Wisconsin Football: Kind of Blue about Jazz Peavy
After three games, Badger of Honor is officially a little worried about what is going on with Wisconsin Football’s Jazz Peavy
Wisconsin Football’s Jazz Peavy has had a surprisingly quiet start to the 2017 Badger season. Fellow incumbent receiving threat Troy Fumagalli has lived up to expectations.
However, that’s not the case with Peavy. So what’s going on with the senior wide receiver?
We’ll try and offer a (somewhat) educated guess as to why has not been used as often this season.
Wisconsin Badgers Football
In 2016, Jazz Peavy led the Badgers in receiving yards with 635 total along with five touchdowns. He finished second to Fumagalli in receptions with 43 to the big TE’s 47. Peavy was also third on the Badgers in rushing with 21 carries for 318 yards and a score.
Yet this season, Peavy has four receptions for 56 yards and no touchdowns. That leaves him fourth on Wisconsin in receiving in 2017. In addition, he’s only rushed twice for seven total yards.
So what’s the problem? Well for starters, Wisconsin has more depth this season. Young speedsters Danny Davis, AJ Taylor, and Quntize Cephus have all earned the coaching staff’s and Hornibrook’s confidence.
They’re all getting work, especially on vertical throws down the field. Meanwhile, Peavy is working hard, often out of the slot, with little impact. The Badger passing game is far more balanced which is a good thing overall but hurts the individual numbers.
In addition, defenses of course should be keying on Fumagalli in the passing game. But Peavy’s strong 2016 also earns him extra defensive attention.
Opposing defenses are going to put their best defensive back on Peavy. They’ll need an athletic linebacker or oversized safety to handle Fumagalli (or double him). All this means the other Wisconsin receivers aren’t facing the top corner and often will get single coverage.
I’d like to see Peavy get a few more chances on jet sweeps. Wisconsin can also use Peavy out of the backfield on swing passes, wheel routes, and screens. Just to get him some touches with a chance to use his quickness in the open field.
A few weeks ago I expressed my concern about some disappointing play from Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook. Of course, Hornibrook proved me a fool when he was a Danny Davis drop from perfection in a scintillating performance against BYU.
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So here’s hoping Jazz Peavy clowns me this week with a breakout performance and little revenge on Northwestern.