Wisconsin’s offense is starting to look a lot more like Wisconsin again, and Eric Mateos has been a big reason why.
The Badgers’ return to form has been built on sturdier ground up front. After the air raid experiment with Phil Longo went off the rails, Wisconsin moved toward a pro-style attack under Jeff Grimes.
That shift fit the program’s history. But the real engine of the offense has always been the offensive line, and that’s where Mateos has made his mark.
Through five games, Wisconsin’s line is still a work in progress. But it has already taken a clear step forward from last season, and two numbers jump off the page.
First, the Badgers have allowed just three sacks, which leads the Big Ten and is tied for third nationally with three other programs. Second, their pressure rate has dropped from 45% of drop-bbacks last season to 25% this year, according to Pro Football Focus.
Colton Joseph deserves some credit there. His mobility helps him escape trouble, and he gets the ball out quickly when pressure closes in.
But three sacks on 150 drop-backs is not just a quarterback stat. That points to a pass-protection group doing serious work.
Most of the front has held up well in pass protection, with one exception: tackle PJ Wilkins. He’s no longer in the starting five after rotating in at right tackle with Emerson Mandell against Michigan State.
That kind of stability is a massive change from what Wisconsin dealt with a year ago. Last season, the Badgers gave up 27 sacks, which ranked 87th nationally.
They were also exposed whenever the depth chart got tested. Starting left tackle Kevin Heywood tore his ACL in spring camp, setting off a chain reaction of injuries and reshuffling.
Davis Heinzen struggled badly against a MAC opponent in the opener, forcing Wisconsin to search for another answer at left tackle right away. At center, the situation got ugly too, with starter Jake Renfro going down and backup Ryan Cory having a rough outing against Maryland.
This year’s version has already had to adjust, too, but the results have been much better. Heywood moved over to left tackle after Wilkins struggled in pass protection, and Mandell slid to right tackle. Against Michigan State, that switch worked smoothly.
Stylz Blackmon has also become a real factor. The D-II transfer was supposed to be depth, but he’s now the full-time right guard with Mandell at tackle, and he has held up impressively for someone thrown into Big Ten trenches.
Cory, meanwhile, looks like a different player. After his lone start last fall went badly, he was solid in relief of the injured Austin Kawecki in the second half against Michigan State.
One observer put it bluntly on social media: "I gotta say, I’m really impressed with what backup center Ryan Cory put on tape against MSU. Looks like a completely different player from last year.
#Badgers pic.twitter.com/ZL4fOj2YLM"
Mateos has gotten production out of the entire unit, from the starters to the backups, and Wisconsin is already seeing the payoff.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Suddenly Gets A Different UCLA Test In Huge Road Spot
A week that began with one kind of UCLA challenge has turned into another for Wisconsin, with Nico Iamaleava leaving the Bruins last game with a leg injury that is expected to end his season, even if the coach has not locked down a final prognosis. Ty Dieffenbach stepped in and handled the moment well, even throwing a touchdown pass, so the Badgers are preparing for a road test that now looks different from the one they thought they were getting.
For Wisconsin, the shift matters because Colton Joseph has been on a heater of his own, accounting for all four touchdowns in the recent game and hitting at least one long touchdown pass in every outing this season. The Badgers were already facing a tricky Big Ten road spot, but now they have to sort out a UCLA offense with a new lead quarterback while also making sure Joseph and the Wisconsin attack keep pressing the same explosive edge. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Could Get A Crucial Offensive Boost At No. 12 UCLA
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There is still at least one lingering concern, with halfback Nate Palmer listed as doubtful, but the overall picture is more encouraging than it might have looked earlier in the week. Fickell addressed the players conditions in his weekly press conference, and Wisconsin now heads into a difficult road matchup with the kind of offensive depth that can change the tone of a game if those expected returns hold up. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Gets A Real Early Test In One Critical Area
The Badgers are only a little way into preseason work, but Tuesdays exhibition at the Resch Center already offers a useful measuring stick for a roster still trying to settle in. Wisconsin is coming off an exhibition win over UW-Parkside, and the focus in camp has been on sharpening the frontcourt and bringing a steadier edge defensively as the games start to matter more in terms of evaluation.
Green Bay should provide a different look, too, with a lineup that includes several newcomers and some recognizable names in Ne'Quan Brown and Aidan Holloway. For Wisconsin, the bigger question is not just whether it can control the game, but how it handles that early test inside and whether the defensive intensity shows up against a more unfamiliar opponent. [Read more 🡒]