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Wisconsin Football: 3 hot takes from blowout win over Illinois

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 23, 2020; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) is tackled by Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Tarique Barnes (44) during the second quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2020; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) is tackled by Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Tarique Barnes (44) during the second quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nakia Watson, Wisconsin football Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Run game is going to hold this offense back

Nakia Watson, Isaac Guerendo and Garrett Groshek were all faced with a nearly impossible task heading into the season: replacing Jonathan Taylor.

Watson and Guerendo are sophomores and Groshek is a senior and if all three of them combined to try and recreate one game from Taylor, they didn’t do the best job. Sure, they combined for 168 yards, but it took a whopping 43 carries to do so. Averaging less than four yards per carry is not ideal, especially for Wisconsin.

Not ideal and uncharacteristic would be the two perfect phrases to describe Wisconsin’s run game on Friday night.

While the Badgers might be down to a fourth-string quarterback because of injuries and COVID-19 positive tests, it seems like the run game is going to be the main concern all season.

Unless someone steps up and becomes that work-horse, the run game may hold a fully-healthy Badger offense back.

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