Gophers face tough test in Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor

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Saturday’s matchup against No.5 Wisconsin is surely to draw plenty of eyes.

If the Badgers beat the Gophers, the Big Ten-West champions will finish the regular season 12-0 and easily will have plenty of momentum heading into the Big Ten Championship game Dec.2 in Indianapolis. However, if the Gophers managed to pull what could be easily labeled as the upset of the season, the program will notch a key win – and First Year Head Coach P.J. Fleck’s first Big Ten rivalry game win – that not only could help Minnesota be a lock to receive a bowl bid, but will also have a signature win under Fleck heading into a crucial recruiting circuit.

For Minnesota to pull off the upset and retain the axe, the defense will have to return to its non-conference schedule form against the run. When the Gophers started the season 3-0, the run defense was a premier unit in the country, not allowing a 100-yard rusher in each of their first three games.

It’s been a different story in conference play, allowing a 100-yard rusher in six of their eight conference games. Against the Michigan Wolverines, the Gophers allowed a pair of 100-yard rushers when Karan Higdon and Chris Evans rushed for 200 and 191 yards respectively in a 33-10 win at the Big House.

Rewind to Minnesota’s 39-0 loss against Northwestern last week, senior Justin Jackson eclipsed a pair of impressive conference records on his way to a 166-yard performance. While just two of those 100 yards games came against offenses that operated mostly out of the spread, the Gophers real struggles have came against teams that boast a potent power run game.

Wisconsin is the prime example of “old school” power football. A bevy of 12, 12, 13, 22, personnel formations that have just as many moving parts.

A closer look at Wisconsin’s rushing attack

While the Gophers have faced talented running backs such as Iowa’s Akrum Wadley – who was held to 70 yards in an Iowa win – and saw success, an argument can be made that Badgers’ freshman Jonathan Taylor might be the most lethal given the scheme Wisconsin has mastered.

The Badgers have rode their young freshman to establish a passing game that is directly affected by the success of the running game. In 10 starts, Taylor has pounded his way to 1, 657 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. There are things the 214-pound bruiser does that displays wisdom beyond his years.

Taylor has great feet and vision, which directly blends into the Badgers’ offensive scheme and run game philosophy. Owen Riese, who covers the Badgers for SB Nation’s ” Bucky’s 5th quarter,” gave me a bit of insight as to just why it’s a great fit.

“For one he’s a patient runner, which is beneficial because a lot of the Badgers’ counter plays take some time to develop due to pulling guards and tight ends. He also thrives off of contact, he’s got very impressive balance through contact and bounces off of arm tackles without losing much speed and then the speed obviously. He was a two-time New Jersey 100m champion. He glides once he gets out front.”

— Owen Riese

Gary lead.. Wisconsin blocks this perfectly. #Gophers front seven is going to have their hands full Saturday. pic.twitter.com/I7N6Igwqx2

— Josh Zimmer (@JZimmer_Sports) November 21, 2017

In his longest run against Michigan, Taylor puts nearly every trait that Riese mentioned about on display.

Backed up in their own zone, Wisconsin turns to one of their bread and butter plays — counter out of heavy personnel. In a two-wing set, the Badgers pull their right guard and their right that is lined up toward the field. Taylor’s slight pause in the hole allows block blockers ample time to zero in on their targets and create both a seal and a kick out.

However, with Michigan’s Mike overflowing to the top and the three technique failing to cross-face against the fold block by the center, Taylor is able to rip a 51-yard gain by hitting a C gap that was completely washed by the left tackle.

Although, Wisconsin’s offense doesn’t have to rely on pulling offensive linemen and extra blockers to be effective. They can simply demoralize you with outside or inside zone. The key to success is due to the offensive line’s ability to keep a hat on a man.

Again operating out of a wing-based formation, Wisconsin opts to run a simple outside zone play early in their 45-17 win over Indiana. Receiving a good base block by the left tackle, Taylor cuts up field into the playside A gap only to get vertical and work off an incoming block from the center to spring him free. As if trying to slow Taylor down outside the redzone was tough enough, the freshman running back has been nearly unstoppable in the redzone. Of his 16 total touchdowns, 12 are when the Badgers have been in the redzone.

Ways for Minnesota to slow attack

One of the issues the Gophers could face Saturday might not be what Wisconsin presents, but what the unit fails to do.

When operating as a backside defensive lineman, your path to the ball carrier has be to one of two directions. If the box is doing a good job of playing fundamentally sound run defense causing the back to bounce outside or cut back in – and dependent on the call – it has be to a straight down the line approach. If designated as the fold player, you must slow play the approach before beginning your pursuit.

The “slow play” could be said for the backside backer. If seeing color flash (a pulling guard) allowing yourself ample time to not only play over the top and being able to quickly plant to redirect for a possible cutback is critical. When facing power teams this year, the Gophers’ main struggles have been from linebackers playing too fast over the top and defensive tackles struggling to stymie fold blocks.

For the Gophers to have a chance in slowing the Badgers offense, Defensive Coordinator Robb Smith will need his unit to play their best, most fundamentally sound football of the season.

Minnesota and No.5 Wisconsin are slated to kick off at 2:30 p.m. from TCF Bank Stadium. The game can be seen on ABC.