Grading Wisconsin football in its win over the Iowa Hawkeyes

Coaching: C-

I’m well aware there’s a difference between the way I see a game and the way Paul Chryst sees a game. But the way I saw it, he was not putting the team in the best spot to succeed. Allow me to explain.

First, after Wisconsin recovered one of the aforementioned fumbles on Iowa’s ten-yard line, Chryst’s first two plays were outside sweeps. One of which went to Taylor. My question for Coach Chryst is this: Is giving Jonathan Taylor a rushing attempt near the goal line better as a traditional run, or as a sweep where he comes from out wide of the formation? Who cares if it’s less predictable to just hand it off to Taylor like normal. You have an offensive line that should be able to handle that.

Another scenario. Midway through the second quarter with Wisconsin leading 7-0, it’s third-and-two at the Iowa 46. This is four-down territory for me. You’ve been able to run the ball well to this point and you’re beyond midfield. Chryst calls a deep shot down the field to Kendric Pryor that falls incomplete.

It’s not the best play call, but not the worst either. However, you can’t punt after that. I would’ve much rather just tried two running plays to get the first down. A touchdown there to go up 14-0 would have been huge. Instead, Wisconsin punted, and Iowa marched down the field and scored to tie the game.

Chryst did this again in the fourth quarter at the Iowa 49. On third down Garrett Groshek got a carry and did nothing with it. On fourth-and-three he punted the ball away trailing 17-14. Having faith in your defense is nice, but having faith in your offense to pick up those short yardage first downs is even nicer. And giving a carry to your third-string back on third and short late in the game doesn’t strike me as a winning play call.

I’ll never understand why Taylor wasn’t given more of an opportunity to assert dominance in the running game. He wasn’t playing poorly at all and each run was going for chunks of yards at a time. That drive in the first half where Wisconsin took a deep shot on third-and-short and punted on the next play? Taylor had three runs earlier in that very drive go for 6, 12, and 17 yards. That’s the kind of momentum you can’t kill as a play caller. Especially in those down and distance situations.

Overall, the team performed at a solid B+ level. There are plenty of things to get cleaned up in the bye week and against Nebraska. We can’t overlook the Huskers but the game against Michigan looms large. There’s work to be done if Wisconsin is going to leave the Big House with a win.

All stats and information courtesy ESPN.com.