Wisconsin Football: How do Badgers Stop Simmie Cobbs?
Wisconsin football has already seen some good receivers this season. They get another on Saturday against Indiana.
The Badgers lock up with Indiana’s Simmie Cobbs Jr., yet another challenge for the Wisconsin secondary. This isn’t the first time Bucky faces a quality receiving opponent.
The Hoosier WR is a big test for Bucky and shutting him down will go a long way to stopping the Indiana offense.
At present, Cobbs is the Big Ten leading’s receiver averaging 6.8 receptions per game and 54 total catches. His 600 receiving yards is third best in the Big Ten.
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So what makes Cobbs such a dangerous weapon? Well it starts with his size, at 6-feet-4-inches tall and 220 pounds. In Indiana’s opening game, The Ohio State were replacing three first round picks. Cobbs took full advantage to the tune of 11 catches and 149 yards along with a touchdown.
Time and again the Hoosiers used Cobbs size to throw back shoulder routes and fades to give him a chance against smaller defensive backs.
So that means Wisconsin’s Nick Nelson should get the main assignment at stopping Cobbs. This season Nelson is 2nd in the Big Ten with 14 pass breakups.
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Wisconsin has faced the other top two Big Ten wide receivers. Bucky did a good job against Maryland’s DJ Moore limiting him to one long 38-yard reception and three catches for 44 yards.
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However, Wisconsin had less success against Nebraska’s Stanley Morgan who caught four balls for 115 yards including an 80-yard touchdown.
So one big difference is the Badgers only had one sack and three total tackles-for-loss against the Cornhuskers. But the Badgers doubled that total versus Maryland with two sacks and six TFLs. So getting after the passer is always going to be critical to help out the secondary.
Hopefully the Badgers get a healthy D’Cota Dixon at safety. Indiana doesn’t have much of a running game so Wisconsin won’t necessarily have to commit a box safety to stopping the run.
So devote some extra attention to Cobbs because it’s hard to see the Indiana offense mustering much of a threat without him delivering big plays.