Wisconsin Football Not Just Changing Offenses, but Its Entire Identity

Wisconsin football underwent a significant shift in offensive identity this offseason under the direction of new head coach Luke Fickell. New offensive coordinator Phil Longo started implementing an air raid spread scheme this spring, emphasizing spreading the ball around the field and getting athletes in open space.

This new offense represents a departure from the team’s longstanding traditional power running game, which focused on controlling the clock and wearing down opposing defenses with their mauling offensive line.

Longo, who joined the coaching staff in January, brings a wealth of experience running high-powered offenses, having previously served as the offensive coordinator at Ole Miss and Sam Houston State.

His approach is fluid to take advantage of the team’s strengths, which include a talented group of transfer quarterbacks and a strong running back tandem in Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi.

Over the last four seasons, the Tar Heels, under Longo, led the ACC with 197.5 rushing yards per game and ranked second in the conference with 102 rushing scores. Through the air, North Carolina’s offense led the ACC in passing yards (14,781), passing touchdowns (131), and passer rating (161.6) during his tenure. In total, the Tar Heels produced five 1,000-yard rushers and five 1,000-yard receivers over the last four years.

So there’s plenty of production to go around.

How Longo’s Scheme Differs From the Traditional Wisconsin Football Offense

The air raid spread scheme Wisconsin football will run is predicated on the idea of stretching the field horizontally and vertically, with multiple receivers running routes at varying depths. This allows the quarterback to quickly identify openings in the defense and exploit them with accurate and timely throws. The offense also relies heavily on tempo to keep the opposing defense off balance and prevent them from making substitutions, which is a far cry from what Badgers fans are used to.

While the shift in offensive identity may take some time to fully take hold, there are already signs that it is paying dividends for Wisconsin football. The Badgers have higher-level quarterbacks from outside our usual recruiting grounds that have committed to the program. UW also brought in several talented pass catchers and formed arguably the deepest WR room in my lifetime.

Of course, there are also risks involved in this approach. The air raid spread scheme can be high-risk and high-reward, with turnovers and stalled drives a potential concern. However, Longo has emphasized taking what the defense gives the offense rather than forcing the issue.

Overall, the shift to the air raid spread scheme represents an exciting new chapter for Wisconsin football. While it may take some time for the team to fully adapt to the new approach, the potential rewards are significant, including a more dynamic and explosive offense that can compete with the best teams in the country.

Why Wisconsin Football is the Most Underrated Program in the Country

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