Chryst excited by Graham Mertz’s future with Badgers

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No recruit has ever been as hyped as quarterback Graham Mertz has been in Wisconsin Badgers history. Normally that would lead to coaches tempering their words and expectations. Given head coach Paul Chryst’s history of exactly that, it was a bit surprising to hear him speak with excitement about what Mertz may bring to the table in Madison. So far, Chryst has been very impressed with how...

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Whether or not Mertz ends up taking a red shirt year is still up in the air, in my opinion. I think they'd like to coach him up, and give him some play time in the early non-conference games, and use the guys they have in camp for the season. Next year, it will be Mertz for sure, the way it looks.

I think Taylor ends up going into the draft after this season, so it's going to be the Graham Mertz show next year, unless one of the RBs can step up and be something special. We've got some good backs in the house after Taylor, but I don't think anyone is going to set things on fire like him for a long time in the future, maybe never.

Not mentioned in the article, but on my list of things I'm looking forward to seeing. I've heard that Chris Orr is preparing for a monster year, knowing that it could move him up the ladder when it comes to the NFL draft. How good of a season, and how valuable he will be to the team may be questionable, depending on his health. He's gotten hurt quite a bit in the past. He needs a year with no dings. He had all the makings of a great one when he first came to Madison, but the injuries have taken their toll.
 
The expectations for Mertz are borderline unrealistic. He’s been anointed the savior and honesty other than Taylor the skill position talent this year and next is average. My guess is they burn the RS and let the best man win the job. Cohn is pretty athletic but he’s just a guy.
 
I think the decision on Mertz will be made after they play a couple of non-conference games with him getting some time on the field. Or, they might even keep him out of games, and work with him off-field, to prepare him in case he has to come in as a replacement late in the season, and still retain his red shirt by playing in 4 or less.

I don't see where I indicated he's the savior. I do think he may be the best QB we've had since Russell Wilson, but that's going to be decided on the field by him, and the people they can find to hang onto passes. I think the offensive line is there already.

As far as RBs, every time we have a great one heading off the pros, people start saying the sky is falling, but guess what? There seems to be at least one more guy in the wings who steps up and proves he can do the job with some of the best of them in the conference. RB does not worry me to be honest. I have faith in the guys they have in the program to do the job.

Right now I consider Mertz the 4th string QB because they have 3 guys in house who have time in the system, and are probably substantially ahead of him in that regard.

But, it won't be long and it will start to play out on the field. Tough game early on. Michigan visits Madison for the 3rd game of the year. At least we have a bye week before they arrive, to correct the things they see wrong in those first two games.
 
Never said you anointed him a savior but when you look around social media it’s out there. Mertz will be #2 on the depth chart going into week 1, then it comes down to can Cohn win games. The other 2 guys are just well guys. Cohn was very good at Purdue but other than that pedestrian. Not counting the bowl game in which he was average. Agree on paper he’s the best since Wilson.
 
Packinatl said:
Never said you anointed him a savior but when you look around social media it’s out there. Mertz will be #2 on the depth chart going into week 1, then it comes down to can Cohn win games. The other 2 guys are just well guys. Cohn was very good at Purdue but other than that pedestrian. Not counting the bowl game in which he was average. Agree on paper he’s the best since Wilson.
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They(Expectations) are way way out of line. Mertz played 4A ball in Kansas... that would be Division 3 in WI. Yeah he had great numbers but the competition was just meh ( Watched several of his games).

Regardless they have a sub par group of WR that struggle vs Man coverage. Unless someone steps up it will be 7-8 in the box and force pass all season again. Won't matter who the QB is at that point.
 
I agree the expectations are a little high on Mertz, but these days, these kids are exposed to more than their high school team/ball. National camps and all-star games are just the start for these top-level type kids. Doesn't mean he's ready, but he might be a little more advanced that the average kid playing that level of HS ball.

I suspect they will try to red-shirt him, but with the new RS rules they will try to get him some meaningful game experience and if he plays strong maybe they burn the red-shirt. If he's good enough to start as a frosh, he won't stay beyond his RS junior season anyway. Realistically though, I think he plays in a few games this year and then gets his full 4 years after this.

Also agree that he won't be the difference maker if they don't improve their WR play.
 
Whether anybody likes it or not he has been appointed the saviour.

His high school coach says he will lead Bucky to a National Championship.

This is what I know, there is video of him hitting receivers in stride
 
Keg Man said:
Whether anybody likes it or not he has been appointed the saviour.

His high school coach says he will lead Bucky to a National Championship.

This is what I know, there is video of him hitting receivers in stride
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His footwork for someone coming out of HS is amazingly good. His release point is nearly totally in line with what's coached at the pro level. He sees the field in front of him, and seemed to have the instincts to throw to a person before they were open in the all star game. None of it is a guarantee, but like you said, he's been pointed out as the guy who's going to give them the passing arm that may be noticed by the kids out there who want to go to a school that's not afraid to throw the ball.

Right now, Wisconsin is considered a pure running team, and the hype out of Madison is intended to send a message to WRs who want to make a name for themselves, that they're going to take to the air as well as on the ground. It's a smart message, and one that I give the staff a lot of credit for sending. We may well see some WRs out of places like Florida, deciding it's worth the trip.
 
The hype is from fans, and my guess is 80% have never seen him throw a pass or understand what level he played in HS. That’s social media for you. The UW beat guys have been very reserved and realistic to this point and concede that while he had his moments in spring he had his struggles also. Let’s be realistic this is not a Trevor Lawrence type, at least not today.

As to recruiting that an ongoing issue. Even when Beilema has a pipeline in Florida we got zero skill kids out of the state. And for multiple reasons with academics being a major one and also kids have 5 in state programs that are more attractive than UW
 
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