Badger of Honor
Fansided

Grading Wisconsin football in its win over the Iowa Hawkeyes

By Tanner Nestle

IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Running back Taiwan Deal #28 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs up the field in the second half in front of linebacker Jack Hockaday #48 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Running back Taiwan Deal #28 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs up the field in the second half in front of linebacker Jack Hockaday #48 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin Football
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Fullback Alec Ingold #45, offensive lineman Michael Dieter #63 and offensive lineman Tyler Beach #65 of the Wisconsin Badgers carry the Heartland Trophy off the field after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes, on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

Special Teams: A+

How could this unit not get an A+? Two times in the game on punt coverage Wisconsin recovered an Iowa fumble. One was an incredibly savvy play by D’Cota Dixon to both knock the ball loose and recover it. The other was a heads up play by the coverage team to take advantage of an Iowa player that ran into the ball on his way down the field.

Wisconsin didn’t attempt any field goals and all four extra points from Gaglianone went right down the middle.

The only downside of the special teams that might be worth mentioning is Aron Cruickshank’s kick returns. I love that he’s given the opportunity to take the ball out of the end zone. It just hasn’t been going as planned for him. Sometimes Cruickshank finds a seam and just barely gets tripped up. Most of the time he ends up getting hit pretty hard and can hardly manage 20 yards on the return.

Until he really costs the Badgers with a crucial mistake on returns I’m fine with him taking the ball out of the end zone. He can’t make a big play if he doesn’t try. And his fearlessness is admirable. He’s not getting as many touches in the offense so the few he has on special teams he’s trying to make plays with. I can’t blame him for that.