The instant reaction, thoughts, and and what matters after the huge performance by Graham Mertz in the 45-7 win over Illinois.
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5. The Badger running game needs some work
Nitpicking time in a blowout win in the Big Ten debut …
The Wisconsin running game will need to be a bit more Wisconsin-like.
The offensive line was fine overall, and the ground attack got better as the game went on and everything started to slip away, but the 54 carries for 182 yards and a score wasn’t dominant enough for this program.
There’s no Jonathan Taylor, and there might not be a superstar in the backfield until freshman Jalen Berger gets his shot, but the running back by committee thing worked well enough.
And if the offense has to rely on the new superstar quarterback, that’s fine until the ground game can become a killer again.
4. Illinois needs to sink or swim with one of the younger quarterback
Who’s your star going forward, Illinois?
Brandon Peters is the senior quarterback for a veteran team, but he only completed 8-of-19 passes for 87 yards. His biggest contributions were a few big dashes to make him the team’s leading rusher. While he’s the easy veteran call going forward, Isaiah Williams was the star recruit of last year who needs to be the one to develop. At the very least, he needs to be a bigger part of the rotation – Peters still deserves to lead the team forward.
Granted, almost everyone will look awful against the Badger D, but the Illini failed to score an offensive point, there wasn’t any creativity to the passing game, and the team needs a star to build around. Illinois needs to know over the course of this abbreviated season if Williams is it.
World, meet @GrahamMertz5. 🤝@BadgerFootball's QB1 was a 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 14/14 in the first half, including four passing scores. 👀 pic.twitter.com/Zlt6BWlsg6
— Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) October 24, 2020
3. Yeah, Graham Mertz was amazing, but …
The Badger quarterback had a whole lot of time to work behind an offensive line that needed a little while to get into a lather, but held at bay a dangerous veteran Illinois defensive line that’s going to be great at getting to the quarterback as the year goes on.
There were a whole lot of mistakes by the Illinois secondary, but the receivers found their way open, Mertz was firing to a whole lot of targets in space, and the rest of the parts of the offensive puzzle helped him out.
The defensive front was phenomenal, the team held on to the ball for over 43 minutes, and …
NEXT: Yeah, Graham Mertz was AMAZING, and what’s next for Wisconsin and Illinois?
2. Yeah, Graham Mertz was AMAZING
The guy set the school record with a 95% completion percentage for the game.
It was the guy’s first start against a veteran Illinois defense and a professional defensive coach in Lovie Smith who had a whole lot of time to prepare for this.
His one missed pass was a drop.
Mertz hit 20-of-21 passes for 248 yards and five scores, and best of all, he came through just when it looked like the Illini were about to turn the game around. He came up with the big throws needed on two late first half drives, the Badgers got up 28-7, and it was ballgame.
Now Wisconsin has a superstar quarterback with the prep hype and the skills to take the pressure off the ground game and not the other way around.
That was fun @GrahamMertz5 😁 pic.twitter.com/QzyvMehDze
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) October 24, 2020
1. What’s next for Wisconsin and Illinois?
Now the pressure is on Mertz to be special as the Big Ten’s newest superstar. He’s not exactly the type who’ll freak out over the attention.
Now with a trip to Nebraska up next followed up by a date with Purdue, if everything works and the ground game is more effective, the team should be 3-0 without a problem before going to Michigan.
Illinois is fine.
It’s a team loaded with experience, the best players are young and emerging, and if the defense can get star LB Jake Hansen back after a scary moment, the D will be aggressive and should create a whole lot of mistakes.
The offensive side will have to keep up against Purdue next week, and then comes a tough date with Minnesota. With a road game at Rutgers to follow, beat the Boilermakers, and at least 2-2 is likely before going to Nebraska.
A point from the offense, though, would be nice.
