UPON FURTHER REVIEW
Madison — Jeff Potrykus reviews Wisconsin’s 54-10 victory over Akron Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium. The Badgers on Sunday moved up four spots to No. 12 in the Amway coaches' poll and one spot to No. 9 in The Associated Press poll. OFFENSE (B+) UW’s tailbacks rushed 46 times for 261 yards (5.7-yard average) and three touchdowns. Wide receivers Jazz Peavy (seven catches, 100 yards, two touchdowns) and Robert Wheelwright (4-99) were outstanding. Quarterback Bart Houston generally was given very good protection and was sacked once on 24 drop-backs. The No. 1 issue Saturday was that Houston’s first and fourth passes of the game should have been intercepted. Fortunately for UW, Akron defenders dropped both balls. Had cornerback Larry Hope held on to a pass intended for fullback Alec Ingold, he would have had a touchdown. Give Houston credit. He doesn’t let such plays affect him and, as he did against LSU, he came back against Akron and threw the ball well. But will an errant throw eventually be a key factor in a loss? Stay tuned. “He made some big throws,” head coach Paul Chryst said. “Yeah, there were a couple he wants back.” DEFENSE (A) UW used a 2-4-5 scheme to match up against Akron’s spread and the unit, minus a handful of plays, was in control. One week after allowing one touchdown to LSU, UW’s defense held Akron to a field goal. The coverage generally was tight and the pressure appeared to bother quarterback Thomas Woodson, who was sacked for a safety in the first quarter. There were three missed tackles on Warren Ball’s long run — by linebackers T.J. Edwards and Jack Cichy and safety Leo Musso — but cornerback Derrick Tindal bailed his teammates out by forcing a fumble. Perhaps the most telling number from the victory was four. No UW player had more than four tackles. That means many players were pursuing the football. SPECIAL TEAMS (C) Special teams coach Chris Haering will have plenty on his plate this week. UW surrendered a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown, in part because freshman Anthony Lotti didn’t get enough hang time on his second of two punts. UW also surrendered a 29-yard kickoff return that could have been worse if not for the effort of kicker P.J. Rosowski, who tackled Van Edwards at the Akron 36. It appeared UW’s cover men didn’t maintain their lanes, which created a void that Edwards exploited. Haering will also have to choose who will handle kickoff returns with Natrell Jamerson (leg) expected to be sidelined indefinitely. COACHING (B+) The 44-point victory over Akron, which entered the day a 24-point underdog, wasn’t what impressed. What was more telling is that UW’s players, one week after a heart-stopping upset of LSU, showed absolutely no hangover in facing a lesser opponent. UW set the tone early on offense and defense and, save for a few hiccups, was in complete command. The edge in talent was a huge factor. But so, too, was the preparation and focus during the week.