2015 Holiday Bowl: USC vs. Wisconsin

[BigDee]

Nice win last night.

[paulpressey25]

Feel great for Stave and the program.

I don't think of him though as a really important historical Badger QB like those career records would suggest however.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

We lost 3 games to teams that have a combined record of 34-4. Good season

One we got robbed in. That was fluky how we lost vs. Iowa. Can't complain about the level of play this season at all, especially during a transition year. Should have an awesome d again next year. Hopefully qb, ol, and wr get sorted. I mean those positions were complained about by plenty this year, and we lose key contributors at 2. Still, you figure we should get to 10 wins if the new qb doesn't bomb.

Could UW get to 10 wins next year? Sure, but I wouldn't be assuming they are a lock as long as the "QB doesn't bomb." I'm not sure Badgers get to 10 if Stave was returning.

LSU
Akron
Georgia State
MSU
Michigan
Ohio State
Iowa
Nebraska
Northwestern
Illinois
Purdue
Minnesota

UW could easily lose 3 of those games. Hell MSU, Michigan, and Ohio State could be 3 losses in a row.

[MickeyDavis]

Big 10 goes to 9 conference games next year. Weird that we have MSU, OSU and Michigan next year and then in 2017 we have none of those 3 and in 2018 we have only Michigan. In 2019 we have all 3. Glad to see Minny continue as the season finale. That should never change.

[Kerb Hohl]

The glass half-full going into next year regarding the schedule is that Cook is gone, OSU loses a fair amount (yes, they'll still be stacked), Michigan needs to a new QB. All of that aside, I think next year's team could be as good or better and probably go 8-4, even with bad luck, 7-5.

Even if Biegel leaves (EDIT: He's staying), the defense is stacked. Really hope somebody like Farrar is ready at safety. That position is the one that looks very thin going into next year.

I hope Aranda was giving the next guy a serious crash course the past year or two in this excellent 3-4 scheme. It's clearly a good idea to use in college football. He's not long for our sidelines so I hope they can keep some semblance of those defenses up.

As for Chryst, I know it was an easy schedule, but we're in good hands for the next decade+. I was worried about recruiting, but it looks good so far. He did better than the record showed at Pitt, but he's not the type of coach that will succeed everywhere. The gameplan was excellent and they had a pretty good year in a down/transition year.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Our running game next year should be so much better. Clement when healthy is a pretty good running back. You also return dare and deal, who both got better as the year went on. Wheelwright looked impressive coming back from injury. We need an athlete to replace mcevoys play making.

Who is the qb next year Houston? I actually don't think he played horrible. Saved a bad snap and got screwed on the NonPI call. The next throw was bad but it was 3rd and long and just taking a shot down field.

[MickeyDavis]

Supposedly Barry is looking for more cash for the assistants (USC DC makes about 300K more than Aranda). Whether he can find the cash or if that will make a difference who knows.

[Kerb Hohl]

It's going to be down to Houston and Hornibrook next year. I'm going to guess that Houston wins it, but apparently Hornibrook has been really impressive (lefty, will be a RS frosh next year). Generally, you don't necessarily want a 1-year QB...but Houston looks pretty decent.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

It's going to be down to Houston and Hornibrook next year. I'm going to guess that Houston wins it, but apparently Hornibrook has been really impressive (lefty, will be a RS frosh next year). Generally, you don't necessarily want a 1-year QB...but Houston looks pretty decent.

That will be nice with hornibrook being a junior/senior when we have the easy schedule as laid out by MD. We need a stud running back again to be a top ten team.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Would be kind of funny if Hornibrook beats out Houston. He could come in with 4 straight 8 win seasons and match staves yards with Chryst's offense. The very next qb upstages stave as UWs statistically best qb ever.

[REDDzone]

Holy ****, how can you blow that dead? You can always go back and review it!

Yea I'm not even a Badger fan but that was egregious.

You're among e-friends. You can admit it. You and PGM? feel pressure to stay in the closet, but no need to be, because your real friends and family will never know.

I was debating pretending I knew what this meant, but tbh I don't.

[Kerb Hohl]

It's going to be down to Houston and Hornibrook next year. I'm going to guess that Houston wins it, but apparently Hornibrook has been really impressive (lefty, will be a RS frosh next year). Generally, you don't necessarily want a 1-year QB...but Houston looks pretty decent.

That will be nice with hornibrook being a junior/senior when we have the easy schedule as laid out by MD. We need a stud running back again to be a top ten team.

Next year will be interesting with probably a line that is going to dominate for 3 years almost all as RS sophomores being bolstered by a bunch of good, not great seniors. Clement probably is better that but can't be trusted to stay healthy. Wheelwright, Houston, Dare are all guys that are kinda "meh, they're pretty good" but not some longstanding UW player or someone knocking on the NFL's door. I really liked the thunder and lightning combo of Dare and Clement.

The defensive front 7 is going to be absolutely loaded with 4-5 guys that will have some sort of participation on an NFL roster in the rotation. The secondary has Shelton plus few younger corners that will probably step into their own, but basically nothing known at safety. I'd guess D'Cota Dixon and Arrington Farrar. Both are young and physical, but I'd think they may want a finesse safety in there.

After that, I'm not sure any of Deal/Shaw/? current RBs will be all that great, but they'll be running behind a good offensive line. They may nab somebody late here. We were spoiled with the Bielema years that trickled into the GA years where we had 2-3 stud RBs on every roster.

[Bernman]

Yea I'm not even a Badger fan but that was egregious.

You're among e-friends. You can admit it. You and PGM? feel pressure to stay in the closet, but no need to be, because your real friends and family will never know.

I was debating pretending I knew what this meant, but tbh I don't.

Those Tennessean rubes will never have to know you're actually a Badgers' fan.

[REDDzone]

You're among e-friends. You can admit it. You and PGM? feel pressure to stay in the closet, but no need to be, because your real friends and family will never know.

I was debating pretending I knew what this meant, but tbh I don't.

Those Tennessean rubes will never have to know you're actually a Badgers' fan.

My future son already has both Badgers and Vols gear waiting for him.

[Bernman]

We lost 3 games to teams that have a combined record of 34-4. Good season

One we got robbed in. That was fluky how we lost vs. Iowa. Can't complain about the level of play this season at all, especially during a transition year. Should have an awesome d again next year. Hopefully qb, ol, and wr get sorted. I mean those positions were complained about by plenty this year, and we lose key contributors at 2. Still, you figure we should get to 10 wins if the new qb doesn't bomb.

Could UW get to 10 wins next year? Sure, but I wouldn't be assuming they are a lock as long as the "QB doesn't bomb." I'm not sure Badgers get to 10 if Stave was returning.

LSU
Akron
Georgia State
MSU
Michigan
Ohio State
Iowa
Nebraska
Northwestern
Illinois
Purdue
Minnesota

UW could easily lose 3 of those games. Hell MSU, Michigan, and Ohio State could be 3 losses in a row.

It was a general comment I guess. I didn't look at the schedule first because there's usually not that much variance and it requires a lot of blind projection in college football not being aware of the personnel on other teams. More so the main point was next year's team should be better than the one which prevailed in 10, should have been at least 11, this year, sans QB. But looking at the schedule now, it doesn't look nearly as easy to maneuver prima facie. Bad break that the toughest games probably are consecutive and with 3 of 4 on the road. But should have a strong start and finish. I think if Houston or ? is about as good as Stave, it's approx. 10 wins w/ the bowl win again. One of the best defenses in the nation keeps us in every game, OL and running game should be better. In state quotient ramps up to about half. Been a key to a lot of successful Badgers' teams, even when having to play the OSUs and Michigans of the B1G world.

[Bernman]

I was debating pretending I knew what this meant, but tbh I don't.

Those Tennessean rubes will never have to know you're actually a Badgers' fan.

My future son already has both Badgers and Vols gear waiting for him.

When he gets his first owie play grappling with daddy, then he'll know. Pretty sure it won't trickle orange.

[Bernman]

The glass half-full going into next year regarding the schedule is that Cook is gone, OSU loses a fair amount (yes, they'll still be stacked), Michigan needs to a new QB. All of that aside, I think next year's team could be as good or better and probably go 8-4, even with bad luck, 7-5.

Even if Biegel leaves (EDIT: He's staying), the defense is stacked. Really hope somebody like Farrar is ready at safety. That position is the one that looks very thin going into next year.

I hope Aranda was giving the next guy a serious crash course the past year or two in this excellent 3-4 scheme. It's clearly a good idea to use in college football. He's not long for our sidelines so I hope they can keep some semblance of those defenses up.

As for Chryst, I know it was an easy schedule, but we're in good hands for the next decade+. I was worried about recruiting, but it looks good so far. He did better than the record showed at Pitt, but he's not the type of coach that will succeed everywhere. The gameplan was excellent and they had a pretty good year in a down/transition year.

Between Ferguson, Bondoc, Musso, Figaro, and Farrar; we should be fine. As long as they don't start Dixon there out of seniority they should be fine. Opposing teams won't have long to pass and won't get into the secondary on the ground much. And I don't think this is akin to starting Carter and Pleasant at safety. This is just turnover. Figaro and Musso even started when less experienced.

[Kerb Hohl]

Musso is unable to tackle (like McEvoy) but does not have the size/athletic ability to actually provide something positive like McEvoy did. I know that I would not expect 80% of college players to be able to stop Derrick Henry, but Musso looked silly and out of place in a marquee D1 game when he had to come in and Henry was swatting him away like a fly.

Figaro was moving to corner this year. Maybe he'll move back with the lack of solid depth at safety.

Here are the highlights of that game (2nd half of the vid). Not completely as I remembered on the long TDs, but Musso runs over from the other side and basically misses at diving at Henry's feet. I think there were a lot of other plays where he just bounced off of runners.

Maybe he'll bulk up, but I don't want a 5'11" 185 safety that is not really an elite athlete out there. Yes, Jim Leonhard, I know, but he does not look the part there.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhAyOgT9sd8[/youtube]

[El Duderino]

The glass half-full going into next year regarding the schedule is that Cook is gone, OSU loses a fair amount (yes, they'll still be stacked), Michigan needs to a new QB. All of that aside, I think next year's team could be as good or better and probably go 8-4, even with bad luck, 7-5.

Even if Biegel leaves (EDIT: He's staying), the defense is stacked. Really hope somebody like Farrar is ready at safety. That position is the one that looks very thin going into next year.

I hope Aranda was giving the next guy a serious crash course the past year or two in this excellent 3-4 scheme. It's clearly a good idea to use in college football. He's not long for our sidelines so I hope they can keep some semblance of those defenses up.

As for Chryst, I know it was an easy schedule, but we're in good hands for the next decade+. I was worried about recruiting, but it looks good so far. He did better than the record showed at Pitt, but he's not the type of coach that will succeed everywhere. The gameplan was excellent and they had a pretty good year in a down/transition year.

I just hope that Chryst keeps the 3-4 scheme if Aranda does end up leaving in the offseason. Chryst had a 4-3 defense at Pitt and those defenses were pretty bad.

Should be easier to find 3-4 rush guys on the end than trying to out-recruit countless other programs looking for 4-3 defensive lineman who can both hold up vs the run and rush the passer.

[midranger]

Agreed. It's easier to find big, stong kids to function as block eaters and then recruit 6'2 245 kids to be your playmakers, than it is to find a bunch of 6'5 280 strong and fast guys that take on blocks, stuff the run, and rush the passer.