Wisconsin Football: Can Badgers reclaim Big Ten West in 2019?

Jonathan Taylor leads offense

Wisconsin’s style hasn’t changed in years, and isn’t going to change anytime soon. In the age of the spread and no-huddle offense, Wisconsin is going to line up in the power formation and run right at you, having consistently had some of the best offensive lines and running games in the country.

And 2019 is no different, with superstar running back Jonathan Taylor returning for his junior season. He finished the 2018 season with 2194 rushing yards, the seventh highest rushing total in NCAA history and 16 touchdowns.

In fact, if Taylor stays his last two years in college, he looks set to break Ron Dayne’s career rushing record, needing to average about 1,500 yards over his last two seasons to break the record, something he’s eclipsed in each of his first two seasons. One of the things Taylor needs to improve is catching the ball out of the backfield, being able to keep defenses honest when he’s on the field. That extra dimension could be huge for the Badgers going forward.

Something the Badgers will be able to take advantage of at running back is their depth. Bradrick Shaw looks to be finally healthy and can offer Taylor rest during blowouts and Garrett Groshek returns as the team’s third down back.

Elsewhere at the skill positions, most of the core remains intact. Wide receivers AJ Taylor, Danny Davis and tight end Jake Ferguson all return, and they were the team’s leading receivers last season. They’ll look to help whoever wins the starting quarterback job.

Speaking of quarterback, the battle rages on and looks like it’ll be decided closer to the start of the season. Jack Coan returns after starting at the end of the season last year, and showed flashes of potential in 2018, throwing for 515 yards and five touchdowns in a few starts. However, this team was still ninth in the Big Ten in passer rating, struggling to find big plays in the passing game and throwing a lot of interceptions, ranking them 63rd in the country in turnover margin, largely due to 14 interceptions.

Hot on Coan’s heels is the highly-anticipated freshman, Graham Mertz. With the struggles at the quarterback position last season, Mertz has all the tools, and was the MVP of the All-American Bowl. If Coan wins the job and struggles like he did at points last season, fans will be calling for Mertz sooner than later.

On the line, this is probably the first time in a while you could say there are question marks. Losing three All-Americans and a fourth starting to injuries, this will be an inexperienced line. Center Tyler Biadasz is the only returning player, and he was a first team All-Big Ten player. Cole Van Lanen looks to be the next great Wisconsin left tackle, as he filled in very well last season when injuries plagued the line.

While there are questions, Wisconsin’s line doesn’t rebuild, they reload. Keep an eye on Logan Brown (you can’t miss him, standing at 6-6 and 310 pounds), the true freshman is a five-star that could make an impact at either tackle position. This offense will continue to do what it does best, ground and pound.

If the Badgers can find consistency in the passing game, this is a dangerous team.