Five Observations: Minnesota at Wisconsin

Oct 20, 2012; Madison, WI, USA; The Wisconsin Badgers celebrate with the Paul bunyan Axe following the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin defeated Minnesota 38-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Minnesota has not beaten Wisconsin in a while.  Eight straight victories for the Badgers became nine Saturday, Oct 20 when the running game was too much to handle for the Gophers.

The Battle of the Axe became a blowout early in the fourth quarter after two easy rushing scores for Montee Ball.

Minnesota has lost three straight Big Ten games after winning the first four this season.  Ball notched 166 rushing yards and two touchdowns while James White added 175 and three scores for the Badgers. Wisconsin ended up winning 38-13.

The story of the game for the Gophers was the start of Philip Nelson, the quarterback of the future for the university.  The true freshman quarterback became the 12th redshirt burned for coach Jerry Kill this season.

Here are five observations from Saturday’s loss to the rival Badgers:

Sack City:

After being silent in the sack column in the first two Big Ten game, the Gophers wee active.  Sack masters DL Wilhite and Ra’Shede Hageman each notched a sack in the first half, coming on back-to-back plays on Joel Stave.  Safety Derrick Wells also snatched a sack later in the second quarter. Minnesota had no problem on the pass protection of the Badger’s o-line.

Full Nelson:

Expectations for the true freshman quarterback were fairly low for Saturday’s contest.  Everyone loves Nelson, but playing at Wisconsin is a tough first game.

Nelson played well against the Badgers. He finished 13 for 24 for 149 and two touchdowns.  I was really impressed with Nelson’s first touchdown drive. He looked really lively on the drive, using his legs and his arm for the eventual touchdown to Brandon Green.  The quarterback was also Minnesota’s leading rusher with 16 carries and 67 yards.

He also finished with two interceptions.  The first interception was not bad at all.  Nelson barely overthrew AJ Barker and the ball got tipped into the hands of the defender.  The second interception, on the other hand, was forced.  After a big touchdown by Ball, Nelson showed some frustration and pressing when he forced his read to the slot wide receiver for the easy pick.

Overall, it was a good day for Nelson.  Expect a better game next week against Purdue.

Running with a Purpose:

There’s running, and there is the running that Wisconsin showed Saturday against Minnesota. Excluding Stave, the Badgers finished with over 350 rushing yards.  While Ball and White played phenomenal, the rushing defense for Minnesota played downright awful.

The linebackers are safeties allowed for easy whole for the Badger running game.  The tackling was not an issue for the Gophers, but the coverage was just not there for Minnesota.  In three Big Ten games, Minnesota was scuffled against the backs of opposing teams.

The Biggest Positive:

So the rushing defense is bad, but the passing defense for the Gophers is great.

Michael Carter had his best game as a Gopher.

Carter deflected three passes and covered Jared Abbrederis after Troy Stoudemire could not hold his own against him in the first quarter.  Minnesota allowed only 106 passing yards from Joel Stave.  The Gophers entered the game 9th in the NCAA in passing defense, and that stat will improve after another good showing.

Here’s the Kicker:

I thought Jordan Wettstein lost his job a couple weeks ago after faltering in the kicking game.  I was wrong as Kill kept Wettstein in.

On Saturday, the senior kicker from Wisconsin, continued his poor season when he missed an extra point to tie the game up against the Badgers.  He also missed a 51-yard field goal right before halftime.

The Gophers brought in a legit kicker in Chris Hawthorne last season.  Give him the kicks, Kill.