Wisconsin football transition is no excuse for offensive struggles

It’s a common refrain among Wisconsin football fans and analysts – the Badgers offense gets a pass this season because it’s the coaching staff’s first year, and they’re in the middle of a schematic transition.

While that might be a valid argument to some extent, I can’t fully endorse this notion. Thus far, Wisconsin’s Dairy Raid has produced the No. 8 scoring offense in the Big Ten (27.2 PPG), No. 3 rushing offense (185.8 YPG), and No. 8 passing attack in the conference (212.7 YPG).

Is it a lot of work for a new coaching staff to come in, establish a culture, implement new systems, and tailor schemes to personnel? Absolutely. But is it fair to have expected more than the nation’s No. 62 offense at this point? Also yes.

Wisconsin football coaches have plenty of “their guys”

First, let’s clarify that many of the players on the field are, in fact, “Fickell’s players.” Take starting quarterback Tanner Mordecai, for example; Luke Fickell and Phil Longo hand-picked him in the transfer portal to lead this offensive transition.

The same goes for three of the Wisconsin Badgers top-five wide receivers. Will Pauling, Bryson Green, and CJ Williams were all off-season portal additions brought in to revamp the wide receiving core.

So, attributing the offensive struggles solely to a lack of “their guys” is somewhat misleading.

Moreover, it’s crucial to remember that Fickell and Longo are handsomely compensated for their respective roles. It’s their job to adapt to the talent Wisconsin football has at their disposal and make it work. Even if the ideal pieces aren’t all in place, we should still expect noticeable in-season improvements. But that has yet to materialize over the first half of the season.

It’s not time to write off the offense, Phil Longo, or Luke Fickell by any means (that would be completely idiotic). Still, they are responsible for delivering results on the field regardless of the circumstances.

Final thoughts

In terms of allocating blame, it’s not easy to pinpoint one specific area of need. The offensive line’s performance hasn’t been stellar, the air raid offense hasn’t taken flight, and tight end depth has been in short supply this season. Now, the Wisconsin football team faces the challenge of moving forward with redshirt freshman Braedyn Locke taking the reins at quarterback following Tanner Mordecai’s injury.

The blame game involves several factors, and Wisconsin fans know there’s plenty to go around. However, as the season progresses, we should expect pronounced improvements and adjustments from the coaching staff.

UW’s offensive story is far from written this season, but I must acknowledge that if you had told me after the first six weeks that the offense would only average 36.2 yards more per game than last year, I would have felt disappointed. On the bright side, the running game has become more efficient by spreading out opposing defenses.

ALSO READ: Wisconsin’s defense is trending in the right direction

In summary, while the Wisconsin football transition period might explain some of the struggles, it doesn’t absolve the coaching staff from accountability. The offense should be expected to evolve and make strides, and it’s an ongoing process that will hopefully yield better results in the future.

I’m still very optimistic about this new vision long-term, but after last Saturday’s debacle at home against Iowa, I’m still a little salty.

For ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinions, and analysis, you can follow Dillon Graff on X @DillonGraff.