Wisconsin - Michigan Games & Injured QBs
Great win for Michigan.
It seems like this has been a "body bag" type game for each team's QB over the past decade. At least since Harbaugh and Chryst got into their roles. Did this predate them? We lost QBs to injury in Madison several times including 2017 where I felt the QB Peters was intentionally pile driven into the turf.
They've lost QBs as well and it always seems to really swing the game one way or another. I think in 2016 Wisconsins QB was knocked out of the game. Either 2016 or 2018. And from there the rout was on. It was pretty clear when Mertz got sacked and went to locker room this was not going to go the badgers way.
October 2nd, 2021 at 6:08 PM ^
That hit on Mertz was totally clean. Tough, but clean. Wisconsin was absolutely head hunting McCaffrey in 2019 and I feel like the hit on Peters was cheap too. Still 3 injured QBs over 5ish games doesn’t seem that out of the ordinary, especially given our o-line play over the last several years.
October 2nd, 2021 at 6:11 PM ^
October 2nd, 2021 at 6:18 PM ^
I can see what you're saying.
But man, what a hit from Dax. Head to the side, shoulder pad right to the ribs.
Wasn't too high or low.
October 2nd, 2021 at 8:47 PM ^
Saw it the same way, a text book way to annihilate the opposing qb within the new age "zebras protect the qb at all costs" rules.
Even better, Dax comes out in the 2nd half and gets a PBU on a 3rd down, intercepts a pass and KOs a qb. This is after he was beaten to end the first half on 2 consecutive pass plays where it appeared momentum had swung to the Badgers.
Way to step it up, Dax.
October 2nd, 2021 at 10:07 PM ^
get him back there on punts. could be the next woodson.
October 2nd, 2021 at 6:23 PM ^
If an ordinary human being were to take the shots most football players take 10-20 times during the course of a game, one game would be his last game. Given that many college QBs also run the ball, you need a QB depth chart with four or five names if you want to fully prepare for a season.
Players are bigger and faster and can hit harder these days. With the new rules related to targeting, I don't think it's a stretch to say some lives have been saved. We saw what happened to Denard and Devin Gardner - the hits accumulated and they really couldn't throw the ball any more after a certain point. Wilton Speight had his collarbone and his back broken in different games.
Sometimes I watch games and forget just what's going on out there because I love the sport. But I try to remind myself what these kids are giving up to play it. And then I look at Tom Brady at 44, always banged up, but still great, while Peyton Manning was dealing with accumulated neck problems that probably should have ended his career at 34. They're used to the pain, but it takes just a bit of bad luck to endure something that they can't or shouldn't come back from.
TL:DR, no, I don't think there's anything in this particular matchup that causes particular QB stress. Just two teams that play in a major conference and Wisconsin always recruits for strength over speed.
October 2nd, 2021 at 10:10 PM ^
there is a long list of dirty hits by wisconsin against us the last decade or so. i'm surprised they didn't suit up davison.
October 2nd, 2021 at 6:27 PM ^
Mertz was taking hits on nearly every drop back. Not surprising he got hurt eventually. We embarrassed their tackles today.
October 2nd, 2021 at 7:07 PM ^
Peters and McCaffrey with both victims of cheap shots. The hit today was a hard hit but not a cheap shot. The Bucky pass protection was pretty weak and Mertz was not avoiding the hits.