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Mehlhaff gets fresh start in UFL
MADISON — Out of Aberdeen Central High School in 2004, Taylor Mehlhaff was the top-ranked kicker in the nation, just ahead of current New Orleans Saints kicker Garrett Hartley. After four years at Wisconsin, Mehlhaff was the first kicker taken in the 2008 NFL Draft, as the Saints made him their sixth-round pick at No. 178 overall.
After three games with New Orleans that included a missed field goal and a missed extra-point attempt, Mehlhaff found himself without a job. Shortly after the 2008 season he signed with the Minnesota Vikings, but Mehlhaff was cut before the start of the season.
Following a year out of football in which he started Taylor Mehlhaff Kicking LLC, which runs camps for aspiring kickers, Mehlhaff now finds himself back in the game. For the 2010 season, Mehlhaff signed with the Hartford Colonials of the UFL, earning one of five starting kicking positions in the league.
Between strategy meetings last week, BadgerBlitz.com caught up with the former Badger. The following is a question and answer with Mehlhaff.
How’s it feel to be back on the football field in the UFL?
Mehlhaff: It’s been good, man. It’s a little bit different than the NFL in certain aspects of it, but really, I’ve really enjoyed it. The talent that’s here, the people that are playing, are guys that have been in and out of the NFL. The Omaha team probably has the most veterans; there’s guys that have been Pro Bowl guys and all of a sudden you get released or you get hurt and everyone’s trying to get back in the NFL.
There’s really a lot of talent. When you get some of these younger guys that get released, practices almost seem — especially in training camp — like guys are competing so hard because guys are hungry, they’re trying to get back in the NFL. Whereas, in the NFL, it’s just guys at times seem like they go through the motions.
It’s the same thing with the coaches too. The coaches have all been in the NFL and for whatever reason, their units didn’t perform well and now they’re down here. They’re all trying to get back in the NFL as well. So it’s kind of a thing where everybody is trying to reprove themselves a little bit.
How did you end up finding yourself on the Hartford roster this season?
Mehlhaff: You know, it was tough trying to get this because the way you look at it is, if you’re not one of the 32 guys in the NFL, basically these are the next five spots. There’s five teams here, and as far as the Canadian league goes, this is a much better situation than that because the amount of crossover between guys coaching in the NFL and UFL. Moneywise, this was also a much better situation than the Canadian league.
So, if you’re a free agent kicker out there, everyone was fighting to be one of these five guys. I was brought in with workouts for different teams, performed well and was able to get an opportunity here with the Colonials. So really, I feel pretty blessed and fortunate to get an opportunity with these guys.
This league really important for everybody here trying to get back in the NFL, but even more so than any other position, it’s a great opportunity for a kicker or punter because come late November when our season is done, there are going to be plenty of NFL teams out there where either the kicker or punter gets hurt or guys are struggling like you saw last year in the NFL.
An NFL team would much rather sign one of the five guys in this league that are playing week in and week out, practicing every single day, than sign a guy off the street. Last year, there were four kickers in the UFL, two of the four are in the NFL right now: the Redskins kicker [Graham Gano] and the Falcons kicker [Matt Bryant]. It’s a great opportunity for a kicker or punter.
Did you have any kind of options in the NFL before signing with Hartford?
Mehlhaff: I did. I heard from several teams throughout the NFL but for me, I didn’t want to go in and just be a camp leg, and sit behind a veteran knowing that I’m not going to be the guy. In this stage of my career right now, I need to be playing, after I was released by New Orleans, I had my preseason games with the Vikings, but I needed to get a full season under my belt where I could prove to teams that, ‘Hey, you can trust me as a field goal guy.’
So I wanted to get into this league and prove myself in a full season in a developmental league. But actually, the day we reported here, Seattle tried getting me to go there because Olindo Mare had just tweaked a groin or something like that. They tried signing me for the preseason games.
The way I looked at it was, I could go there and hopefully do well, perform well and get an opportunity if maybe another team picks me up after they release me, or I could stay here and keep working my butt off and try to have a great season and then hopefully there will be multiple opportunities. And I’m glad I stayed.
What would you say are the best and worst aspects of the UFL?
Mehlhaff: Well, just naturally, the UFL doesn’t have the budget that the NFL does. When you’re in the NFL, you’re taken care of so well. Here, it’s not like that. They put us up in a hotel, they pay for our living and food and everything, which is nice. But just little things like not having our own locker room, we’re at a hotel, so we kind of have a big convention room as our locker room.
When we go over to practice, we have a beautiful FieldTurf field that we practice on, but on days that it rains, you can’t go inside in the bubble or you can’t go in the indoor facility. In the NFL, all those things you kind of just take for granted, all those things are just kind of there for you. Whereas here, you’re kind of more on your own with stuff. At practice, when I’m warming up, I’m shagging my own footballs because we don’t have 15 equipment guys that are helping out with everything.
But I feel so fortunate to be doing this. I get to make a living going and playing football, so when the meals aren’t as good or when things aren’t quite like you’re used to, sometimes you’ve just got to look at it like, ‘Man, are you kidding me? I get to go out here and workout and kick a football for a couple hours and that’s the way I make a living.’
On the positive side, everything’s maybe just a little bit more laid back than in the NFL setting. The schedule is only eight weeks as well, with a couple bye weeks in there, so it’s nice. It’s easy to take care of your body. I’ve enjoyed this area too with Hartford, Conn., being right between Boston and New York.
You’ve said it’s everyone’s goal, but just to be clear, is your goal to get back to the NFL?
Mehlhaff: Oh yeah, definitely. For me, I think I look at it and why everyone is here, whether it’s coaches or players, everyone’s goal is to get back in the NFL. I feel like if you take care of business week in and week out, day in and day out in practice, if you have a solid season here, I think there will be plenty of opportunities that present themselves at the next level.
Every team sees every single one of our games and practices. Teams are paying attention, I know that because I’ve talked to some of the teams and they’ve said, ‘We’re going to be keeping an eye on you.’ So, you just worry about taking care of business here, and that’s why I didn’t jump on the Seattle opportunity.
I feel like this is what I have to do to reprove myself again. I think I’ve gotten better, and it’s been good for me to develop a little bit more here.
Are you still planning on doing the kicking camps?
Mehlhaff: Oh yeah, absolutely. Every single week I get a handful of e-mails from parents and kids asking about private lessons, so that’s definitely something that I’ll do in the offseason throughout the winter and spring and summer. I’ll do quite a few camps again as well as private lessons.
It went really well last year, I was actually surprised. Between my camps and private lessons, I probably saw over 200 kids, which really is pretty awesome. I’ve heard nothing but good things from the parents and the students.
It’s something that I enjoy doing, and I think it’s made me a better kicker as well, because when I’m sitting here, breaking these kids’ techniques down, it helps me hold myself accountable. It’s like mental practice for me.
What is the process like if an NFL team were to have interest in you?
Mehlhaff: If an NFL team wanted you bad enough, they can pay out, I think it’s $150,000, and they can grab us from our teams. Say some random team calls and says, ‘Hey, we need Taylor right now,’ and that could happen, they could let you go. But I don’t think that’s something that will really happen.
It’s a yearly contract here, and to be honest, if I could play here for years, I really would. I hope this league does a great job and continues to build. It’s supposed to expand to I think eight or 10 teams next year. I would love to play in this league as long as I can. If an NFL opportunity doesn’t present itself again, I would love to play here for sure.
How does the pressure in the UFL compare for you as a kicker to what you faced in the NFL and in college at Wisconsin?
Mehlhaff: For me, as a kicker, it’s always the same just because, at the professional level, you’re expected to make kicks. That’s the bottom line. Maybe it’s not the exact same pressure as it is in the NFL because there’s not as much money involved, but the bottom line is, if I want to get to the next level, I expect myself to be perfect.
I don’t think I feel any different when I walk out on the field here than I did when I was with New Orleans or at Wisconsin.
Clay, Bielema focused on offensive line before OSU
MADISON — Standing behind John Clay with his helmet off Saturday, you’d see the following numbers in his head: 68, 74, 66, 70 and 58. Lining up in the Wisconsin backfield, Clay sees the same set of numbers every time he takes the ball.
It took Clay about 20 minutes of work in the barbershop to show his appreciation for what his teammates do. Within the game’s first five minutes, Clay was thanking them again.
Clay burst through a big hole created by the Wisconsin offensive line and rushed 14 yards for the touchdown. Less than 12 minutes of game time later, Clay found the end zone again. As the Badgers led 21-0 over the No. 1 team in the nation, hard work by Clay and the offensive line paid off in a big way.
“He practiced as hard as I’ve ever seen him practice and really executed ball security, and he gave the tribute to the five offensive linemen, shaving their numbers in his head,” UW head coach Bret Bielema said of Clay. “It was a way of John saying, ‘I respect what you guys have done.’ His success is a lot about what they do, so again, just a good example of team chemistry.”
Wisconsin’s offensive line guided Clay to 104 yards rushing on 21 carries, as well as those two first half touchdowns.
Afterward, as he does after every game, Clay credited his success to the hard work up front by Peter Konz, John Moffitt, Gabe Carimi, Kevin Zeitler and Ricky Wagner.
“I just told them they’ve been working hard for me all week and this whole year, so I told them I’d do something special when the big game came,” Clay said. “It worked out in a good way.”
With the Badgers facing one of the toughest defensive lines in the country in Ohio State, Clay was not the only one focused on the offensive line this week.
Knowing the battle in the trenches could very easily determine the outcome of the game against the top-ranked Buckeyes, the head coach looked to give his front five a little added motivation.
“I did challenge them,” Bielema said. “I don’t do that very often as a head coach. I don’t want to set kids up for failure. If I do something like that, it’s usually that I have a really strong belief that it’s going to come through.
“Everybody made a big deal about the 29 games that Ohio State had played without a 100-yard rusher. I threw it in those guys’ faces all week. I threw it at our running backs, but it all starts up front for us. For us to have success, we have to play well at the offensive line.”
Konz, Moffitt, Carimi, Zeitler and Wagner answered the challenge in a big way. Not only did they pave the way for Clay to become the first opposing player in 30 games to rush for 100 yards or more against OSU, they also kept their quarterback upright.
Attempting 16 passes on the day, Scott Tolzien was not sacked a single time. But did the offensive line need to challenged?
“I don’t know. I mean, that’s a good question,” Moffitt answered. “We play our game and we always try to play our game. Obviously, when the head coach calls you out, you just have to raise the bar, and I think that’s what we did.
“It feels great. We did the right things and we won the game.”
Fans flood field after upset victory
MADISON — Pandemonium.
That was the consensus description of the scene on the field at Camp Randall Stadium after the Badgers’ 31-18 win over No. 1 Ohio State. And why shouldn’t it have been?
Despite repeated warnings not to do so, fans poured onto the playing surface as the clock wound to zero, mobbing the 18th-ranked Wisconsin football team as it secured its biggest win in recent program history.
Within minutes, the green field turf was replaced by a sea of red.
“I’ll remember how quickly that thing can fill up,” Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. “Mark Taurisani, my office guy, told me, ‘If they rush the field, go out the far tunnel,’ and I’m like, ‘Well, you better tell everybody else the same thing.’ We hadn’t exactly gone through an evacuation plan.”
Without any briefing on what to expect after such a momentous victory, a number of players found themselves in precarious situations, surrounded by classmates and alumni.
With the Badgers defeating the nation’s No. 1 team for the first time since 1981 and the fourth time in school history, everybody wanted to be a part of the big moment.
“It’s so much excitement and so much joy,” free safety Aaron Henry said. “Coming into this game, we knew what to expect. I know a lot of people on the outside looking in, they didn’t really give us a chance, and that’s fine. As long as the core group of guys in that locker room believe in each other man, the sky’s the limit.”
Before the game, the Badgers were a picture of quiet intensity, according to Bielema and other players who recalled their teammates showing a surprising, but intense, calmness.
Afterward, as Camp Randall exploded in excitement, the Badgers celebrated their first win over Ohio State in the Bielema era.
“That was nuts,” said linebacker Blake Sorensen, who had a big late-game interception. “It was a big win for the team and the fans as well. That was huge. The last I saw the goal post was rocking back and forth when I left. It was awesome.”
Five things to watch: Ohio State
MADISON — Top-ranked Ohio State is in town, and they brought ESPN College GameDay along with them. For the third straight time dating back to 2003, the Buckeyes and Badgers will play under the lights at Camp Randall Stadium.
The stage has been set, and all eyes are on Madison tonight. Only one question remains: Will 18th-ranked Wisconsin raise to the occasion, or crumble under the pressure?
Before things kick off at Camp Randall tonight, BadgerBlitz.com offers a number of things to watch during today’s game, as well as a prediction.
1. Strength versus strength
Wisconsin has one of the best offensive lines in the nation. Ohio State has gotten similar recognition for its front four on defense. When it comes down to it, the winner in the trenches will likely be the winner on the scoreboard as well.
Last year, Cameron Heyward and the Buckeyes got the best of John Moffitt, Gabe Carimi and UW offense. Six times OSU got through to sack quarterback Scott Tolzien. Two more times, the Ohio State pressure in the back field forced bad throws from Tolzien, which resulted in pick sixes.
If Moffitt, Carimi and Peter Konz can limit the effectiveness of Heyward, Brian Rolle and the Buckeyes defense, it will go a long way toward a Wisconsin victory. If not, Tolzien and the Badgers will be in for a long night.
2. Pryor focus
Two of the most impressive drives of Terrelle Pryor‘s career have come against the Badgers. The last thing J.J. Watt and the Wisconsin defense want is to let him add a third to his highlight reel.
UW shut down the duel threat quarterback effectively in two prior meetings, but he still managed a big scoring drive in each game that made an impact. As head coach Bret Bielema has emphasized since the Michigan State loss, even one or two poor plays for the Wisconsin defense could be the difference.
Defensive coordinator Dave Doeren and the Badgers will no doubt look to force Pryor’s teammates to beat them. If they keep Pryor quiet, the home team could come out on top.
3. Embrace the hype
For most of the players on the Wisconsin sideline, this will be the biggest game of their careers so far. The Buckeyes, on the other hand, are no strangers to the national spotlight.
Aside from three straight losses to OSU, the Badgers have enjoyed some success against the Buckeyes this decade. UW won three straight in Columbus before losing the last two, and they’ve given them all they can handle in Madison.
Last time the Buckeyes visited, a last-minute scoring drive combined with a game-ending interception tipped the scales in Ohio State’s favor. In 2003, the Badgers came up with the big score late. A year earlier, the Buckeyes needed an interception to seal a close victory late.
If the Badgers can embrace the hype without letting it get the best of them, they should have all the motivation needed to rise to the occasion.
4. Special delivery
Last year, both the Badgers and Buckeyes scored a touchdown on special teams. For UW, it was Chris Maragos’ 9-yard run for the near pylon on a second-quarter fake field goal. For OSU, it was a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
The chances of a game-changing touchdown coming on special teams are better than usual. Wisconsin’s coverage unit continues to have fans holding their breath every time Philip Welch boots the ball down field. With Ohio State boasting the conference’s best return average, things could get interesting.
Of course, the Buckeyes aren’t real strong on kick coverage either. With the skills of James White, David Gilreath and the potential shown by Aaron Henry, special teams could provide some fireworks on national television.
5. Clay, Kendricks, Toon
As they handed it to Minnesota last week and retained Paul Bunyan’s Axe for the seventh straight year, the Badgers got their three-headed offensive attack working as well as it has all season. When John Clay, Lance Kendricks and Nick Toon all get rolling, the Wisconsin offense becomes near impossible to stop.
Clay tallied 69 yards on just 10 carries against Ohio State in 2008, but managed just 59 yards on 20 carries a year ago. If his offensive line can withstand the Buckeyes’ pressure attack to open up some holes, the Badgers could get things rolling.
But while Clay’s effectiveness will have some impact on the outcome, the key for the UW offense will be getting Tolzien in rhythm with Kendricks and Toon. If the passing game can be effective, it will open things up for Clay and White.
Schelling’s prediction
More than any game this season, this is one I’ve gone back and forth on all week. Immediately following last week’s win, I had the Badgers by nine. Two days later, Buckeyes by three sounded pretty good.
It’s hard to bet against the No. 1 team in the nation, even in a hostile environment at Camp Randall. But it’s equally hard to expect a team that’s 40-4 at home since 2004 to go down in front it’s home crowd.
This is a must-win for the Wisconsin, and even more so for Bielema, who has yet to add a signature win to his coaching resume. For that reason, I’m taking Wisconsin to win, 24-20.
Revisiting recent Buckeye battles
MADISON – Over their past five matchups, the Badgers and Buckeyes have put together a number of thrilling battles. With top-ranked Ohio State coming to town to battle No. 18 Wisconsin in front of a national television audience, BadgerBlitz.com takes a minute to revisit some recent tilts in the rivalry.
No. 3 Ohio State at No. 23 Wisconsin
Date: Oct. 11, 2003
Final Score: 17-10 Wisconsin
Key players:
-Lee Evans – One reception, 79 yards, one touchdown
-Matt Schabert – 105 yards passing, one touchdown, 467.87 rating
-Craig Krenzel – 202 yards passing, one touchdown, one interception
Quick recap:
The defending national champion Buckeyes came into Camp Randall Stadium looking to extend their winning streak to 20 games before a raucous crowd of 79,793 on a chilly, rainy October night.
Backup quarterback Matt Schabert and Lee Evans made sure that wouldn’t happen.
After Ohio State cornerback Chris Gamble had shut down Evans, the Big Ten’s leading receiver, throughout the first 55 minutes of the game. With 5:20 remaining in the game, Schabert and Evans struck for a 79-yard touchdown down the Buckeyes’ sideline for the game-winner.
Schabert had just two previous touchdown passes in his career, but the junior was forced into action when Jim Sorgi was injured at the bottom of a pile in the third quarter.
After Robert Reynolds had shoved his fingers into Sorgi’s throat, it made it difficult for the UW signal caller to swallow and impossible to call out plays. Schabert made the most of his opportunity, completing two of three passes, including the 79-yard strike to Evans.
Wisconsin’s defense effectively limited the Buckeyes offense all night, holding them to just 271 total yards, including only 69 yards rushing.
No. 15 Wisconsin at No. 18 Ohio State
Date: Oct. 9, 2004
Final Score: 24-13 Wisconsin
Key players:
-Anthony Davis – 168 rushing yards, 39 carries, one touchdown
-Ted Ginn Jr. – 72 all-purpose yards, 65-yard punt return touchdown
-John Stocco – 160 yards passing, two touchdowns
Quick recap:
One year after snapping the Buckeyes’ 19-game winning streak, the Badgers ended Ohio State’s streak of 18 consecutive home wins. With the 24-13 victory, Wisconsin also extended its winning streak to three straight at Ohio Stadium.
Trailing 10-0 early, the Badgers kicked their offense into gear, outscoring the Buckeyes 24-3 the rest of the way, due in large part to the impressive performance of the UW defense.
Defensively, the Badgers sacked OSU quarterback Justin Zwick five times, while forcing and recovering a pair of fumbles. Defensive end Erasmus James led the way with six tackles, two for loss, and a sack.
Brett Bell and Jim Leonhard also added six tackles apiece, while Leonhard added one pass breakup and Bell forced a fumble.
While the stingy Wisconsin defense shut down Ohio State, it was running back Anthony Davis that stole the show. Davis rushed for 168 yards, including a 31-yard scamper in the second quarter that put UW on the board and turned the game in Bucky’s favor.
Wisconsin at No. 1 Ohio State
Date: Nov. 3, 2007
Final Score: 38-17 Ohio State
Key players:
-Beanie Wells – 169 rushing yards, 21 carries, three touchdowns
-Travis Beckum – nine receptions, 140 receiving yards, one touchdown
-James Laurinaitis – 19 tackles, two for loss, fumble recovery, one sack
Quick recap:
Three years removed from their last trip to Columbus, the Badgers entered Ohio Stadium riding a three-game winning streak there. Top-ranked Ohio State had won 19 straight Big Ten contests.
Thanks to a second-half offensive explosion, the Buckeyes extended that streak to a Big Ten record 20 consecutive conference victories.
With just over 21 minutes to play and the Badgers leading 17-10, the Buckeyes finally played like the nation’s No. 1 team, reeling off 28 unanswered points to put the game away. After Beanie Wells and the OSU offense had been effectively limited for nearly three quarters, Wells scored three touchdowns and quarterback Brian Robiskie added one of his own.
Until that point, Wisconsin put together an impressive showing, especially considering the absence of No. 1 running back P.J. Hill. Trailing 10-3 at the half, quarterback Tyler Donovan led the Badgers to quick scores on each of their first two possessions of the third quarter with touchdown passes to Travis Beckum and Chris Pressley.
That turned out to be all the Badgers had in them, however, and the top-ranked Buckeyes cruised to victory the rest of the way.
No. 14 Ohio State at No. 18 Wisconsin
Date: Oct. 4, 2008
Final Score: 20-17 Ohio State
Key players:
-Terrelle Pryor – 144 passing yards, 20 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown
-Beanie Wells – 168 rushing yards, 22 carries, one touchdown
-Jay Valai – seven tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles
Quick recap:
Another night game at Camp Randall, another Ohio State-Wisconsin classic. Unfortunately for the home fans, the 2008 version went in the Buckeyes’ favor, thanks to Terrelle Pryor.
In a fitting payback for OSU, the Badgers’ 16-game home winning streak was snapped as the 19-year-old Pryor led Ohio State on two fourth-quarter scoring drives. After an early fourth-quarter field goal gave OSU a 13-10 lead, Wisconsin answered with a P.J. Hill touchdown, putting the Badgers up 17-13 with six minutes remaining.
That was more than enough for Pryor.
Utilizing his skills as both a passer and runner, Pryor hit Brian Hartline twice for big gains, but kept the ball for himself when the time came for the game-winning play. Running an option with Wells out wide, Pryor took it into the end zone with just over a minute left, giving the Buckeyes the 20-17 victory.
As the Badgers looked to get within field goal range and send the game to overtime, OSU cornerback Malcolm Jenkins sealed it, intercepting Allan Evridge on the first play of the drive.
Wisconsin at No. 9 Ohio State
Date: Oct. 10, 2009
Final Score: 31-13 Ohio State
Key players:
-Kurt Coleman – 14 tackles, 89-yard interception return touchdown
-Jermale Hines – 11 tackles, 32-yard interception return touchdown
-Ray Small – 119 all-purpose yards, 96-yard kickoff return touchdown
Quick recap:
The numbers didn’t add up. Wisconsin outplayed Ohio State in all facets of the game at Ohio Stadium a year ago, but thanks to two defensive touchdowns and a special teams score, the Buckeyes left with a big win.
Take those three mistakes away and a 31-13 loss turns into a 13-10 victory for the Badgers.
Ohio State scored first, turning what looked to be a Badgers scoring drive into an 89-yard touchdown the other way as he picked off an errant throw by a heavily-pressured Scott Tolzien. Early in the second quarter though, the Badgers answered in a big way.
As kicker Philip Welch lined up for a 26-yard attempt, the Badgers got the look they had hoped for, and senior captain Chris Maragos took the snap as holder and sprinted for the goal line. Stretching the ball out as he dove out of bounds, Maragos broke the plane, tying the game at seven apiece and electrifying the visitors sideline.
Over the final 40 minutes of the game, however, the Badgers would add just a pair of Welch field goals. The Buckeyes took a 14-10 lead into the half thanks to a Terrelle Pryor touchdown pass and extended that lead with another interception return for a touchdown, a kickoff return touchdown and a field goal.
Focused on stopping Pryor
MADISON — Twenty-two teams since 2008 have seen first-hand just how good Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor can be. Only four have left victorious.
All of those teams — aside from Purdue last season — were ranked in the top three of the AP poll: No. 3 Penn State in 2008, No. 3 Texas in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl, No. 1 USC in 2008, and No. 3 USC in 2009.
Not surprisingly, Pryor struggled in each of those five losses, especially when he looked to escape the pocket and run with the ball. On 66 attempts, Pryor picked up just 194 rushing yards, for 2.93 yards per carry.
In the Buckeyes’ 27 wins since he arrived on campus, Pryor has rushed for 1604 yards on 289 carries for a 5.55 average. Two of those wins came against the Wisconsin Badgers, but those were games in which Pryor did not run particularly well.
“The offense is ran around No. 2,” free safety Aaron Henry said. “So we feel like if we can contain No. 2 and make sure No. 2 doesn’t beat us, then we’re going to force other guys to make plays.
“We’re going to go out there and do our best as we can to contain him, but we’re also going to try to go out there and make those other guys make plays.”
In two games against Wisconsin, the 6-foot-6 quarterback has rushed for 55 yards on 25 carries for a 2.2 yard average. Though they’ve shown an ability to shut him down defensively, the Badgers know as well as anyone what kind of impact Pryor can have on a game with his legs.
Last year at Ohio Stadium, the Buckeyes’ only offensive touchdown came late in the first half wound down, as the Buckeyes drove 88 yards in 72 seconds, to take a 14-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The drive began and ended on big plays, both of which involved Pryor. The touchdown was scored on an impressive 32-yard toss by Pryor to wide receiver DeVier Posey, but the first play of the drive was the one that set everything in motion.
“I was chasing down on the back side, I needed to go to the upfield shoulder, and I went to the near shoulder,” said defensive end J.J. Watt, who put the blame on himself a year ago. “Obviously that’s going to hurt you big time, and it did.
“He makes quick cuts and I’m 290 pounds, I don’t make as quick of cuts as he does. He beat me on that play. That’s for sure.”
As a freshman, Pryor had an even bigger impact in his first visit to Camp Randall Stadium.
In a game that was also played under the lights, Pryor led the Buckeyes down the field on two fourth-quarter scoring drives, using both his arm and legs. With 1:08 remaining in the game, Pryor found the end zone from 11 yards out for the game-winning touchdown.
On that play, Pryor and the Buckeyes took advantage of some confusion on the defensive side, snapping the ball quickly and catching the Badgers off guard just enough for the score.
“Once again, he used those feet of his,” Valai said. “His feet are what makes him go. He’s doing a great job passing this year, but his legs are what make Terrelle Pryor a Heisman candidate.
“For every two steps, he’s taking about six yards.”
With those two game-changing plays in mind, the Badgers know they’ll have their hands full this week against the Buckeyes’ signal caller.
While the Wisconsin defense has demonstrated an ability to limit Pryor’s effectiveness as a duel threat quarterback, his ability as a passer, as noted by Valai, has drawn a lot more national attention this season.
Through six games, Pryor has completed 104 of 153 passes for 1,349 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions. His 170.5 passer rating is more than 40 points better than a year ago and a better than 25-point improvement on his career rating.
But does Pryor’s improvement as a passer mean the Buckeyes have become a pass-first team?
“They’re Pryor first, whether run or pass,” Valai said. “They may drop into pass, but Pryor may turn the edge. You’ve just got to respect him either way, and that’s what makes them a great offense, because you’ve got to play the run and play the pass equally.”
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