Indiana Football Opponent Q&A: Getting to know Wisconsin

Indiana football heads back home after a tough road loss to No. 10 Penn State last weekend to face a new-look Wisconsin Badgers team.

Indiana is 2-6 on the season and 0-5 in the Big Ten.

Wisconsin is 5-3 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play.

HoosierIllustrated.com spoke with BadgerNotes.com, part of the Full Ride Network, Publisher Dillon Graff to get a better look at Wisconsin and some of the challenges that the Indiana football program will face on Saturday.

(You can also read our Q&A answers about the matchup on BadgerNotes.com, here)

Q: If Braelon Allen can’t go on Saturday, who is the guy or group of guys Wisconsin turns to in the run game?

Right now, it doesn’t look promising that Braelon Allen will play against Indiana on Saturday. Given the fact UW also lost its No. 2 tailback Chez Mellusi for the season — that means the Badgers will be forced to rely on Jackson Acker and Cade Yacamelli.

Interestingly enough, neither of them played running back last year. Acker was a fullback and Yacamelli was a safety, oddly enough. Acker is the definition of a north-south runner and has a toughness about him that should help Wisconsin move the sticks in short-yardage situations. On the flip side, Yacamelli is a terrific athlete, but we haven’t seen anything from him on the field yet, and he is considered more of a mystery at this point.

Q: Just a few games in, but how has Braedyn Locke grown under center and where is he most effective? 

The Wisconsin football team found something in redshirt freshman Braedyn Locke. It’s just been two games, but Locke has been calm, cool, and collected in a way that most underclassmen aren’t.

He’s shown great command of the Badgers offense and, by all accounts, prepares like a veteran. When Locke has a clean pocket to throw from — he’s been a terrific distributor of the football, particularly on quick hitters.

At this point in his career, Locke isn’t someone who will likely put the team on his back and carry Wisconsin to victory, but he’s a smart player and won’t likely be the reason UW loses down the stretch.

Indiana will get the game manager version of Locke. Still, there’s a growing feeling amongst the Wisconsin Badgers fanbase that he could be a multi-year starter — and a potentially good one.

Q: Defensively, Wisconsin’s passing defense has really come on strong during Big Ten play. Is that a result of the secondary just playing better or a mix of getting additional pressure on opposing QBs as well? 

Early in the season, Mike Tressel’s defense was vulnerable in the secondary, giving up chunk plays at an almost alarming rate to inferior opponents. However, since the bye week, Wisconsin has really cleaned things up.

Given the transition of schemes from a zone coverage-centered defense to a man coverage one — there were some bumps in the road that ultimately led Wisconsin to blend the two systems to accommodate its personnel better.

Since then, we’ve seen much cleaner play in the secondary. It also helps that Ricardo Hallman has developed into an All-Big Ten caliber player. Opposite of Hallman, though, has been inconsistent at best.

It’s worth mentioning that the Badgers’ run-defense has been poor all season long, so teams are also preferring to attack UW that way instead of through the air.

Q: Outside of Will Pauling, who else is someone that can make plays in the passing game? 

One of the biggest talking points amongst the media during the offseason was the influx of talent Wisconsin brought into the WR room. Thus far, it hasn’t materialized in the way we anticipated.

As mentioned, Will Pauling has established himself as the team’s No. 1 guy and is a real playmaker out of the slot. However, nobody else has truly established themselves.

If I had to pick one player, it would be Oklahoma State transfer Bryson Green. He’s a big, physical boundary wideout that the team wants to get involved and has caught two or more passes in five straight games. Given the state of UW’s passing game — he’s probably the answer here — although it’s an uninspiring one.

Q: New HC and OC dealing with an obviously young quarterback now, has the offensive system changed at all from the start of the year to get Locke into more of a rhythm? 

The Wisconsin football team has produced uneven results all season. Phil Longo’s dairy raid offense has been roughly a 50-50 play-calling split.

Nothing has noticeably changed during the last two games besides a heavy reliance on Braleon Allen. Wisconsin doesn’t have a clear-cut identity on offense, which has been a problem — but for the most part, their offense is designed to take whatever the defense gives them and is dictated by what the opposing team puts in the box.

Q: Wisconsin is a double-digit favorite. If Indiana is to win this game or keep it close, what are the 2-3 reasons for that?

I’d like to throw out there that no team who is going on the road with its backup quarterback under center, without its top two running backs (who made up one of the best 1,2 punches in the country, and its top returning wideout should be nearly double-digit favorites.

That said, if UW walks out of Bloomington with a loss, it’ll be because they cannot run the ball effectively without Braelon Allen. If Wisconsin can’t run the ball — the offense will have its work cut out for them.

I have plenty of confidence in the Badgers defense to keep Indiana’s offense in check — but short of scoring a touchdown themselves, they’re going to need some help.

On the flip side, if Indiana can run the ball, not turn the ball over, and control the clock — the Wisconsin football front seven has struggled, which could also leave the door open.

SEE ALSO: Indiana Football Week 10 Stock Report: Who’s trending up? Who’s trending down?

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