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Good read from here > http://wisconsin.247sports.com/Article/Wisconsin-fall-camp-preview-wide-receiver-38218323
With its massive offensive lineman and talented running backs, Wisconsin will always be able to run the football.
That will never change.
However, sinceRussell Wilsonleft, the Badgers have lacked balance and consistency in the passing game and things haven't improved sinceJared Abbrederisgraduated as well.
With passing guruPaul Chrystrunning the show, will Wisconsin begin to take the top of the offense and spread the ball around through the air?
Projected Starters
Wisconsin will have a competition this fall to determine who starts alongside seniorAlex Erickson. The likely candidates includeReggie Love,George Rushing,Jordan Fredrick, andRob Wheelwright.
After a fine spring, Wheelwright has emerged as the top man for the job. Having a strong connection with quarterbackJoel Stave, Wheelwright consistently beat man coverage over the top and showed the ability to make catches against tight coverage. The junior only had one catch last season, but it was a big one, sealing Wisconsin's win over Minnesota with a 17-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter.
Named to the Belitnikoff Award watch list on Wednesday, Erickson is coming off a career season in which he caught 55 passes for 772 yards and three touchdowns. A former walk-on, Erickson had the 16th most productive receiving season in school history in 2014.
What to Watch
Rushing is one of a handful of wide receivers Wisconsin is seeking improvement from in 2015.(Photo: Elliott Connor, 247Sports)
Will the young talent start to take form in 2015? Through spring and fall camps, there's been little doubt Wisconsin has the talent necessary at its wide receiver position. However, once the lights come on and the season rolls around, the the plays that were made all spring and all August aren't being made.
While fall camp won't truly answer any of those questions, it will be important to see who's ready to give Wisconsin a lift. Wheelwright had a strong and at times big spring. Love continues to make plays as well. SophomoresGeorge RushingandKrenwick Sandershaven't been far behind either, Fredrick missed all of spring, but mostly gets on the field for his blocking ability anyway.
In what's expected to be an intriguing battle for the second and even third wide receiver spots, who will continue to grow from last season and the spring and take these open jobs?
Biggest Question
Is there going to be any depth and consistency with the wide receivers?
For the past few seasons, it's been a one-man show with Erickson orJared Abbrederis. Erickson was able to step up as the number one target last season, but no one seemed to follow suit.
Erickson had 55 receptions in 2014. The rest of Wisconsin's wide receivers combined for 39. In the three games Wisconsin lost last season, they had two or less wide receivers record a catch. In fact, in those three losses the Badgers had a total of just three different wide receivers (Erickson, Fredrick, Kenzel Doe) catch a pass.
Heading into 2015, the age old question exists once again -- will it continue to be a solo act in the receiving core, or will Wisconsin finally take the cap off the offense and spread the ball around?
Hoping the young kids step up... if we can get any kind of steady passing game it makes our offense very tough to stop.
With its massive offensive lineman and talented running backs, Wisconsin will always be able to run the football.
That will never change.
However, sinceRussell Wilsonleft, the Badgers have lacked balance and consistency in the passing game and things haven't improved sinceJared Abbrederisgraduated as well.
With passing guruPaul Chrystrunning the show, will Wisconsin begin to take the top of the offense and spread the ball around through the air?
Projected Starters
Wisconsin will have a competition this fall to determine who starts alongside seniorAlex Erickson. The likely candidates includeReggie Love,George Rushing,Jordan Fredrick, andRob Wheelwright.
After a fine spring, Wheelwright has emerged as the top man for the job. Having a strong connection with quarterbackJoel Stave, Wheelwright consistently beat man coverage over the top and showed the ability to make catches against tight coverage. The junior only had one catch last season, but it was a big one, sealing Wisconsin's win over Minnesota with a 17-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter.
Named to the Belitnikoff Award watch list on Wednesday, Erickson is coming off a career season in which he caught 55 passes for 772 yards and three touchdowns. A former walk-on, Erickson had the 16th most productive receiving season in school history in 2014.
What to Watch
Rushing is one of a handful of wide receivers Wisconsin is seeking improvement from in 2015.(Photo: Elliott Connor, 247Sports)
Will the young talent start to take form in 2015? Through spring and fall camps, there's been little doubt Wisconsin has the talent necessary at its wide receiver position. However, once the lights come on and the season rolls around, the the plays that were made all spring and all August aren't being made.
While fall camp won't truly answer any of those questions, it will be important to see who's ready to give Wisconsin a lift. Wheelwright had a strong and at times big spring. Love continues to make plays as well. SophomoresGeorge RushingandKrenwick Sandershaven't been far behind either, Fredrick missed all of spring, but mostly gets on the field for his blocking ability anyway.
In what's expected to be an intriguing battle for the second and even third wide receiver spots, who will continue to grow from last season and the spring and take these open jobs?
Biggest Question
Is there going to be any depth and consistency with the wide receivers?
For the past few seasons, it's been a one-man show with Erickson orJared Abbrederis. Erickson was able to step up as the number one target last season, but no one seemed to follow suit.
Erickson had 55 receptions in 2014. The rest of Wisconsin's wide receivers combined for 39. In the three games Wisconsin lost last season, they had two or less wide receivers record a catch. In fact, in those three losses the Badgers had a total of just three different wide receivers (Erickson, Fredrick, Kenzel Doe) catch a pass.
Heading into 2015, the age old question exists once again -- will it continue to be a solo act in the receiving core, or will Wisconsin finally take the cap off the offense and spread the ball around?
Hoping the young kids step up... if we can get any kind of steady passing game it makes our offense very tough to stop.