Oh Canada!, Offense sputters, Badgers lose 10-7

This is the first of three negative recaps that will be posted today so its going to be a fun day! Last year the Badgers offense rolled to 44 points per game, one of the best attacks in the contry. It wasnt going to be that good again this year, but with a hesiman trophy candidate returning, a couple stud receivers, and what we thought was going to be an efficient quarterback under center, there was absolutely no reason to believe the offense was going to be as pathetic as it has looked through the first two games of the season.

Im not even sure where to start with this one. The Badgers never got an offense rythm going in even the slightest way. Danny O'Brien finished 20/38 with 172 yards, barely over a fifty percent completion percentage. Ball rushed fifteen times. Fifteen! for a hesiman trophy candidate. Which brings me to my next point, something I noticed last week also, but let slide because it was the first game, but is simply to important to not let slide two weeks in a row. The Badgers new offensive coordinator, Matt Canada has been bad. Absolutely awful, attrocious and everything inbetween. The playcalling all the way from the first drive against northern Illinois to the last drive against Oregon st has been questionable at best. I put the blame not just part of the way, but nearly 100% squarely on him for the offensive shortcomings of this team so far.

The next disturbing thing about this game was the Badgers seemingly folding up like a cardboard box and having no clue what they were doing on third downs. Last year Wisconsin led the nation in third down efficiency. Saturday? 2-14 converting third downs, and through two games stand at a 36.7 percent conversion rate, twenty percent less than last year. Moving on, the Badgers have yet to force a single turnover this season. They have committed two, both against Oregon state.

The onside kick at the end of the half shouldnt have been overturned. But I guess when the team is the Badgers, all that crap about indisputable evidence goes out the window. Not only wasnt their indisputable evidence that Kyle French touched the ball before it went ten yards, in my opinion, there was near indisputable evidence that an Oregon state player touched the ball first! Making the bal eligble to be touched by a Badger player. Theres no doubt the Badgers should have had the chance to win but its not like they deserved it.

 I didnt adjust my opinion of this team ability after last weeks game, but after this week I have. Theres been a lot of comparisons to this team and the 2008 team. The 2008 team began the season ranked number twelve, just like this years, and the 2008 season ended being the worst season in Badger football since 2001. The Badgers went 3-5 in conference play, and finished the season by getting whomped by florida st 42-13 in the champs sports bowl. Highlights of the season included a 41 point loss at Camp Randall, and a near loss to Cal Poly. I too, initially drew comparisons to this team and the '08 one, but upon further review, Im not so sure the similarities are there. The 2008 team lost heartbreakers against Michigan and Ohio st to start their Big ten season 0-2, both games they should have won, but couldnt finish. After two games, all rose bowl hopes were dashed, and the team basically mentally checked out the rest of the year. They were still one of the most talented teams in the conference, they just didnt have the motivation to play like it. This years team might just not be very good period. Thats where the difference is.

Up Next is Utah St at Camp Randall for a night game. Luckily for the Badgers a 4-4 conference record should be all they need to win their division and get to the Big ten championship game. Indiana and Illinois wont get there, Penn st and Ohio st are ineligble obviously, so its a two team race this year in the leaders division between Purdue and Wisconsin.