Wisconsin Football: What You Should and Shouldn't Be Concerned About Post Week 2

This season started picture-perfect for the Wisconsin football team as they carried a 17-7 lead into halftime against LSU in Houston.  The next four quarters of football were just about as bad as they get for the Badgers, as they managed 16 points over the next 60 minutes and found themselves up only 9-3 against FCS Western Illinois.

Despite their second-half struggles against LSU and their first-half deficiencies against the FCS opponent Western Illinois—they led just 9-3 at intermission—the Badgers came out firing in the second half against the Leathernecks. By the midway point of the third quarter, the Badgers looked like the Big Ten contender they were projected to be in the preseason.

While Melvin Gordon's hip could be a concern as he was able to notch only 38 yards on 17 carries, I'll chalk that up partially to the Leathernecks' game plan to totally sell out against the run, forcing the Badgers to beat them through the air.

In this slideshow, I outline two areas about which Badgers fans should be concerned and two they shouldn't be, as the team heads into its early bye week.  

Let's start with what you should be concerned about.

Should: Special Teams

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

One week after drilling a 51-yard attempt, Rafael Gaglianone missed his only attempt, which was from 33 yards out.

Let's start with the really bad.  

Granted it's in a nearly statistically insignificant sample size, but the point still holds.  The Badgers kick return game has been categorically awful.

In their two games, the Badgers have only three kick returns, but they are averaging of 16 yards per attempt, good for last in the Big Ten by more than two yards per return.  The inability to establish good field position on kick returns could come back to bite them once their level of competition steps up as they get to Big Ten play.

To make matters even worse, last season, the Badgers were the class of the Big Ten when it came to returning kicks, averaging 23.1 yards per return. Gone is Kyle Zuleger, who returned eight kicks a season ago, but it was Kenzel Doe who took the lion's share of returns last year and assumes those responsibilities in 2014. 

Returning punts has been just as bad.  In fact, it's actually been worse.  On three punt returns—again, a nearly statistically insignificant sample size—the Badgers have managed to lose a yard.  Their return average is -0.33 yards per return, which is good for last in the Big Ten by more than three yards per return.

Last season, the Badgers finished ninth of 12 teams in the Big Ten at punt-return average (7.43).  While that is hardly great, averaging more than seven yards per return helps the field position battle significantly more than losing yardage.

Jared Abbrederis, a standout receiver from a year ago, had to step in to field some punts last season after Doe showed an inability to hold on to the football or do much with it once it was in his hands, a problem that may have resurfaced this season as well.  With Serge Trezy not making his way to campus in time for the season, return duties may be turned over to freshman receiver Natrell Jamerson, who has the kind of breakaway speed rarely seen in cardinal and white.

As for the kicking game, Rafael Gaglianone gained a lot of fans with his dance after drilling a 51-yarder against LSU in his first career game. But he missed a 33-yard attempt in the fourth quarter against Western Illinois, his first attempt at home.

While one missed field goal is nothing to necessarily worry about just yet, his short kickoff, which had the trajectory of a Charles Barkley tee shot, was a bit concerning as well.

Speaking of kickoffs, sophomore Andrew Endicott, tasked with the role of kickoff specialist, has yet to force a touchback and his 62.11 yards per kickoff is good for 10th among 14 qualifying Big Ten kickers in terms of distance.

The last piece of the puzzle is punter Drew Meyer, who bounced back against Western Illinois to record an average of 45 yards per punt.  Meyer struggled against LSU with a leg injury and sits fifth among nine qualifying punters in the conference with a 39-yard per-punt average.

Should: Wide Receivers

Associated Press

While Alex Erickson has been excellent, few good things can be said about the receiver corps.

The Badgers have completed 32 passes this season.  Alex Erickson has 13 receptions, the backfield has eight, the tight ends have seven, offensive lineman Kyle Costigan has one and the rest of the receiving corps has three receptions.  

Something isn't right here.

Coming into camp, it was thought that Robert Wheelwright would be the No. 1 receiver for the team, yet it was him breaking off a route that resulted in a Tanner McEvoy interception against Western Illinois.  Kenzel Doe established himself in camp as the leading receiver, yet he has not managed a single reception this season.

Reggie Love made a name for himself with a 45-yard touchdown scamper against LSU; however, he has managed only one reception for two yards.  Jordan Fredrick has been an excellent blocker, leading the way for Erickson on four bubble screens against Western Illinois, which led to more than 50 receiving yards, but he has caught just one pass for six yards.

George Rushing, who leads the pack of freshmen receivers, also has made only one catch this season and dropped a would-be touchdown pass to boot.

So while Erickson has been nothing short of revelatory and its good that McEvoy has found his favorite target, guys like Doe, Rushing and Fredrick will all need to step up if the Badgers are going to have a chance to play in Indianapolis or on New Year's Day in a marquee bowl game.

Shouldn't: Pass Defense

Associated Press

Michael Caputo has 17 tackles and an interception to lead the Badgers' improved pass defense.

Against LSU, the Badgers held Anthony Jennings to 9-of-21 passing for 239 yards and two touchdowns. While his completion percentage (42.8 percent) and quarterback rating (31.9) were encouraging for the Wisconsin D, the Tigers' opportunistic passing burned the Badgers one too many times, including an 80-yard TD strike right off a Badgers score.

Sporting a very talented trio of cornerbacks—Sojourn Shelton, Darius Hillary and Devin Gaulden—and a capable player in Derrick Tindal, the Badgers are in pretty good shape on the outside.  Furthermore, strong safety Michael Caputo has been nothing short of Chris Borland-esque in his ability to make tackles all over the field.

The problem thus far has been the relatively steep learning curve of playing center field in a blitz-heavy defense for true freshman Lubern Figaro, who can probably shoulder much of the blame for many of the long passing plays as he has a proclivity to bite on fakes and let receivers in behind him.

Against Western Illinois, hardly the same caliber of team as LSU, the Badgers looked very good, holding former Cincinnati quarterback Trenton Norvell to 13-of-21 passing for 108 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.  More importantly, no completions went longer than 19 yards.

Limiting big plays will be key for the Badgers to be successful this season. And, for the same reason that Shelton struggled early on when playing as a true freshman before emerging as one of the best players on last year's defense, Figaro will learn the position by the time the team gets to the teeth of their schedule.

Shouldn't: Tanner McEvoy

Associated Press

Tanner McEvoy's ability to open up the Western Illinois defense with his arm was a positive sign to Badger fans.

There is no real way to sugarcoat Tanner McEvoy's performance against LSU.  In the passing game, he went 8-of-24 for 50 yards and his longest passing play was 14 yards.  He missed open receivers, threw two interceptions and had a penchant for launching the ball downfield to no one in particular.

If one were to find a silver lining, it's that his ability to use his legs got him out of trouble during the course of the LSU game, as he rushed six times for 40 yards, including one 22-yard scamper—eight yards farther than his longest completion.

In the early going against Western Illinois, it looked to be much of the same.  After completing his first pass, McEvoy threw an interception and started 1-of-3 for eight yards.  But on a crucial 3rd-and-8 from the Wisconsin 5-yard line with the team up 2-0, McEvoy threw a nice ball to tight end Sam Arneson for a first down.

After failing to connect with Arneson on 2nd-and-14 from the 14-yard line, he found him again on the very next play for a 22-yard strike to keep the chains moving.  Eventually, McEvoy settled into a total groove, hitting 17 straight passes between the middle of the second quarter and the opening the fourth quarter.

The 17 straight completions is a new school record, breaking Russell Wilson's record set against Minnesota in 2011.

While reeling off this many completions in a row against a team like Western Illinois needs to be taken with a grain of salt, the fact that he was able to complete twice as many passes in a row as he was able to in a full game against LSU is a huge confidence boost for both McEvoy and the team.

McEvoy's abilities as a runner were also on display, finishing the day with nine carries for 55 yards and a touchdown.  He also finished the day 23-of-28 for 283 yards, three touchdowns and just the one interception.

If McEvoy can continue to make strides with his passing and effectively escape the pocket when he needs to, while also using his legs as a weapon in the team's rushing attack, the Badgers will be able to soften up the eight-, nine- and 10-man boxes they've been seeing and finally give Melvin Gordon some room to run.