Wisconsin Football: 5 Things the Badgers Learned Last Season

If any year would be the year, 2011 provided the best opportunity for the Badgers to solidify their status as an elite team. The do-everything quarterback supplemented the score-every-time running backs and catch-everything tight ends. 

Flaws were glaring, though, and weak links in the Badgers' game plan may have cost the team a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hoist the crystal football. On the flip side, unexpected strengths and unexpected players emerged to the save games and save face. 

As the focus turns from last fall's replays into this spring's questions, the Wisconsin staff hopefully learned from their mistakes while strengthening the foundation of their game. 

Big Game Bret

Back-to-back Rose Bowl losses are like Christmas morning for Bret Bielema critics.

Pundits and disgruntled fans are starting to turn on the Wisconsin head man for his lack of success in big games. While his overall record is incredibly healthy, his predecessor collected Rose Bowl rings like Montee Ball collects touchdowns. Even in down years, that history of capturing the brass ring kept Barry Alvarez above reproach. 

Bret's only real cushion can be found in a classic Big Ten Championship game. But even then, analysts and fans are suspect of his game plans when it counts.  

The Road Is Still a Cruel Place

If Camp Randall is an impregnable fortress, the Badgers seemingly lose their armor once they leave Madison.

Two road losses against Ohio State and Michigan State may have been the only things standing between Wisconsin and a national championship. Those games were within grasp, but home-team magic led to last-second turnarounds.

Great teams can win on the road with consistency, while a big victory away still feels like a fluke to the Badgers. Wisconsin has a monster in-conference matchup at Nebraska this season that could be a catalyst to reversing this frustrating trend. 

Special Teams Are Not Special

If fans finds themselves faint at the beginning of a Wisconsin game, it is most likely because they held their breath for the opening kickoff. 

Wisconsin defines itself as a team built on fundamentals, but fundamental special teams play eluded the Badgers. While the kicking was solid, the coverage was porous. Elite returners took chunks of yardage at will, putting a very average defense against the wall on every series. 

Bielema and his staff will have to replace two veteran kickers while trying to keep teams in front of the 50-yard line. 

J.J .Watt Is Missed

Wisconsin almost had a complete team...almost. 

Without an elite pass-rusher, good Big Ten quarterbacks found lanes all over the field. If superstar J.J. Watt had stayed for his senior season, the mediocre Badgers defense would have tipped the scales into championship quality. Without him, the suffering was widespread. 

When David Gilbert went down early in the season, the only speedy defensive end on the squad was lost, and the whole team felt it. 2012 should see Gilbert back on the field and the entire defense will reap the benefits. 

Lightning Can Strike Twice

A BCS national championship game is perhaps only two heaves away. 

The good news is that the Badgers had considerable face time on national TV this season. The bad news is that Wisconsin was on the wrong side of two Hail Mary passes to bring sky-high expectations crashing down to earth.

If Wisconsin learned anything last year, it's not over until it's over.