2022 Wisconsin Season Thread

[847badgerfan]

[FearlessF]

Sipple is solid

not sure why Riaola would be retained

the O-line didn't show much improvement a tall

[Benthere2]

Bostad came back to Wisconsin under PC, as the ILB coach, and he was fantastic. When PC pushed Rudolph out the door last year, he moved Bostad to OL coach.

The weak link on the team this year was the OL - and it's made up entirely of 4 and 5 STARZ. I've been told that the players didn't like his ass-kicking style of coaching. Maybe the players should all go to IU and let Bo stay home.

not that the Gophers get many 4 stars but don't the higher Starred guys want more coddling than the guys that want to come in an prove something?  
an i understand its not every higher starred guy but in general terms?

[Mdot21]

Jim Leonhard needs to get over Wisconsin. His obsession with that place is borderline creepy. They f'd you over hombre. They didn't want you to be the head coach. Passed over you twice now last two times that job came open.

Would be a mistake for Fickell to keep him around imo. Need to change the entire culture put your imprint on the thing. Those players all were begging for Leonhard to be the head coach. For sure some of them are still going to be loyal to him over Fickell. Could cause division in the locker room if there are any slight slip ups or hiccups- who knows if there is backstabbing and politicking to try and get Leonhard to replace you. Just saying.

If I was Fickell I'd have told him to look somewhere else and I'm bringing my guy to be the DC. They run completely different styles of defense as well not to mention.

[847badgerfan]

Jim Leonhard needs to get over Wisconsin. His obsession with that place is borderline creepy. They f'd you over hombre. They didn't want you to be the head coach. Passed over you twice now last two times that job came open.

Would be a mistake for Fickell to keep him around imo. Need to change the entire culture put your imprint on the thing. Those players all were begging for Leonhard to be the head coach. For sure some of them are still going to be loyal to him over Fickell. Could cause division in the locker room if there are any slight slip ups or hiccups- who knows if there is backstabbing and politicking to try and get Leonhard to replace you. Just saying.

If I was Fickell I'd have told him to look somewhere else and I'm bringing my guy to be the DC. They run completely different styles of defense as well not to mention.

Where you getting this? Twice?? PC hired JL to coach DB's in 2016. It was his first coaching job. JL was playing with the Browns when PC was hired.

[847badgerfan]

not that the Gophers get many 4 stars but don't the higher Starred guys want more coddling than the guys that want to come in an prove something? 
an i understand its not every higher starred guy but in general terms?

Seems like it.

I'd like to see UW go back to grabbing 2-3* out of the Fox Velley and Door County. Those kids are ass-kickers.

[FearlessF]

Rhule has seemed to have success with the 2 & 3-stars @ Temple and Baylor

hopefully, he can do it in Lincoln

Billy C., Riley, and Frost chased the stars - caught a few - the fans luved it

Pelini and Solich did not - of course the fans hated it

[Hawkinole]

Graham Mertz entered the transfer portal. 

[bayareabadger]

Graham Mertz entered the transfer portal.

I will be fascinated to see where he lands. I understand he probably wanted a fresh start. I also wonder if the new staff pushed him out at all or if they wanted to keep him around.

I would’ve wanted to keep him around, but I also understand if he didn’t wanna stay

[Benthere2]

I will be fascinated to see where he lands. I understand he probably wanted a fresh start. I also wonder if the new staff pushed him out at all or if they wanted to keep him around.

I would’ve wanted to keep him around, but I also understand if he didn’t wanna stay

i think Metrz reads blogs

[Hawkinole]

His season was only modestly better than Petras's. I am guessing the coaching staff is being realistic about his opportunities with him.

[bayareabadger]

His season was only modestly better than Petras's. I am guessing the coaching staff is being realistic about his opportunities with him.

I mean, they don’t have any other QBs. 

[FearlessF]

the portal is full of QBs

Does Luke have one in tow?

[bayareabadger]

Fickell and Leonhard run two different defenses. They do not agree on defensive philosophy. I agree with you that Fickell should bend where Wisconsin is strong.
That said, from an Iowa perspective, hopefully Leonhard leaves for greener pastures not in the Big Ten. The Iowa O-Line has not figured out how to block against his defense.

I think it would be a stretch to say that they don’t agree.

Leonard has only been coaching for seven seasons. He learned Dave Aranda’s defense and worked under Justin Wilcox’s. He also played in a 4-down system in college and more than a few kinds of systems in the pros.

In short, while he has been successful with odd fronts, it’s not like he couldn’t choose to be adaptable.