers. Scott Tolzien was by far the most accurate QB as he went over 70% completion percentage one year and was close to that in his career stats. The rest of the guys were probably under 60% completions with NOT MUCH ABOVE a one-to one ratio in TDs to interceptions..
Yet so many of their guys have hung around the NFL for a bit.. Maybe not playing much but they were there... Wilson, Tolzien, Brooks Bollinger, Jim Sorgi, Joel Stave, Bart Houston.. Then others that just produced when they needed to like John Stocco...NFL coaches must like them as game managers for backups... I cant see NFL owners and coaches colluding to piss off Minnesota fans by drafting or signing UDFA Wisconsin QBs so they must have something going for them.. These guys I listed were not highly rated for the most part. but proved as good leaders.. None of them ran the ball worth anything.. YES YOU CAN JOKE ABOUT HOW EASY IT IS FOR BADGER QBS IN JUST TURNING AROUND AND HANDLING OFF THE BALL TO STAR RUNNING BACKS but those Badger QBs got their share of awards in bowl games and even Big Ten conference awards. THE POINT IS, QBs can be developed.
We dont have to have a guy that dominates in the air but he does need to be able to move the team through the air at times..AGAINST GOOD TEAMS SPECIFICALLY!! Keep the team on the field after 3rd downs.. That is what Wisconsin QBs do well in passing situations.. We have as talented of guys at QB as Wisconsin had, in some years.
No doubt that the run game plays a big part. Wisconsin will force you to move your safeties up in run support so it opens those square ins or crossing patterns for the receivers where they may see only one safety high and that is it.. Keeps those paths open for the QB and if the LBs drop deep to help, they have the TEs and RBs underneath that the QBs can throw the ball.. That has been their game since Alvarez arrived in Madison... We have the type of talent to play that style of game and succeed.. If you think it cant work, watch Ohio State-Wisconsin games up to when Urban Meyer was announced as coach.. WIsconsin gave some great Buckeye teams fits... The QB did not dominate as those Badger teams were led by defense and ball control running but the QB stepped up when they threw the ball.. I think it is an issue of coaching these guys up as much or more than just recruiting better talented QBs. We do need more depth at the position but we just need Morgan or Annexstad to step up in to a starting role where they dont feel they need to be a star, but to execute when the time comes to perform.
AND YES, I AGREE WITH EVERYONE THAT WE NEED RECEIVERS THAT ARE ACTIVE,RUN GOOD ROUTES, and CATCH THE BALL ONCE IT GETS TO THEM..All part of a successful passing game, when needed.
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