Benster and D Pick Your Games -- How Can The Badgers Get Their Identity Back? Edition

Frankly, the Packers tying the Cowboys was a weird ending to a weirdnight. If Michael Irvin wants to question if the clock was properly set on that last throw by Love, he should have no issues admitting that Dak could have been called for intentional grounding late in the 4th quarter. But the Packers tied because of their own mistakes, which we need to acknowledge instead of blaming the officials. 

I see some things I don't like about that team. I am hoping they can fix a few things on the bye, but the lack of discipline is especially concerning.

 So what I wanted to talk about last week was how the Badgers can get back their identity, but thanks to the Mistake By The Lake by the Packers, the Badgers got a break. 

Your wrath may be delayed, but it always arrives.

Got that right, Geritol Fan! But that comes later. I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYPPPEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work. 

Michigan Hail To The Sign Stealers Valiant (+17.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers So the Badgers have won two games they should have won, lost a game that surprised nobody, and served up one of the worst performances against a Big Ten team at Camp Randall that I have ever seen against Maryland two weeks ago. The Badgers are facing an October gauntlet, and frankly things are going to be difficult. However, Michigan is a team that I wonder about. The Wolverines have struggled offensively the past two years and while I think Bryce Underwood is going to be a good quarterback in the Big Ten, he is still a freshman QB going on the road in Big Ten play. What killed the Badgers against Maryland was shooting themselves in the foot in the first quarter. So while I am under no illusions that the Badgers should be favorites, the Badgers are going to surprise someone this month. If I am a Michigan fan, this is the type of game that I would be worried about. Badgers 20, Wolverines 17. 

Maybe, but frankly the Badgers haven't showed us much. I would like to know what the preferred quarterback could do, but he's still on the shelf and once again the Badgers are going with an undersized gamer who should be holding a clipboard. I think the Badgers don't get embarrassed this week, but I don't see a victory. Michigan 27, Wisconsin 19.

 A School In Columbus (-23.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers Of The Boat The Gophers deserve credit for winning against a game Rutgers team last week. The Gophers had a 1st quarter that wasn't great by any means, but made enough plays in the second half. The problem for the Gophers is that Ohio State is an impressive team. I wasn't too sure about Julian Sayin, but he might be better for the Buckeyes than CJ Stroud. Now, you might be thinking that I have an agenda and am going to point out that Ohio State struggled through a game Washington team out in Seattle and got a break thanks to a terrible fake field goal that the Huskies called. But the Buckeyes did what they had to do on the road in conference play. PJ can't coach scared and turtle like he has done in the past against the Buckeyes. He has to give his players a chance and coach to win. Sadly for the Gophers, this is a talent gap game. Buckeyes 67, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 23. 

I agree there's a talent gap, but the Gophers aren't Ball State. They'll give a decent accounting of themselves. Ohio State 34, Gophers 20.

Minnesota Vikings (-3.5) vs. Cleveland Browns, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium The Vikes are going to be very shorthanded up front against the Browns. When you have to start a third string center who hasn't played center in a long time against a very aggressive defensive coordinator in Jim Schwartz, this could spell disaster. I would imagine that KOC is going to be smart enough to not do what the Packers did and let the Browns hang around. If Carson Wentz is smart, he is going to need to get the ball out. What I really want to see from the Vikings is something that I feel the Twin Cities media and Vikings fans don't want to admit. Justin Jefferson is a great player, but when he is getting quarterback money he needs to take over a game. The Vikings have failed to advance in the playoffs with him, and when the Vikings need their stars to step up he tends to go missing at times. Something tells me that Jordan Addison might be the key guy for the Vikings to rely on instead of Jefferson. If the Griddy Man wants to prove me wrong, now would be a good time. Vikings 16, Browns 10. 

I personally wouldn't rely on Addison until he proves he can stay off the police blotter, but that's me. Cleveland is a pretty good defensive team and at this point in his career Carson Wentz is just a guy, but the Browns have a rookie quarterback going and Brian Flores will confuse the hell out of Dillon Gabriel. Vikings 16, Browns 3.

And now it is time for something that isn't a Very Special Comment. 

Well, what is it?

I am going to try a reasoned analysis here.

This could be a first.

No, I'm capable of it. Sometimes a guy has to step away from the shtick. You might consider it some time, Old Dude. 

So let's be reasonable. The Badgers need to understand that trying to go too quickly away from their roots hasn't been working. While Fickell deserves a huge part of the blame, Chris McIntosh hired Fickell and made the decision to get rid of Paul Chryst. I realize that NIL is going to make it harder to be a program that develops players, but the Badgers need to take what they do have and build on what works. What are the keys to that? 

 Offensive Line Success: Wisconsin should be getting in state kids who are very good offensive linemen, and focus on being one of the best places for guys to develop and go to the NFL as best prepared to be successful. The offensive line tradition is the bedrock on which Barry Alvarez built the program. 

Running Backs Matter: Wisconsin has always had a rich tradition of running backs. Fickell should be selling players in both the transfer portal and recruits that Wisconsin knows how to develop running backs. Guys like Melvin Gordon, James White, and Jonathan Taylor used Wisconsin to become running backs who played key roles on good NFL teams. Fickell should be making sure that guys know that a running back at Wisconsin is going to get them prepared to play in the NFL and have success in the NFL. 

Don't Take Away Things This Fanbase Expects: Fickell's biggest mistake was moving too quickly to the Air Raid. While I agree that getting better QB play was a key priority, the reason that the fanbase was ticked is that the Badgers are losing their strengths and things fans want to see from Wisconsin. What made Wisconsin good was more than just being in the Big Ten West. The defense was tough, the offensive line was the heart of the team, and running backs knew that they were next in line to a tradition of success. 

What Fickell did by going away from those traditions was similar to what Rich Rodriguez did at Michigan. The Wolverines never played the spread offense, and it seemed like Rodriguez didn't get what Michigan fans expected. Notice how Michigan has gone with coaches that have had at least some connection to the school since. So, who should be the next head coach? 

So you're firing Fickell?

Yes. And I have a list. 

Thought I'd throw in a little culture there.

Ah, more cultural references from the 19th Century! Don't you understand I'm working here?

Okay, I'll let you get back to it, but surely Gilbert and Sullivan are better than random Paul Finebaum sightings, right?

I'll give you that. Now shush. This list is in no particular order, and assumes that Jim Leonhard ain't coming home. Another assumption in this list is that McIntosh is either fired or resolves to make sure that the next coach understands what it takes to be successful in Madison. 

Dave Aranda: Bit of a longshot, but he was a very successful defensive coordinator for the Badgers and would get the benefit of the doubt from most fans. 

Alex Golesh: Would be the hot name based on his success at USF. Has Big Ten ties and would know how to use NIL to get us back to where we should be. 

Todd Monken: A fellow Knox alum, Monken had a lot of success at Georgia and is one of the most respected offensive minds in football. Given that John Harbaugh isn't likely to leave the Ravens, could entice elite QB prospects by leveraging his time working with Lamar Jackson 

Will Stein: He is the offensive coordinator at Oregon. He has had a lot of success with different quarterbacks at Oregon, and seems to have a lot of freedom running the offense because Lanning comes from a defensive background. Also seems like a good recruiter. 

Glenn Schumann: He is currently the defensive coordinator at Georgia. Schumann has been Kirby Smart's longtime right hand man, and has spent time with both Smart and Saban. Would be someone who is young and can come in and build the program back up knowing what it takes to compete at the top of the college football world. 

Enjoy your football this week, and also good luck to the Brewers. While I am not a Brewers fan, the Old Dude would love to see his Brewers win the World Series. Ben out.