Andy Staples of The Athletic answers a reader's question on Wisconsin football a lot like he could be writing about Nebraska football pre-Steve Pederson:
This is a notoriously reasonable fan base...
But it’s deeper than just this season. Chryst probably had Wisconsin near its ceiling in his first three seasons...
...
Wisconsin doesn’t have a recruiting base that allows it to stock up on four- and five-star players. But what Wisconsin does have is a defined identity that allows the Badgers to make the most of the players to whom they do have access. Big people live in the state, and the program has done a great job developing offensive linemen and running a blunt-force offense that allows those linemen to shine, giving quarterbacks ample time to throw because defenses were terrified by play-action. And as offenses spread out elsewhere and defenses downsized to adjust, Wisconsin’s style became more of a change-up and even more difficult to stop.
This is ONE answer to ONE question (!)
Barry Alvarez established this identity in the 1990s. He passed the torch to Bielema in the mid-2000s, and Bielema ran it faithfully. Gary Andersen clashed with then-athletic director Alvarez and ultimately bailed to Oregon State, but the offensive identity remained — now combined with a 3-4 defense that also helps Wisconsin to recruit around its geographical deficiencies. Then Chryst returned and kept everything rolling.
Bob Devaney to Tom Osborne to Frank Solich to oblivion.
But now offenses are beefing up again...That’s what Illinois has done under Bielema [and] P.J. Fleck’s Minnesota...
Under no circumstances should the Badgers abandon an identity that took decades to cultivate [which is what Nebraska did] and remains effective as long as the offensive line develops properly. But they should be concerned if teams in their backyard suddenly have gotten as good or better at doing what they do. That’s why their games against Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota bear watching carefully. This is Wisconsin’s main competition for the type of people who can run Wisconsin’s offense successfully. If Wisconsin isn’t running the best version, then it might be time to make some adjustments.
Would that mean firing Chryst? That seems pretty extreme for a program that usually acts quite deliberately. Chryst moved slowly to overhaul Wisconsin’s recruiting department [after last season]...The offensive line has not been dominant...
So it’s understandable why there might be a push to get younger and perhaps elevate defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard to head coach. But barring a complete disaster down the stretch, that feels far too drastic for Wisconsin.
As long as this team makes progress — something last year’s team did down the stretch — Chryst shouldn’t feel any pressure. But if Bielema brings Illinois to Camp Randall Stadium this week and the Illini look more like the Badgers than the actual Badgers, it might be time to start worrying.
Do me a favor: Don't anybody ask Andy another question about Wisconsin for a very long time, k?
Associated Press on the game:
Wisconsin: The Badgers have to start asking themselves some difficult questions about the direction of their program as they've fallen below .500 after opening the season in the Top 25.