2022 Wisconsin Season Thread

[847badgerfan]

Leo Chenal has 2 years left, if he wanted them. Played 3, + Covid year credit.

[bayareabadger]

I am very confused about all of these announcements, because of the covid year that didn't count. Michigan State had a kid announce for the draft, that basically equated to him saying he wasn't using his 6th year.  He's not getting drafted, but he has a degree, and some kids don't feel like being a 24 year old college kids. Under normal circumstances, he'd just be done without having to announce it.

Yeah, it’s odd. 

I saw a few where a sixth year guy wanted to say thanks for all the years but phrased it like “I’m going to the draft.”

[847badgerfan]

Things I would like to see on the coaching staff:

OL Coach: 

Bob Bostad. Currently the ILB coach on the staff, and a damn good one. Hate to lose him there, but he is one of the best OL coaches in the game. Time to move back.

ILB coach: 

Either give Bobby April all of the LB's, or have he and Leonhard co-coach the LB's. 

Another possibility on the staff is current ST coach Chris Hearing, as he coached ILB's under PC at Pitt. 

Either that, or just move on from him altogether. His ST units have been largely underwhelming since he has been up there.

QB Coach:

It's clear PC cannot be the HC, OC and QB coach all at the same time. It's too much and the QB's need a dedicated coach. That is clear.

I'm all-in for bringing in Scott Tolzien here. Yes, he is a former Badger QB and played under PC. He was developed by PC, and developed very well. He also has perspective from his 7 NFL seasons. He is currently an analyst with the Dallas Cowboys, and before that was an analyst at UW for a very productive 2019 season.

Jim Leonhard gets Rudolph's associate head coach position.

Need a change on ST coaching. 

This is clear. The question is whether PC will let his best buddy go. I hope so. It's time.

[ELA]

Yeah, it’s odd.

I saw a few where a sixth year guy wanted to say thanks for all the years but phrased it like “I’m going to the draft.”

Yeah, sometimes 24 year olds are just ready to move on with life.

I get why they did it.  They were worried too many guys would opt out of 2020 if they wound up missing a bunch of games, or games got cancelled due to COVID, and it burned a year of eligibility.  But it really created a bad roster management situation going forward.

[847badgerfan]

FB John Chenal not coming back for a 5th year. Gonna try to crack an NFL roster. I'm guessing he will do just that.

Another big blow to the roster.

[bayareabadger]

Yeah, sometimes 24 year olds are just ready to move on with life.

I get why they did it.  They were worried too many guys would opt out of 2020 if they wound up missing a bunch of games, or games got cancelled due to COVID, and it burned a year of eligibility.  But it really created a bad roster management situation going forward.

No, I meant the kids that were already done. They just have the staff give them a graphic because it's cool. 

[bayareabadger]

FB John Chenal not coming back for a 5th year. Gonna try to crack an NFL roster. I'm guessing he will do just that.

Another big blow to the roster.

I'm ... not the most concerned? I mean, if there's one thing I think UW can develop, it's a fullback. 

Roster coming back is interesting. 

RB - If Mellusi comes back at a similar level, backfield is gonna be fierce.

OL - Not good this year, but lord there is star talent. And about to be a good OL coach. Not perfect, but that math is not bad

TE/FB - Unknown city. Everyone got hurt this year. Lotta size, lotta 3-stars, someone's gotta step up. 

WR - Intersting spot. Dike has star ability, needs a step this offseason. Markus Allen is the next-most talented guy and got some work in the bowl. Like his potential. If there's a portal place to look it's here (maybe TE if you can find the right guy)

QB - So much talent locked up in that guy. Maybe a new QB coach helps. What we know is, he's not developed faster than a LOT of UW QBs, but a few blossomed in Year 4. The issues with the efficiency passing game the past few years is simply put, not what this team can afford. 

[847badgerfan]

He needs guys to throw at, and he needs protection. Most of all, he needs a coach.

Not sure how a guy can be a HC, OC and QB coach all at the same time. PC should have cut bait last year with Rudy.

[Honestbuckeye]

I have always been impressed with Wisconsin’s ability to reload and develop players.  It has been remarkably consistent 

[847badgerfan]

ILB Jack Sanborn declares for the draft. Not shocking at all.

[847badgerfan]

Lots of names floating around out there for the offensive coaching position(s).

Don't know how this is all going shake out, but it seems like Bostad to OL coach and run game coordinator is a done deal.

As for other coaches being bantered about:

Bobby Engram (Ravens TE coach) (Like this one, for OC. Son plays for UW too. Coached WR w/ PC at Pitt.)

Scott Tolzien (Cowboys offensive assistant) (Like this one too, for QB. Groom for OC. Played for PC at UW.)

Darrell Bevell (Jacksonville interim coach) (I don't believe this one at all, and would not like it if true.)

Rod Carey (last job was HC Temple) (Madison native. Played OL at IU. I'm kinda Meh here.)

Kenny Hill (QB TCU) (No thanks on this one.)

[bayareabadger]

Bobby Engram (Ravens TE coach) (Like this one, for OC. Son plays for UW too. Coached WR w/ PC at Pitt.)

Scott Tolzien (Cowboys offensive assistant) (Like this one too, for QB. Groom for OC. Played for PC at UW.)

Darrell Bevell (Jacksonville interim coach) (I don't believe this one at all, and would not like it if true.)

Rod Carey (last job was HC Temple) (Madison native. Played OL at IU. I'm kinda Meh here.)

Kenny Hill (QB TCU) (No thanks on this one.)

Less interested in Engram, though I'd be interested in how the staff shakes out.

Tolzien is just plug and play. Would be happy enough, though not all that interesting. 

No idea what Bevell would bring. Generally disinterested. You'd probably need to give him the whole offense. He's run a Wisconsin-esque thing in the NFL. Sounds nice name-wise, but doesn't make much sense.

I don't know where you'd fit Carey in. He's an OL guy through and through. I guess you could bring him to work with TEs. Outside Wisconsin-Stout, he's been an OC for all of one year since 2007, and that was running the remnants of Matt Canada's offense. His NIU scheme was interesting, but it it a far jump from UW and not in a meshable way. 

I kinda like Kenny Hill, actually, depending on the role. If he's running the whole show ... ehh. If he's working with QBs and bringing some flavor from that Cumbie style, I think there could be some mesh elements there. Not perfect, but I'm at least intrigued. 

If any QB guy comes in, I trust Chryst has a good sense for how that could go. I don't think they're running out Turner, and I still think they WR coach is good, but we'll see. 

[847badgerfan]

I like Engram at OC only. PC can handle the QB room.

Engram has a lot of experience working within a power offense (Ravens). The feature the RB's and TE's. Seems like a fit.

[SFBadger96]

Why would Bevell leave the NFL to be an assistant coach in college ball? Don't see that.

While he probably would have liked to be a head coach by now (he was an OC for the Vikings way back in 2007 IIRC), the NFL pays better and has better players. Why step down?

Tolzien seems like a nice fit and a decent opportunity for him. As a guy who had to work harder and rely less on talent, he seems like he could be the kind of person Mertz needs to listen to.