Badgers follow a familiar script
MADISON – Wisconsin’s players and coaches have seen this act before:
An offense unable to convert thirddown chances and failed to sustain drives.
Too many turnovers.
Costly penalties.
A defense that was solid overall and made some impressive stops but lacks the experienced personnel to be great.
The result: Penn State handed UW a 22-10 defeat and left the Badgers 4-3 in the Big Ten, out of the race for the division title and 6-4 overall.
Here are some observations from UW’s fourth loss of the season:
Air game grounded
Led by Jonathan Taylor’s 185-yard performance, UW rushed for 209 yards. That total included 45 yards lost in sacks.
UW entered the day 6-1 this season and 23-3 overall under Paul Chryst when rushing for 200 yards or more.
The passing game was anemic as Jack Coan, subbing for injured starter Alex Hornibrook, completed 9 of 20 passes for 60 yards.
That was UW’s season-low mark and its lowest output since 2014 when Joel Stave passed for 46 yards in a 59-24 victory over Nebraska.
Remember that Melvin Gordon rushed for 408 yards in that game and UW finished with 581 rushing yards overall.
Coan in 2 1⁄2 games this season has completed 34 of 58 passes (58.6%) for 282 yards. He is averaging 4.9 yards per attempt and 8.3 yards per completion. His long pass play is 30 yards, on a quick swing pass to Jonathan Taylor against Rutgers.
If Hornibrook is cleared, start him
UW’s staff has been able to get a look at Coan in three games this season.
The tests haven’t been easy, with road games against Northwestern and Penn State and one half of action at home against Rutgers after Hornibrook suffered another concussion.
Hornibrook's health is paramount and if he isn’t cleared to play Saturday (2:30 p.m.) at Purdue he should sit. That is an easy call.
But if he clears the concussion protocol and can play, he should return to the starting lineup.
Hornibrook has been up and down this season but he still gives UW the best chance to win.
Another botched snap
UW faced third and 1 from the Penn State 47 in a 7-7 game in the opening quarter.
A botched snap from Tyler Biadasz to Coan resulted in a fumble that Penn State recovered. The Nittany Lions turned that into a field goal and a 10-7 lead they never relinquished.
The play was similar to a botched exchange between Biadasz and Hornibrook in the loss to Michigan.
UW faced second and 1 from its 47 in a tie game that night. Hornibrook recovered the fumble but the 2-yard loss left UW facing third and 3 and Hornibrook was sacked on third down.
UW punted and Michigan drove 44 yards for the go-ahead field goal.
Yellow alert I
Mistakes happen. Fatigue can be the source. Crowd noise can cause linemen to jump early.
Yet the three pre-snap penalties against Beau Benzschawel, Biadasz and David Edwards that killed a possession that began with 11 seconds left in the third quarter were both costly and avoidable.
Yellow alert II
UW’s defensive backs have been hurt by critical pass-interference calls too often this season.
Freshman Rachad Wildgoose was the guilty party Saturday and his mistake came shortly after UW took a 7-0 lead.
Wildgoose’s penalty against KJ Hamler on third and 8, gave the Nittany Lions a first down at their 42. They then drove for the tying touchdown.
What if?
UW took the second-half kickoff and drove from its 25 to the Penn State 8. Trailing by just 16-7, UW appeared on the verge of its second touchdown of the day.
A missed block on second and 5 resulted in a loss of 2 yards by Jonathan Taylor.
Then on third down Coan threw short to A.J. Taylor in the right flat.
Instead of a first down and possible score, the pass was incomplete and UW settled for a field goal.
Sack attack
Of the five sacks UW surrendered, three came on third down and two came on first down.
Shareef Miller got Coan on third and 5 and third and 14.
Tackle Robert Windsor got Coan on third and 5. Yetur Gross-Matos got Coan on first and 10 and Windsor got Coan on first and goal at the 10.
Missed tackles an issue
Penn State has several elusive players on offense, including tailback Miles Sanders.
Sanders rushed 23 times for 159 yards and on several plays had UW defenders clutching air.
Linebacker T.J. Edwards asked after the game whether the defense had done enough to help UW win. His response? Absolutely not.