Big Ten 2010 // Wisconsin's Greatest Strength - Cerberus
by Hilary Lee on May 5, 2010 10:29 AM CDT
in Wisconsin
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No Rivalry readers, I have not gone off the deep end quite yet. Though, honestly by the time I finish these law school finals tomorrow I might in fact find myself there. So what's with the reference to the mythological three headed dog? Well as much as I wish Wisconsin had one of those prowling its backfield, I'm actually referring to Wisconsin's greatest strength coming into this season - it's trio of running backs: John Clay, Zach Brown, and Montee Ball.
Oh I know... naming the running game as Wisconsin's greatest strength is about as cliche and predictable as one can get. But it's predictable because it's true. Wisconsin has, seemingly always, recruited and trained a certain type of back best suited for a bruising and physical ground game. There's nothing new about that.
And yes, that old familiar strength has returned once again for the upcoming season. Between its three backs, last year Wisconsin had 2,187 yards and 25 TDs. If those numbers don't give you chills as a Badger fan then I don't know what will.
(Zach Brown - AP Photo / Morry Gash)
Now, I should be clear, I am not advocating for a running back by committee approach. John Clay, he of first team all Big Ten honors, is our main back. Indeed, watching that system between John Clay and Zach Brown last season proved incredibly frustrating for me. This was mostly due to Zach Brown's sudden inability to hold onto a football, and Bielema's continued insistence on using him over John Clay. Brown was later sidelined by a concussion which forced him out of two games and reduced his playing time in others. This rather effectively eliminated the running back choice problem.... until John Clay was bent in half by an... angry Iowa linebacker. That's where Montee Ball came in. Originally a non-entity on the Badger squad, Ball stepped up admirably against Indiana after this event and showed that Wisconsin did not have to fear even the (temporary) loss of Mr. Clay.
(Montee Ball - AP Photo / John Raoux)
The time line of last season shows why, then, having three running backs will be the greatest asset to Wisconsin this season. Not much more needs to be said about John Clay, who is rapidly making a case for the title of "Heir to the Great Dayne," but Zach Brown (assuming he is cured of his butterfingers) has a different skill set all together, which helps to trip up opposing defenses. Montee Ball is sort of like a mini John Clay, but as shown in the later games of this season and the Champs Sports Bowl, opposing teams don't often plan for him, and they can get steamrolled when they only focus on John Clay. If Brett Bielema can make effective use of these three in combination with Scott Tolzien's passing game, the Wisconsin offense will be a terrifying sight this season....
This week...
MONDAY: Spring Field Guide
TUESDAY: Wisconsin's Achilles Heel
WEDNESDAY: Wisconsin's Greatest Strength
THURSDAY: MVP Profile -
FRIDAY: Keeping the Enemy Close
***
More Big Ten 2010...
Indiana | Michigan | Illinois | Minnesota | Purdue | Michigan State | Northwestern
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Agreed. Mainly that the running back battle between Brown and Clay was pointless, and that Wisconsin's greatest strength is running the ball.
It’s readily apparent how much the offense struggles when the Badgers can’t run the ball and don’t have a competent QB. Or the QB decides to give the ball to Amari Spievey or Pat Angerer, or Kurt Coleman, or Hines, or… You get the picture.
If the Badgers establish the passing game, as John Stocco was able to do (when playing teams not named Northwestern), and Tolzien can do, the running game becomes less pivotal. While the running game’s still important (especially in the Big Ten), the passing game can pick up the slack.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 5, 2010 11:56 AM CDT reply actions
3 running backs, 3 doors...
Sounds like you’ve got yourselves a Montee Ball problem.
Behind one door is John Clay. Behind another is Pat Angerer juggling flaming knives. Choose wisely!
Keeping wildlife, an amphibious rodent, for uh, domestic, you know, within the city - that aint legal either, Dude.
by AcrimoniousAngerererer on May 5, 2010 3:10 PM CDT reply actions
John Clay is a man.
He destroyed Miami, and I hope we can do the same when it comes time for the Hurricanes to come to the ’Shoe.
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by Ian_InsideTheShoe on May 5, 2010 5:05 PM CDT reply actions
Maybe Herron and Sayne can be like Ball and Clay.
Miami has defensive issues, and when Jacory Harris gets in an INT-tossing mood, the Hurricanes go down. Hard. UNC really has Miami’s number, and Ohio State’s defense wass better than UNC last year. But the Buckeyes lose Worthington, Coleman, and Gibson. Those are hard players to replace.
Wisconsin did not intercept Harris, but the six sacks certainly didn’t help Jacory’s confidence (if he had any by the time the game ended).
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 5, 2010 9:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh I'm sure Heyward can sack him.
More than once. As far as Boom and Zoom go, I could see it, but I would trust our defense more than anything.
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by Ian_InsideTheShoe on May 6, 2010 5:45 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd like to argue with the word "recruited"
when describing Wisconsin running backs. I’m pretty sure they’re just cloned
It never gets to be easy
Ha
It is kind of true though.
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by Ian_InsideTheShoe on May 5, 2010 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions
I wish we could clone Michael Bennett.
Oh wait, that was Brian Calhoun. Oopsies.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 5, 2010 9:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Well you know
Wisconsin does have one of (perhaps the) oldest college ag programs in the country. Traditionally known for the ice cream and cheese made in Babcock Hall, it’s not a stretch to think they might also produce running backs and offensive linemen….
The Rivalry, Esq. - Judging the Big 10 since 2008
we've been milking that picture for all it's worth
by Graham Filler on May 6, 2010 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions
For good reason
it is awesome
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on May 6, 2010 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions
It's funny because
I originally did not want to use that picture…. since I think I (alone) have used it at least three times, and Graham and the others maybe twice. But then I was like, oh who am I kidding? I have to use it.
The Rivalry, Esq. - Judging the Big 10 since 2008
What you can't tell from that picture
is that Clay’s hand is entirely inside of Rucker’s mouth.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on May 7, 2010 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions
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