Wisconsin Football: 3 keys to victory vs. Northwestern in Week 5

3. Offensive line must dominate Northwestern front

I feel like Paddy Fisher has been around the Northwestern program for about 10 years now. The senior linebacker for the Wildcats has been a monster for a few years now, as he’s finished with 116 and 113 tackles in back-to-back seasons, and was a third-team All-American last season. He mans the middle of Northwestern’s defense.

One of the reasons that Wisconsin versus Northwestern has been so highly-contested over the last five years has been that Northwestern is one of the few teams that has the bodies in their defensive front seven to match Wisconsin. Fisher and defensive end Joe Gaziano are two very good players, and Wisconsin’s blocking will have to win their battles to find success on the ground.

Last season, Jonathan Taylor had 46 yards and two fumbles against the Wildcats, in one of his worst games wearing the red and white. Northwestern has struggled against the run to start this season, giving up nearly 150 yards per game. They held Michigan State to just 2.7 yards per carry last week, but I think Taylor seeking revenge and the offensive line win this battle.