Offensive play calling an issue for Wisconsin football fans after loss at No. 13 Southern Cal
The Badgers went shotgun on fourth-and-1, and simply stopped moving the ball in the second half. Fans aren't happy with the team's progress.
Calling on freshmen against men is tough
Why is Chez getting touches anymore, he’s clearly lost a step, if the freshman RBs are playing makers they need to be getting touches need to spark the offense somehow.
— Kyle (@Wiscoflow) September 28, 2024
Rebuild may take longer than we thought
Seeing the toughness, discipline, smart play, and underrated talent that were hallmarks of the UW program seemingly come to an end late in the tenure of Chryst and now under Fickell is depressing.
— Brian S (@BrianSm71994635) September 28, 2024
Finishing defensive drives was a concern
Our offense has no identity and is unable to do anything consistently well.
— Craig Smith (@smithcp1) September 28, 2024
Our defense is great at forcing third downs, only to let the opponent get an easy conversion.
We lack toughness, discipline, and talent. There is no reason for optimism this season.
A half scripted in Hollywood
Wonder if the champagne they popped at half time was any good.
— Wiscy Business (@KeeperOfTheIce) September 28, 2024
Game script started out good, but disappeared
Beyond all the self-inflicted errors for the 4 straight game, Fickell hitched his wagon to the wrong guy to run the offense
— Phil (@pshackto) September 28, 2024
OK, that's fair
We were gaslit by the coaching staff, beat writers and a portion of the fanbase into thinking Longo was some sort of offensive mastermind
— Cucky Badger (@CuckyBadger) September 28, 2024
Shades of Lane Kiffin
I don’t care that there isn’t an obvious replacement on the staff, leave Longo in LA. Someone with no play calling experience can’t be any worse
— MountainBadger (@mtnbdgr) September 28, 2024
First half play calls seemed fine, so what changed?
We were not altogether embarrassed. Defense was left on the field too long. That’s on the offense. Phil Longo may not be the best play caller.
— Michael Olneck (@OlneckMolneck) September 28, 2024
If two wrongs don't make a right then ...
Super frustrating, but inevitably not surprising. Fick and the coordinators are just nowhere near being on the same page. Maybe Fick needs to be more involved and more direct with what he wants? Also...what was up with all those awful 3rd downs for the D? Just bad all around
— Dr. Horror (@popculturepsych) September 28, 2024
And it wasn't remotely close
Once USC stopped actively helping WI via turnovers, it was clear who was the better team and coach.
— Kent (@madisonseattle) September 28, 2024
The emotional grip football has on so many is aggravating
Shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up after the first half. Badgers didn’t play great USC just kept shooting themselves in the foot. Once they stopped doing that game was over
— Jj Schmitz (@sportzbyschmitz) September 28, 2024
Game-changing play
Absolute meltdown from the point Henry dropped the punt.
— Big Cheese Sports (@BigCheese_IESR) September 28, 2024
None? Can't say I agree but it is a short list
The good teams have a handful of “dudes”. The great teams have “dudes” all over the field. Wisconsin doesn’t have any “dudes” anywhere.
— Johnabeck69 (@johnabeck69) September 28, 2024
The meshing point is far from meshing
The gap between athletes / playmakers is significant…scheme cannot overcome.
— Mark Marriott (@MarkAMarriott) September 28, 2024
Could dream it better
Unimaginative play calling and lack of playmakers on both sides of the ball makes for a very long season.
— Team Slinky (@Buckmaster_FP) September 28, 2024
Oh, yes
Shotgun on 4th and 1 in the last 2 games. Need I say more?
— Rob F (@RobFinley27) September 28, 2024
Just like against Alabama
The first half was actually fun to watch. They lost me on the play call for 4th and 1 in the 3rd quarter. It made absolutely no sense.
— Stephanie Kowalski (@sdkowalski1) September 28, 2024
Especially on fourth-and-10
I think we have talent in some areas but our coaches seem to lack the ability to scheme. We have to be the kings of 6 yd routes
— Sconnie1 (@LanceHudgens) September 28, 2024
Spacing really does help. Imagine that
Longo on 4-1 formation is so predictable and fails more than it works. USC has the same 4-1 and puts 3 receivers and they get it
— BadgerFan (@divot516) September 28, 2024
Not yet, but maybe in a few years?
Bad football teams find ways to lose. Bad plays and/or decisions are too much for bad teams to overcome. Henry’s muff and Longo’s 4th and short failure out of the shotgun flipped the momentum and ultimately the game. Wisconsin is not good enough to overcome mistakes like that
— BESmith63 (@BeSmith63) September 28, 2024
A pretty great summary
It felt like the Badgers were in control and played arguably the most impressive two Quarters of
— Wisconsinsane (@wisconsinsane) September 28, 2024
football that a Luke Fickell Badgers team has put together. Then things fell apart in the second half after a muffed punt, penalties and baffling offensive playcalling doomed them.
Another good summary of the game
Flashes of potential bedeviled by inconsistency and questionable play calls (still the shotgun 4th down?!).
— Leonard Go (@LeonardGo) September 28, 2024
Lack of depth part of the issue
I think it is time to question the toughness of the team and coaching staff. Mental and physical toughness. Don't even watch entire games anymore because the team seems to lay an egg and disappoint at some point during each game. Toughen up.
— Philthedean (@philthedea26870) September 28, 2024
Defense seemed to run out of gas and offense couldn't sustain drives
Badgers outscored 28-0 in the second half after leading at halftime, 21-10. At least they showed up for one half but I still believe Phil Longo should not be retained after this season. Braedyn Locke showed promise. The defense put pressure on QB Miller Moss in the 1st half.
— Jeff Ostach☮️ (@jeff_ostach) September 28, 2024
I appreciate the league expansion commentary
Terrible 2nd half. Saw the momentum swing with the dropped kick receive and then the 4th down play. What is wrong with a quarterback sneak with a push!!! Biased CBS and oh yea - I 100% hate the new “Big Ten.” It felt like a Bowl game!!
— Mary Korn Erickson (@sixtiesfan) September 28, 2024
It's taking some time
They wanted change … you got it.
— Más Tequila (@JoRy_MaMa) September 28, 2024
Worse than the Rose Bowl in 2020?
Flights don't come any longer than this one will be from LA to Madison. There are epic collapses and then there's this masterpiece.
— Bill Pfeiffer (@billt209) September 28, 2024
I think the free fall started before they arrived, but lack of adjustments is cause for concern
Thoughts? I’m not sure that Generic Morton & his staff have what it takes to stop the free fall they’ve launched UW into.
— Patrick Fuller (@DIGLegal) September 28, 2024
Good coaches adapt. This staff doesn’t adapt, at all.
They don't?
Question:
— Mike N (@MikeNP40) September 28, 2024
Utah, Kansas St. and Oklahoma St. have no more talent than we do but they're all ranked from 15-25. Why ? What are those staffs doing that we're not ?
Beating rivals key, especially in recruiting
At this point beating Iowa & Minnesota is all that matters this year. Still rebuilding but Longo has to go.
— Richard Earlier (@EarlierRichard) September 28, 2024
Wishing you an enjoyable weekend!
Bringing my 13 year old out to Madison next week for his first Badgers game. I hope his first impression is a good one.
— Deep Time (@rstackjr) September 28, 2024
Of the campus and Madison, I mean. Not the football team.
What an awful feeling as a fan when hope is lost
Do not feel any more confident about beating Rutgers or Northwestern or the in theory “getable” teams on our schedule.
— Robinson Muff-Potter (@RMuff_Potter) September 28, 2024
We were only in that game due to freak turnover luck
I don't even want to think about it, objectively, but we might have to
4 wins would be the best we can hope for this season and then hopefully a good recruiting class … or it’s going to be a long decade of despair
— Ken Westermann (@kenwestermann) September 28, 2024
It's where I had them, too
To be honest I didn’t expect them to win the last two games. Get regrouped for Purdue next week.
— Eric G. Field (@vbironman) September 28, 2024
Buckle up for this long trip
The thoughts that Fickell would make a quick fix was silly..look how long Harbaugh took to get Michigan right…look how long it took Bielema to get Illinois on track…Gonna take several years to right this ship
— NMaass (@NMaass26) September 28, 2024
A defensive captain was critical of himself and how Wisconsin changed its offense highlight what stood out on tape.
The Badgers put an undefeated record against the Scarlet Knights on the line next week in New Jersey.
Some underclassmen likely weren't born the last time Purdue beat the Badgers, who are looking to bounce back after a pair of losses.
The Badgers showed what they can be for one half Saturday. The bad news? They also showed who they really are, until proven otherwise, the rest of the game.
A couple costly mistakes in the second half by the Badgers allowed the Trojans to gain momentum and overcome a halftime hole.
With the BadgerExtra team following all the action, here's what we learned from Wisconsin's loss to Southern Cal in its conference opener.
