When Wisconsin football dropped to a disappointing 1-3 after an embarrassing defeat to the visiting Michigan Wolverines, it seemed as though the season was lost. The rough start left a large portion of the fan-base calling for a change at quarterback, understandably so. However, the Badgers had no choice but to endure Graham Mertz’s slow start to the season.
Through the first four games, Graham Mertz had thrown just 2 touchdowns with 6 interceptions – all while getting sacked 7 times. To put it simply, Mertz wasn’t taking care of the football and wasn’t getting the job done – the offense was in a total state of flux.
For Wisconsin to play their brand of football, it’s of the utmost importance to take care of the football, and Mertz was falling well short of those expectations. The running game struggled due to the team’s stacking the box and daring the Badgers to throw the ball.
But as you well know, eventually the tides would turn and Wisconsin would figure things out. In a sport predicated on all 11 players playing their role, individual success cannot be explained without spreading the credit around.
The offensive turnaround took a village
Now, during Wisconsin football’s seven-game winning streak, Mertz has totaled 11 touchdowns (7 passing, 4 rushings) and a more manageable 3 interceptions. The improved ball security has been critical to the team turning their season around.
Much of Mertz’s turnaround can be attributed to the offensive line’s drastic in-season improvement. A large portion of the offensive line came into the season inexperienced or banged up and without much of fall camp under their belt.
Not to mention, the Badgers were rotating eight offensive linemen early in the season, which prevented the o-line from establishing any kind of cohesion.
Since allowing 7 sacks in the first four games, Wisconsin’s offensive line has allowed just 4 sacks over the team’s last seven games – and just 1 in the team’s last four. Talk about a turnaround and one that has benefited everyone involved. No team can be a successful offense without a strong offensive line.
They’ve also managed to become one of the most dominant run-blocking units in the entire nation, grading out as the 2nd best in the NCAA (88.4). This of course could be a combination of the offensive line’s strong play and the fact that Wisconsin found their next superstar running back, Braelon Allen – but it all starts with the big boys up front.
The running game returning to dominance, plus the additional time to throw and allow plays to develop has helped elevate the play of Graham Mertz tremendously.
Graham Mertz last three games
In recent wins against Rutgers, Northwestern, and Nebraska – Graham Mertz has played some of the best football of his young career. Mertz has completed 41 of 57 passes (71.9%) for 601 yards – 6 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. He’s also recorded 3 of his 4 highest graded games in the last three weeks (77.1, 81.6, and 76.3) – the other coming against Eastern Michigan (76.9).
The offensive line has given Mertz the time to stand in the pocket, make his reads, let it rip, and deliver balls on time. Braelon Allen has helped re-establish Wisconsin’s running game – and Graham Mertz has taken a leap in his development as a result.
Paul Chryst was right in his decision to stick with Graham Mertz, and as a result Wisconsin football now has the quarterback they were expecting when they entered the season. Graham Mertz has gone from a liability to a weapon for the Badgers.