Upon further review: Mistakes in all three phases reveal UW's deficiencies
MADISON – Favored by three touchdowns and change, Wisconsin suffered a 24-21 loss to unranked BYU on Saturday.
That loss sent UW from No. 6 in both top 25 polls to No. 16 in the Amway coaches poll and to No. 18 in The Associated Press poll on Sunday.
In short, UW’s execution was subpar on offense, defense and special teams.
UW’s offense converted just 30.8% of its third-down chances (4 of 13, down from its season mark of 59% (13 of 22).
The defense, which surrendered one play of 20 or more yards in the first two games, allowed four big plays against BYU. The Cougars had runs of 44 and 46 yards and pass plays of 21 and 31 yards.
The special return units failed to provide any big plays and at times cost UW valuable yards of field position.
That isn’t a formula for victory no matter the caliber of competition.
Here is our Top 10 list from Game 3:
Dearth of playmakers
Although most observers wondered how UW’s young secondary would hold up this season, the real issue was whether the Badgers had enough disruptors in the front seven.
The injury to end Isaiahh Loudermilk and the loss of Garrett Rand (Achilles) didn’t help the line. Question marks at outside linebacker haven’t been answered and the loss of Andrew Van Ginkel against BYU exacerbated the problem.
UW’s front seven will have to make more plays beginning this week at Iowa. Left end Kayden Lyles and nose tackle Olive Sagapolu were moved off the ball on Squally Canada’s 46-yard run on the Cougars’ game-winning drive.
Yellow alert I
Trailing, 21-14, in the third quarter UW faced fourth and 1 from the BYU 32. Tight ends Kyle Penniston and Jake Ferguson moved before the snap, costing UW 5 yards. UW changed its personnel but Alex Hornibrook threw incomplete, with the ball sailing near both A.J. Taylor and Danny Davis.
Yellow alert II
BYU faced third and goal from the UW 5 in the third quarter when quarterback Tanner Mangum tried to hit wide receiver Dax Milne near the goal line.
Cornerback Faion Hicks was in tight coverage but was called for interference on the incompletion. Canada scored from 2 yards on the next play to help BYU take a 21-14 lead.
Hidden yards
UW’s Jack Dunn chose not to run up to try to field Rhett Almond’s 36-yard punt in the final quarter. The ball hit at the UW 22 and rolled down to the 8 and Dunn, who was lined up at about the 15 before the snap, was visibly upset by the result. UW then drove 68 yards to the BYU 24 before Rafael Gaglianone missed a 42-yard field goal. If Dunn had been able to make a fair catch at the 22, Gaglianone’s kick would have been much shorter or UW might have been able to reach the end zone.
“The returner there has got to make a decision,” UW coach Paul Chryst said, “and they’ve got to trust that decision and then go with it.”
Wandering eyes
Several UW defenders noted their eyes weren’t always in the proper place against BYU’s shifts and motions.
That appeared to allow BYU to run jet sweeps effectively early in the game and free Canada for two big hits between the tackles.
“We didn’t get off blocks and were in the wrong gaps,” UW linebacker T.J Edwards said. “Missed tackles.”
Critical error
Senior safety D’Cota Dixon took responsibility for the blown coverage on the 31-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Dixon thought he would have deep safety help from Scott Nelson but he didn’t and the tight end was able to streak into the open field for an uncontested catch.
“I was too busy focused on trying to make sure guys got my call rather than focusing on what I saw in front of me,” Dixon said.
Momentum killer
UW’s defense recorded a three-andout to open the second half and the Badgers took over at their 23 after the punt.
Then on third and 3, Hornibrook tried to hit Ferguson near the 40. Linebacker Zayne Anderson, moved from safety after last season, stepped in front of Ferguson for an easy interception. Ferguson appeared to round off the route but it also appeared the ball was thrown too far inside. The turnover led to the Cougars’ go-ahead touchdown and a 21-14 deficit for UW.
Third-down stops
UW last season held opponents to a thirddown conversion rate of 29% (55 of 189).
Through three games this season, opponents have converted 36.8% of third-down chances against UW. UW ranks 11th in the Big Ten in third-down defense.
Red alert
UW allowed a total of three scores in the red zone on six chances in its first two games, including two touchdowns.
BYU went 2 for 2 with both scores touchdowns.
The real Deal
UW used Taiwan Deal in short-yardage situations near the goal line and the senior tailback delivered with touchdown runs of 2 and 5 yards. Look for the staff to continue using Deal in that manner.