UW’s play-action passing game was superb
MADISON – It stands to reason if a team has an elite running back, there will be an opportunity to employ the play-action passing game. Sure enough, as Jonathan Taylor ran rampant over Kent State in Wisconsin’s 48-0 win Saturday, the Badgers and quarterback Jack Coan used it to significant effect.
Coan finished 6 for 7 using play action, and the lone misfire was very nearly caught by Quintez Cephus. Still another play netted a pass-interference penalty that set up a score. All told, Coan racked up 88 yards using play action, with touchdown passes to Taylor and Jake Ferguson.
“Protection was good and the guys were getting open, and that takes a lot of pressure off the quarterback when those things happen,” Badgers head coach Paul Chryst said.
“JT was having a good running game, that sets it all up,” said AJ Taylor, who finished with two catches and 27 yards receiving. “Having a running back that can break it whenever he gets the ball, can get a first down or a touchdown almost at will, makes the play action passes 10 times better.”
Jonathan Taylor finished with 186 yards rushing, 29 yards receiving and five all-purpose touchdowns.
Sack happy
The Badgers racked up nine sacks to push their season total to 21, already two more than in all 13 games of 2018.
“It comes down to winning the first and second-down battles and putting them in position on third down where they’re most likely going to have to throw that ball, and then just us being aggressive,” said linebacker Jack Sanborn, who recorded two sacks. “Coach (Jim) Leonhard has been really aggressive this year so far. We all love it.”
Zack Baun turned the hat trick against Kent State and has six and 9.5 tackles for loss.
“I came up to him after one of the sacks and said, ‘Dude that was like one and a half seconds you got back there,’” Sanborn said. “I was barely in my pass drop. Credit to his speed off the edge. Obviously that’s an advantage every defense wants.”
Added Baun, “It helps when the offense doesn’t know where the pressure is coming from every time. Chris Orr coming up the middle or Reggie Pearson on the outside or me coming off the edge. It helps when they’re on their heels and they’re not quite sure where it’s coming from.”
Mertz is perfect
Freshman Graham Mertz checked in for Coan midway through the third quarter.
Mertz finished 5 for 5 passing with 38 yards, ran twice for 6 yards and engineered a scoring drive capped with Jack Dunn’s jet-sweep touchdown run.
“I always kind of tell myself to be ready to go no matter the situation,” said Mertz, who has played in two games and can play in two more without sacrificing his redshirt for 2019.