Wisconsin Badgers Football Offseason Preview

The Wisconsin Badgers were unable to win back the Big Ten West Division championship in 2021 after failing to win the division the year before in the 2020 pandemic season. It is very rare that Wisconsin goes two straight years without winning its division in the Big Ten. That is the first time it happened since the Big Ten Championship Game began in 2011. Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst has a lot of work to do in the attempt to revive an offense which let him down in 2021. That is going to be the centerpiece of the Badgers’ renewal effort this year.

Key Personnel Lost

Linebacker Noah Burks and defensive back Madison Cone are among the Badgers who will be headed to the NFL draft. You might wonder if key offensive personnel were lost. The answer there is that very few players on the offensive side of the ball performed well. The returning players all need to elevate their games, with a few notable exceptions. It is on defense where Wisconsin has to replace important players who added value to the Badgers in 2021. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard is one of the best in the business, but he will have his work cut out for him.

Important Incoming Freshmen

Offensive tackle Barrett Nelson will try to toughen up an offensive line which was markedly inconsistent last season and contributed to the Badger offense’s red-zone struggles. Wisconsin’s early-season loss to Penn State was merely the first of several close losses suffered by the Badgers last year. The offensive line was not able to mash opposing defensive lines for most of the season, and when Wisconsin – which prides itself on having farm-grown offensive linemen who push around opposing defensive lines – cannot get elite production from its offensive front, the Badgers suffer. Nelson and other offensive line recruits have to bring the hammer for this team.

Key Position Battles

Offensive line is the centerpiece position battle, for all the obvious reasons. Quarterback Graham Mertz has not had a great career for Wisconsin, but not having a top-flight offensive line has certainly led to a lot of his struggles under center. If Wisconsin’s offensive line play gets better, the quarterback play will be better, and the offense will function the way it is supposed to. Wisconsin needs to evaluate its returning players and measure them against Nelson and the other incoming recruits, forming a rotation which works for this offense. It’s not just a matter of having the right starters, but having quality depth in place so that the Badgers have ample reinforcements and options as the season progresses.

Biggest Offseason Goal(s)

The Badgers have to finish the offseason knowing they have answers, or at least real improvement, on their offensive line and in their overall offense. The offensive line and Mertz need to work together and create confidence in the full offensive unit. Wisconsin has a special running back, Braelon Allen, who appears destined for a very successful NFL career. The running backs are great. They need help, however, at quarterback and O-line, and that’s what Wisconsin needs to achieve in the offseason.