Wisconsin football is exactly where we thought they would be through two weeks, 1-1, but how they got there has put a bit of a cloud over the program. The Notre Dame game gave hope for one half and discouragement for the second. The FCS tune-up game was not the boat race that many fans wanted or even needed to see. Now, as the team heads into the Eastern Michigan week, it's time to find some optimism.
Luke Fickell actually provides a good amount of it around Wisconsin fans' favorite position group: The offensive line. In the press conference this week, his glimmer of optimism about where the Badgers are in the trenches should be encouraging to fans who needed it. "I like where we are." Fickell said, "There's some makings of things that I'm not sure we've had before."
He then details each starter and expresses his eagerness for what is to come as the unit continues to gel. "I love where Kevin Heywood is; this is only his second game." Fickell continued, "He missed most of camp; he missed all of last year."
Fickell thinks Colin Cubberly is in a good place after big growth from last season and more to come. Stylz Blackmon also received a ton of praise coming from DII and making the adjustment. The hard work has paid off. Austin Kawecki is a big part of the unit, and "a lot falls on his shoulders." But Fickell says the team can lean on his experience.
Wisconsin's offensive line has been good and the stats back it up through 2 weeks
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Fickell then tells the reporters that they need to push PJ Wilkins; he's got more to give the team. And that's an important part of the optimism of Fickell...the potential is still out in front. Wisconsin still has work to do on the offensive line, but it's in a place that has the "makings" of something special.
The stats actually back this up so far through two weeks. The offensive line was able to give both running backs over 3.3 yards per carry against a stout Notre Dame team. They also only allowed two total sacks (which is a pretty good number against a CFP team in the first week of the season).
Against Western Illinois, sure, the bar is lower, but the offensive line didn't allow a single sack and pushed for a rushing average over 7.5 yards per carry. Even if you take out Abu Sama III's crazy 13.4 yards per carry thanks to his huge 72-yard run, the average is still well over five yards per carry.
Week 3 will be another test for the Badgers and the offensive line. Eastern Michigan isn't Notre Dame, but they also aren't Western Illinois. Can the Wisconsin offensive line keep Colton Joseph clean and help the backs break free? So far, this unit has been impressive, physical, and doing its job, but will it continue into Big Ten play? There's a glimmer of optimism.
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