Wisconsin Football Spring Game Review

The 2017 Wisconsin Spring Game caps the spring practice season for Wisconsin Badger football.

This scrimmage is the 15th and final practice of the spring.  I will do my best to overreact with only the hottest of takes regarding the intra-squad scrimmage especially since a number of key contributors will be held out.  

UW will also undoubtedly not be showing exotic personnel packages and play calls keeping their powder dry until conference play begins.  Hopefully we can unearth a couple names to watch for the summer.  Nonetheless, lets have some fun and see if we can avoid injuries, which after all, is the most important objective.  

The proceeds from ticket sales go to the Waisman Center.  I think my brother went there for kindergarten.

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Drills

OFFENSE

Practice starts the way the Cotton Bowl ended which the QB (this time Hornibrook) looking for Fumagali.  Unlike Western Michigan, the defense was prepared and undercut the out route.

One thing I want to see from Hornibrook this season is a fastball.  He throws accurately.  But too often he lollipops/rainbows throws to WRs.  There are times that throw is useful (fades, screens).  There are times that is dangerous.  There were moments Badger WRs had to slow their routes or adjust despite having gained clear separation because offspeed deliveries from Hornibrook hang in the air too long.  He needs to plant his feet, set his base, and drive the ball down the field instead of relying on anticipation and touch all the time.

Can’t say any of the QBs getting snaps have shown the ability to go through progressions.   One read and throw.  Fairly simple. Perhaps they haven’t been asked too in these drills? Lets hope its that.  Could be a trying season if Fumagali is well covered otherwise.  Hornibrook tries to put some heat on a throw over the middle and the magnificently named #24 Madison Cone is having none of it.  Jazz Peavy free on a go route down the seam but #19 Kare Lyles overthrows him.  Hornibrook still staring down his targets but slings a dart to #87 Quintez Cephus (good to see him out there) on the sideline.

I bought my shares of Bradrick Shaw sometime last fall and my only regret is not swiping a majority share.  It may take another year of development, but he is going to be a star.

DEFENSE

Somewhat tricky to judge the D in drills since they aren’t allowed to tackle.  But being a Packer fan, I’m sort of acclimated.  #31 Luben Figaro with a nice pass breakup off a late throw from alternate Lyels.  D’cota Dixon shaken up off a pass defended on a floated vertical throw down the hash.  But he walks off okay.  #97 Isaiahh Loudermilk making a couple splash plays in run defense. Those would be TFL in live action.  Hasn’t been blocked yet.  Would have had a sack or two as well.  Thus far, the D has had trouble getting their hands on Badger WRs and only poor throws from multiple Badger QBs have prevented multiple long completions.  #27 Kendric Pryor catches a long rainbow from Hornibrook.  He had to wait for it as the ball hung up there.  The play would have been a sack.  #21 Caesar Williams was completely adrift on that one.  Williams beat again, this time by Cephus, but the WR drops it.  Again a floater from Hornibrook but on the money.  Cephus doing some pushups.

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• Wisconsin Football wide receiver enters the transfer portal

BTN graphic notes that Badgers will return 7 starters on defense and that didn’t include Chris Orr.  Orr interviewed by BTN.  He said Football IQ a lot.  Sweet moment talking about his brother.

Scrimmage

CARDINAL BALL

Lyels the QB for the Cardinal.  Shaw with a cutback as the middle opens up and he carries past midfield.  Explosive.  That was a point.  Not entirely sure how scoring works in scrimmages but like 80% sure that would not be a point in a regular season game.  Another good run for Shaw and the interior of the Cardinal OL doing the job paving the way.  Lyles first pass attempt forgettable.  He is high and wide on a 3-step drop throw on a, in theory, simple quick out.   Garrett Rand spills a run crashing down the line for the TFL.  Lyles this time bounces a short pass on 3rd&11.  Couple pass rushers in his face and it definitely bothered Lyles.  Rafael Gaglianone  back and drills it from 42.  I won’t feel like he is all the way back until I see him samba.

BTN breaks down the scoring rules.  But we’re here to avoid injury and find a name or two to watch during summer camp.  This goofy cricketish scoring system is immaterial to me.  There is a running clock which I feel like Purdue football might be interested in utilizing.

WHITE BALL

Jack Coan is the QB for the White.  Couple runs from Sam Brodner gain little.  And our first flag. #47 Luke Benzschawel flinches and its 3rd&11.  Coan with a nice drop but throws low to Benzschawel.

CARDINAL BALL

Coan QB the Cardinal this time.  A little shallow cross to A.J. Taylor for a sizable game.  Perhaps thats worth a few wickets on the scoresheet?  Garrett Rand with another splash play bulling his way into the pocket to dump Coan for the sack.  #5 RB Chris James not exactly a fair fight for the Pitt transfer as the last man trying to impede Rand.  Coan tries to find somebody on 3rd & long and my Man of the Match in the drill portion, Isaiahh Loudermilk with the sack.

Gaglianone true again from the right hash from 42.  Its 8-3 Cardinal in case you have a gambling problem and wagered on this game.  We’re in the 1st quarter? set? half?

https://twitter.com/BadgerFootball/status/855583073647382528

WHITE BALL

Lyles the QB, and sacked this time as #98 Kraig Howe had him in the grasp.  #14 Garrett Groshek with a nice run up the middle off a little zone read type look.  Lyles throws right and hits Pryor but short of the sticks.  When he throws, Lyles brings the ball back behind his helmet.  The ball is like perpendicular to his helmet.  I think that long windup throws off his release point and thus his accuracy.  That’s my analysis based on seeing a handful of throws.

Wisconsin Badgers Football

CARDINAL BALL

Coan under center.  Off play action, Coan can’t find anything.  Great example of there of how Chryst keeps things simple for freshman.  Coan is a young freshman too, being an early enrollee.  The Cardinal line up with two WR left, a RB deep, and seven blockers.  Coan play fakes and rolls right and he has a TE underneath, a TE deeper in the flat and #87 Cephus running left-to-right as the other option. But all his targets (all of whom were covered) right in front of him on one half of the field.  Rather than force something he smartly tucks and runs for a couple.  The play fake buys him extra time, and gives the WR time to get over to that side of the field.  QB has three reads but all in a confined space making for easy decisions.

#22 Patrick Johnson, S, with some thunder in his pads crashing into #29 Troy Laufenberg on the stretch play.  Poor Laufenberg, #26 Eric Burrell flattens him this time.  Coan does a nice job avoiding a sack as #58 Mike Maskalunas slips as he came free on a blitz and had Coan in his sights.  Coan impressive on that throw with a good low ball to #49 Kyle Penniston for the conversion.  Coan a little behind Penniston on another throw, but the big TE bails him out.  Fantastic concentration by Pryor on this catch. Not a great throw as it probably should have been intercepted.

#47 Griffin Grady and Rand slamming the door shut on the ground game on our first goal-to-go situation.  Groshek showing some power on the ground but Loudermilk denies him the endzone.  Something went haywire on the 3rd&goal and Coan eats it.  Snap problem? RB go the wrong way? A 4th&Goal run denied by a crush of White defenders.

CARDINAL BALL AGAIN

#34 Sam Brodner running from the goalline and something bent wrong in his knee causing him to drop the football.  That mutes the fumble recovery celebration.  He moves to cut back and knee buckles.  He’s helped off the field as he gingerly walks to the sideline.  Hopefully a scare and nothing more.

STILL CARDINAL BALL

Coan getting lots of snaps.  Laufenberg runs hard but its too much east-west too often.  That’s  not always the play design.  Coan again looking comfortable rolling right.  Laudermilk drives down Groshek as his motor doesn’t idle.  Coan with time in the pocket and he locks in on his WR and its broken up but his second throw that might have been picked.  #49 Christian Bell a tough looking freshman.  Listed at 6’4″ 246 he certainly has the size you want in an edge rusher.  He bats a Coan pass.

ALSO CARDINAL BALL

Lyles stumbles in his drop, looked like feet tangled by his C.  Floats a pass down the right sideline that hung up invitingly for the defense but falls out of bounds.  Lyles high on a 3rd down throw and Madison Cone almost snags it for the defense.  Lyles just can’t get untracked tonight unfortunately.

Next: Wisconsin Badgers Football: Receivers Showing Plenty of ‘Potential’

HEY CARDINAL BALL

Coan back at QB.  Groshek darts up the middle for a nice gain.  Virtually all the gains on the ground against the defense tonight have been up the middle.  There is simply too much speed on defense to get much going laterally.  Coan with a terrible interception.  #47 Griffin Grady closes well and has Coan and the freshman with a very freshman decision.  Interception for Caesar Williams as Coan floats a ball that I think was supposed to be thrown away.  Good for Williams after some rough moments in the drills.  Choose your own adventure young man (1) throw it away early (2) throw it 10-rows deep (3) protect the ball and take the sack.  Nowhere among those options is casually flipping the ball towards the sidelines and not out of bounds.

WHAT? CARDINAL BALL?

Lyles throws it up on a 4th&5 but well short and didn’t give his WR a chance to make a play.  Madison Cone doing pushups on the sideline for dropping the interception which is all you need to know about that play.

Coan at QB as clock rolls under 3′.  Corey Clement on the sidelines.  Coan with a nice drop and finds #46 Jack Popp on a corner route for a big gain.  Nice safe throw there towards the sidelines where only the WR has a play on it.  Busted assignment in the secondary and #85 Zander Neuville gets lost in the trash Boba Fett style for a wide wide wide open TD to close this out.

FINAL White 20  Cardinal 17

Below are some highlights courtesy of Wisconsin football.

Jack Coan would be my #2 QB based on tonight.  In part by default based on a poor showing from Lyles.  Coan a decent athlete and probably has the strongest arm of all the QBs.  Ghastly interception aside, Coan keeps his eyes downfield and showed glimpses of being able to find different WRs.  Only one flag thrown for a false start.

Some good speed on defense swarming to the football.  The front-7 looks fairly deep.  I came away very impressed by Garrett Rand and Isaiahh Loudermilk especially.  The DL with a very strong outing overall.  I’m going to keep an eye on Christian Bell at LB as an already deep roster position looks to get deeper.  No major injuries to starters.  That’s the most important thing.