I was at the Norte Dame vs Wisconsin game. After seeing Graham Mertz in person, I am wondering if he is the answer. Wisconsin has a top ten defense again this year, but the offense needs to get a lot better. If the offense was producing like in years past, Wisconsin would be in the top five. Graham is looking very mediocre this year. The offensive line is not playing well, so the running game is hurting too. If Mertz could hit some of his open receivers, that would help. I can’t put all the blame on Graham, but he is a part of why Wisconsin has a losing record. The Badgers really don’t have anybody behind Mertz that could take over, but it might be smart to sit him. Paul Chryst would never do that, because of how high of a recruit he was coming out of high school.
Wisconsin has another good test this week against Michigan in Camp Randell. This will be a great test for Mertz. I hope he plays better. The biggest problem I see for Mertz is living up to his first two games. He was amazing in those first two games last year, so people saw how great he could be. As a fan it’s hard to forget about those two games and then watch him in every other game. It must be hard for him, but he has to improve quickly to keep the fans quiet and to start winning. One college football analyst said something that made me think. Maybe Wisconsin should go back and recruit game managers.
The Badgers were always successful with those type of quarterbacks. Since 1990 we have won three Rose Bowls and made it to seven. The quarterbacks that won the game were Darell Bevell, Mike Samuel, and Brooks Bollinger. All three were game managers and were two or three star recruits. In the Games we lost, Scott Tolzien and Jack Coan to name a couple, both were game managers. Russell Wilson was not known as a game manager, but he still managed the game well.
My final opinion on Graham Mertz, as the quarterback, of the Badgers this year is to sit him for a couple of games. Hopefully that sparks a flame under him and he will come back stronger and better. Let’s see tomorrow against Michigan.
ON WISCONSIN!