A day after the 28-14 win over the Western Michigan Broncos, the Wisconsin football team has allowed the dust to settle and the team to rest.
The Badgers were able to win their season opener for the third year in a row after defeating the Western Michigan Broncos, 28-14. While it may show that the Wisconsin football team won by two scores, the game truly did not feel like that. Wisconsin is surely excited to have secure a win, but now they must focus on what they can improve upon after the close game.
Wisconsin Football Showcased Exciting Defense, Strong Run Game During Win
The Wisconsin football team had their fair share of success in the win over the Western Michigan Broncos. While luck definitely played a part in the win, none of it would have been possible without the defensive and special teams play from Wisconsin. The Badgers again displayed they have one of the best defenses in the country by showcasing their depth.
Star cornerback Ricardo Hallman put fear into defenses a season ago by snagging seven interceptions and shutting down his side of the field. The Western Michigan staff understood this and did not test Hallman once all game, effectively avoiding his side of the field all together. However, it was the true freshman Xavier Lucas who would hurt the offense after a toe-tap interception on the sideline ended the game for the Broncos.
Safety Hunter Wohler led the team with six solo tackles and seven total tackles, picking up right where he left off a season ago. Wohler was a forced for Wisconsin football last season as both a leader on and off the field for the team. The safety looked exceptional against the Broncos and came up big for the defense with multiple stops.
On the offensive side, the Wisconsin football team again showed a two-headed attack by charging running backs Chez Mellusi and Tawee Walker forward. Walker and Mellusi combined for 140-yards on the ground and two touchdowns as well. The running back duo carried the ball 34 times and received the ball three times for the offense.
Wisconsin Badgers Football Team Struggled to Efficiently Move on Offense
While the Wisconsin football team got the win and got the important part out of the way, the team must now focus on how to get better. The Badgers have a clash against the Alabama Crimson Tide just around the corner that could get seriously ugly. In order for Wisconsin to improve, they need to focus on gaining separation on offense as a receiving unit.
Wide receiver Will Pauling is certainly the guy that Wisconsin wants to get the football too, but Pauling has struggled to get open. Pauling had four first downs for the Badgers while recording six receptions and 60-yards during the game. But the wide receiver had a drop, which he had an issue with last season, and could not haul in two catches in traffic.
Pauling is a great receiver, but when it comes down to being great against other great players, the wide receiver must play up to his full potential. Another receiver who struggled was CJ Williams, who dropped his lone target of the game. As stated previously, drops have been a problem in the receiving room in the past and looks like it could linger into the 2024 season.
Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke had a solid showing for the Wisconsin football team but certainly not the best performance by his own standards. The quarterback went 21-for-36 with 192-yards but recorded a quarterback rating of 48.8 for the game. Van Dyke did not make the best reads, as he attempted one deep pass and recorded two turnover-worthy pass attempts as well that were in the hands of defenders.
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