Wisconsin football Q&A: Will the Badgers return to pounding the football? Can UW get a QB in NIL era?

Posted by Admin November 20, 2024 Football

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MADISON – After each Wisconsin football game we’ll answer your questions. Here is the review of the Badgers’ 16-13 loss to Oregon on Saturday night at Camp Randall Stadium.

Q: By firing Longo for the failure of the Air Raid offense do you think that if Fickell returns next year he goes back to the traditional Badger style of pounding the football?

Mark Stewart: You won’t see UW return to the two back, two tight end package that worked 25-30 years ago. I think it’s possible the next scheme has more of those elements while still leaning into the idea of spreading the field. Remember you need to have an offense that going to be attractive to talented quarterbacks. You have to keep that in mind when thinking about what UW should run. You saw the impact of a good QB last week. Dillon Gabriel had his lowest yardage total of the season vs. UW but even on a bad day was able to make a few plays that helped the Ducks leave town with a win.

Q. Here we are again, a game against a quality opponent where a difference-maker at the QB position probably produces a win. Can UW ever expect to find the type of QB that is needed or in the era of NIL and transfer portal is this all that can be expected at this time?.

Mark Stewart: To piggyback off my last answer, yes Wisconsin can have that kind of quarterback but you’re not going to get him running the kind of offense fans seems to get nostalgic about. You need a QB friendly attack, which is why Fickell went with an offense like the Air Raid to begin win. It was a good idea that just didn’t work out. The Badgers are probably also going to have to get a little lucky in the portal or wait for a guy they develop in-house to emerge.

Q: How bad has Mabrey Mettauer looked so far in practice that he’s not a better option than Locke…cause you can’t look much worse than Locke?

Mark Stewart: Practice hasn’t been open to the media since preseason camp, so I don’t have an answer to that portion of your question. And in case you’re wondering, the change in coordinators doesn’t mean a change at quarterback. Luke Fickell was asked about that Monday and without hesitation said Braedyn Locke will remain the starter. As far as Mabrey goes I know there was some concern about the damage that can happen to a quarterback if they play a lot too soon. Also I wonder at this point in the season if the redshirt comes into play. Mettauer can make one more appearance and still maintain his redshirt season.

Q: Why do you think Cade Yacamelli does not get any playing time? He always makes plays when in the game and has a 7 ypc .

Mark Stewart: I think the philosophy with the running backs shifted after Chez Mellusi left. Gone was the backfield by committee approach and Walker got additional reps, which helped his overall production. The thinking could be the same with Darrion Dupree. Rather than split his reps, maybe the coaches want to see what he can do in an extended of a period as they give him at this point.

Q: After watching the Badgers lose to the best team Phil Knight could buy, my question is How can we prevent NIL deals from exacerbating existing inequalities in college athletics.

Mark Stewart: In this new world of college athletics there has already been talk of roster limits. It would also make sense that there is a salary cap structure to prevent huge inequites and a haves and have nots situation that we see in Major League Baseball. The tricky part is that doesn’t necessarily affect NIL deals. I don’t have an answer for you on that, but I don’t think a lot of people do at this point. I picture it being similar to playing professionally in larger vs. a smaller market. The larger market is probably going to have more off-the-field opportunities to earn money than the smaller one even if the teams in both cities offer the same deal.

Q: Why did it take so long to fire Longo?

Mark Stewart: I was actually surprised Longo didn’t finish the season. The offense was far from humming with Longo as OC, but it’s tough to be let go when you’re coming off your toughest three-game stretch of the season. My guess is that Longo’s departure had more to do with how he and Fickell worked together than the numbers the offense put up.

Q: Now that Longo is gone, what will it take for Fickell to follow him out the door? Follow up: Why is McIntosh so unpopular?

Mark Stewart: Why is director of athletics Chris McIntosh unpopular? I think his Q-rating is tied to the football team’s and Fickell’s success. He has also had to make some tough, money-related decisions as the Badgers prepare for this new world of college sports. Moving long-time fans out of their lower bowl seats at the Kohl Center for new luxury seating wasn’t popular and the department’s handling of the personalized memorial bricks that were displaced by the construction of the new football practice facility was a P.R. disaster.

Q: Do you get the sense that keeping Braedyn Locke from getting hit has greatly influenced the Badgers’ play calling? It’s been noticeable in the Penn State and Oregon games that Locke is getting his passes off in barely two seconds, not enough time for lengthy routes and occasionally midrange routes. Lack of QB depth appears to have shortened the playbook.

Mark Stewart: I don’t think any coach wants their starting QB to take hits, so yes I’m sure that plays a role in what plays are called. That’s not unique to Wisconsin. Whether you like how he’s played or not, Locke’s value is high for Wisconsin with Van Dyke done for the year.