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Watt continues block party in win
If he’s on the field, it’s a pretty safe bet to expect defensive end J.J. Watt to be wherever the football is.
Between sacks, tackles for loss, forced fumbles and pass break ups, he contributes in as many ways as anyone in a Badgers uniform.
He didn’t break up any passes this week, but that didn’t stop Watt from getting his hands on the ball.
As San Jose State lined up on 4th-and-6 late in the second quarter, Watt got his hands on kicker Harrison Waid’s field goal attempt, sending it offline.
“It seems to be a trend and I’m kind of happy with the trend,” Watt said. “A couple blocked passes last week and then a blocked field goal this week, I’ll take it.”
Coming as no surprise to anyone who knows him, Watt is not satisfied with just his role as defensive end. As evidenced by the field goal block, he is a fixture in the Badgers’ special teams units.
Additionally, Watt was featured at tight end twice Saturday on UW red zone drives. He did not play a major role in the outcome of the plays, but his mere presence shows his willingness to do whatever is needed to help his team win.
“J.J. is an unbelievable competitor,” head coach Bret Bielema said. “Now he thinks he’s a specialist too because he gets to go in on offense.
“I was always concerned that J.J. wasn’t going to be around when we called for that personnel, and he’s practically in the huddle before it’s even said. That’s how much he’s enjoying it.”
As a former tight end, Watt certainly knows his way around the offensive line and, more importantly, the football.
With that in mind, it’s easy to wonder if offensive coordinator Paul Chryst might call Watt’s number at some point this season when he’s on the field. If Chryst were so inclined, Watt would certainly provide quarterback Scott Tolzien with another big, sure-handed target to throw to near the goal line.
True to form, however, Watt is satisfied with simply blocking and drawing the attention of the defense.
“If I score a touchdown, I’d be pretty happy with that,” Watt said. “Right now, I’m just doing anything I can to help the team.”
If he’s on the field, it’s a pretty safe bet to expect defensive end J.J. Watt to be wherever the football is.
Between sacks, tackles for loss, forced fumbles and pass break ups, he contributes in as many ways as anyone in a Badgers uniform.
He didn’t break up any passes this week, but that didn’t stop Watt from getting his hands on the ball.
As San Jose State lined up on 4th-and-6 late in the second quarter, Watt got his hands on kicker Harrison Waid’s field goal attempt, sending it offline.
“It seems to be a trend and I’m kind of happy with the trend,” Watt said. “A couple blocked passes last week and then a blocked field goal this week, I’ll take it.”
Coming as no surprise to anyone who knows him, Watt is not satisfied with just his role as defensive end. As evidenced by the field goal block, he is a fixture in the Badgers’ special teams units.
Additionally, Watt was featured at tight end twice Saturday on UW red zone drives. He did not play a major role in the outcome of the plays, but his mere presence shows his willingness to do whatever is needed to help his team win.
“J.J. is an unbelievable competitor,” head coach Bret Bielema said. “Now he thinks he’s a specialist too because he gets to go in on offense.
“I was always concerned that J.J. wasn’t going to be around when we called for that personnel, and he’s practically in the huddle before it’s even said. That’s how much he’s enjoying it.”
As a former tight end, Watt certainly knows his way around the offensive line and, more importantly, the football.
With that in mind, it’s easy to wonder if offensive coordinator Paul Chryst might call Watt’s number at some point this season when he’s on the field. If Chryst were so inclined, Watt would certainly provide quarterback Scott Tolzien with another big, sure-handed target to throw to near the goal line.
True to form, however, Watt is satisfied with simply blocking and drawing the attention of the defense.
“If I score a touchdown, I’d be pretty happy with that,” Watt said. “Right now, I’m just doing anything I can to help the team.”
Tolzien struggles throughout sloppy win
MADISON – Perhaps the most encouraging thing about the Badgers through two games is the fact that they have yet to play their best football.
Between injuries, turnovers and missed opportunities, the Wisconsin football team has looked like anything but the 11th best team in the nation. At no position is this clearer than at quarterback, where senior Scott Tolzien has yet to deliver a complete performance.
As Wisconsin hosted San Jose State for Saturday’s home opener, Tolzien turned the ball over just once on an interception, but added three crucial fumbles that stalled three drives.
“We’ve just got to get better,” Tolzien said. “That’s an obvious statement, but we’re not there yet and I’ve got to be accountable for myself, first and foremost.”
As for the fumbles?
“That’s on me,” he said. “I’ve got to make sure it doesn’t happen. Plain and simple.”
Tolzien’s ball security issues began in the second quarter when he coughed up the football on the first play of the Badgers’ second drive following a six-yard sack. After that drive ended in a three-and-out, Tolzien had trouble hanging onto the ball again during the next drive.
Sitting on fourth-and-one at the San Jose State four-yard line, the Badgers opted to go for it. Following an exchange issue with the center, Tolzien was tackled for no gain, and Wisconsin turned the ball over on downs.
“Scotty was putting it on himself,” head coach Bret Bielema said. “As you guys know, he’ll beat himself up over it. It’s just something that we have to clean up.”
Following a fumble-free drive to end the first half that culminated in a field goal, the Badgers’ first drive of the second half was much like the one that ended on the four-yard line. Fortunately for Tolzien and Wisconsin, this time they had an extra down.
After another exchange issue, this time involving fullback Ryan Groy, the Badgers went from 3rd-and-2 on the 15-yard line to 4th-and-7 on the 20. Philip Welch delivered his second field goal of the game as the Badgers missed out on yet another touchdown opportunity in the red zone.
The worst was yet to come, however, for Tolzien.
Two drives later, Tolzien followed up first-down passes of 14 and 21 yards with an interception, which led to a two-play touchdown drive for San Jose State. On a deep pass intended for receiver Isaac Anderson, corner back Payton Thompson picked it off at his own 15-yard line.
“I know Scotty didn’t like the fact that he threw that ball,” Bielema said.
“Missed read, missed throw, bad play,” Tolzien added. “I’ve got to be smarter than that. I’ve got to play better, period.”
While Tolzien struggled passing and holding onto the ball Saturday, he persevered. According to his head coach, his best play was his last.
On 3rd-and-4, following a San Jose State timeout with 1:27 remaining in the game, Tolzien read the defense at the line of scrimmage and acted accordingly, leading to a big gain by running back John Clay that allowed UW to run out the clock following a kneel down.
“The best play of the day came on that last drive,” Bielema said. “We had a play that was going to get nulled and then the check was wrong. He totally changed the play at the line of scrimmage, and I believe it was an eight-yard first down.”
A Schelling For Your Thoughts 