Bucky Blasted: Illinois Clobbers Wisconsin, 34-10 -

The University of Wisconsin football team needed to shake off the loss to Ohio State. Today, Illinois was in no mood to play the victim.

After the Wisconsin Badgers fell to Ohio State, they needed a get-well game. The University of Illinois wanted to show the Big 10 that they were for real. Meanwhile, Wisconsin wanted to grab their slipping division title hopes through their fingers. The game stood at 14-10, Illini, at halftime. From there, the Badgers spent the second half asleep. En route to a 34-10 dismantling, Illinois raised their record to 4-1, while Wisconsin slipped to 2-3.

The Facts Of Life

When Graham Mertz takes snaps, you aren’t quite sure what will occur. On back-to-back drives, you saw the best and worst of what Mertz brings to the table. With a picture-perfect touchdown throw to Isaac Guerendo, Mertz embraced the touch, footwork, and arm rotation that many lauded when he was a Kansas high school standout. In contrast, during the ensuing drive, you saw rough mechanics and poorly thrown passes. Later, in the half, Mertz threw a pair of inexplicable interceptions. With the season close to circling the drain, how much more should Wisconsin stay with Mertz as the signal-caller?

Run Issues

The Badgers’ run game could not fire properly. Illinois used gap integrity and discipline to stymie the run game. With 12:09 in the first, Wisconsin managed one yard on ten carries. Illinois won the trench battle. Wisconsin added just a single yard on the ground in the second half. Now, entering the game, Illinois ranked in the top 20 in multiple defensive categories. Bielema loves to recruit upfront and bring physicality. Basically, Illinois’ defense played like Wisconsin used to.

Yellow Flag Symphony

When Illinois sniffed the redzone, Wisconsin bailed them out thrice that could’ve gone either way, but the Wisconsin defensive backs bailed Illinois out of a couple of situations with pass interference penalties. The Illini shot themselves in the foot with back-to-back penalties inside of the ten. Tommy Devito began to throw to what he perceived where contact would be. As a result, he cashed in with three short touchdown runs. The two teams combined for a mind-boggling seventeen penalties on the day.

Lack Of Push

Historically, Wisconsin recruits drive-blocking offensive linemen that open cavernous holes. Illinois beat them nine ways to Sunday upfront. Playing three down linemen that could slide with linebackers that filled beautifully versus the run, gave the Badgers fits. Paul Chryst needs to adjust to this faster in games. Meanwhile, defensively, the Badgers’ defensive linemen rarely touched Devito. Illinois used their backs to chip the edges wide, allowing their mobile passer to climb the ladder and move around.

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Devito Day

Illinois QB Tommy Devito enjoyed phenomenal blocking just about all afternoon and the ability to slide the pocket. More importantly, you could see the buy-in from teammates in the huddle. Devito isn’t the prettiest passer, but he will stick his nose in and fight for yards. For instance, how many quarterbacks will jump into the lap on the interior of the defense, over and over? Three one-yard scores proved to be the difference today.

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Chased All Over The Field

When Illinois RB Chase Brown took the gamebreaking play forty-nine, you could feel the air evaporate from Camp Randall. While Brown finished with 149 yards, the majority of them with little gains. However, it appears like the Illini stayed patient on offense: slow and steady until Wisconsin finally broke. Brown may be the best back you’ve not heard of.

Meaning

For Illinois, a share of the Big 10 West lead. What in the name of Kurt Kittner is going on in Champaign/Urbana? Bret Bielema is slowly crafting the style of play that he prefers. The Illini can run the ball, pass just enough and smother opponents on defense. If you look at the rest of the Big 10 West, you see a bunch of question marks. On the other side of the coin, what happens in Madison now? The fanbase and alums were loudly complaining while leaving the stadium. Paul Chryst, during his seven-plus year tenure, is 67-23. The Badgers won six of seven bowl games. At the end of the day, the Badgers need to look in the mirror and ask themselves what will they want to be?

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