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

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EVANSTON, IL – OCTOBER 27: Clayton Thorson #18 of the Northwestern Wildcats is stood up short of the goal line by members of the Wisconsin Badgers defense including T.J. Edwards #53 and Andrew Van Ginkel #17 at Ryan Field on October 27, 2018 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

2. Stack the box

While Northwestern’s defense has struggled to start the season, Wisconsin has been just the opposite. The Badgers are first in the country in rushing defense and total defense and that is a very positive sign for things to come this weekend.

Wildcats quarterback Hunter Johnson has been, well, bad. That’s me putting it nicely. He was benched in the third quarter last week after throwing for 88 yards and an interception. He’s completed less than 50 percent of his passes and only has one receiver with more than seven receptions. He’s only thrown 308 yards and has a QBR of 25.2. That’s good for 121st in the country, if you’re curious.

Wisconsin has the bodies up front to smother the run game, and although both of their starting safeties are out of the first half due to targeting penalties, I fully expect Jim Leonhard to go all out to stopping this rushing attack, forcing Johnson to make the throws he hasn’t proven he can make.

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