UW out to contain legwork of Miami QB
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards understands it isn’t his place to suggest how Miami’s offensive coaches should structure their Orange Bowl game plan.
Nevertheless, Edwards is savvy enough to know that if the Hurricanes’ offensive coaches study how Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett hurt UW in the Big Ten title game, the Badgers are going to see Miami quarterback Malik Rosier rely on his feet throughout the night.
“He is very dynamic,” Edwards said of Rosier. “I think he his more shifty than any quarterback we have seen so far. He’s got good speed.
“The quarterback run is really big in their game plan and I’m sure after seeing Ohio State it will be even more. We’re excited for the challenge, to redeem ourselves.”
UW (12-1) faces Miami (10-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.
Rosier, a 6-foot-1, 216-pound redshirt junior, is in his first season as a starter. His completion rate of 54.8% is so-so, but he has more than twice as many touchdown passes as interceptions (2511).
He is second on the team in rushing attempts (122), averages 35.6 rushing yards per game and has rushed for five touchdowns.
Rosier’s dual-threat ability was highlighted during a three-game stretch of victories over Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and Virginia.
He rushed 13 times for 84 yards and a touchdown in a 28-10 victory over Virginia Tech, had 44 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in a 41-8 victory over Notre Dame and added 38 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in a 4428 victory over Virginia.
“He is a very mobile guy,” UW defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said. “He is not as physical as Barrett. Barrett is 220 pounds, a downhill tailback type when he runs the ball. Rosier is a little different but he is very capable in the run game and can gash you with big plays.
“You have to be aware of him at all times. There are some issues that he presents.”
Despite all the fuss of Barrett’s knee surgery six days before the Big Ten title game, UW was concerned about his ability to make plays with his feet on designed runs or scrambles.
That concern proved to be warranted. Barrett rushed 19 times for 60 yards and a touchdown in the Buckeyes’ 27-21 victory. He converted four third-down chances with runs, as well as a fourthand-1 play that set up the Buckeyes’ final field goal.
Although the Badgers forced Barrett into two interceptions, they didn’t record a sack and rarely applied pressure on passing plays.
“It was knowing how much of a threat J.T. was on the ground,” defensive end Alec James said when asked why UW’s pass rushers were ineffective. “You can’t really do as much when you know there is a quarterback back there who can really hurt you with his legs as well as his arm.”
James found that out on Ohio State’s second offensive series.
The Buckeyes faced third and 7 from their 7-yard line when Barrett was flushed to the right. James had a shot for a tackle for loss, but Barrett escaped to the sideline for a 9-yard gain to the 16.
He found Terry McLaurin for an 84yard score on the next play.
“He pulled up and I was ready to hit him and then he kept running,” James said of the third-down play. “I just missed. He is a good player.”
Ohio State converted just 6 of 16 third-down plays, but UW could have done a better job on first and second down. Only 4 of those 16 chances were third and long (7 yards or more).
The Buckeyes were 4 of 6 on third and short (1-3 yards), 1 of 6 on third and medium (4-6 yards) and 1-4 on third and long.
“I think our biggest issue was that we weren’t getting them into third and long,” senior outside linebacker Garret Dooley said. “That was our strength this season – stop the run on first and second down and get them into third and long. Then we can bring the blitzes.
“We have to win on first and second down and we weren’t able to do that in that game, so we weren’t able to bring the pressures we hope to bring.”
Miami has allowed 26 sacks in 12 games an average of 2.2 per game, and the Hurricanes have converted only 29% of their third-down chances (45 of 153).
UW must get the Hurricanes in thirdand-long situations and then find a way to get Rosier on the ground.
“There are some designed runs but there are also some situations where he just takes off and goes,” Leonhard said. “So you’ve got to be smart about how you pressure a guy like that.
“It’s not that you can’t do it. You just have to be a little bit more cautious, or smart, in how you’re getting to him.”