Wisconsin Football: Report Card Grades for Every New Starter
During Week 1, the Wisconsin football team held a 24-7 lead early in the third quarter. From that point, the Badgers totally fell apart, going on to lose 28-24 after untimely injuries coupled with hyper-conservative turned hyper-aggressive play-calling led to their demise.
With a brand-new quarterback, new receivers on the outside and a pair of new tight ends, the Badgers passing offense sputtered badly. Technically, Melvin Gordon wasn't a starter last season, but he played as much as anyone and thus wasn't included in this. Furthermore, both Dan Voltz and Dallas Lewallen started numerous games last season and weren't included in here either.
On defense, the Badgers looked really good for the first 35 or so minutes, save one first-half blown coverage, which led to an 80-yard pass. The Badgers are breaking in a brand-new front seven to go with a new free safety in true freshman Lubern Figaro.
On special teams, the Badgers trotted out a true freshman kicker, who may have been the most impressive player on the field for either team—or at least his dance moves were.
Let's take a look at all 14 new starters for the Badgers with grades on their performance against LSU and a breakdown of how they've played so far this season.
Tanner McEvoy
1 of 14
Week 1 Stats: 8-of-24 for 50 yards and two interceptions; six carries for 40 yards.
Breaking Down His Performance
In the second half, Tanner McEvoy was really bad. While coach Gary Andersen claimed it was a result of the protection around him breaking down, McEvoy just isn't where he needs to be as a passer to beat a team like LSU with just his arm.
With that being said, McEvoy showed time and again why he was chosen as the starter, leaving the Stave "yips" situation aside: his legs. McEvoy didn't get sacked and was able to extend plays and drives repeatedly.
If he can iron out some of his throwing issues that come after escaping pressure where he seemed to just throw the ball up for grabs in hopes the right-colored jersey could catch it—something that never happened—McEvoy could have avoided the first of his two interceptions.
Grade: C+
Kenzel Doe
2 of 14
Week 1 Stats: No receptions on one target, two kick returns for 31 yards (15.5 average), one punt return for minus-three yards.
Breaking Down His Performance
There's no sugar-coating this. Kenzel Doe was horrible. One of his kick returns went for 25 yards, which is not bad. On his first kick return of the day, coming right off Anthony Jennings' 80-yard touchdown pass, Doe managed a whopping six yards, taking the ball all the way to the eight. That's inexcusable from one of your senior leaders.
On punt returns, Doe didn't fare any better. In fact, he did worse, toting the ball for minus-three yards before getting taken down. Furthermore, Doe didn't haul in a single pass on one target.
Grade: D
George Rushing
3 of 14
Week 1 Stats: No receptions
Breaking Down His Performance
George Rushing made no impact on the game, though few receivers did. Getting separation from the LSU corners was something no Wisconsin receivers not named Alex Erickson could do. It will be big to watch Rushing in the coming games.
Grade: N/A
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Austin Traylor
4 of 14
Week 1 Stats: One reception for nine yards
Breaking Down His Performance
Austin Traylor, seeing his first career start, made the most of his opportunities. He was a solid blocker and recorded his first career reception, a nine-yard grab, which happened to be the longest completion to someone not named Erickson.
Grade: B+
Sam Arneson
5 of 14
Week 1 Stats: One reception for five yards; also committed a false-start penalty.
Breaking Down His Performance
Sam Arneson had high hopes coming into this season that he could be the guy to replace Jacob Pedersen. After the first game, fans may need to temper their expectations. Arneson is a solid blocker, though his strength comes in the passing game. Arneson only managed to haul in one pass for five yards and will need to improve in order to give McEvoy a better security blanket.
Grade: C
Konrad Zagzebski
6 of 14
Week 1 Stats: One tackle
Breaking Down His Performance
Konrad Zagzebski left the game after recording his only tackle with one of the scariest injuries of the season thus far. Thankfully, the injury he suffered was not season-ending, and Jeff Potrykus of the Journal Sentinel reports he could return as soon as the Bowling Green game on Sept. 20.
Grade: N/A
Arthur Goldberg
7 of 14
Week 1 Stats: Five tackles
Breaking Down His Performance
Arthur Goldberg getting the start here showed the Badgers felt they needed to bulk up their front seven, considering the size of LSU's offensive line. Goldberg's inexperience became a problem in the fourth quarter when battery mate Warren Herring went down with an injury.
Goldberg's five tackles showed he was active up the middle, but he isn't quite ready to play quite as many snaps as he had. Regardless, when Herring comes back, Goldberg will provide key depth and showed that against a Western Illinois or Bowling Green, he will be more than serviceable at nose guard.
Grade: B
Warren Herring
8 of 14
Week 1 Stats: Four tackles
Breaking Down His Performance
Warren Herring may not have been the best player on the field, though the Badgers are significantly better with him on the line than without him there. After getting injured in the third quarter, the Badgers' front seven totally fell apart, though signs were already starting to seep in of their impending collapse.
Herring's veteran presence on the line shut down the vaunted LSU rushing attack, and Herring managed to both take up space and still be the dynamic player the Badgers were hoping for with the move to defensive end from nose guard.
Herring will be out 4-6 weeks after getting surgery on his right knee, but Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com reports he could be back in time for the team's Big Ten opener against Northwestern, likely the toughest game on the schedule between now and mid-November.
Grade: B
Joe Schobert
9 of 14
Week 1 Stats: Eight tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble
Breaking Down His Performance
While many players listed here had seen limited playing time up to this point, Joe Schobert played in all 13 games last season, even starting one. His relative experience made him one of the keys to the defense, and he did not disappoint.
Schobert racked up eight tackles, two of which came for a loss, and he even added both a sack and a forced fumble. Schobert's aggression and ability to make plays in the backfield will be key to coach Dave Aranda's defense.
If against a very good offensive line and rushing attack, Schobert can play this well, opposing defenses should watch out as the next time the Badgers play a line of this caliber, it will be the potentially Big Ten West deciding matchup in Iowa City when the Badgers take on the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Grade: A-
Derek Landisch
10 of 14
Week 1 Stats: Five tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss
Breaking Down His Performance
Coming into this game, all eyes were on Derek Landisch as he tried to fill the massive shoes left by Chris Borland. Unfortunately for Badgers fans, Landisch is not Borland. Landisch racked up five tackles, which isn't a bad haul by any means, but whereas Borland had a knack for picking up the slack in key situations, Landisch all but disappeared in the fourth quarter.
Landisch was slowed by a hamstring injury throughout fall camp, and that may have contributed to his inability to play at the peak of his ability. Regardless of whether or not he was hurt, this was not a great game for Landisch, and he will need to bounce back against Western Illinois.
Grade: C
Marcus Trotter
11 of 14
Week 1 Stats: 12 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks
Breaking Down His Performance
While Landisch may have underperformed, Marcus Trotter was outstanding, combining with Schobert and Michael Caputo for 35 tackles. Trotter played the part formerly held by Borland excellently, making plays in the backfield and quickly stuffing runs at or near the line of scrimmage.
Trotter's play will be crucial for the Badgers if they want their run defense to maintain anywhere close to the level they played at last year. If Trotter can play as well as he did against LSU all year, the Badgers will have a great chance to make it to Indianapolis.
Trotter started one game last year, against Iowa, who had an excellent rushing attack last season and when filling in for Borland, racking up nine tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, showing that this game was not a flash in the pan.
Grade: A-
Vince Biegel
12 of 14
Week 1 Stats: Four tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss
Breaking Down His Performance
For as good as Schobert was, Vince Biegel was not. Biegel and Schobert both played as the backup outside linebackers last season, seeing plenty of snaps, and both looked primed to be leaders of the defense.
Unfortunately, Biegel was bottled up time and again by the LSU offensive line and couldn't really make an impact. Biegel and Schobert will be key in rushing the passer and making plays in the backfield against the run and the pass. If Biegel can't improve, the Badgers will struggle as there is a lack of depth behind the two of them.
Grade: C+
Lubern Figaro
13 of 14
Week 1 Stats: One tackle
Breaking Down His Performance
Nerves likely played a role in Figaro's feeble performance, though he's going to have to improve significantly if the Badgers are going to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.
Figaro recorded one tackle and got beaten over the top multiple times by LSU's opportunistic passing offense. Last season, Sojourn Shelton was able to come in and contribute right away, but there were still growing pains. Hopefully Figaro is able to follow a similar trajectory to keep the Badgers' secondary a strength as opposed to a weakness.
Grade: D
Rafael Gaglianone
14 of 14
Week 1 Stats: 1-of-1 with a make from 51 and 3-of-3 on extra points.
Breaking Down His Performance
Saving the best for last here, Rafael Gaglianone was a revelation. In a game where there were a real dearth of standouts, Gaglianone hit a tough field goal, his first career kick at that, from 51.
Gaglianone gives the Badgers a weapon they haven't had since Philip Welch graduated, a legitimate threat at kicker. If the Badgers can get the ball inside the opposing 40-yard line, they are ostensibly in Gaglianone's range, though I'd be surprised to see him attempt a kick from outside the 35.
If on the biggest stage of his career to date, he could hit a 51-yarder, Gaglianone instantly validates giving a scholarship to a kicker before he stepped on campus.
Grade: A
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