What a difference a year makes. Last season, the Badger football team had to fight tooth and nail just to put points on the scoreboard. This season has been an entirely different story, as the newly potent Wisconsin offense has already surpassed last year's point total. Offensive explosions like the 65 points against Temple and the 56 versus Bowling Green have led to the No. 8 ranking in the nation, with 40.7 points per game.
\On offense we're more mature. We know the system better,"" senior wide receiver Brandon Williams said. ""[John] Stocco's more comfortable. [Brian] Calhoun's giving us a spark in every little phase. I think we're just clicking how we should be.""
""We just have confidence in ourselves,"" said senior tight end Owen Daniels. ""We put up a bunch of points at the beginning of the year, so we're looking to do it every week.""
The results of the offensive transformation are staggering. Rushing as a team, passing as a team, individual rushing, individual passing'?-every aspect of the game has vastly improved. However, plays start with the quarterback, and Stocco has shown remarkable improvement running the team. Following an inconsistent sophomore campaign, Stocco has proven that he can lead the offense. With a very respectable completion percentage of 61 (compared to 52.6 last season), an efficiency rating that is 40 points higher, and a touchdown total equaling last year's (including one crucial rushing touchdown against Michigan), his confidence has picked up markedly. The re-emergence of senior wideout Jonathan Orr has certainly helped, as he has already doubled his yardage and touchdowns from last season.
""When a leader's got confidence in his team, everyone's going to feed off of that,"" Daniels said. ""Stocco's an accurate guy when he's confident in what he's doing.""
Of course, one cannot talk about Wisconsin's offense without mentioning junior running back Brian Calhoun. The heir apparent after the departure of Anthony Davis, Calhoun has been simply amazing. He has accumulated 959 yards on the ground, 324 yards through the air, 4.8 yards per carry and 14 touchdowns, putting him on the college football map and even on some Heisman ballots. Without senior fullback Matt Bernstein for the past few games, Calhoun has still been able to scrape his way past the 100 yard mark every full game he has played. Junior running back Booker Stanley has also improved in the backup role, averaging 5.6 yards per carry with two touchdowns.
""Our execution [is the biggest improvement], we've got both sides of our offense going and got our running backs running hard,"" Daniels said.
Often overlooked, but altogether important, the special teams has been a huge lift to the offense as well. Williams' dynamic returns give the Badgers great field position, as averages over 16 yards a return in both kicking and punting, with two for touchdowns. Sophomore kicker Taylor Mehlhaff lends some consistency to the kicking position, going 9-11 in field goals and 36-of-37 in extra points.
UW needs the offense to functioning efficiently against a struggling Purdue team that is hungry for a win.
""They've got a good defense,"" said co-offensive coordinator Paul Chryst. ""It's not going to be an easy game at all.""
