In the first Wisconsin Badger football game following the firing of coach Paul Chryst, interim head coach Jim Leonhard got the chance to lead the squad. The Badgers faced off against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field as Wisconsin pulled away for an impressive 42-7 win. Leonhard had the team working on all cylinders and both sides of the ball dominated the Wildcats.
Badgers Roll Past Wildcats with Explosive Offense
The first time the Badgers took the field with Paul Chryst was going to be an emotional moment. Following his departure, multiple players on the team took to social media to voice their opinion. Chryst had the support of the team, and now they are carrying it over to Jim Leonhard, the Badger and NFL alumni turned defensive coordinator.
Leonhard has always been known for his knowledge of football and his ability to lead a defense. As a former safety in his playing days, Leonhard was responsible for seeing the play before it happened. As a former captain, he was also responsible for being a leader vocally and by example.
So far the Badgers have emulated the play-style of their coach in their win in the first game following the change. It all started with the offensive duo of Graham Mertz and Chimere Dike, who helped crush the defense of Northwestern. Kamo’i Latu solidified the game on defense with his stellar play.
QB Graham Mertz: 299 yards, Five touchdowns, 97.1 QBR
The offense was rolling and it was largely behind the performance of Graham Mertz. It was the most passing yards and highest QBR ever recorded for Mertz. It was familiar to his performance against Illinois in 2020, where the Badgers won 45-7. He recorded five touchdowns, 248 passing yards, and went 20-21 passing. There have been flashes in the past, but this performance could help Mertz develop to the next level.
Throughout his Badger career, Mertz has had his share of struggles and a win against 1-5 Northwestern may not prove much. On the contrary, the play of Mertz in the game was entirely different. On a third and eight in particular, he had a three step drop and the pocket started to collapse. Mertz scrambled out to the left and delivered a beautiful touchdown pass on the run.
— Badgers Film Clips (@Badgers_Film) October 9, 2022
Another play that stood is the long touchdown on third and three the Badgers scored to start the second quarter. Mertz reads and then throws to his receiver across the middle. He beats one guy and then gets to the sideline before scoring. It is honestly an amazing play by Chimere Dike to get past the safety and the corner. What Mertz does well during the play is with his eyes. He looks to the left because he only has his receiver on the right, and when he checks back, he already is in the process of throwing because he knows he will be open.
— Badgers Film Clips (@Badgers_Film) October 9, 2022
It is a great play by both players and the connection between the two was clearly working. Dike finished the game with 10 receptions, 185 yards, and three touchdowns. The connection seems to be there, and hopefully there will be more of it against Michigan State.
WR Chimere Dike: 10 rec, 185 yards, three touchdowns
It would be difficult to talk about top performers and not mention the number one target throughout the game. Chimere Dike sliced through the Northwestern defense all game. His performance was fantastic and it was the breakout game he needed. He recorded 100+ yards in a game for the first time this season against Illinois State with 106 and a touchdown. Now, the performance against Northwestern stands as his best so far throughout his collegiate career.
Being a receiver for a run-heavy school can be tough at times, but the Badgers are starting to find their balance. The run helped gain yards when needed and the pass game was used to score. Dike seemed to get past the defense whenever he needed to, and along with that he didn’t drop any balls. His breakout performance can be a sign for the future, and his play certainly should cause the Wisconsin staff to figure out more ways to use him.
S Kamo’i Latu: Three tackles, Two interceptions, 36 return yards
Obviously, the two big interceptions are worthy of making a player a top performer. However, it is also the effect of Kamo’i Latu that makes him a top performer. The first interception looked tipped at the line, but it also could’ve slipped out of Hilinski’s hand. The ball toppled around and Latu dove to intercept it. The second interception was an under throw and he jumped the route beautifully to make the pick.
The former Utah safety struggled to catch on in limited play. In his first year with the Badgers, this could represent his breakout game. Already in limited time under coach Leonhard, Latu looks like a more instinctive safety and he looks ready to make big plays. The defense will need to step up against their next two opponents, Michigan State and Purdue.
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