The Wisconsin football team has struggled to impose a menacing defense through the first two games of the 2024 season.
The Badgers produced one of the better defensive units in the country a season ago, particularly against the pass. However, rushing was a different story as the Badgers defensive line has been a weak point for some time. The Wisconsin football team has begun this season by allowing sub-par offenses to drive deep on their defense and score.
Wisconsin Football Team Continues to Struggle to Shutdown Opposing Offenses
The Wisconsin football team has continued to struggle in one key defensive area throughout the 2024 season after dealing with it a year ago. Wisconsin allowed 135.5 rushing yards per game a season ago along with 13 rushing touchdowns. The Badgers only allowed an average of 3.9 yards per carry, but allowed far too many big rushes to be broken off.
Starting the 2024 off, the Badgers have struggled with the same issue as the Western Michigan Broncos recorded 120 yards on the ground. The Broncos also scored two rushing touchdowns and really put pressure on the Wisconsin defense to send extra blitzes. Wisconsin also has struggled with this against South Dakota, allowing multiple big rushes to be broken off by the Coyotes.
The Badgers truly need to find a solution to their rushing defense and their defensive issues as the competition will only get harder. Wisconsin plays #4 Alabama and then #13 USC as their first true challenges of the season. The Wisconsin Badgers football staff is going to have to come up with solutions on defense as the Alabama and USC offenses both have savvy quarterbacks.
Both Jalen Milroe and Miller Moss are intelligent quarterbacks who know how to pick apart a defense. Milroe led the Crimson Tide to a 63-0 win to open the season and scored with both his arm and his legs. Moss dismantled the LSU Tigers defense to crawl the Trojans to a 27-20 win in a very gritty game.
Wisconsin Badgers Football Staff Must Find Solution to Rush Defense Issues
The area the Badgers struggled with last season and have struggled with to kick off the 2024 season is their run defense. Wisconsin allowed far too many teams to run all over their defense a year ago, and has allowed both South Dakota and Western Michigan to do so this season as well. South Dakota in particular ripped off big running plays that allowed their offense to move down the field with ease.
Wisconsin really needs to tighten up as they have a looming clash against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Madison. The Crimson Tide have blown out their opening opponent to kick off the 2024 season and allowed their backups to play. Wisconsin has not yet reached a point of comfortability where they are able to put in their development players.
The Crimson Tide are a team that loves to do a little bit of everything, but in particular, loves running the ball. Quarterback Jalen Milroe is one of the most dangerous runners of the football in the collegiate landscape. The Wisconsin football staff is going to need to find a way to tighten up their run defense before Milroe potentially runs through it.
Along with Milroe, running backs Justice Haynes and Jam Miller are extremely capable rushers and can break off big plays at any moment. Haynes recorded an 85-yard breakaway touchdown against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers to open the season.
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