Purdue’s scheme challenged Badgers’ secondary
MADISON – Jim Leonhard understood the task Wisconsin’s defense, particularly the secondary, would face at Purdue.
“Schematically they are very good,” said Leonhard, in his second season as UW’s defensive coordinator. “Shots down the field. They work the field laterally. They make you cover every inch of it. And on top of that, they can run the football. They have two dynamic backs.
“It is a lot to handle. I think our guys have a good grasp on how this offense wants to attack you and how they beat you. But it doesn’t make it easy.
“Because they are going to put you in space and make you make plays and make tackles. Sometimes that is a little easier to coach than it is to execute.”
UW defenders learned that the hard way Saturday in the Badgers’ 47-44 victory in three overtimes.
Quarterback David Blough completed 64.6 percent of his passes (31 of 48) for 386 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 8.0 yards per attempt and 12.5 yards per completion.
UW surrendered nine catches of 15 yards or longer, for a combined 230 yards (25.6-yard average).
“We knew we were going to get challenged,” UW coach Paul Chryst said.
Leonhard tried to mix coverage schemes, with the cornerbacks playing several yards off the line of scrimmage at times and other times in tighter coverage. Blough generally threw shorter, routes against the soft coverage and attacked deep against press coverage.
Cornerback Faion Hicks gave up several big gains and was responsible for one of the team’s three pass interference calls. Caesar Williams and Rachad Wildgoose were also called for interference. Wildgoose had a holding call, too.
Yet the defense held up in the fourth quarter and limited Blough to 4 of 11 completions for 47 yards. That allowed UW to score 14 points to wipe out a 27-13 deficit and force overtime.
Three instead of seven
Purdue converted on all five of its red-zone chances, with three touchdowns and two field goals.
UW entered the game limiting teams to an overall conversion rate of 82 percent (27 of 33), including a 55 percent touchdown rate (18 of 33).
Although the Boilermakers bettered those marks, the ability of the defense to twice limit the damage to field goals was huge.
T.J. Edwards had a third-down stop in the final minute of the first half, which allowed UW to escape with a halftime deficit of only 10-3.
Then in the fourth quarter, plays by Andrew Van Ginkel, Ryan Connelly and Edwards forced another field goal with Purdue holding a 24-13 lead.
History lessons
According to UW officials: The 14point, fourth-quarter comeback was the second-largest on the road in program history. UW overcame a 28-7 fourth quarter deficit in 1984 against Missouri to win, 35-34.
The victory over Purdue marked just the fourth time UW had erased a double-digit deficit in the final quarter on the road. Two have come against Purdue. The first came in 2004.
Century mark
According to UW officials, Edwards and Connelly both were in for 100 plays (defense and special teams) Saturday.
Edwards recorded 10 tackles and leads UW in tackles with 86. Connelly recorded nine tackles and is second on the team in tackles with 84.
“I felt a little older,” Edwards said with a smile.