Wisconsin's offensive line deserves a lot of credit
Pete Bigelow hands out game balls after Wisconsin's 48-28 win over Michigan, with four being the best:
WISCONSIN OFFENSIVE LINE (4): It didn’t matter that Wisconsin workhorse running back John Clay missed his second straight game. Backups James White (23-181-2) and Montee Ball (29-173-4) led a 357-yard rushing output for the Badgers. Michigan knew Wisconsin would run - and the Badgers did so 28 consecutive times at one point. Still, the Wolverines couldn’t stop it. Credit the big guys up front.
SCOTT TOLZIEN (3 1/2): Wisconsin's quarterback's 14-for-15 performance might have merited four stars, except for the fact he enjoyed a relaxing second half Saturday. He only threw one pass after halftime. But throughout the first half, he routinely found open receivers across the middle of the football field, and sold the play-action pass like a pro.
DENARD ROBINSON (3): Robinson set the all-time NCAA mark for single-season rushing yards by a quarterback, surpassing Air Force QB Beau Morgan’s mark of 1,494 on a 12-yard run early in the third quarter. Robinson also looked better than he has in weeks, carrying 22 times for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns while completing 16 of 25 passes for 239 yards.
DARRYL STONUM (2 1/2): Stonum caught two of the prettiest passes Michigan receivers have seen all season, first with a touchdown grab over the outstretched arms of a Wisconsin defender, then a key pass over the middle on the next drive that might have been the best catch by a Michigan receiver this season. He finished with four catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Comments
heartbreakM
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 12:28 p.m.
Congrats to DR for getting the record. Only problem, as mentioned above, is that the offense got 124 yards in the first half when they needed to show what a "dominant modern offense" should do to slow B10 defenses. Oops. I would not have given any M player a football.
lefty48197
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 10:31 a.m.
I say the Wisconsin coaching staff gets the credit for realizing that big strong offensive linemen and big strong running backs can pile up the points against 98 pound weaklings. Rocket science it ain't.
Jaxon5
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 8:58 a.m.
Pete's got it right. Huge holes were created for Wisconsin running backs. The O-line was awesome. They ran it 28 times in a row. TruBlu's comments attempt to explain the reason for Michigan's poor defense. That's the problem, there should be no explanation after 3 years of miserable defense. The only explanation can be coaching - not bringing in the right players, firing defensive coaches, not teaching fundamentals, using ill-conceived formations, or some combination of the above.
A2lover
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 8:32 a.m.
Mr Denard Robinson is, as most people know, a flash in the pan. Now he's lauded with an all-time record that was achieved against teams not much higher in calibre than high school level. Yes, grasp at straws U of M, that's all you have at the moment.
LordCarr
Sat, Nov 20, 2010 : 8:18 p.m.
Wisky O-line gets the credit? Than Rich Rods undersized D gets the Blame!
Engineer
Sat, Nov 20, 2010 : 8:08 p.m.
I do not see how any Michigan player could have gotten any kudos. Layed an egg till down 24 and then could do nothing to close the gap. We looked like boys playing men today. SAD SAD SAD!!!!