Early look: What to like about No. 12 Wisconsin in 2017
Each week, USA TODAY Sports will give a more detailed look at the teams listed on our early top 25 for the 2017 college football season.
Up next: No. 12 Wisconsin. All three of Wisconsin’s losses in 2016 — to Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State — came by a touchdown. A year later, an uptick in explosiveness and a stronger kicking game might mean the difference in close games for Paul Chryst and the Badgers.
Why No. 12?
1. Depth on defense. In terms of personnel, this seems like Wisconsin’s greatest asset. The defense does lose two starters in the secondary and both outside linebackers, including would-be senior T.J. Watt a year ahead of schedule. But the Badgers remain loaded with depth across the board. Of the 33 defenders to letter last season, 27 return.
Replacements already have been spotted at cornerback and free safety. While reproducing what Watt and Vince Biegel brought to the table on passing downs might demand a multiple-player solution, Chryst singled out seniors Garret Dooley and Leon Jacobs as being for their solid play during the spring. The defense looks ready to attack the Big Ten Conference — but they’ll do so under the direction of an unproven coordinator, as we’ll touch on below.
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2. Improved special teams. Wisconsin’s kicking game struggled in 2016 following Rafael Gaglianone’s year-ending injury just three weeks into the regular season. His replacement, Andrew Endicott, was unable to match Gaglianone’s effectiveness on longer tries. Now back at full strength, Gaglianone will expand the Badgers’ scoring range.
Though missed field goals didn’t necessarily cost Wisconsin too dearly last fall, it’s interesting to consider how the Big Ten title game might have played out had Endicott made a 48-yard try on the team’s first drive of the second half — one that would’ve give Wisconsin a 31-14 lead in a game it lost 38-31.
3. The schedule. Only one team on this schedule — Michigan — should be ranked in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll. Even if the final poll is rarely similar to its preseason version, that fact speaks to the Badgers’ smooth road to double-digit wins during the regular season. The toughest non-league game is at Brigham Young on Sept. 16.
In Big Ten play, the only road trip against even a borderline national contender is at Nebraska on Oct. 7. Northwestern, Iowa and Michigan come to Camp Randall. It’s not crazy to consider the Badgers’ chances of having run the table in advance of the matchup with the Wolverines Nov. 11.
4. Consistency. At least 10 wins in each of the past three seasons and in six of the past eight. Five Big Ten West Division titles in the past seven years, a span encompassing three different permanent head coaches — and two interim stints by athletics director Barry Alvarez.
The train keeps rolling along for Wisconsin, which identifies, evaluates and develops under-the-radar talent as well as — if not better than — any program in the Football Bowl Subdivision. More of the same is coming in 2017.
Why not higher?
1. New defensive coordinator. So this seems a little odd, right? The Badgers’ depth on defense is a major asset, as noted above. At the same time, Chryst’s decision to promote a coaching neophyte in Jim Leonhard is a touch concerning, given how the legendary former defensive back is entering just his second season as an assistant coach.
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Still, a major positive: Leonhard’s indoctrination into Wisconsin’s system came at the feet of former coordinator Dave Aranda, now at LSU, and he’ll benefit enormously from last season’s experience coaching the secondary under current California coach Justin Wilcox.
Better yet, it’s hard to imagine Leonhard’s first year with the backfield going much better. The Badgers intercepted 22 passes, tied for the second most in the FBS, and finished eighth nationally in pass efficiency defense. So there’s clearly something there — as Chryst himself saw before hiring Leonhard prior to last season. In other words, a slight concern today may quickly develop into a positive.
2. Need for more at QB. This is the Badgers’ biggest issue, in my mind. It’s safe to assume some degree of improvement at quarterback as sophomore Alex Hornibrook prepares for his first full year as the starter. But there’s significant room and need for improvement, especially in comparing the Badgers to those teams likewise battling for position in the race for the College Football Playoff.
While Chryst and Wisconsin have done a nice job scheming around pass-game inefficiencies during the past three years, a defense capable of stemming the Badgers’ run game could derail the offensive altogether. But couldn’t we have said the same last season?
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Biggest games
►At Nebraska, Oct. 7
►Vs. Iowa, Nov. 11
►Vs. Michigan, Nov. 18
Three players to know
1. TE Troy Fumagalli. Yet another former walk-on turned stud for Wisconsin, Fumagalli is an All-America candidate in his final season.
2. RB Chris James. The former Pittsburgh transfer is a Big Ten sleeper to watch heading into his first year of eligibility for the Badgers.
3. CB Nick Nelson. Once of Hawaii, where he started 21 games as a freshman and sophomore, Nelson has already slid into one of the starting roles on the outside.
PROJECTING THE PRESEASON TOP 25
