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Wisconsin Football: Key matchups to watch vs. Northwestern

By Steven Tondi

EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 05: Head coach Paul Chryst of the Wisconsin Bagers waits with his team to enter the field before a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on November 5, 2016 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 05: Head coach Paul Chryst of the Wisconsin Bagers waits with his team to enter the field before a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on November 5, 2016 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin Football - Jonathan Taylor
MADISON, WI – SEPTEMBER 15: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs the ball in the first quarter of the game against the BYU Cougars at Camp Randall Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Jonathan Taylor vs. Paddy Fisher

Jonathan Taylor has quietly been one of the best running backs in the nation.  If it was not for the obvious quarterback bias that goes along with the Heisman Trophy race, Taylor would be right in the middle of the discussion.  He has been the workhorse for the Wisconsin offense all season, receiving 20 plus carries a game and running behind his pads.

Taylor has the ability to take over this game and win it for Wisconsin.  When the offensive line is doing their job there are only a few defenses that are equipped to slow down Taylor.  Once he gets a rhythm and a high level of confidence early in the game, he is a nightmare for opposing defenses.  I can see this being a game where Taylor gets around 30 carries.  Odd things seem to happen in Evanston whenever the Badgers are in town.  I expect Chryst to eliminate the possibility of the unexpected by pounding the rock with Jonathan Taylor.

The emotional and physical leader of the Northwestern Wildcats has to be inside linebacker Paddy Fisher.  Fisher is only a sophomore but was voted as a captain by his teammates before the season began.  He recorded 113 tackles last year as a true freshman and has shown the ability to make plays defending the pass.  He is essentially Pat Fitzgerald 2.0.  Fisher is a tough-nosed player who hits hard and plays with a motor that very few can match.  He will be one of the primary defenders tasked with slowing down Jonathan Taylor.  Fisher is Northwestern’s best tackler and is an integral part of how they defend the run.

I believe Wisconsin has the players and scheme to capture the advantage in this particular matchup.  Jonathan Taylor is an absolute load to deal with and seems poised to have a game where he breaks a couple of long runs.  On the flip side, Paddy Fisher is the type of player that can lead a defense to a spectacular performance.  The toughness and intelligence he plays with on a consistent base could be the catalyst for an impressive performance from the Northwestern defense.

Whoever comes out on top in this matchup will most likely be decided in the fourth quarter as both guys play with a never quit attitude.  You can guarantee there will be a few hard hits between these two.