Wisconsin Football & New Look Air Raid Offense Searching For Balance

For Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin football team, finding the right balance between running and passing in the Badgers’ new air raid offense will be the difference in unlocking their full potential.

Promising flashes, tantalizing potential, and the ongoing pursuit of equilibrium have marked the Wisconsin Badgers‘ transition into the spread offense through two weeks.

Although Wisconsin’s play-calling breakdown reflects a 53/47 split in favor of the passing game, finding an in-game balance between the two will be paramount.

A Tale of Two Games For Wisconsin Football 

The 2023 season opener against Buffalo unveiled a Badgers team that seemed content to keep the wheels of their ground game churning.

Wisconsin football tailbacks ran for an impressive 318 yards on 40 carries, showcasing their prowess in the rushing department. Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi stole the show and highlighted what they could do without seeing a stacked box on every down.

While efficient, quarterback Tanner Mordecai threw for just 189 yards on 31 attempts for a meager 6.1 yards per attempt, a reflection of their run-heavy approach and a passing game centered around quick hitters.

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— Badgers Film Clips (@Badgers_Film) September 4, 2023

However, the second game against Washington State presented a different narrative for the Badgers offense.

Wisconsin altered its strategy, opting to air it out more frequently when the Cougars took away the run. Mordecai showed what the air raid could look like, throwing for 278 yards on 40 attempts (7.0 YPA). The ground game struggled this time, amassing a mere 90 yards on 29 carries.

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— Badgers Film Clips (@Badgers_Film) September 11, 2023

Each week, we’ve seen an element of the Wisconsin football offense clicking but have yet to get the full spectrum of what a complimentary offense could look like for the Badgers. UW has been one-dimensional thus far.

Close to Clicking: Elements of Success

What these two games reveal is that Wisconsin Football is tantalizingly close to clicking in their transition to the air raid offense. In each contest, components of success have emerged. The Buffalo game highlighted the Badgers’ ability to grind out yards on the ground, showcasing the potency of their running backs when they have room to operate. 

Conversely, the Washington State game demonstrated that the passing game has the potential to become a formidable weapon. With Mordecai under center, he and the new-look receiving corps have enough talent to spread teams out and stretch the field. 

According to Pro Football Focus, Mordecai has completed 21-of-22 passes for 86 yards on throws made behind the line of scrimmage. Additionally, he has completed 18-of-22 passes for 147 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions on short throws from 0-9 yards. Mordcai is also 6-of-12 for 92 yards and a touchdown on throws of 10-19 yards and 4-of-12 for 138 yards with one touchdown on throws of 20-plus yards.

This hasn’t looked like the high-powered offense we were promised yet–but Wisconsin football is getting closer.

Wisconsin Football & Its Pursuit of Balance

While these individual elements are promising, the ultimate goal remains achieving balance. For the Wisconsin Badgers, that means seamlessly marrying the ground and spread components of the air raid offense. 

This offensive transition was never about abandoning the run and throwing 50 times a game. Both components are needed to open up the deep ball. Executing everything from quick hitters to zone runs to screen passes will be critically important. 

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— Badgers Film Clips (@Badgers_Film) September 4, 2023

The formula for success is keeping defenses off-balance, with the threat of both a potent passing attack and a dynamic rushing game. On paper, Wisconsin football has the horses to do exactly that. 

As Wisconsin gears up for its final tune-up game against Georgia Southern before diving into Big Ten play, It provides an opportunity to fine-tune the offense, refine the playbook, and ensure all cylinders are firing in unison.

The journey to equilibrium in their offensive approach may be a challenging one, but it’s well within reach.

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