It’s an off week for the University of Wisconsin football team but not the Open Jim mailbag or podcast.
With Graham finally becoming the answer at QB, where do the Badgers need to improve the most to get back to Indy next year?
— Michael Paduano (@greenwave70) October 24, 2022
Any thoughts or rumors on committed badger recruits looking elsewhere ? Also has the change with Jim Leonard currently only the interm coach affected any prospective recruits eliminating the badgers from consideration
— Mark Meddings (@MeddingsMark1) October 24, 2022
Where do you realistically see Badgers ending up in Bug Ten standings? Feel like they kind of got screwed over in preseason rankings
— Elliott B (@SconnieFanBoy93) October 24, 2022
People are also reading…
Based on state statues….Can the Badgers name Jimmy as permanent coach now?
— steveo (@badger8350) October 24, 2022
Any sense of the strategy for posting the football HC job, timing wise? Is it different if they decide to stick with Jimmy, Vs not? I guess I’m wondering if we can conclude anything from when they post the job
— John Fitzgibbon (@JohnIECedu) October 24, 2022
It has been suggested the school immediately strip the "interim" tag from Leonhard's title. Can they do that or does the State require the position be posted?
— GT Schutz (@GTSchutz) October 24, 2022
Why not take the interim tag off JL now? Why wait?
— Barret Van Sicklen (@BVanSlick) October 24, 2022
As we continue recruiting for 2023 and beyond...how many players have the option for a 6th year in 2023?
— Todd (@pilprin) October 24, 2022
If all starters that are eligible return for Wisconsin football next year, how many will that be on each side of the ball? I feel like the Badgers are pretty young.
— Douglas Greenberg (@DougGreenB) October 24, 2022
Will the winning version continue to take the field?
— gailturluck (@gailturluck) October 24, 2022
Alternate history timeline: In 2012, Bret Bielema gets cold feet, tells Arkansas "thanks but no thanks" and mentally resolves to stay at Wisconsin for the rest of his career. What does the Badgers program look like today and where are Chryst and Leonhard coaching?
— Craig Smith (@smithcp1) October 24, 2022
Why would you let Allen take those hits late in a game that’s over? With Davis and others unplayed?
— john berg (@BadgerJohnBerg) October 24, 2022
What is going on with Julius Davis? Is he still on the team?
— Bill_Woj (@Slough_Creek) October 24, 2022
I like what I see out of the JL led Badgers, but we haven't put 2 good games together in a row in 2022. Do you think we'll get that done vs Maryland, who also has a bye this week? I feel if they can put a can of whoop-ass on the Terps, this will be the momentum they need.
— Dan Bendtsen (@DanBendtsen) October 25, 2022
When are the going to set the game time for November games?
— Jeff (@jeffgtown) October 24, 2022
Back end? 1 11 24 15 5 as the nickel will we see it? What's the ceiling for 90? A little Alex Lewis in 36 who do you see?
— CJ Thieleke@cover2 (@CjThieleke) October 24, 2022
Mertz looked very accurate when rolling out against Purdue. Is moving Mertz around more a new wrinkle in the offense as he seemed very comfortable doing that and I don’t remember that being used as much in the past.
— BP (@BPotter2112) October 24, 2022
What is your thought on Dean Engram within the offense? I have a hard time with this because with a game like MSU where our DB's struggled, Engram would've been a great person to have back there. Now he's seldomly used within the offense. Just wondering your thoughts on the move.
— Ben Spiering (@bennyboy615) October 24, 2022
Where does Keeanu Benton rank on the all time defensive tackle list at Wisconsin?
— guitmusic12 (@guitmusic12) October 24, 2022
I know the defense is young but it seems like physically we are a lot smaller on defense…are we going for smaller and faster or just a matter of time until they mature…tough to compare to Chenal and the gang from last year but can definitely tell a difference
— aarondentz (@aarondentz) October 24, 2022
Would like to see Guerrendo & TE one side Dike&Bell otherside. Match up IG with LB, how are his hands?
— JoeB44JTFs (@JoeBrow07224025) October 25, 2022
Being at the game Saturday, and seeing the student section empty out after Jump Around, I wondered, is Jump Around the best AND worst thing that has happened in the past 25 years? The game was still close. Any student football fans left?
— Ed Nawrocki (@EdNawrocki) October 25, 2022
Given the bye week for the badger football team, what are you going to do with ALL that extra time off?
— Fred Ehle (@FredEhle) October 24, 2022
In VB, (BTW, the Noon VB Game Badgers/Wolverines was much more interesting than the Packer game)
— JMW123 (@jmw1235) October 24, 2022
Sarah Franklyn was player of the week in the Big 10 and had a bad day of VB Sunday, replaced by Jade Demps who played very well.
Do you make a change and start Demps?
Any word on how the Mens Basketball “secret” scrimmage vs UNI went?
— Jo Howard (@Johoward519) October 24, 2022
With landing of Robinson. Does this change anything with the 2 in state recruits that are wings? Who are the bigs that UW is on for 2024 class?
— Tisch (@hauser42) October 25, 2022
What will it take for Tony Granato to finally get fired? #nextquestion
— Netflix & Purell (@hansonsc) October 24, 2022
How bad is this season going to get for the Packers?
— whitey (@Whiteywilhelm) October 24, 2022
Hey Jim - is the talent just not as good as we think on the @packers defense? Is it bad scheme? Bad coaching? Bad play calling? All of the above?
— Sean Stephenson (@sgstephenson) October 24, 2022
What's your opinion of the computerized formula that the WIAA uses to seed playoff teams?
— EricTheRed (@RealEricTheRed) October 24, 2022
Badgers fans struggle to find fault in Wisconsin's win over Purdue
Just in the nick of time
Jim Leonhard had a good game plan executed well, mixing up passes on 1st down with runs. The team was ready to play. A critical homecoming win with a week off to concentrate on the final four games.
— Jeff Ostach☮️ (@jeff_ostach) October 22, 2022
Acing the interview
The coaching search is over…this team played well. #OnWisconsin
— Todd (@pilprin) October 23, 2022
Funny how that works
When Mertz plays well, the Badgers play well
— whitey (@Whiteywilhelm) October 22, 2022
As bad as it gets
Nice win. But seriously how bad was that touchdown that they upheld?
— Badger Steve 🧀🍺🦌 (@UW_Steve) October 22, 2022
Go big or go home
Consistently inconsistent
— Fred Ehle (@FredEhle) October 22, 2022
Blow out win
Loss
Blow out win
What's not to like?
Great win overall
— Kate (@kate31118409) October 22, 2022
Firing on all cylinders
The real Badgers are back. Fun to watch again. They tackled better, less mistakes, showed resilience, body language way better and Mertz had no interceptions!!
— Mary Korn Erickson (@sixtiesfan) October 22, 2022
Yea!! Go Badgers! Looking forward to the next game!!!
A well-earned rest
Good balanced win heading into the bye week, especially as thin as we are.
— Andy Zinkle (@ZinkleAndy) October 22, 2022
If only ...
Well one bogus penalty took points off the board and multiple bad calls handed purdue two touchdowns. That game could have and should have been 42-10
— Cryptic (@WIGB05) October 23, 2022
Back on track
So fun. They came thru. Hope they keep going. Some problems but really cleaned things up a lot.
— Pam Ashe (@pamashe1965) October 23, 2022
Living in the now
Fan base…
— Chris Davis (@cdavis20000) October 23, 2022
Vs NW: Hire Leonhard!
Last week: WTH! Maybe Leipold?
Vs Purdue: Hire Leonhard!
Fortifying the front
This is not a great team but I am encouraged, especially with better offensive line play, which is critical.
— John Husmoe (@JohnHusmoe) October 22, 2022
All things considered
Herbig not playing hurt that.
— Jeremy Rosen (@jnrosen) October 22, 2022
It doesn't hurt
Always nice to get a win.
— Michael Serr (@RainmakerA2) October 23, 2022
Leading by example
Love seeing Jim Leonhard have some passion on the sidelines. He's active and engaged on good and bad plays and it feels like the players are responding positively.
— Bradley Vowels (@BVowels40) October 22, 2022
Back to the basics
Line played well. Solid tackling. Really happy for #20! Give Leonhard the job.
— tyler (@BattleBlack13U) October 22, 2022
All for one
Love to see the guys stay together and play great.
— Todd Moroney (@toddmoroney) October 23, 2022
Don't stop now
A lot of GREAT performances by Badgers 🏈🏈today. Let’s keep it rolling
— Eddie Andrist (@EddieAndrist1) October 22, 2022
Best of times, worst of refs
Best game I’ve seen the badgers play this year, especially considering the competition. But this was easily the single worst refereeing I have seen in a college football game, possibly ever.
— Scootmandu (@scootmandu) October 22, 2022
A winning formula
An unexpected enjoyable game.
— ksagendo (@ksagendo) October 22, 2022
However practice was done this week stay with it for the remaining games.
Just what the doctor ordered
Was a win the team needed. Too bad refs and 4th Q offense killed the mood by giving Purdue offense a 14-0 last quarter. Would have loved to see Badgers not take their foot off the gas! And the replay buffoons!!!
— Fred Melius MD (@fmelius) October 22, 2022
Wait and see
The O-line played cohesively and reduced their penalty output. Mertz made some plays. Turner and Torchio played very well and the defense played well in general. Is all of this a result of better coaching, better play calling, better team cohesiveness? Jim, what do you think?
— David Koller (@DavidBKoller) October 23, 2022
Get it? Get it?
Purdidn't
— Corey Otis (@CoreyWOtis) October 22, 2022
Offense opening up
Alex Smith made a difference. Won on the turnovers but otherwise pedestrian O. But good to see more passing on early downs.
— BadgerFan (@divot516) October 22, 2022
Can't please everyone
Defensive issues continue
— Michael Drew 🍻 (@MikeDrewWhat) October 22, 2022
Closer than it should have been
