Wisconsin Football: Poor 1st Half Execution

Wisconsin football heads to half in the Big Ten championship game needing some second half magic to keep the undefeated season afloat.

The Buckeye defense has bottled up the Wisconsin offense effectively.  The only Wisconsin football offensive points came on a field goal after a fumble recovery set up the Badgers inside the 10.

Yet a red zone turnover early and some good run defense has kept the Badger offensive attack at bay.  In addition, QB Alex Hornibrook has wilted under pass pressure.

The Buckeyes have done well getting after the young signal caller and it he looks rattled.  Hornibrook is fighting his own natural throwing motion and leaning away instead of driving forward into his throws.

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As a result he’s sailed more than a few passes and they’ve been expensive.  On a 3rd down, he had Troy Fumagalli all alone behind the defense for a potential TD. Hornibrook doesn’t set a strong foundation and flutters a pass all wrong.

Fumagalli can’t haul it in and Wisconsin had to punt.  For the half, Hornibrook is just 8/16 for 103 yards and a bad red zone interception.  He had Fumagalli matched up on a small WR.  But under cooks it and it was intercepted.  That cost Wisconsin at least a field goal.

Defensively, its been the big plays that have hurt Wisconsin.  Just like against Penn State in the 2nd half of last year’s Big Ten title game.

But this year those long Buckeye advances have been aided by some sloppy Badger tackling.

1. Alec James has a chance to pin the Buckeyes inside the 10 with a 3rd down stop. JT Barrett escapes for the conversion.  On the next play the Buckeyes open the scoring with an 84-yard dart.

2. Then on a swing pass both Nick Nelson and Natrell Jamerson have a chance to get Parris Campbell on the ground after 4-5 yard gain. They duck their hands and wildly swing.  He ghosts both and takes it to the paint.

3. Finally, JK Dobbins rips off a long run after Conor Sheehy gets two hands on the shifty RB but can’t drop him in the backfield. He’s off to the races inside the Wisconsin 2.  JT Barrett plunges in from there.

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If Wisconsin is going to turn this result around in the second half it starts with solid tackling.  They’ll need more from Alex Hornibrook as the Buckeyes have effectively shut down the Wisconsin ground game.  Jonathan Taylor has just 25 yards on his 10 carries.

The Badgers have been a second half team all season.  But this Buckeye team is showing no signs of fading like previous Wisconsin opponents.