Wisconsin’s frustration after the loss to UCLA was obvious, but Kevin Heywood crossed a line by saying out loud what should have stayed inside the locker room.
The Badgers left Pasadena with a bad taste in their mouths, and plenty of players spoke in the postgame with a forward-looking, “We got work to do” tone. Heywood, though, let his irritation spill into the open when he took aim at the offensive line’s effort level. Seamus Rohrer of Badgers on SI quoted him as saying, "What it felt like, for the O-line specifically, was four guys doing the right thing and one guy doing the wrong thing."
That kind of comment may reflect what Heywood believes is happening, but it also exposes a problem that should not have been aired publicly. Once that quote was out there, it turned the focus from a rough team performance to a possible split inside the offensive line.
The most likely target was PJ Wilkins. He had already been benched once this season, then returned to the lineup against UCLA after Austin Kawecki was injured. With Stylz Blackmon starting at center, Wilkins slid back into the starting five at right guard, and once again he appeared to be the weak link.
The concern around Wilkins is not about talent or upside. It sounds more like effort, and that sort of thing can wear on the rest of the line fast. Offensive linemen have to trust the guy beside them, and once that trust starts to crack, the whole unit can go with it.
Heywood’s frustration makes sense, but the timing did not. Eric Mateos now has to sort out what to do with Wilkins, and Luke Fickell has already said they need to motivate him differently. That alone tells you there is an issue that needs to be handled.
At this point, though, it may be time to stop trying to force it. If Wilkins is becoming a liability and teammates are openly venting about him, then the answer may be simpler than keeping him in the mix.
This is a Wilkins problem, but it is also a Heywood problem. Heywood has to keep that kind of criticism behind closed doors and deal with it first in the room, then with the coaches.
And if Wilkins is going to keep being a weak link, then he needs to sit. Coddling a talented player who isn’t pulling his weight hurts more than just that one spot on the line.
It affects everyone around him, including the players waiting for a chance behind him.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Heads Home With One Big Concern Before USC
Wisconsin left its Week 7 loss to UCLA with more questions than answers on offense, and the biggest ones came in the same old places. Penalties stalled drives, pass protection broke down, and the offense never found much rhythm, turning what should have been a chance to settle in after the early stretch of the season into another frustrating outing on the road.
There were bright spots buried in the grading, including strong work against the run from Junior Posa and solid coverage from Marvin Burks, but the larger picture was tougher to ignore. Wisconsin absorbed too much pressure, missed too many tackles and heads into a matchup with USC needing cleaner play across the board if it wants to keep from seeing the same problems repeat themselves. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Just Sent A Message With The Standard Sheffield Wants
Winning on the road against Iowa gave Wisconsin more than another Big Ten result, it offered a glimpse of the identity Kelly Sheffield keeps pushing. The Badgers leaned on their defense to come away with the victory, and the effort from Jaela Auguste, Charlie Fuerbringer and Audrey Flanagan helped set the tone when the match started getting tight. For a team trying to stay sharp deep into conference play, that kind of production matters just as much as the final score.
Sheffield made it clear afterward that the defensive standard was the part worth building on, even as he pointed to areas the Badgers still need to clean up. That balance has become a familiar theme for Wisconsin, which can take confidence from winning in a tough environment while still knowing there is more to sharpen. The performance against Iowa looked like the sort of night the Badgers want to keep stacking, especially if the defense continues to travel with them. [Read more 🡒]
USC Faces Another Road Test As One Key Question Follows This Defense
USC heads into Camp Randall with a little more momentum than it had a few weeks ago, and the defense deserves much of the credit. The No. 16 Trojans just knocked off Penn State 31-23, extending a two-game winning streak and giving Gary Pattersons unit another reason to believe it can travel, at least for one more Saturday night. Now the challenge shifts to a Wisconsin team that is 4-2 and coming off a loss to UCLA, with the Badgers hoping to make life difficult in front of their home crowd.
Oddsmakers have made USC a slight favorite, which says plenty about how tightly this matchup is being viewed despite the Trojans recent surge. The bigger question is whether the improved defense can hold up in a true road test, because Wisconsin has a way of turning games into a grind and forcing opponents to stay sharp snap after snap. For USC, this is the sort of measuring-stick spot that can reveal whether the recent progress is real or just a short-term spike. [Read more 🡒]