SB Nation - Scott Tolzien

2009 Quarterback Rankings, Final Edition: Across The Board, Marked Improvement Over 2008

grahamfiller10 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:08:08 -0000

Another year has passed and no Big Ten QB has made any kind of national impact...or at least a positive one. Terrelle Pryor was on the tail end of some Heisman lists, but the USC game quickly bucked him off those. Daryll Clark found himself spewing astronomical stats in almost every game...except the ones that mattered on a BCS level.

2009 QB Rankings, First Edition: Optimism!

2009 QB Rankings, Second Edition: Back to Reality!

2009 QB Rankings, Third Edition: You're Better Than This!

One obvious observation - the quarterback play was improved all the way across the Big Ten. In fact, let me illustrate this:

Improved QB Situation from 2008: Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, NW, Wisconsin, Indiana,

Declining QB Situation from 2008: Illinois, Minnesota

Similar QB Situation of 2008: Penn State, OSU, Iowa

In the running back focused league of 2008, QB's struggled with injuries and consistency. Although two of them (Painter, Hoyer) made it to 3rd string status in the NFL, the ratings were horrendous and offenses stagnated badly when the run game was slowed. Last year, only four quarterbacks had a 126 QB rating or higher. This year, that number rose to nine.

Our group of QB's here, who mostly avoided injuries, consists of four seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, and one freshman. Since none of the seven non-seniors are good enough to jump to the NFL right now, that's a good amount of returning starters for next year. Weber and Forcier will face major challenges to their hold on the starting job. Without further adieu, enjoy the 2009 Big Ten Quarterback Rankings, Final Edition.

	QB	Team	Comments
#1	Daryll Clark	PSU	Destroyed Michigan State last week. Rivals has him as the 27th best QB in the nation, for what it's worth. Since this rankings inception in 2008, has always been #1 in my rankings.
#2	Mike Kafka	NW	Played his best game of the year versus Wisky, a mistake free 326 yard, 2 TD performance. Ran the NW Spread well all year and would have semi-torched PSU if not for injury.
#3	Kirk Cousins	MSU	Laser-rocket armed Baptist boy will be an asset for the Spartans for the next two years. Hit a bit of a sophomore wall toward the end of the year, running into Penn State and Purdue defenses who confused him into picks and incompletions. Cousins v. Western: 22-25, 353 yards, 2 TD's. Nice.
#4	Terrelle Pryor	OSU	All he does is win games, right? That's bullshit. He would have won more games if he didn't go noodle armed against Purdue and USC. Does TreS misuse him? Yes. But when Pryor get's unleashed, things get wild. TP is almost impossible to slow on the ground, as witnessed in AA Saturday.
#5	Joey Elliot	PU	A great leader and less injury prone than Painter. 22/13 TD/INT ratio compared to 13/11 for 2008 Painter. Also sported a QB Rating 13 points higher. 8 TD's in his final three games. Definitely one of the pleasant surprises in the Big Ten.
#6	Scott Tolzien	WI	FAR better than the 2008 combo of Evridge/Sherer. Blew apart a couple opponents selling out to stop the run. Things to work on in the offseason: 1) Mobility and 2) Not being so cavalier throwing the ball into coverage. 16/10 TD/INT Ratio.
#7	Ricky Stanzi	Iowa	Worse QB rating than 2008 and almost lost a couple of games with INT's. After an offseason of Tom Brady comparisons and TRE's orgasmic musings about perfect mechanics, took a step backward by throwing some inconceivable picks. Injury won't affect 2010 performance.
#8	Ben Chappell	IND	Another pleasant surprise who made a habit of scaring the hell out of teams in the first half, only to regress terrible in the second half. Stats v. Wisky three weeks ago: 25-35, 323 yards, 3 TD's, 2 Picks. Microcosm of a thoroughly entertaining Hoosier team.
#9	Adam Weber	MN	I called for his benching four weeks ago. After torching State like Stewie torching Brian during the "Got My Money" Family Guy episode, had three consecutive bad performances. This offense can't transition to MarQueis Gray quick enough. Threw the single worst Big Ten pass of the year (the pick6 to Derek Domino of South Dakota St).
#10	Juice Williams	ILL	Juice shredded Michigan and was generally effective versus NW. Early season struggles are hard to overcome on this list though, especially coming from the main catalyst of the Big Ten's most disappointing team.
#11	Tate Forcier	UM	He's not REALLY the worst QB in the Big Ten. But I'm a Michigan fan and he threw four picks against OSU, thus prolonging a 5 game losing streak.

The Best of Times, the Worst of Times: Northwestern Ends on a High Note Over Wisconsin, 33-31

hmlee — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:05:41 -0000

More photos » by Nam Y. Huh - AP

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Well, that turned out to be quite the exciting game. I was rather shocked by the final score, though not by who won. Those of you who've been around since the beginning of the season know that this was a tough one for me, as I write about both Wisconsin and Northwestern for The Rivalry, Esq. I grew up a Badger fan and as a current Northwestern Law student also cheer quite hard for the Wildcats. While the Northwestern-Wisconsin rivalry isn't a blood feud like some others in this conference, it was still a difficult game for me. Every play was essentially both good and bad. I cheered and then felt despondent for the entirety of this game. That's not really a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

I had hoped earlier this season that things would shake out in such a way that this game would only be important to one team and thus I would be able to pick a side for the game and stick with it. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) this game held implications for both teams. Both teams gained bowl eligibility weeks ago, but the the narrative of their seasons was on the line. While the cheesehead in me is sad that the Badgers lost, I think, in the end I am happy that the game turned out the way it did. Frankly, Northwestern needed this game more.

That might seem to be an odd statement, but, looking at the reality of this conference it makes sense from both a bowl perspective and a recruiting perspective. The current Big 10 standings have three teams at 10-2 on the season, with Ohio State taking the championship based on their better in conference record. OSU will thus claim the Big 10's automatic BCS berth and head to Pasadena to take on the Pac-10 champ. As far as at large berths go, Iowa will probably claim another for the Big 10, and Penn State has an outside chance of grabbing one also. If they didn't get an at large, PSU would be slotted into the Capital One bowl vs. a SEC team.

Wisconsin, then, was priced out of the BCS a long time ago. Even at 10-2, it would have been unlikely for them to move from their slot in the Outback bowl, and at 9-3 (assuming a win in two weeks over Hawaii) they won't drop from that perch either. Further, Wisconsin's team is a young one. They have performed remarkably well for such a freshman-sophomore loaded squad, and I see only bright things ahead of them.

Northwestern was in a similar bowl game spot. With the upset of Iowa and the expected victory over Illinois, Northwestern had vaulted themselves to 7 wins and past the rest of the mushy middle of the Big 10 to claim a ticket to the Champs Sports bowl. The victory today gives them eight wins, but they still sit behind Wisconsin and unless the Badgers falter in Hawaii they will still have a worse record by a game. Because Michigan State lost to Penn State today, there is no team capable of leapfrogging the 'Cats. Northwestern is as stuck as Wisconsin.

So, then, we must look at this game from a recruiting perspective. Wisconsin will always do well in recruiting among Big 10 teams. They are a flagship state school known both for academics as well as athletics. They have the loyalty of an entire state, as well as a history of a great football team and will always be competitive with the upper tier Big 10 teams for recruits. A victory tonight wouldn't have altered that in any meaningful way.

Northwestern, by contrast, could gain a significant boost from this victory. With today's win they have sealed an eight win season after coming from virtually nowhere to reach nine wins last year. They will not only be going to a bowl two years in a row, but a warm weather bowl at that (no Pizza! Pizza! here). Despite the dismal beginning to this season, they defeated two of the three ranked teams they played against, and came one quarter away from upsetting the third when Penn State came to town. These upsets, if they can be combined with the 'Cats first bowl victory in 60 years, would seal the impression in recruits minds that Fitz is determined to build a consistently winning program in Evanston that will compete with the conference's upper tier.

Thus, the team that needed the victory most managed to pull it out, and I am at least moderately happy for that.

After the jump, I do a multiple personality recap of the action on the field...

Bama Hawkeye takes a look at the sweet goods on the line this weekend in the Big 10...

Graham and Law Buck engage in dueling coverage of the OSU and Michigan rivalry game...

The only way to really address the in game action today is for me to look at it both as a Northwestern fan and a Wisconsin fan. Because Northwestern comes first alphabetically, I'll start with them.

Northwestern:

It was good to see the 'Cats start this game off on all cylinders. I like this style of play much better than their "wait until we're down by an absurd margin and then mount a nail-biting comeback" gameplan.

Kafka lead the 'Cats on their opening drive from the Northwestern 25 yard line for a score. The defense then answered that by coming out of the gate and largely containing the John Clay led Badger offense and forcing them to punt away their first possession. Both teams then three and outed before Northwestern managed to end the quarter with a field goal to take a 10 point lead on Wisconsin.

Offense:

I was heartened by the fact that all of Northwestern's running backs - Scott Concannon, Stephen Simmons, and Arby Fields - managed to make contributions to Northwestern's game today. At least Concannon and Fields will be back next year, and I am unsure if Simmons, a senior with another year of eligibility, will stay as well. Even if Simmons is gone, the competition between Concannon and Fields during camp next year will only be a positive for Northwestern. It is true that Northwestern runs a spread offense from the shotgun, but having versatile running backs to compliment the mobile QBs will always make the receivers more dangerous.

The second quarter was not quite as kind to the 'Cats. Wisconsin carried over their drive from the 1st and converted it into a John Clay touchdown. Northwestern managed to get the ball back for all of one play before it was fumbled away by Scott Concannon and recovered by Wisconsin. While I never like to see turnovers, I can't put too much heat on Concannon as he has been quite sure handed for most of the games this year. Wisconsin went to their tight end for a TD to give Bucky a four point lead.

Stephen Simmons then broke off a great 64 yard kick return to put the 'Cats within smelling distance of the Badger redzone. Mike Kafka rattled off several passes to Drake Dunsmore, Zeke Markshausen, Arby Fields, and Andrew Brewer to once again take the lead at 17-14. I was happy to see Kafka playing in a much more mobile and healthy way than in the last few games, and it was great for him to end his last regular season on a winning note. Hopefully he can cap off his time at Northwestern with a bowl victory in a few weeks.

Northwestern's defense three and outed the Badgers and then on their next drive Kafka executed a great end-around pass to Markshausen who pitched it downfield to a wiiide open Sidney Stewart. The ball was perfectly thrown and took advantage of the Wisconsin secondary, which isn't exactly the most dominant in the Big 10.

Northwestern regained their 10 point lead 24-14 and never really looked back. Stefan Demos once again looked his automatic self and tacked on three more field goals for the remainder of the 'Cats 33 points.

Defense:

The final score of today's game really doesn't do the defense justice. Yes, the 'Cats let Bucky come unacceptably close to a comeback win, but the defense played a good game for all 60 minutes. Three different Wildcats had sacks - Brad Phillips, Corey Wootton, and Vince Browne. The 'Cats managed to hold John Clay to only 102 yards rushing and 1 TD, which is pretty good considering he's the best RB in the conference. They also managed to step up in the crucial moments, forcing two turnovers during the forth quarter. Brian Peters recovered a clay fumble, and Jordan Mabin ended the late Badger threat with a great interception of Tolzien in the final seconds.

All in all, a good way to end the season. I think with a healthy Kafka the Wildcats will be very competitive come bowl time, and I'm looking forward to a great Champs Sports Bowl match up.

Go U! NU!

Wisconsin:

Now, I'll let my slightly more depressed dairy state side take over. This really was a trap game for my Badgers. While they were coming off three wins, Purdue, Indiana, and Michigan aren't exactly formidable competition this year. Northwestern is a deceptive team who had only been getting better as the season has gone on. It seemed that the Badgers were in danger of looking past both Northwestern and Hawaii towards the bowl season, and I think that's just what they did.

The Badgers simply played sloppy football, and it cost them the game.

Offense:

The one bright spot on the white and red side of the ball was the offense. The Badgers executed a balanced gameplan that got more dangerous as the game went on. Yes, they started off slowly, but Clay managed another triple digit ground game with a score, and Scott Tolzien threw for 235 yards and 2 TDs - both to the newly full strength Garrett Graham. Nick Toon also showed why he's going to be a big threat for years to come, as he had 7 catches for 70 yards, a nice follow up to his 98 yard game at Michigan. I don't know that he will ever live up to his father's stats, but he is definitely a solid part of the Badger offense and has a good chance to be their top receiver for the next year or two.

For all his inconsistency this year, Tolzien had a solid game, throwing only one interception in the closing seconds on a last ditch effort to move the Badgers downfield. For someone who was presumed to be a career backup at best, this season has been a good one and I'm looking forward to next year. Wisconsin finally has a quarterback who can make both the short quick throws and the deep passes. I'd like to see a win against Hawaii and a bowl victory to cap off his first starting season... regardless of what happens in the next few weeks, the competition between him and Curt Phillips will make for an interesting camp next year.

Defense:

Unfortunately, this was not one of the defense's better efforts. They allowed the most points they have all season, even more than they did to Ohio State, and even my other half would agree that the 'Cats are most certainly not the Buckeyes. Frankly, the Wisconsin defense was just not equipped to handle the Northwestern spread. The secondary is the weakest part of the defense and it showed. Kafka burned the Wisconsin defense for 326 yards passing and 2 TDs. The defense also looked completely fooled by the end around to Zeke Markshausen... he's a receiver for goodness sakes! He shouldn't be able to throw a TD! Gah.

This was also only the third game of the entire season in which the Badgers had no interceptions (the other two were against Northern Illinois and Iowa). They did have one fumble recovery, but lost the turnover battle overall. Still.... this is a young unit and can only really get better next year. I just hope we don't draw a spread based team in a bowl game, or it could get ugly.

Special Teams:

Once again, the special teams was a Jekyll and Hyde unit. Two separate returns best show this.

In the second quarter, Isaac Anderson inexplicably picked up a kickoff in the end zone and ran the ball out... to the 5. Ugh. Wisconsin managed to get the ball out to their 18, but the resulting punt gave Northwestern great field position near midfield, and the Wildcats would convert that into a field goal. Sigh.

In the third quarter, though, the special teams partially managed to redeem themselves when David Gilreath returned a a punt 68 yards for a TD which pulled Wisconsin within 3 of Northwestern.

The kick coverage today was similarly mediocre. Northwestern managed one 60+ yard return and several 30 yard returns. Their shortest return was for 12 yards after a Welch field goal. That's not really a dominating performance.

The interesting thing about this game is that both Northwestern and Wisconsin have ST units coached by the head coaches. Northwestern, for the most part, manages to do it right. They constantly execute good returns and usually do not make stupid mistakes. Wisconsin, by contrast, is prone to such mistakes and to sloppily executed tackling on their return coverage. Simply put, as long as Bielema is still coaching that unit, you never know what you're going to get. Until he finally gets a full time coach, it will always be the Achilles heel of this squad. It is long past time for that change to happen.

Disappointing as all that was, I must give credit to the Badgers for not giving up. They fought hard and pulled within two points, taking the game down to the final seconds. They can still end the season strong in Hawaii, and a bowl victory would prove that an excess of youth does not necessarily spell doom in the NCAA. In truth, they can only get better from here.

So...

On to Hawaii, On to the regular season finale, and ON WISCONSIN!!!!

The Obligatory Predictions Competition - Week 12

Law Buckeye — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:48:22 -0000

It's hate week. It's also the last chance you'll have to pick Big Ten matchups before the bowls.

1. No. 10 OHIO STATE at MICHIGAN, 12:00 p.m. EST (11/21), ABC

GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts OHIO STATE by 14

Vegas seems to understand the possible game flow here. Law Buck wrote two articles, one decrying the death of UM and one giving the Wolverines hope for Saturday’s showdown. These contrasting perspectives will do fine in tracing Ann Arbor's emotions. The Wolverines can score points against top defenses (28 versus Iowa, 24 versus Wisky), so the zone read runs could be effective enough to keep UM in the game. But the Buck’s give up points grudgingly and Pryor has been less mistake prone of late, signifying that the better team should run away. I’ll be holding my breath in the first quarter, hoping for a close contest.

LAW BUCKEYE predicts OHIO STATE by 10

If you try to tune into this game, but think you're watching Nebraska don't be confused. It's just Ohio State, ~~participating in a Nike promotional stunt~~ paying homage to the 1954 National Championship team by wearing these modern classic threads. It might be an unintentional hubris, treating an away game with its biggest rival like a fashion show, but these Buckeyes have plenty of motivation. They have the chance to become the first OSU team ever to beat the Wolverines 6 times in a row.

I've already outlined what Michigan needs to do to stay in this game. But what do I really think will happen? A scarlet inside and out rushing attack -- featuring an edge scouter (Dan "Boom" Herron), and a pile pusher (Brandon Saine) -- that rushed for over 200 yards against Iowa, will sustain Ohio State drives. We'll also see a great deal more scripted runs for Terrelle Pryor, who can afford to earn a few bangs and bruises with a 41 day layover before the Rose Bowl. The Achilles Heel for the Wolverines is undoubtedly linebacker play -- which means if the Buckeye offensive line is getting holes, you'll see a gluttonous Ohio State team tear off yardage in chunks.

Michigan plays inspired, and keeps the lid on the pot for the first half, but eventually its offense wears down and makes mistakes. It's going to be another long winter in Ann Arbor.

Go Bucks!

2. MINNESOTA at No. 13 IOWA, 12:00 p.m. EST (11/21), ESPN

GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts IOWA by 10

I love this Iowa team, all blood and guts and with their backups playing above their skill level. I dislike this Minnesota team with its lack of offensive cohesion and weak offensive line. We saw what Vandenberg can do with the help of McNutt. We also saw what the Mini offense can do against South Dakota State (zero touchdowns).

LAW BUCKEYE predicts IOWA by 55 14

It's easy to forget if you're talking to a Penn State fan entertaining BCS at-large ambitions, but Iowa is without question the second best team in the conference, and they're a lot closer to the first, than the third. James Vandenberg's valiant efforts in Columbus came up just short -- but that doesn't mean that he'll shrink from the occasion to blast a few pesky rodent rivals. Iowa runs and passes at will on its way to a blowout.

3. No. 16 WISCONSIN at NORTHWESTERN, 3:30 p.m. EST (11/21), Big Ten Network

GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts WISCONSIN by 10

Well, if Hmlee was going to have her heart split in two pieces by this matchup, it mine as well be over two improved squads having solid years. I have a growing respect for the Wisconsin defense and it’s linebacking corps…I also have no idea who will block O’Brien Schofield.

LAW BUCKEYE predicts WISCONSIN by 10

The Badgers have rushed for more than 200 yards in three straight games. But don't forget that Scott Tolzien threw 4 touchdown passes in last week's victory over Michigan. Northwestern is vulnerable to the rush, having given up 212 yards to the Illini last week in a closer-than-it-should-have-been win. Wisconsin gains momentum on the ground before blowing the game open in the air.

4. PURDUE at INDIANA, 3:30 p.m. EST (11/21), Big Ten Network

GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts PURDUE by 7

An early theme from the Purdue side of things was that if Purdue was a 5 win team and battling to get in a bowl against Indiana, there was no way they would lose. Well the pressure is off for both squads and it will probably result in these effective passing games running roughshod over the horrendous defenses. I loved how Purdue played on the road in East Lansing, but I also respect the fight that Indiana has put up in almost every single conference game. Purdue hasn’t been stopped of late and Bloomington doesn’t afford that much home field advantage.

LAW BUCKEYE predicts PURDUE by 7

Anyone who requires proof that the Big Ten is up in stock need look no further than the Boilermakers and the Hoosiers. These perennial cellar-dwellers have provided to be dedicated and dynamic gunners, with colorful offenses and inspired defenses. Purdue is the slightly better team, and has two more conference wins to prove it. They'll get their fourth Saturday. Neither team will go bowling, but both should keep their heads high -- there's promise for the future.

5. No. 14 PENN STATE at MICHIGAN STATE, 3:30 p.m. EST (11/21), ABC

GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts PENN STATE by 10

I love Michigan State’s linebacking corps, but their pass defense has been shredded weekly this Fall. How do they slow Daryll Clark with limited pressure from the front four? They don’t. Elliot, Tolzien, Weber, Kafka…all had huge numbers against the staid 4-3 of Narduzzi.

LAW BUCKEYE predicts PENN STATE by 10

Both these teams have been major disappointments in 2009, although one still stands to earn an at large bid to the BCS. Penn State will be without backup tailback Brandon Beachum, and wide receiver Chaz Powell when they enter Spartan Stadium, a place where they're four of six all time. Michigan State, meanwhile is 2-0 in November, on the hands of senior receiver Blair White. If the Nittany Lions can't get their act together on special teams, the Spartans just might be able to pull the upset, but ultimately, Daryll Clark gets in rhythm, and Penn State carries the day.

Wha Happened? Week Eleven

RossWB — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:30:24 -0000

There were other games played. Stuff happened. Dickheads won, dumbasses lost, many points were scored. So Wha Happened?

Even if they cheat, Michigan's defense can't stop anyone.

Wisconsin 45, Michigan 24
The Punch-A-Bully-While-He's-Down Tour stopped in Madison this week, and the Badgers were all too happy to take their pound of LOLverine flesh. For the fifth straight game, the Big Ten's worst defense gave up thirty or more points -- in fact, the Michigan defense has given up thirty or more points in all but one of their conference games (a 26-20 OT loss to Michigan State that began their current tailspin), an ignominious accomplishment that no other Big Ten team can match. Scott Tolzien had a fine day (16/24, 240 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT) and John Clay continued to firm up his resume for All-Big Ten first team and even Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (if win-loss records didn't matter, Michigan State's Kirk Cousins or Purdue's Keith Smart might be shoo-ins, but win-loss records typically do matter), pounding away for 151 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. And assuming my crack research is correct, if Michigan loses next week and Indiana wins, then Big Blue will finish all alone in the Big Ten cellar for the first time since 1962. Good times ahead for RichRod, no doubt.

Mark Dantonio only looks like he's about to rip the official's throat out with his teeth.

Michigan State 40, Purdue 37
In what amounted to a playoff game for bowl eligibility (Purdue needed to win its remaining games to qualify for a bowl; Sparty needed only to split their remaining two games, and this was far more winnable than the season finale against Penn State), Sparty had one more bullet than the Fightin' Danny Hopes. The highest-scoring conference game of the season turned into a sometimes sloppy shootout between two teams with rifle-armed quarterbacks and inconsistent (to be charitable) defenses. Although, statistically, it was a damn odd game: Purdue killed them in total yards of offense (524 to 362), offensive plays run (92 to 49!), and time of possession (40:39 to 19:21). But Michigan State was all about the big play yesterday. Their first touchdown was a fumble return on the game's first play from scrimmage. Their second touchdown came on a three-play drive that featured a 55-yard pass. Their third touchdown was a one-play drive with a 73-yard touchdown bomb. Their fourth (and final) touchdown drive was set up by a blocked field goal and a 45-yard run. Plus, they made not one, but two 52-yard field goals. (I covet Brett Swenson. I covet him very much.) Joey Elliot channeled the spirit of Purdue gunslingers past and had himself a fine day -- 39/55, 373 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT -- but it wasn't enough and the Boilermakers will be sitting at home for a second straight season. At least their fans can enjoy basketball season.

Bill Lynch: not a fan of Big Ten officiating.

Penn State 31, Indiana 20
Indiana forced four turnovers in the first half, conceded none, jumped out to a 10-0 lead... but still found themselves in a 10-10 stalemate heading into halftime. Why? Because they are Indiana football and that is just what happens to them, especially this year. Bill Lynch again looked like he wanted to choke a ~~bitch~~ Big Ten official after they ignored a potential holding call on Evan Royster's game-tying touchdown run at the end of the second quarter, but the story of Indiana's frustrations this season isn't the screwjobs they've gotten from the refs on more than one occasion. No, it's in their dumbfounding inability to convert the staggering amount of turnovers they've forced into more actual points. Yesterday they converted those four turnovers into one touchdown. Two weeks ago, the six turnovers they forced against Iowa led to just three points (remarkably, none of their three touchdown drives came after Iowa turnovers). The week before that, they turned three second-half interceptions from Mike Kafka into zero points. In the only other game in that span, against Wisconsin two weeks ago, they forced only one turnover but did manage to turn it into a touchdown -- huzzah for efficiency! All told, that's 14 forced turnovers in the last four games, leading to a combined seventeen points. Not coincidentally, they're also 0-4 in those games and they've now been officially eliminated from bowl contention. As for Penn State, the first half looked like an ugly hangover from the Ohio State game, but the second half was a respectable effort that kept them on pace to win ten games this season.

It's all comin' up ZOOKER, baby.

Northwestern 21, Illinois 16
Oh who fucking cares. Did the ground open up and swallow both of these teams and their glorified Monopoly piece trophy and cast them into the deepest bowels of Hell? No? Meh. Watching Jim Tressel try to decide which sweatervest to wear would have been more entertaining than the first half of this game, which featured incompetent offenses and at least three missed field goals. Action picked up in the second half, but, again, who gives a fuck? Illinois locked up another bowl-free season, continuing the really positive run of momentum they've had since that Rose Bowl run two years ago.

PLAYING QUARTERBACK: UR DOIN IT WRONG.

Minnesota 16, South Dakota State 13
Another week, another dreadful offensive performance by the Gophers. Their lone touchdown was a fumble returned for a touchdown that they needed to take only three yards to get into the end zone. Two of their three field goals came from short fields set up by turnovers (Jackrabbit QB Thomas O'Brien was, sadly, a turnover machine yesterday: he had a pair of interceptions and a pair of fumbles). While some credit is due to SDSU for buckling down in the red zone, this sort of incompetence is hardly new to Minnesota's offense this year. Aside from that offensive explosion against Michigan State on Halloween (and considering how many other teams have sliced up Sparty's defense, Minnesota's performance against them doesn't look quite as impressive), their offense has been dormant for some time: they've amassed fewer than 300 yards of total offense in four of their last five games. But, hey, at least they got that crucial sixth win -- now they can start making travel plans to the Pizza! Pizza! Bowl.

Air attack returns as Badgers blowout Michigan

Adam Hoge — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:04:10 -0000

More photos » by Morry Gash - AP

Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien (16) throws to Lance Kendricks (84) while being rushed by Michigan linebacker Brandon Smith (4) during the first half Saturday. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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One thing was obvious in Wisconsin's 45-24 win over Michigan Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium: the Badgers were going to get the passing game going again.

At times you had to wonder why offensive coordinator Paul Chryst was calling for passes on first and second down when he could be running the ball for sure yardage with John Clay, the Big Ten's leading rusher.

After quarterback Scott Tolzien's second turnover -- a lost fumble returned for a touchdown to give Michigan a 17-14 lead -- you really had to wonder if Chryst was going to scale the offense back and keep the ball on the ground.

Think again. Call it stubborness or call it brilliance, but that's exactly when Tolzien and UW passing game showed up.

Tolzien hit Garrett Graham for a six-yard gain and then found Nick Toon for a 36-yard gain before hitting Graham on the next play for 23 more yards. In three plays, Tolzien took Wisconsin from its own 32 yard line all the way to the Michigan three-yard line.

Clay took over from there, scoring his only touchdown of the game as UW took a 21-17 lead and never looked back.

Tolzien finished the day with four touchdown passes and 240 yards on 16-of-24 passing. If that wasn't enough, he added a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that gave UW a 42-24 advantage.

After boasting one of the more balanced offenses in the country earlier in the season, the Badgers' passing game had disappeared over the last four games. Also disappearing was Graham, UW's heralded tight end who accumulated only seven catches in the last four games, including only three in the last three games.

Saturday Graham caught five balls for 62 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown catch that put Wisconsin on the board first.

Sophomore wide receiver Nick Toon, who had remained one of the few bright spots in the UW passing game, continued his breakout season with five catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. His 15-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter was arguably the best catch of the year for the Badgers as Toon reached over cornerback Donovan Warren and made the catch despite Warren being called for pass interference.

Perhaps the best sign for the UW offense Saturday was that while Tolzien was busy throwing touchdown passes, John Clay and the running game didn't skip a beat. Clay finished with 156 yards on 26 carries, while freshman Montee Ball added 62 yards on 16 carries.

Give offensive coordinator Paul Chryst credit for not bailing on his gameplan early when Tolzien was struggling. If Wisconsin is going to finish strong and compete in a bowl game against a top-tier opponent, its offense is going to have to be two-dimensional.

Saturday, Wisconsin proved it has a passing game that must be respected and that can only do wonders for a running game that has already dominated the Big Ten.

Replay and React: The good and bad from Saturday's win

Jbharris87 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:57:55 -0000

by Tom Strattman - AP

about 1 month ago: Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland (44) celebrates with teammates Culmer St. Jean (15), Devin Smith (10) and Dan Moore (45) after intercepting a pass during the second half of a college football game against Indiana in Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. Wisconsin won 31-28. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

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Underwhelming would be one way to describe Wisconsin's 31-28 victory over Indiana Saturday. Yet, despite the small margin of victory, the Badgers were in control throughout virtually the entire game. Wisconsin built a ten-point halftime lead and withstood a late Hoosier rally for its second straight win. Head coach Bret Bielema admitted this was far from a perfect performance.

"I think our guys knew on Sunday that they had to watch a game that they weren’t real clean at," Bielema said. "[We] didn’t do all the things that we had been doing during the course of the season to have success."

Still, it is tough to complain when three Badgers had 100-yard days offensively and the Wisconsin defense held the Hoosiers to 63 rushing yards. While Indiana shares the cellar of the Big Ten with Michigan at 1-5, Wisconsin is not the only team that has had to work to defeat them. The Hoosiers held fourth-quarter leads on the road three different times this season, only to watch each of them evaporate.

Give the Badgers credit for taking care of business on the road and keeping their hopes of a 10-2 season alive.

Let's get to the highlights:

The Good

Running Game - It is becoming a theme when Wisconsin plays Indiana, but Bielema and offensive coordinator Paul Chryst were determined to dominate on the ground against the Big Ten's eighth-ranked rushing defense. John Clay wore down the Hoosiers in the first half, carrying 15 times for 134 yards and a touchdown. When he was unable to return in the second period because of stomach pains and a possible concussion, true freshman Montee Ball carried the load. Ball's number was called 27 times and he piled up 115 yards and two touchdowns. As a team, the Badgers ran for 294 yards, three touchdowns and a 5.4-yard average per carry. The coaches' faith in Ball was tested when Clay went down, and they could not have given him a stronger vote of confidence, essentially assigning him the task of protecting the Badgers' lead.

Nick Toon - The redshirt sophomore wide receiver had what Bielema called his most complete game as a Badger. Toon caught five passes for 123 yards, none of which were more important than his 17-yard reception on 3rd-and-8 with Wisconsin clinging to a three-point lead in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. He continues to demonstrate big-play potential, hauling in a 44-yard pass Saturday. Toon's development is an encouraging sign for a relatively young offense, and his presence as a legitimate threat in the passing game opens up holes in opposing defenses for the Badger running backs.

Front Seven - Wisconsin continues to play the run very well defensively, holding Indiana to 63 yards rushing and maintaining its status as the league leader in conference play against the run. The Hoosiers only gained 2.4 yards per carry against the Badger defense Saturday. Chris Borland continued his phenomenal freshman season, recording another tackle-for-loss and a nice interception. He has been filling in admirably for the injured Mike Taylor at linebacker. The defensive ends led the way for the line, with O'Brien Schofield and J.J. Watt combining for three tackles-for-loss and Schofield adding a sack.

The Bad

Tight Ends - Lost in the Badgers' two-game winning streak has been the regression of star tight end Garrett Graham. He was held without a catch against the Hoosiers and dropped a throw from quarterback Scott Tolzien that was right on the money and could have led to a score. As Graham's receptions have decreased over the last few games, he has been whistled for more and more head-scratching penalties. Lance Kendricks, who found success with the end-around play against Purdue, was also quiet in this one, catching only one ball.

Secondary - The defensive backs allowed Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell to complete 25 of his 35 pass attempts for 323 yards and three touchdowns. Even when considering the Hoosiers had to throw often to come from behind, that is not good defense. Give Chris Maragos credit for his interception, but Niles Brinkley, Antonio Fenelus and Devin Smith had no answer for the Indiana wide receivers. Big pass plays by the Hoosiers were what stood between Wisconsin and a more convincing victory.

Return Game - David Gilreath's first two returns of this game should be his last of the season. He lost the opening kickoff in the sun and was unable to field it, letting it bounce through the end zone for a touchback. Then, after the Badger defense forced an Indiana punt, Gilreath could not catch the ball cleanly. The Hoosiers recovered the fumble, took over with good field position and scored their first points of the game. From there, Maurice Moore took over on punt returns and Isaac Anderson on kickoff returns. Moore is now suspended indefinitely after being charged with OWI early Sunday morning. Wisconsin ranks 101st in the country in punt returns and 112th in kickoff returns on the season. This unit has to improve, or the calls for Bielema to hire a full-time special teams coach will only grow louder.

-Jake Harris

Monday Film Session: The wide receiver "pick" play

Adam Hoge — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:21:38 -0000

More photos » by Tom Strattman - AP

Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland (44) graded out well after UW's 31-28 win over Indiana. How did the rest of his team do? (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

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Don't look now, but after the UW offense failed to score a touchdown in two straight losses against Ohio State and Iowa, the Badgers have responded well with a total of 68 points in two straight wins over Purdue and Indiana.

Still, while the points and yards continue to pile up on that side of the ball, there have been a few red flags. For instance, Saturday against Indiana, the only ones who could stop the UW offense was the UW offense itself.

After going back and reviewing the film from Saturday, two sequences of events in the first half stood out as Wisconsin left at least 7 points on the board in the first 30 minutes of play.

The first came when Wisconsin had a 10-7 lead at the start of the second quarter and a first and 10 at the IU 1-yard line. Like we have oddly seen before this season, Paul Chryst called a passing play on first down and the intended pass for Garrett Graham fell incomplete after being tipped at the line of scrimmage. On second down, Scott Tolzien fell down after his feet got tangled with center Peter Konz and on third down Issac Anderson was flagged for offensive pass interference (more on this in a minute), which wiped out a touchdown pass to Lance Kendricks. Wisconsin settled for a field goal, leaving four points off the scoreboard.

On UW's last drive of the half, Tolzien rolled out to his right and hit a wide open Garrett Graham down the field at the 25 yard line. The only problem? Graham started running before he secured the football and he dropped it for an incomplete pass. The completion would have at least put UW in field goal range, but it's very possible Graham could have scored on the play. He was that open.

All in all, UW left at least 7 points (maybe 10) off the scoreboard in the first half. To make matters worse, after Graham's drop, Anderson dropped one on third down that would have kept the drive going. Instead, IU went 80 yards and scored a touchdown. Now, to their credit, the Badgers managed to come back with a touchdown of their own before the half was over, but they could have been up as much as 34-14 at the half, instead of only 24-14.

Now, let's go back to the questionable pass interference call on Anderson on the first missed opportunity. This was very simply just a bad call. And I'll show you why.

If you look at the tape, Issac Anderson picks his own guy. The whole definition of the illegal "pick" play, is that while running a crossing route, you make contact with the defender covering your teammate, creating space for your teammate to catch the pass. Let's take a look at the tape:

Anderson is lined up at the top of your screen and is covered by cornerback Adrian Burks. Strong safety Austin Thomas is covering Kendricks.

Here's how the play unfolds:

Anderson simply runs forward and jams with the corner covering him. In no way is he "picking" the guy who is covering Kendricks. Now you can argue that IU was in a zone and Burks was going to go out to cover Kendricks, but at this point he has made no attempt to move towards the sideline and Thomas appears to be trying to go behind Burks the entire play. This is a mix up in coverage, not offensive pass interference.

Understandably, Anderson and Bielema weren't too happy about the call. After looking at the rest of the game film, they probably weren't too happy that Indiana got away with an actual pick play later in the game on their first touchdown of the second half.

Here's how the illegal pick play is actually run (and when offensive pass interference should be called):

Belcher is the wide receiver lined up to the outside, while Terrance Turner is in the slot. Belcher is going to run inside and pick free safety Chris Maragos who is covering Turner. Turner then runs an out-route underneath. Here's how the play unfolds:

As you can see, Belcher clearly runs into Maragos as Turner begins his cut to the sideline where he is wide open for the touchdown.

If the officials are going to be "picky" and call the pass inteference on UW when they shouldn't have, then they could at least be consistent with the call. Of course, it wasn't same official on that side of the field.

After watching the rest of the film, here's how I grade out the Badgers after their 31-28 win over Indiana:

Quarterback: B+
Scott Tolzien's numbers weren't fantastic (11-of-20 for 194 yards and one touchdown), but Graham and Anderson each dropped wide open passes and I thought he did a great job of managing the game. He didn't turn the ball over and he made great decisions all day long, specifically on his touchdown pass when he passed on a wide open Garrett Graham who was open right in front of him and went to Anderson instead, who was open in the end zone for the score.

Running backs: A+
267 yards, three touchdowns and no fumbles. It can't get much better than that. John Clay continued to dominate the Big Ten with 134 yards and a touchdown on only 15 carries before a head injury put Montee Ball in the rest of the way. All Ball did was pick up 115 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries and take over the final drive of the game to run out the clock and secure the win.

Wide receivers: B
Nick Toon was outstanding with five catches for 123 yards. Four of those catches came on crucial third downs, including a 17-yard gain on 3rd and 8 with 2:28 remaining in the game. Anderson had a good game with three catches for 43 yards and a touchdown, but his drop on third down late in the second quarter killed UW's momentum and put the ball in the hands of Ben Chappell who marched down the field in only three plays to keep IU in the game before halftime.

Tight ends: D
The blocking was fine, but Graham was virtually invisible in the passing game and dropped a pass on what could have been a 50-yard touchdown play in the second quarter. Kendricks caught one pass for seven yards and had a touchdown wiped out on the "pick play".

Offensive line: A
The run blocking was beautiful all day long, exemplified on John Moffitt's key block in the first quarter that sprung John Clay on a 47-yard run into IU territory. The line didn't allow a sack and Jake Bscherer actually made the line better when he came in for Josh Oglesby after the right tackle went down with an apparent left knee injury with 8:18 left in the second quarter. You have to feel for Oglesby because you could hear him scream on television when the injury happened, but he was struggling against Jamie Kirlew and Bscherer shut the talented defensive end down the rest of the game.

Defensive line: C
The run defense was stout, only allowing 2.4 yards per carry, but the line didn't put much pressure on Chappell who was able to pick apart the secondary for 323 yards and three touchdowns while completing 25-of-35 passes. O'Brien Schofield still managed two TFLs and he forced an interception when he hit Chappell on a throw in the third quarter. He didn't get much help from his fellow linemates, however.

Linebackers: B+
Chris Borland gets an A as the true freshman continues to play like a veteran out there. He led the team with nine tackles, added an interception and a TFL, while his blitzes wreaked havoc all day. Blake Sorensen got a good amount of reps at middle linebacker and he played well with five tackles, although he gave up a big pass play in the second half when he went for the ball instead of playing the man.

Cornerbacks: C-
Niles Brinkley continued to struggle, most notably on Indiana's touchdown late in the second quarter when he gave up a 33-yard pass to Terrance Turner and then two plays later gave up a 46-yard touchdown to Tandon Doss. Devin Smith played very well although he gave up a few tough plays on IU's final scoring drive. Antonio Fenelus was the nickel corner and looked average at best. Aaron Henry was nowhere to be seen and practiced at free safety during the week.

Safeties: C
Chris Maragos made a nice interception on underneath coverage, but both he and Valai looked confused at times in zone coverage. Both of them were having communication problems with the cornerbacks, specifically Valai and Brinkley who were caught covering the same guy a few times while the other receiver was busy catching the pass.

Special teams: D
Bret Bielema's unit continues to underachieve. The head coach's stubborness with David Gilreath cost the Badgers a touchdown in the first quarter when No. 85 muffed the punt at the 12 yard line. Gilreath should have lost his return job weeks ago, but Bielema still had him in there later in the game. Ironically, Borland had the best return of the day, a 32-yarder late in the second quarter that set Wisconsin up for a touchdown before halftime.

2009 Big Ten Quarterback Rankings, Third Edition: cMONN I Thought We Were Better Than This!

grahamfiller10 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:30:24 -0000

I am extremely happy with the increased usage of Jerry Seinfield's "cMONN" in pop culture. PS3 commercials and comedians have mined this excellent use of overwrought disbelief. So to those who called the Big 10 a "rushing conference" with backwards offensive philosophies, I wanted to say cMONNN guys, get with the program. Look at Daryll Clark's arm, Pryors legs, Forciers wiliness, Kafka's versatility, and the overall improvement from last year.

2009 QB Rankings, First Edition: Optimism!

2009 QB Rankings, Second Edition: Back to Reality!

But alas, good defense, windy conditions, and the occasional drop has made my point somewhat moot. The quarterbacks are much better than last year, not to mention healthier. But they are making no impact nationally or on the NFL's radar. Also, I will now use the phrase "Ricky Stanzi's Third Quarter" as a way to describe someone's complete and utter failure at a certain task. No matter, you can still enjoy the third edition of my 2009 Big Ten Quarterback Rankings.

Make sure to go back and submit your picks for Week 10 of the Obligatory Predictions Contest. Weekly winners get a chance to write 500 words on the site.

	QB	Team	Comments
#1	Daryll Clark	PSU	Tore up Michigan with swing passes, using automatic checkdowns...then tore up the Wolverines with deep sideline routes. Leading the Big Ten in efficiency.
#2	Kirk Cousins	MSU	Made a highlight reel play v. the Gophs, spinning away from tacklers and wafting a perfect ball into the end zone. Throwing an extremely catchable football and avoided the INT flu which seems to infect every QB that takes on the Hawkeyes.
#3	Mike Kafka	NW	The great existentialist has moved up a shocking 5 spots in my rankings, basically on the strength of two things. 1) His running has become a real strong point after an early season aversion to running. 2) He refuses to turn the ball over nearly as much as basically every other Big Ten QB.
#4	Ricky Stanzi	IOWA	Leading the league in picks, but also second in touchdowns with 13. His mechanics haven't suffered as the season as worn on, but his penchant for whipping the ball into coverage continues to amuse and astonish friends and foes. Basically I could have written the letters WTF and avoided writing the last two sentences.
#5	Terrelle Pryor	OSU	Had his worst career performance against Purdue, but bounced back to look somewhat exceptional against Minnesota. I still can't get that third quarter in Lafayette out of my mind. He looked like Ricky Stanzi out there, giving the ball to the other team like Scrooge throwing chickens and money at the poor London residents at the end of A Christmas Carol. Ahhhhhh the specifics of my Dickens knowledge is a bit convoluted.
#6	Scott Tolzien	WISC	Brother is dropping down my ratings here - that's what 5 picks in two games v. Iowa and OSU will do. It's good to see how confident he is throwing deep sideline routes, but it's bad how cavalier he is with the ball. Wisconsin coaches need to focus on some shorter routes so he can avoid the sacks and hits which come with the current offensive system.
#7	Joey Elliot	PUR	Beat Ohio State - go forward one step. Beat Illinois at home - not so bad. Go 5-23 against Wisconsin and get picked off once during a 37-0 loss - take that step back. Purdue's receivers dropped approximately 8 balls, so Elliot can't be blamed for that. Statistically, having a much better season than we expected. Facing three pansies to finish the season will probably move him up the rankings. Consider - 281 yards v OSU, 313 v. NWU, 299 v. Mini.
#8	Ben Chappell	IND	Sports quite a low passer rating (3rd worst in the league) for someone who appears so confident at times. Shredded Iowa for a half with a mix of quick throws and skinny posts. The entire Iowa game was a microcosm of his season - dominant and dangerous early, flustered and turnover prone late.
#9	Adam Weber	MINI	416 yards against MSU was probably a fluke, helped on by the porous MSU pass defense which has been lit up by basically everyone except Juice Williams. Weber's strengths were obvious when he had time to throw - the strong arm, the perfectly thrown deep balls. Than why is he at #9? Probably because he was so ineffective against Purdue, PSU, and OSU, compiling a "you've got to be kidding me" quarterback rating of 35 combined.
#10	Tate Forcier	UM	Tate has looked awkward and uncomfortable in 80% of Michigan's passing situations lately. Pretty much the only ball he's thrown effectively is the running quick throw to a WR waiting on the LOS. He's fallen farther than any QB in my ratings, but he is just a frosh.
#11	Juice Williams	ILL	220 yards of total offense and 2 touchdowns versus Michigan showed a confident Juice, eerily similar to the Juice of two years ago. It was probably an aberration - He still isn't throwing the ball downfield well and the run game worked because Michigan has the Big Ten's weakest linebackers.

Key stats tell story of return to 'Wisconsin football'

Jbharris87 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:44:42 -0000

More photos » by Andy Manis - AP

about 1 month ago: Wisconsin's Aaron Henry (7) runs off the field after Wisconsin's 37-0 victory over Purdue in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Madison, Wis. Henry recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

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When Bret Bielema first talked about a return to playing "Wisconsin football" during the offseason, many of us were understandably skeptical. The Badgers had just limped to an unimpressive 7-6 finish, capped off by a nightmarish 42-13 loss in the Champs Sports Bowl.

But it was the way in which Wisconsin failed that was so uncharacteristic, and led to such doubt over whether Bielema could restore the program to its traditional place of strength. The team seemed undisciplined, unfocused and even uninspired at times. The Badgers broke down defensively at critical moments, turned the ball over with alarming carelessness and accumulated penalties at a ridiculous rate. They did not run the ball with their usual effectiveness, and that trademark "Badger toughness" was simply M.I.A.

Fast forward to today, two-thirds of the way through a generally successful 2009 campaign, and most casual observers would tell you the Badgers have made improvement. A look at some key statistics, however, suggests that the strides have been even bigger than one might think. Wisconsin has engineered a complete turnaround in key statistical categories that it struggled in a year ago. Despite two disappointing losses to more veteran-laden teams, the results on the field have, by and large, reflected this positive reversal.

When we think of Wisconsin football, the first things that come to mind are the running game and defense. In Big Ten play so far, the Badgers rank first in the conference in both rushing and run defense. If those figures hold up over the final three Big Ten games, Wisconsin will be the first team in the conference since 1951 to finish first in both of those categories. John Clay is the Big Ten's leading rusher and O'Brien Schofield is among the best players in recording tackles-for-loss in the nation. The Badgers are also near the top of the Big Ten in total defense and turnovers forced, demonstrating the type of big-play opportunism prevalent in the past but missing a season ago.

Wisconsin is tied for the fewest number of penalties committed in the Big Ten. Consider that at this time last year, the 2008 Badgers had already been whistled for more penalties than in any season since Barry Alvarez became the head coach in 1990. That type of disciplinary improvement in one year is unbelievable and has especially helped the defense get off the field more quickly.

With a productive running game, a stingy and opportunistic defense and a disciplined team overall, the Badgers have almost completed the reversion to their roots. There still is one aspect that must improve, however. Wisconsin must learn to take better care of the football. Scott Tolzien has not thrown an interception in four of his eight starts, but two of the four games in which he threw picks were Badger losses. There is definitely a correlation. The running backs and wide receivers fumbled six times in one game. Fortunately, the opponent was Wofford, so it had very little effect on the outcome. Once the Badgers add an error-free offense to their arsenal, they will be tough to beat, as long as they maintain their success in the areas they have already improved.

Things have certainly changed in just one season, and they have changed in a way that is generating legitimate excitement about the future of the program. All that remains to be seen is whether Wisconsin can sustain these trends for the remainder of the season and in years to come.

-Jake Harris

Replay and React: The good and bad from Saturday's win

Jbharris87 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:41:24 -0000

More photos » by Andy Manis - AP

about 1 month ago: Wisconsin running back John Clay runs past Purdue linebacker Chris Carlino during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Madison, Wis. Clay had 123-yards in Wisconsin's 37-0 win. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

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Talk about making a statement. Wisconsin rebounded from two tough losses against elite Big Ten teams by posting its first shutout in three years. The Badgers' 37-0 victory over Purdue Saturday was nothing short of dominant. Give Bret Bielema and his coaching staff credit for pushing the right buttons. The team looked hungry from kickoff onward, setting the tone early with an 80-yard touchdown drive and preserving the shutout late by refusing to surrender a point. This was the kind of game the Badgers of last year may have dropped or struggled to win. The inspired play Saturday, particularly from the underclassmen, reinforced the belief that there is still a lot at stake this season, and generated justifiable excitement about the future of the program.

Purdue, like many teams in the Big Ten this season, has been tough to figure. Still, it is safe to say the Boilermakers are good enough that beating them 37-0 is impressive. They are the only team in the conference that has defeated Ohio State. And they only lost by two points to an Oregon team that is perfect in Pac-10 play because of a missed extra point. Purdue had scored at least 20 points in each of its first eight games before playing the Badgers. Most importantly, this was a hot team, one that came into Madison fresh off of two Big Ten victories.

Many of us had been waiting for a Bielema-coached team to put together a truly complete game. The Badgers' first five victories of the season all ended up closer than they needed to be. Throughout Bielema's tenure at Wisconsin, the team has gotten off to its share of slow starts in games and has put its fans through plenty of well-documented collapses. On display Saturday were 60 quality minutes of football. It is an encouraging sign for a young team that has every reason to believe it can win its remaining four games, finish 10-2 and play in a very respectable bowl game.

Let's take a look at Saturday's highlights:

The Good

Running game - The Badgers piled up yardage on the ground. John Clay ran for 123 yards and three touchdowns and, once again, the team took full advantage of the end-around. Tight end Lance Kendricks accumulated 91 yards on the ground on such plays, including a 54-yard scamper down the sideline. Overall, the Badgers ran for 266 yards on an impressive 53 carries. It was nice to see Wisconsin set the tone for the game by committing to the ground attack early. The team's opening drive covered 80 yards, none of which came through the air, and resulted in a touchdown.

Freshmen - Wisconsin's freshmen continue to have a remarkably positive impact on this season. Erik Smith and Montee Ball received a combined 14 carries out of the backfield. Curt Phillips got into the game at quarterback, running four times and attempting six passes. Kraig Appleton recorded his first receptions of the season and looked good. David Gilbert blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown. Chris Borland forced and recovered yet another fumble. Gilbert and Borland, in particular, have been big-play guys on defense and on special teams throughout the year.

Secondary - We've been on their case all year, so we better give them the props they earned Saturday. The defensive backs played great football, holding Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott to 5-of-23 passing for 59 yards. Cornerback Devin Smith, who has been up and down this year, recorded a spectacular interception and got a foot down in bounds. He and Chris Maragos both broke up passes. The coverage was simply outstanding all day. Purdue's receivers had an extremely difficult time getting open.

The Bad

Quarterbacks - Scott Tolzien was not asked to do much in this game, putting the ball up only 13 times. Still, he completed just six passes for 87 yards and did not throw a touchdown pass for the third consecutive game. Tolzien did not look nearly as sharp on his passes as he did during the early part of the season, and it's becoming a concern. Curt Phillips did not look much better in garbage time, throwing an interception and only rushing for three yards. While letting Clay and the run game dominate was clearly the right strategy against the second-worst rushing defense in the Big Ten, it does suggest a lack of confidence in the quarterbacks not to ask them to throw more, especially once the game was out of reach. Interestingly enough, one of last year's starters, Dustin Sherer, was a topic of conversation at Bielema's press conference Monday. Sherer is an Indiana native and the Badgers play in Bloomington this week. Bielema reiterated that he thought Sherer would have an opportunity to help Wisconsin win a game at some point this year. With Tolzien's stock plummeting recently and Phillips probably not quite ready, it wouldn't be a shock if Sherer saw action before the season ends.

David Gilreath - Gilreath simply needs to be replaced, or at least complemented, as the main return man. Simply put, he looks lost on the football field this year. He runs laterally way too often, and seems to have no idea whether to call for a fair catch on punts. Bielema said he would use Isaac Anderson at times, but we didn't see him in either role against Purdue. It is tough to single out one guy when the special teams unit has been poor all year, but Philip Welch, Brad Nortman and the coverage team all played adequately Saturday, and Gilreath still struggled.

No Sellout - It is tough to find three negatives after shutting out a Big Ten opponent, but it has to be considered a disappointment that Camp Randall was not sold out Saturday. Even after two losses, the Badgers came into this game 5-2 and Purdue was considered a decent team. Late-October Big Ten games in Madison should always sell out. Period. There are, of course, circumstances to consider, chiefly that many people want nothing to do with the chaos of Madison over Halloween weekend. And, of course, it is nice to know that Camp Randall will be packed to the brim for the Badgers' last home game of the season against Michigan, no matter how far the Wolverines continue to fall.

-Jake Harris