Introduction to the Wisconsin Football Team’s Dairy Raid Offense

It’s time to start a new series that, if I was a better-focused content creator, would have started the whole channel. Welcome to the Introduction to the Wisconsin Badgers football team’s Dairy Raid Offense.

I am your instructor, Ryan Andersen, and today we will outline the course and look ahead to the topics we will cover. The series aims to break down Phil Longo’s concepts in the Badgers offense.

We’ll break it down step by step, going chapter by chapter as we progress through the offense, starting from the basics.

Prologue – Under Center vs. Shotgun

Chapter 1 – Base Passing Concepts

Chapter 2 – Check-downs & Screens

Chapter 3 – Inside Zone

Chapter 4 – Outside Zone

Chapter 5 – Power

Chapter 6 – Package Plays

Final Thoughts

To get things started, we’ll talk about the age-old debate between operating under center vs. shotgun. I want to explain why being in the gun is advantageous for the offense and not the disadvantage so many people think it is.

Don’t worry; I have visual aids to support the discussion.

The Wisconsin Football Passing Game

In the first chapter, the focus is on explaining the fundamental passing concepts of Wisconsin football offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s Dairy Raid offense. We’ll discuss route concepts like the mesh, cross, spot, and verts. To illustrate these concepts, I’ll break down route progressions and footwork while showing them in season.

In Chapter 2, the discussion will shift to screens and check-downs, highlighting their significance as extensions of the run game and effective methods for advancing the ball in situations where turnovers or incomplete passes are likely outcomes.

The Badgers Running Game

Chapter 3 will focus on the inside zone scheme. Providing a detailed analysis of its nuances, including additional tags and adjustments designed to improve its efficiency.

Chapter 4 will delve further into the run game by examining the outside zone. As a versatile and all-encompassing run scheme, the outside zone provides coaches with a foundational strategy for structuring their offense.

We’ll conclude our look at the Dairy Raid running game in Chapter 5 with a look at the power scheme. With so many variations, such as guard lead, guard power kick out, GT lead, and GH lead, it is the closest marriage between old-school Wisconsin Badgers football and a new-school mentality.

Bringing it All Together

Moving on from the run game in Chapter 6, we’ll answer the question, “What is a package play?” Run/Pass options, pass/pass options, access throws, etc. It is a concept where, by design, the defense can never be right.

We’ll wrap everything up with some final thoughts and a look ahead to the 2024 Wisconsin football season. By the series’ end, my goal is for you, the viewer, to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanics of the offense. Your Badger Saturdays will hopefully never be the same!

Oh, and by the way, please be sure to take notes because there will be an exam at the end of the course, and it’s worth 50% of your total grade.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. For more Wisconsin Badgers Athletics and Big Ten content, follow us on Twitter & Facebook. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Also, follow Ryan Andersen on X @TheDairyRaid for more Wisconsin football content. 

Also, be sure to check out our shop, subscribe to our newsletter, and the BadgerNotes After Dark podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. Because of your support, we have become one of the fastest-growing independent media outlets focused on giving a voice to the fans!