People who wanted to see Wisconsin (0-1 Big Ten, 3-2 overall) junior running back James White and redshirt freshman running back Melvin Gordon in the backfield more often last weekend against Nebraska may have their wish come true Saturday against Illinois (0-1, 2-3).
Badgers’ head coach Bret Bielema said Thursday that the coaching staff actually had a 25-15-10 split in touches among senior Montee Ball, White and Gordon, respectively, even before the season started and that the coaching staff was working toward reaching that goal.
“That (split has) been out there for a little bit,” he said. “We haven’t come close to hitting that yet, but it’s something that’s there.”
Ball and the offensive line simply could not get anything going when the run game was needed most in the second half last Saturday. After a Ball touchdown to go up 27-10 in the third quarter, everyone was expecting a healthy mix of the three to run down the clock like the team has been so capable of doing in past seasons.
Bielema did say that the split would have been different last weekend, but the three-and-outs after halftime made the task difficult.
“[Running backs coach] Thomas [Hammock] and I had a good discussion,” Bielema said. “The last game we just didn’t have a lot of extended drives in the second half. That was a major part of it.
“I think Thomas has got a good plan now of how to incorporate not just James, but Melvin into the rotation.”
Saturday appears to be a favorable opportunity for the Badgers to climb out of the cellar in both rushing and passing offense in the Big Ten. The Badgers rank dead last in both passing yards per game and rushing yards per game at 183.6 and 125.6, respectively.
Illinois has given up a mediocre 27.6 points per game on defense and has turned the ball over nine times over its past two games.
The matchup also gives the Wisconsin defense its best shot of forcing their first interception of the season.
Illinois junior signal-caller Nathan Scheelhaase has been hampered by an injury since week one and Bielema said fifth-year senior safety Shelton Johnson has a chance of seeing action.
“I don’t know if he’ll start the game, but [Shelton] is there for us if we need him,” Bielema said.
Scheelhaase has thrown four interceptions to just two touchdowns and missed the second and third games of the season.
Considering his ankle injury that he suffered in the third quarter of the Fighting Illini’s season opener, the Badgers’ secondary can expect a heavier dose of pass plays Saturday, which will most likely be a sigh of relief to them after having Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez use his legs to lead four-straight scoring drives in the second half last Saturday.
“It’s a little bit of guys stepping into new roles,” Bielema said of the defensive struggles.
Bielema also said defensive linemen Brendan Kelly, a fifth-year senior, and Pat Muldoon, a redshirt junior, should be able to play, though Muldoon will be wearing a club.
Despite the heartbreaking loss last weekend, Bielema said the team had a bit of pep in their step throughout the week.
“I thought during the course of the week the guys snapped in really well.”
