Very flat opening to the game for the team. They looked like a team that had bought into all of the hype coming into the season, and expected that this was going to be a walkover without a lot of effort needed. Whatever you may think of Wisconsin's overall talent level, Luke Fickell and Mike Tressel are very good coaches, and they had their team/unit ready to fight. Notre Dame had breakdowns on both lines in the first half, and some sloppy play from the corners opposite Leonard Moore, as well as a lack of connection from Carr to any receiver/TEs not named Jordan Faison hampered their drives. Special teams were big for Wisconsin early, and ND got a gift on the fumbled kickoff to start to get some traction. I would wager that Freeman lit into them at halftime, and the effort on both sides of the ball was greatly improved.
I hated the offensive gameplan. Everything was between the tackles running the football, and Notre Dame did nothing to threaten the Wisconsin defense laterally. They didn't attempt to stretch the field vertically in the passing game at all. They schemed themselves into tight boxes to make running the ball even more difficult. It was making the changes of inserting Sully Absher at RG and even Joe Otting at C that made the running game start to get some chunk runs. The pass rush began to get home once Joseph had to hold the ball a bit longer to get the ball down the field. A tale of two halves, but it was a comfortable win with an uncomfortable first half.
Gray and Brewu stepped up inside in the second half. It sucks losing Onye, but I think they can overcome his loss. Losing Brauntae Johnson? That's another issue altogether. Here's hoping whatever the issue is is not a lengthy one.
