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Correction: would have definitely been a touchdown.
-Great blocking up front
-Perfect 2nd-level seal by Van Lanen
-Dike doesn't attack the safety and allows him to make a TD-saving tackle
-Great blocking up front
-Perfect 2nd-level seal by Van Lanen
-Dike doesn't attack the safety and allows him to make a TD-saving tackle
And, as I've written about, right after that Berger run the Badgers hand off to Mason Stokke and Garrett Groshek for a total of 3 yards.
Then on 3rd down Mertz locked into Pryor in double coverage and the play wasn't there to be made.
So far: Extremely rocky start for the QB
Then on 3rd down Mertz locked into Pryor in double coverage and the play wasn't there to be made.
So far: Extremely rocky start for the QB
First half recap:
-Defense was masterful
-Mertz was off in many areas
-2 missed blocking assignments killed the #Badgers (fumble, Berger run)
-Special teams penalties
-Defense was masterful
-Mertz was off in many areas
-2 missed blocking assignments killed the #Badgers (fumble, Berger run)
-Special teams penalties
Indiana TD drive to start the second half:
-Deep drops giving Tuttle time, he's making really good throws
-Sanborn roughing the passer was costly
-Fryfogle is a freaking beast
-Indiana cashes a red zone touchdown (2/2 RZ TDs, UW went 0/3 with 2 FGs)
-Deep drops giving Tuttle time, he's making really good throws
-Sanborn roughing the passer was costly
-Fryfogle is a freaking beast
-Indiana cashes a red zone touchdown (2/2 RZ TDs, UW went 0/3 with 2 FGs)
IU Touchdown:
-Deep drops really starting helping Tuttle find time and deliver throws
-Beautiful throw to the back corner. He was the one quarterback in the game until that point that was making plays
-Deep drops really starting helping Tuttle find time and deliver throws
-Beautiful throw to the back corner. He was the one quarterback in the game until that point that was making plays
More from that play:
-Scott Nelson on Philyor 1v1 is a tough matchup (and one I didn't expect to be called)
-All-out-pressure was perfectly blocked by IU
-I still don't know why Scott Nelson was on an island with Whop Philyor
-Scott Nelson on Philyor 1v1 is a tough matchup (and one I didn't expect to be called)
-All-out-pressure was perfectly blocked by IU
-I still don't know why Scott Nelson was on an island with Whop Philyor
So now you're down 14-3 in the third quarter and Indiana has all the momentum...What's the one thing that you can't do under any circumstances?
Turn the ball over.
Turn the ball over.
It was on this drive that Mertz really found his rhythm:
-1and10, 12 personnel, finds Pryor on the run (same crosser concept as Mertz's miss in Q1, but this one had him roll to the right)
-1and10, 12 personnel: big run for Berger (great blocking by Ferguson)
-1and10, 12 personnel, finds Pryor on the run (same crosser concept as Mertz's miss in Q1, but this one had him roll to the right)
-1and10, 12 personnel: big run for Berger (great blocking by Ferguson)
Then, for some reason unbeknownst to me, on a 2nd-and-10 with 11 personnel, Rudolph called a bubble screen to Jack Dunn with Dike set as the only blocker.
Surprise, surprise...the play lost 3 yards
Surprise, surprise...the play lost 3 yards
Mertz's INT:
-Great protection, sees Dike finding a hole in the zone past the sticks
-Dike didn't turn to the ball until it was too late (lacking the awareness of where he was breaking to)
-The throw, though, was a second late
This was equally on Dike and Mertz
-Great protection, sees Dike finding a hole in the zone past the sticks
-Dike didn't turn to the ball until it was too late (lacking the awareness of where he was breaking to)
-The throw, though, was a second late
This was equally on Dike and Mertz
When you slow it down it's clear Dike turned too late in his break and actually was turning as he left the open hole in the zone.
But Mertz delivered a second too late and it proved costly
But Mertz delivered a second too late and it proved costly
I'm going to add Chimere Dike to my "Studs and duds" column as the second-biggest dud of the game.
Yards production aside, there were plays to be made for him that he consistently failed to capitalize on
Yards production aside, there were plays to be made for him that he consistently failed to capitalize on
Jack Sanborn, ladies and gentlemen, singlehandedly keeping the #Badgers in the game.
In all honestly I don't know how the hell he made this play
In all honestly I don't know how the hell he made this play
Pryor goes on on the ensuing drive, leaving Dike (who had struggled all game) as the team's No. 1 WR.
Mertz still, though, starts to find a rhythm again and move the ball down the field.
Mertz still, though, starts to find a rhythm again and move the ball down the field.
In the Red Zone (where the #Badgers, again, lost the football game):
-Another questionable bubble screen called, Mertz smartly tucks, gets 5
-Run up the middle for 1 (Middle runs didn't work as well as outside zones did all day..IU had no trouble penetrating with Bortolini at C)
-Another questionable bubble screen called, Mertz smartly tucks, gets 5
-Run up the middle for 1 (Middle runs didn't work as well as outside zones did all day..IU had no trouble penetrating with Bortolini at C)
3-4 from the 10:
-Had Pryor 1v1 and with separation (I stand corrected, Pryor didn't leave the game earlier on the drive)
-If Mertz's pass was a bit further to the inside, could've been a TD
Still tossed into double coverage against 2 great CBs. Don't usually see those converted
-Had Pryor 1v1 and with separation (I stand corrected, Pryor didn't leave the game earlier on the drive)
-If Mertz's pass was a bit further to the inside, could've been a TD
Still tossed into double coverage against 2 great CBs. Don't usually see those converted
Also had Dunn at the sticks with separation. Just wasn't a high-percentage pass in a pivotal situation...
Here's the play:
Here's the play:
Defense continued to stop IU and keep the #Badgers in the game.
But it was red zone play-calling and not sharp play from the quarterback that kept Wisconsin from evening the game
But it was red zone play-calling and not sharp play from the quarterback that kept Wisconsin from evening the game
Lmao I forgot about this play...Just a complete coverage bust from Hicks and Nelson in the secondary
This really shouldn't have been a 1-possession game going down to the wire
This really shouldn't have been a 1-possession game going down to the wire
Outside zone runs with 12 personnel continue to work well to Van Lanen's side.
Play was called back for a hold on the LG Seltzner that I really didn't see.
Play was called back for a hold on the LG Seltzner that I really didn't see.
2 plays later:
-Wonderful job by Mertz progressing through his reads and finding Dike in a soft spot in the zone
-Pass protection continues to be great
-Wonderful job by Mertz progressing through his reads and finding Dike in a soft spot in the zone
-Pass protection continues to be great
A few plays later:
-Perfect ball from Mertz to Dike
-Great pass protection + Groshek picking up the blitzing linebacker
These are the reps that make you really excited about the Mertz--Dike connection moving forward
-Perfect ball from Mertz to Dike
-Great pass protection + Groshek picking up the blitzing linebacker
These are the reps that make you really excited about the Mertz--Dike connection moving forward
But, as was the case all day, the momentum stalled because Mertz airmails the third-down throw #Badgers
The following drive, as was the case all day, Tuttle continues to make key throws, IU runs the clock down to 4:48
But
-Leo Chenal continues to be a brick wall
-Williams wins vs. Fryfogle (He lost that one matchup early in the half but played really well throughout the game)
But
-Leo Chenal continues to be a brick wall
-Williams wins vs. Fryfogle (He lost that one matchup early in the half but played really well throughout the game)
It was during these last 3 drives for the #Badgers' offense that Mertz found a rhythm and started to play really well.
It was really tough, though, with no Pryor or Davis to make the big plays when the offense needed them
It was really tough, though, with no Pryor or Davis to make the big plays when the offense needed them
I'm finishing by looking at the 2 final plays by the #Badger offense.
3-10:
-Mertz forces it to Ferguson, had AJ Abbott wide open breaking back to him with 5yds of separation (in his sightline)...Mertz locking onto a receiver and forcing passes was the case for much of the night
3-10:
-Mertz forces it to Ferguson, had AJ Abbott wide open breaking back to him with 5yds of separation (in his sightline)...Mertz locking onto a receiver and forcing passes was the case for much of the night
4-10:
-Bad snap, handled well
-Perfect pass to the corner to Dike, great play by the IU corner
Just didn't convert, and it obviously was their last chance at getting back in the game
-Bad snap, handled well
-Perfect pass to the corner to Dike, great play by the IU corner
Just didn't convert, and it obviously was their last chance at getting back in the game
That's it for the game. Here's what stuck out:
-IU offensive staff made it easy for Tuttle & he played a great game of football
-Mertz locked onto receivers & forced passes
-Turnovers weren't all on him, but were easily-avoidable
-RZ play-calling/decision-making was questionable
-IU offensive staff made it easy for Tuttle & he played a great game of football
-Mertz locked onto receivers & forced passes
-Turnovers weren't all on him, but were easily-avoidable
-RZ play-calling/decision-making was questionable
I'll be writing it all up on @Badgers_Wire later today/tonight
Final takeaway: Indiana played a really good football game with a backup under center, but if Graham Mertz plays well the #Badgers win the game