Apologies Michael Deiter: Your TD a Bad Play Call

Wisconsin LT Michael Deiter scored a touchdown today.  It was awesome and I’m happy for him but it was still a terrible play call

I wrote a post critical of Wisconsin football after week one’s listless season opening win over Utah State.  In it, I noted that a friend calls me a “rain cloud” for my sullen opinions.

So true to form, I hated the play call (not the execution) for Michael Deiter and his mesmerizing rushing touchdown that effectively sealed the win.

Don’t misunderestimate this.  I’m genuinely happy for Michael Deiter.  I recognize that OL rushing touchdowns happen approximately never.

I still didn’t like that particular play call in that situation.  It was a dangerous play and burned a neat trick in a game Wisconsin had well in hand.

The Badgers had the ball at the Illinois 4 with just over four minutes left to play.  Wisconsin had 1st-and-goal at the 3 but two runs from Garrett Groshek lost a yard.

Wisconsin led 17-3 at the time so it was still just a two-score margin.  But even just a field goal in that situation (a near certainty given the distance) makes it a three-score game.

Related Story: Wisconsin Football Moves Michael Deiter to LT

So absolutely zero reason to be aggressive.  Illinois had its full complement of timeouts.

But even a stuffed run takes the clock under 3:30 or forces Illinois to burn a timeout.  Kick the field goal and you’re up 20-3 with your defense against an aimless offense.

In addition, the Badgers could have thrown to Fumagalli or Cephus and told Hornibrook to slide down in bounds rather than force a pass or throw incomplete (stopping the clock).

Instead, we used an incredible trick play to score the seemingly impossible OL touchdown.

The Badgers show a heavy formation to the right.  Shaw and Cephus roll with Hornibrook to that side.  Michael Deiter blocks (while giggling internally probably) and then leaks out.  Hornibrook throws a lateral (ball goes backward) and the big man rumbles to the paint.

My main problem here is the lateral.  If Deiter reports as eligible you aren’t worried about illegal man downfield.  A soft, floated lateral is so risky in this situation.

An Illini defender reads it or the LT not used to catching laterals drops it, or whatever that’s a live ball.  Illinois can score an easy defensive touchdown make it a seven point game.

Finally, I don’t really like using our tricks if we don’t need to use it.  I’d rather have debuted a version of this against a stouter defense like Iowa or Michigan.  There more be more meaningful game situations where some a deep dive into the playbook is required.  It wasn’t needed here.

Next: What it Means; Wisconsin Football Beats Illinois

Again, I’m happy for Deiter and this moment.  He certainly deserves it.  I just didn’t like that play call in that game situation.