With the Northwestern Wildcats on the schedule this weekend, the Wisconsin Badgers offense will rely on one key running back.
Tawee Walker, the transfer from the Oklahoma Sooners, exploded at the running back position last weekend for the Badgers. Last weekend, Walker recorded 24 carries for 198-yards and three touchdowns as he led the offense to the win. Walker also had 19 carries for 94-yards and three touchdowns two weeks ago against Purdue during the blowout.
Previously, Walker had been sharing carries with running back Chez Mellusi, who has since decided to step away from football. With Mellusi sidelined for the foreseeable future, Walker stepped into the starting role now taking both the bulk of the carries as well as carries in big situations.
This weekend both Walker and the Wisconsin Badgers offense will take on the Northwestern Wildcats defense. Northwestern currently leads the Big Ten Conference in multiple pass-defense categories, which will likely push the Badgers into a run-heavy attack. Walker will be the man leading the way for the Badgers offense as the offensive line aims to plow a hole through the Wildcats.
The importance of setting the offensive tempo with the run is crucial as the Wildcats have a solid defense, but not the most intelligent defense. Indiana has displayed a powerful rush attack this season and the Wildcats sold hard on the run most of the game. Indiana went on to record three passing touchdowns and balanced both the run and the pass, which the Wildcats could not respond to.
If Walker can out to a hot-start early on, it could really open up opportunities for the rest of the offense to succeed later on.
Can the Wisconsin Badgers, Tawee Walker Continue Hot Offensive Streak?
After weeks of discussions among fans asking for the coaching staff to be fired, the Wisconsin Badgers have scored 94-points in-conference during the past two games.
In that time, the talented running back Walker has doubled his rush yardage total and tripled his touchdown total on the season. Walker has recorded three touchdowns in each of his past two games and made it look effortless at times. The real question is not whether or not Walker can replicate the same game, but whether or not he can find success against the Wildcats.
The most rush yards the Wildcats defense has allowed to any one running back, or quarterback, this season has been 68-yards. The Wildcats have done a great job at limiting the key players each team is aiming to utilize. In the loss against Duke, quarterback Maalik Murphy had his worst game of the season, and Indiana running back Justice Ellison was not able to break anything major against the Wildcats defense.
If Walker can manage to pickup yards here and there when the offense needs it, then the Wisconsin Badgers will be perfectly fine against the Wildcats. It is only when the Badgers struggle to pick up small gains and conversions that Northwestern can crawl back into the game.
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