Game of keep away shuts down opponents

So far, Badgers dominate clock

Madison — Wisconsin has followed a simple formula to win its first two games this season: Play keep away from the opponents.

UW (2-0) leads the Big Ten in time of possession at 38 minutes 54 seconds per game.

The Badgers held the ball for 36:57 to just 23:03 for LSU in the opener, a 16-14 victory. Their advantage was more pronounced Saturday against Akron as the Badgers held the ball for 40:52 to just 19:08 for the Zips.

The two-game totals: 77:49 to 42:11, a difference of 35:38.

“I looked up one time and the time of possession was really tilted,” UW head coach Paul Chryst said after the 5410 victory over Akron.

Expect the trend to continue when UW hosts Georgia State (0-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The Panthers’ opponents have rushed for an average of 394.5 yards per game and have converted 54% of their third-down chances (20 of 37).

Georgia State is holding the ball an average of 19:25 per game, compared with 40:35 for the opponents.

A look inside the numbers through UW’s first two games is telling.

UW’s defense has held opponents to a total of 13 possessions that have lasted less than 2:30 and resulted in zero points.

UW’s offense has just seven possessions that have lasted less than 2:30 and produced no points. Two of those series have come at the end of a half and two others have been the result of turnovers.

UW’s defense has limited opponents to a thirddown conversion rate of just 15.0% (3 of 20), the No. 2 mark in the Big Ten.

UW’s offense has converted 43.3% of its thirddown chances (13 of 30), tied for the No. 7 mark in the league.

“The main thing we want to do on defense is focus on trying to get three-and-outs,” redshirt junior defensive end Alec James said. “And when our offense gets rolling like that it helps us.

“We get a break and we get to talk different schemes and what we see out there.”

UW’s offense got the ball rolling immediately against Akron.

The Badgers took the opening kickoff and drove 83 yards in 13 plays and 6:55 for a touchdown.

The first plays were runs: Corey Clement for 11, 13, 2, 7 and 5 yards. Austin Ramesh for 5 and Taiwan Deal for 4. That is a total of 47 yards, or an average of 6.7 yards per carry.

“I think the first (six) plays were the same play, just right and left,” quarterback Bart Houston said. “It feels really good when you just march down the field.

“If we can run the ball all the time, why not?”

UW finished 10th in the Big Ten in rushing last season at 150.3 yards per game.

Through two games this season, UW is eighth at 214.0 yards per game, a bump of 63.7 yards per game.

Clement, who had 21 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown in the opener against LSU, had 21 carries for 111 yards and two scores in against Akron.

“You’ve got to thank the O-line,” Clement said. “The 21 carries wouldn’t even be possible if the guys weren’t making the right calls for the scheme.”

After converting just 3 of 15 third-down chances against LSU, UW hit 10 of 15 chances against Akron.

LSU’s defense is superior to Akron’s, so the Badgers will have to prove they can convert third-down chances against quality defense once Big Ten play opens.

“I thought our kids did some good things,” Chryst said. “We were able to run the ball early and I thought did a better job on third down.”