Wisconsin fires O-line coach
According to reports, Wisconsin has fired their new O-line coach, and replacing him with an offensive quality control assistant. Wow. Two games.
September 10th, 2012 at 10:45 AM ^
Reading comprehension you doesnt have it (russian voice)
Their previous OL coach followed Paul Chryst to Pitt and this was a new guy and he got fired because he turned their OL from an asset into what a GERG coached OL would be.
September 10th, 2012 at 10:55 AM ^
you mean the houston nutt coaching tree is not full of unbelievably talented coaches? whodathunkit!
edit: redundant? seriously?
September 10th, 2012 at 10:04 AM ^
Wiscy hasn't started a QB that they developed within their own system for two years now. They are getting exactly what they deserve for their "Rent-a-QB" loopholing.
September 10th, 2012 at 10:24 AM ^
Not making excuses for them, but they have had serious health issues with their scholarship QB's the last couple years. They could have gone the Saban way and cut ties with them, but they are sticking it out.
September 10th, 2012 at 11:10 AM ^
Injuries. It's all about injuries in Madison the past 2-3 years. Look it up. We've beaten this horse dead on numerous occasions in the past 2 years. Wisconsin's QB depth has been absolutely decimated by injuries. If Denard and Gardner had both been injured in the off-season last year and we had a scholarship slot available, we would've taken Russell Wilson in a heartbeat. Hell, Bielema recruited Bart Houston - a 3/4 star type - last year and even he was injured during the off-season as in incoming freshman. Wisconsin's QB injury list is eerily similar to Iowa's RB situation.
September 10th, 2012 at 10:19 AM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 10:23 AM ^
Barring some unexpected turnaround, it looks like Montee Ball should have turned pro last year. With two teams expected to be creampuffs on the schedule so far, he is ranked 7th in the B1G.
Coaching changes can be huge. Gerg replaced by Mattison anyone.
September 10th, 2012 at 10:33 AM ^
This is more like replacing GERG with Adam Braithwaite, though. The replacement coach has two years of experience, both years as a graduate assistant.
September 10th, 2012 at 10:26 AM ^
Monte Ball and James White combined have 70 carries for 203 yards, with only 35 of those yards coming this past Saturday. That's an average of 2.9 yards per carry. Their rushing yards are down 32% over this point last year, Wisconsin is converting 3rd downs at around the 30% level as well.
In all reality, Danny O'Brien is not Russell Wilson. After two games last year, Wilson was 27 of 34 for 444 yards passing, and O'Brien is 39 of 61 for 391, so he's working considerably harder and getting less out of the receiving corps, which is barely averaging 10 yards per carry right now.
If they played at this rate for the rest of the regular season, their total production would fall by nearly half, based on some rough figuring. We may be seeing just how good players like Konz, Zeitler, Carimi and Oglesby, among many others in their recent past, may have been up front for them.
September 10th, 2012 at 12:29 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 10:26 AM ^
Us economics majors never did much paper writing but my vote is for the word dominant.
September 10th, 2012 at 10:40 AM ^
Hard to believe that the only undefeated teams left in the Big Ten outside of MSU and OSU are Minnesota, Indiana, and NW. I'm at least glad that NW looks like they will be a contender for a decent bowl game with probably 7 wins. I'm also thinking that if there was ever a year for a Michigan team with some early defensive problems to win the conference, this would be it.
September 10th, 2012 at 11:00 AM ^
If a new coach gets canned two games in that says way more about the head coaches inability to be able to hire a competant coach than the O-line ocach himself. Bret said in the B10 meetings that this could be the best line he has ever had????
September 10th, 2012 at 11:01 AM ^
I'm beginning to regret my vote for Aceconsin, though the rest of the Big Ten hasn't exactly outdone itself either.
September 10th, 2012 at 11:03 AM ^
I can't imagine how much Ball must be regretting staying another year. Had he left, he could have easily been taken over David Wilson, maybe even Doug Martin, in the draft.
Can easily see now how much these coaching changes are hurting the team. Wisconsin still has an inherently good offensive line, and this doesn't change Ball's abilities. But you get that many new coaches, its going to take its toll.
On the flip side, though, it looks like Indiana's path to bowl eligibility is getting that much easier.
September 10th, 2012 at 1:52 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 6:37 PM ^
Tre Roberson's broken leg disagrees.
September 10th, 2012 at 11:07 AM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 12:56 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 3:23 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^
This and the other upsets is going to make it difficult to pick who gets the "tears of infinite sadness" this week.
September 10th, 2012 at 11:41 AM ^
Without question. #8 team fail + John L. Smith = internet joy and wonderment. Can't wait to read
September 10th, 2012 at 11:34 AM ^
2 games into a season without a very good reason.
Like the former Michigan special teams coach that was brought up, that guy and his "coaching" clearly cost Michigan the Iowa game that year, he deserved to be fired.
If you are completely incompetent at your job, better to cut ties now than spend next spring and summer having to undo what the last guy did.
September 10th, 2012 at 12:54 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 2:20 PM ^
Just heard on XM 91 that the chemistry between Coach Markuson and the OL was just simply untenable. So bad in fact that a 27 year old will be taking his place. midway through the seaoson.
September 10th, 2012 at 2:25 PM ^
I guess, being from the SEC and all, Old Milwaukee just didn't get Markuson's piss hot.