Are changes in Wisconsin's starting lineup a missing ingredient for Luke Fickell?

Vibes in Madison are at an all-time high following the Wisconsin Badgers’ 24-20 victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions. After what was a rough first half, Wisconsin flipped a switch and played some of its best football since Luke Fickell took over as the team’s head coach.

From the pass game clicking to the run game holding its weight and the defense holding everything down, the Badgers looked like they could compete with any team in the country. That said, the entire Wisconsin season has been plagued by inconsistency and shortcomings, even amidst a 3-1 start.

Many people have pointed the finger to the trenches, citing the lack of wins in pass rush, somewhat inconsistent run defense and wavering stability from the offensive line. Others have bestowed blame upon the quarterback, Colton Joseph, who, despite having some very great moments, has been a bit too volatile for anyone’s liking.

Even the one thing that has held fairly steady — the rushing attack — has also sparked conversation as to whether some changes in workload could benefit the team moving forward. Some think Abu Sama III has been fine as the team’s bell-cow back, while others think that Darrion Dupree and Bryce Jackson have earned a heavier snap share.

Whats working and what isn't

With all of this in mind, Wisconsin isn’t — nor should it be — in any rush to make significant moves as of now. Yes, it is a bit frustrating to see Joseph, a quarterback the program has invested millions of dollars into, be ranked 17th of 18 Big Ten QBs in PFF grade thus far.

But there is little to no guarantee that either Duece Adams or Ryan Hopkins can step in and do any better. Adams has shown plenty of flashes in practice, and every Badger fan knows what kind of talent Hopkins has. However, neither of them have anywhere near the same amount of game reps as Joseph, making it the easy decision to stick with him for the time being.

As for other positions, change can be a bit more fluid, but still shouldn’t be made on a grand scale. There is a fair argument for PJ Wilkins — who ranks second to last amongst Big Ten tackles in PFF grade — to take a seat and let someone like Logan Simmons get some burn, but even that is a risky move.

As for the backfield, things can be a bit malleable given the depth of the room, but there really isn’t a reason for Fickell to make real changes as of now. Part of what makes the room so strong is the fact that it’s a big committee system and multiple guys can take over in any given game. Allowing Sama, Dupree and Jackson to continue sharing a workload keeps defenses on their toes and adds layers to the offensive attack.

Adjustments will be made throughout the year — no doubt. But given what the Badgers have shown thus far, there shouldn’t be an eager push to make hefty changes anytime soon.

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