Wisconsin Football: Getting to Know New Badger Quarterback Danny O'Brien

Even as college football blows up as a sport, the fact is people in certain regions remain somewhat cut off from the bulk of the college football world as a whole. That's what I'm here for folks, because while you may not be all too familiar with Danny O'Brien, I am quite well versed in the skills of the new quarterback headed to Madison this summer. That's right, it is official, Danny O'Brien is leaving Maryland and has decided that the University of Wisconsin is the best fit for his talents.

Last season Russell Wilson made the move and there was speculation from all over about how the star Wolfpack quarterback would fair at Wisconsin. I was one of the people who knew, without a doubt, that Russell Wilson would be capable of taking the Badgers to the Rose Bowl. He was that sort of player, he played in my backyard and seeing his talents on a week in and week out basis in the ACC let me know he was a great move for Bret Bielema.

In Danny O'Brien the Badgers are getting yet another quality ACC quarterback. Unfortunately a quick look at his 2011 season does not show the best of what O'Brien offers to the Wisconsin faithful. However, there are a couple of things to remember about the 2011 Maryland Terrapin situation before we get into what DOB can do on the football field.

First and foremost, he lost the coaches that he went to Maryland to play for. Losing Ralph Friedgen and James Franklin was not only tough from a situation standpoint but on the field as well.

To compound the issues in changing coaches we must throw in that Randy Edsall elected to have Gary Crowton run the show from the booth. The same Gary Crowton who got ran out of LSU for the incredibly odd yet predictable play-calling he showcased this season in College Park.

Add to the mix that Crowton and Edsall fiddled with their lineup to the point where they benched the ACC's offensive freshman of the year and you've got a better picture of why 2011 was essentially a lost season for O'Brien.

When you go back to 2010, in an offense that had an actual plan of attack, you can see what O'Brien brings to the table. For starters the kid can absolutely spin it. Short throws, deep throws, intermediate throws, hash to sideline throws, hash to corner throws, deep middle throws. He has all of them in his repertoire.

For Wisconsin fans there is more as the kid is comfortable on the half rolls and little boots that have been staples in the offense. His play-action work is solid, something the Badgers, with Montee Ball running the ball, should truly benefit from.

O'Brien is not a big kid, but he is big enough. At 6'3" 215 lbs he's able to get the ball out from behind an offensive line and he is athletic enough to buy a little bit of time in the pocket. No, he is not Russell Wilson. He is not going to scamper for 40-plus yard scores or make defensive linemen look silly as he steals a few more seconds for Jared Abbrederis to get open. What O'Brien is going to do is sit back in that pocket, find the open guy and get him the football.

Physically O'Brien is quite capable at the position; mentally the quarterback is more than ready. Digesting the playbook for the Badgers will be job one and after working with Ralph Friedgen and James Franklin the kid is well prepared to synthesize that information. Add to that mix his understanding of defensive looks and you have a quarterback who is more game ready than anyone on the Badgers' current roster.

The rising junior has appeared in 22 contests over his career, he's started 17 games and he has seen plenty in the grand scheme of collegiate defenses. The 3-3-5 out of West Virginia. The 3-4 courtesy of Georgia Tech. A hybrid 3-4/4-3 look out of Kevin Steele and Clemson. A blitzing aggressive 4-3 out of Jon Tenuta and Mike Archer at NC State. Coverages galore; cover two, cover one, cover three, quarters, two-man, robber and the like have been played against them and O'Brien has worked against them all. When you are a football team with designs on winning yet another Big Ten Championship that sort of experience is invaluable.

With Danny O'Brien into the mix, the battle for Wisconsin backup just got a little less interesting. A few hours ago we were viewing Joe Brennan and an injured Jon Budmayr as the potential starters. Now, barring injury, they are looking at who will get another year in the backup role.

O'Brien is a good get and has the tools necessary to be successful. As the Badgers break in a new offensive coordinator, Matt Canada, it will help to have the serves of a player who has played enough football to know how to get it done.