Badgers enter Michigan State Game Hoping for Miracle at Running Back

[Da-news-now]

Wisconsin vs. Michigan State — it is supposed to be a sloberknocker and the most physical game of the 2016 season. Except that it might not exactly happen that way thanks to a Wisconsin Badgers backfield in a state decimated by injury.

The Badgers will come into the game against the Spartans with question marks surrounding the main strength of their offense, the running game. Head coach Paul Chryst has had a balanced offensive attack this season, producing 710 passing yards with four touchdowns and 615 rushing yards with six touchdowns.

Their leading rusher has been senior running back Corey Clement, who has 42 carries for 197 yards and two touchdowns in only two games. Clement however did not play against Georgia State due to an ankle injury.

Senior running back Dare Ogunbowale stepped in for the injured Clement, recording 20 rush attempts for 65 yards and one touchdown this past weekend. A pair of young running backs also got their numbers called, as freshman Bradrick Shaw stepped in and ran the rock 15 times for a total of 62 yards while sophomore Taiwan Deal had 7 attempts for 34 yards.

The problem is, Deal got injured quickly and never saw the field again thanks to what the program is calling a right leg injury and Shaw ended up on the injury list following the game too.

If you’re counting at home, that is three of the four running backs Wisconsin would like to be able to put on the field in 2016.

The Badgers were able to produce a running game against the Panthers, but now face a new animal in the Spartans.

They completely shut down the Irish’s rushing attack, limiting them to 57 yards. The Spartans linebacking trio of Andrew Dowell, Riley Bullough, and Chris Frey have recorded 33 tackles in two games alone, while there is also one of the best defensive lineman in the country in Malik McDowell to deal with.

It all adds up to a Spartans defense that is ranked 8th in the nation against the run, giving up just 72 yards per game and 144 yards total over the course of two games to date. Lest you think it was just a fluke, Michigan State completely shut down the Irish rushing attack last week, limiting them to just 57 yards on the ground.

That’s some impressive defensive football being played by the Spartans, but it should also concern a Badgers offense that has a backfield is depleted because of injuries. The Badgers have three running backs listed as questionable heading in to Saturday’s game — Corey Clement, Bradrick Shaw, and Taiwan Deal.

Wisconsin’s only experienced, healthy running back on the roster is Dare Ogunbowale. He of just 127 yards and a 3.8 yards per carry average this season.

Should those questionable backs not make it back for Saturday’s tilt that leave Ogunbowale and just three fullbacks on the roster to try to muster up enough of a run game to help out Hornibrook and the passing game.

Sophomore Alec Ingold played running back as a freshman, recording 49 carries for 131 yards and six touchdowns last season, but only has three carries this season. Junior fullback Austin Ramesh did not carry the ball once in two years, but took seven carries last week as the backfield started to dwindle down.

There’s also linebacker turned fullback turned linebacker/fullback Leon Jacobs, who would be the last resort in the run game.

Head coach Paul Chryst has emphatically stated that freshman running back Sam Brodner will not have his redshirt pulled for just one game either.

Chryst understands how important the running game is to his team’s success and is confident in his players despite the depleted nature of his backfield.

“I’m concerned about the running game every week,” said Chryst. “We’ve got guys that are questionable, and we’ll see where that goes. But I know we’ll have a good plan. I’m confident in the group and how they’re going to approach this week, and we’ll have a good plan for the guys.”

In this matchup that features a team that depends on their running game against a team that is one of the toughest to run against, something has to give. It is hard to share Chryst’s confidence when the only healthy backs at his disposal are one running back and two fullbacks.

Even if one of the Clement/Shaw/Deal trio plays, it at least gives the Badgers a little more familiarity in the backfield. Badgers fans hope these three wake up Saturday morning feeling like a million bucks, as they desperately need them in this Big Ten powerhouse matchup against the Spartans.

The post Badgers enter Michigan State Game Hoping for Miracle at Running Back appeared first on Madtown Badgers.

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[57packer]

Sounds like both Clement and Deal practiced "some" yesterday. Maybe both will be able to give the team some snaps.

The bigger problem might be Gaglianone. Sounds like he has been ruled out for Saturday with a back problem. In a close game where points will be tough to come by, a couple of missed field goals could loom large.

 

[TW]

The Badgers will have to move Ingold into the role of an RB. He can do it, but we shouldn't expect our running game to force MSU to do anything rash to defend against it.

The objective for the Badgers now is to find a way for Hornibrook to substitute the short passes for the run. It's going to be difficult with the injuries. We may also see Houston spending time out there as well.

No matter what happens, I'm not going to be down on these Badgers. This is an impossible hurdle. Just a good showing for one half will make me happy. They're going to grow, and be something special down the road.