Halftime observations: Questionable calls, lack of execution plague Wisconsin football vs. Iowa

The University of Wisconsin football season may have taken a hard left turn late in the second quarter Saturday against Iowa.

Senior quarterback Tanner Mordecai extended a play and ran to his right, set his feet to deliver a pass, threw the ball and absorbed a big hit along the sideline. He appeared to be favoring his right hand but played the next snap. He scrambled and lost a yard before leaving the field and giving way to redshirt freshman Braedyn Locke.

Mordecai’s passing and mobility at quarterback has been crucial to the Badgers so far this season, and the Badgers’ offense is a question mark without it. This is all not to mention that the Badgers trail 7-0 after an ugly first half at Camp Randall Stadium, one in which the offense went three-and-out on five of its eight possessions, and the last possessions ended after two plays when the clock ran out on the half.

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Here are three observations from the first half.

Badgers must continue bringing pressure

Iowa is able to play the conservative brand of football it wants to on offense because the Badgers haven’t put the Hawkeyes behind the 8-ball much. Wisconsin has gotten pressure on Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill with blitzes up the middle and off the edge but not much with a four-man rush.

The Badgers defense has to continue applying heat. Hill hasn’t shown the ability to extend plays with his feet or process a defense under duress. Whether that’s with linebackers or corners in the second half, Wisconsin has to force Hill into a mistake or two, particularly with the state of the Badgers offense.

Questionable play-calling from Longo, Badgers

Wisconsin was aggressive in its approach on its first drive, going for fourth-down conversions twice. The second of those plays was a fourth-and-1 on which the Badgers used four tight ends and attempted a power run but got stopped for a 2-yard loss.

Coaches and players have emphasized starting fast after slow starts made early season games more stressful than they should’ve been, but the Badgers should’ve taken the points against an Iowa team struggling to score.

Junior running back Braelon Allen missed time in the first half as he dealt with an upper-body injury, so that could explain his lack of touches (five carries, 25 yards), but the play-calling has been very reliant on Mordecai’s arm against a stingy Iowa secondary. Mordecai struggled with passes outside the numbers, and the swing passes to backs were being blown up by poor blocking and slow routes.

Badgers defensive ends getting washed down

Iowa’s has had some success on the ground with its zone scheme, creating cutback lanes for backs and creating manageable third-down situations. Part of that success came from the fact that Wisconsin’s defensive ends were getting pushed too far down the line.

Defensive ends have to flow with their blockers to a degree against Iowa, but they’re not breaking down and setting their feet to stop that flow. The good thing for the Badgers is Iowa’s offensive line hasn’t gotten to the second level very well, so the linebackers were stopping the between-the-tackles runs for modest gains.

But the Hawkeyes broke off an 82-yard touchdown run after running back Lesohn Williams forced two missed tackles at the linebacker level and sprinted down the right sideline. Wisconsin’s best defensive end, James Thompson Jr., is questionable to return with a lower-body injury, so less-experienced players must step up for the Badgers.

30 years later: Seldom-seen photos from Wisconsin win at Purdue during Rose Bowl season

Wisconsin’s Brent Moss stiff-arms a Purdue defender during their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez runs on to the field with his players before their 1993 game against Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin’s Matt Nyquist catches a touchdown pass against Purdue during their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin’s Chad Cascadden tackles a Purdue ball carrier during their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin quarterback Darrell Bevell throws a pass against Purdue during their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Badgers fans cheer during the 1993 game against Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin’s Terrell Fletcher, left, celebrates during the Badgers’ 42-28 win over Purdue in their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin’s Lamark Shackerford celebrates with the ball during the Badgers’ 1993 game against Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez hugs Purdue coach Jim Colletto after their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Photo by Scott Seid/STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES

Wisconsin’s Kenny Gales intercepts a Purdue pass during their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin’s Mark Montgomery, left, celebrates with J.C Dawkins during their 42-28 win over Purdue in their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin offensive lineman Joe Panos celebrates during the Badgers’ win over Purdue during their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin’s Brent Moss finds a seam against Purdue during their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin wide receiver Lee DeRamus, left, celebrates with Keith Jackson during their 1993 game against Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin wide receiver Vince Zullo fights for the ball against Purdue during their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin’s Eric Unverzagt, from left, Mike Thompson and Nick Rafko react during their 1993 game against Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin offensive lineman Joe Panos shakes hands with Badgers coach Barry Alvarez after they beat Purdue 42-28 in their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin quarterback Darrell Bevell (11) speaks to his teammates in the huddle during their 1993 game against Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin’s Matt Nyquist (31) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Purdue during their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin quarterback Darrell Bevell, right, threw for 256 yards against Purdue in their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin’s Jason Levine jumps into the arms of Steve Kouba during the Badgers’ 42-28 win over Purdue in their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

SCOTT SEID, State Journal

Wisconsin wide receiver Keith Jackson (21) celebrates after catching a 30-yard touchdown pass against Purdue during their 1993 game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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