It's that time again'Michigan is back in Madison.
Perhaps the most hated team among UW students returns to Camp Randall this weekend when the Badgers face the Wolverines Saturday.
\None of the players here have ever beaten Michigan, so we'll be pumped up on that,"" junior wide receiver Lee Evans said. ""It's a big game.""
Michigan is obviously a high-profile team, but what can the Badgers expect from the Wolverines Saturday, and what does UW need to do to pull off an upset?
A passing offense cannot work without a solid running game. Last week, the Wolverines' rushing attack finally showed up, as sophomore tailback Chris Perry returned from a shoulder injury.
Perry and fellow junior tailback B.J. Askew ran for 172 of Michigan's 300 yards in a 31-10 win over Minnesota in Ann Arbor. An effective rushing game is needed to set up an effective passing offense.
Once Michigan has its running game on track, it is a dangerous offense, that is, if sophomore quarterback John Navarre can get the ball to his receivers before the Badgers' defense gets him.
""The key [to the game] is the pass rush,"" senior defensive end Wendell Bryant said. ""We have to get a great, great day pass rushing.""
Last week, Navarre was shaky against the Gophers, completing 12 of 22 passes for 144 yards. Many of his throws sailed high or fell behind his intended target. He also threw an ugly interception, and a week earlier, he was picked off twice in a devastating loss to Michigan State.
But when Navarre does get the ball down field to his receivers, which he has at times this season, the Michigan offense is as potent as any in the country.
There are several reasons for this. First, Michigan boasts arguably the nation's finest receiver, senior Marquise Walker. Michigan has other weapons as well. Senior Bill Seymour is an effective target at the tight end position, and Michigan has deep threats in speed-burners junior Ronald Bellamy and sophomore Calvin Bell. Walker will get his catches, so the Badger secondary that has struggled valiantly most of the year must focus on stopping Navarre's other targets.
What types of plays should Wisconsin look for against the maize and blue?
Michigan is almost sure to run at least two of these tomorrow, as they have in each of their previous games. Head Coach Lloyd Carr has a knack for finding the perfect opportunity to use them. Bell has 12 of these on the year, and has scored on three.
This has been a staple of the Michigan offense under Carr for years. The play worked brilliantly for Brian Griese and Jerame Tuman in the 1997 National Championship season. The Wolverines begin the game by running the ball on this play, and later, they throw off of it on third downs. Look for Navarre and Seymour to connect a few times on 10 to 15 yard patterns.
Lloyd Carr is never afraid to use a trick play, and they usually work to his advantage. Most Badger fans remember the pass to Griese at Camp Randall in 1997, and this season, Michigan has run all sorts of trick plays. UW should especially watch out for the Wolverines lining up backup freshman quarterback Jermaine Gonzalez at receiver, or lining him up under center and lining up Navarre at wideout. Michigan scored a touchdown on a pass to Gonzalez against Michigan State. Michigan may also run one or two triple reverses.
""It's something you have to address,"" Wisconsin Head Coach Barry Alvarez said. ""We have seen at least one [trick play], including a fake field goal, every year.""
Wisconsin must stay strong up front to stop the run against Michigan, and not allow the gaping holes that have frequently appeared in the defense. The Badgers have shown that once a running back gets a full head of steam, the secondary has serious trouble tackling him, as the Badgers saw with T.J. Duckett (Michigan State) and Levron Williams (Indiana).
Bryant, playing his final home game,said he and the rest of his defensive unit must keep the intensity alive and lead the defense.
""We're going to have to play error-free and mistake-free football,"" Bryant said.
The Michigan offensive line is big but inexperienced, and Wisconsin must take control early if they wish to stay in the game.
Against Ohio State, Illinois and Iowa, the Badgers were finally able to throw the ball downfield successfully with Brooks Bollinger in the game, a feat many thought impossible judging from last season and the first half of this one.
This attack, coupled with strong efforts from Anthony Davis, has turned the Bollinger-led offense from simplistic and, through the air, ineffective for the most part, to potent.
It is obvious Michigan will get its points, so Wisconsin must counter with a balanced attack. Michigan will place a lot of focus on Lee Evans, which means the Badgers must take advantage of freshman Darrin Charles' height. At 6'6"", he has a five-inch advantage over the tallest Michigan cornerback.
So which offense can we expect? A solid running attack with an ineffective passing game, or the balanced attack Barry Alvarez has wanted for two seasons and that finally has shown itself? To beat a team like Michigan, the former will not cut it.
Along with Saturday being the season's final home game, it will also be the Badgers' first nationally televised network home game of the year, on ABC. A fired-up, sellout crowd will be there.
Badger fans hope the UW team of late is there too.
