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Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell met with the media on Monday to discuss the state of the team entering Saturday’s Week 6 matchup against Purdue.
One topic of discussion was the running back room. Wisconsin has yet to see a clear top running back emerge, with Chez Mellusi and Tawee Walker mostly splitting snaps and carries.
Fickell was clear in his vision for the position. He says the Badgers need to find a lead No. 1 running back, clear No. 2, and so on.
“We have a little of a tough ride right now at the running back spot,” Fickell said, “Meaning we have a bunch of guys. And it’s probably one of the things that I am going to kind of put on the offense a little more. To say ‘Look, I don’t know that you can play four or five running backs.’ We’ve got to focus in on, ‘Hey, who’s going to be No. 1, who’s going to be the next guy, and then who’s the spare.’ It doesn’t give them an opportunity to get in rhythms. Chez [Mellusi] being one of those guys, Tawee [Walker] being another one. So we’re going to have to figure it out.”
Mellusi has 232 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 56 carries through four games thus. Walker has 147 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries, though he missed the team’s Week 2 win over South Dakota. Others to receive include Cade Yacamelli (12 carries, 153 yards) and true freshman Darrion Dupree (16 carries, 61 yards).
Fickell’s tone that finding a lead running back is something he will ‘put on the offense a little more’ points to this change possibly happening as soon as Saturday. In his words, the staff needs to give the backs a chance to ‘get hot.’
“That’s what’s really kind of difficult for Chez, for Tawee. Even for some of the young guys,” Fickell continued. “When we talk about continuing to develop, finding winning habits. We need to…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/wisconsin-hc-luke-fickell-badgers-124237888.html
Author : Badgers Wire
Publish date : 2024-10-01 12:42:37
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