TysonsCorner

DBs are not Wisconsin's weakest position. A very experienced group that finished 2013 Top 15 nationally. The secondary returned three of four starters from a season ago and are playing well thus far, as they are Top 25 nationally. Just as there is with every secondary, there are weaknesses. To call them weak, though, is wrong. I'd say the WRs are the weakest group followed by the DBs so far this season. Yeah, UW returns a lot of starters, but they still aren't covering well. Most of the reason for UW's decent pass defense stats is that we don't play very good competition on average - definitely few good passing offenses in the Big Ten, and Aranda covers up deficiencies with blitz packages. Also, UW's run game, controls the clock and speeds up the game, so opponent passing yards will be lower due to less possession. UW will have a lot of trouble against good passing teams this year. Probably will not have to worry about it much until the CCG and bowl game as the teams on the regular season schedule don't pass well.

Clement is a good player, but he is not fast.

1) It's "McEvoy". As of right now, a below average passing QB is not in the same league as Melvin Gordon. 2) There is no player named "Ossai." 4) From that list, only Gordon and maybe Dare Ogunbowale are fast, but they aren't that fast. Melvin is more acceleration, and Dare will not get the ball when it matters (3rd string). All the other guys on your list are average to slow. You could have said Alec James, Vince Biegel and Leon Jacobs, all of which are fast for their positions. Overall, the Badgers have pretty average team speed, and are pretty slow at WR and DB.

I do not think UW will stack the box the entire game. The run D is plenty strong with their front 7, but the weakness is pass defense. They'll play 2 safeties the entire game and they'll play back unless USF refuses to pass. I do think giving the QB time to get to the WRs is key for USF as they'll probably get open.

Badger fan here. Here's some points on the Badgers, and how I would play them. UW ran all over Bowling Green, but Bowling Green was god awful defensively, and I expect South Florida to be better based on stats. That being said, the UW run game is outstanding and the new QB, McEvoy, gives them another dimension. The WRs have decent hands, but do not have speed or the ability to separate from decent corners. The QB is a great runner but has been inconsistent with his accuracy, outside of hitting 17 in a row against Western Illinois. I would stack the box as much as possible and put the CBs on an island. I'd gamble a lot on 1st and 2nd down with run blitzes and hopefully force a number of throwing situations on 3rd down. You'll likely give up some big plays, but that could happen anyway, and I think that is better than longer sustained drives that wears down the defense. Defensively, UW is outstanding against the run. They are giving up 91 rushing yards/game and 2.6 YPC, which includes a game against LSU. I think they are even better than their defensive rushing stats as a good chunk of the rushing yards came against Bowling Green when they gave up a 60 yard TD with the 2nd team D on the field when the game well in-hand. On the other hand, the UW pass defense is not good. They get a good pass rush, but the DBs are pretty bad. They have no ability to cover the long pass and never turn for the ball. Even if the ball is under-thrown, because they never turn around, they are often call for PI. It looks like the strength of the South Florida offense is the running game with Mack, but it will be tough to straight up run against UW. I wouldn't run to setup the pass as the passing game will be there from the start - it's not necessary to set it up. I would pass to setup the run. Try to force them in nickel packages and take advantage of blitzing LBs. I don't know much about South Florida, but I have to imagine you have some speed at WR (it's South Florida) and you should be able to get behind the DBs all day. If the QB can deliver, you can put up some points. UW is very vulnerable against the long pass, or they'll give a big cushion and the underneath path will be there.