I'm a father of three daughters. I find it absolutely disgusting that so many people are okay with the most powerful person in our country objectifying women in this way.
🦡 It's time: The Badgers MUST start Ryan Hopkins Against Iowa ‼️ 🦡
Colton Joseph’s 4.6% turnover-worthy play rate ranks dead last in the B1G. Joseph struggled with ball security at Old Dominion, but he made up for it with a ton of big time throws (more on this next paragraph). Last year, PFF credited Joseph with 17 big time throws at a 4.9% big time throw rate. This year, he’s only had 5 big time throws for a 2.8% big time throw rate, ranking third to last in the B1G.
This isn’t new. He threw 10 picks on 290 attempts at ODU, three of them in one half at Indiana. His pressure-to-sack rate ranked 120th out of 168 starting QBs. The whole bet was that the big plays would travel to the Big Ten and the mistakes would get coached out. Instead the mistakes traveled and the big plays stayed in Norfolk.
We’re getting the worst of both worlds with Joseph: A QB who struggles to protect the ball or make plays as a passing QB. He’s completing 54.7% of his throws. He’s 15th in the B1G in Total QBR. He’s gone two straight games under 100 passing yards: 6-of-16 for 66 at UCLA, then only threw for 58 yards with exactly one passing first down against a USC defense giving up 240 passing yards per game.
Wisconsin has topped 400 yards of offense once all season, and that was against Western Illinois.
Joseph adds a lot of value with his legs, but Ryan Hopkins is also a blazer. Hopkins runs a 10.66 100 meters and had the fastest 40 of any QB at the Elite 11 Regional and the Under Armour camp at 4.56. He’s 6'3", 201, with at least comparable speed.
And the arm is what people were losing their minds over in August. Jake Butt stood on the Camp Randall sideline during Wisconsin’s camp and said Hopkins made throws he couldn’t remember seeing in many years, and that he made a few of them at that practice. Kenny Guiton said he’d never had a high school senior come in and split reps with the twos. Hopkins went out and won the QB2 job over Deuce Adams, a Power Four transfer with starts under his belt.
So what’s the argument for starting Joseph over Hopkins at this point? That he’s that much better at correctly reading the edge rusher on a read option? If that skill was so valuable, the Badgers would be putting up more than 200 yards of offense against USC.
The usual reason you don’t start the rookie is turnovers. That argument doesn’t work here. Joseph is the turnover problem. Hopkins has zero college pass attempts, and there’s plenty to be decided about him. What we know is that Joseph is not getting it done.
We do not need more data. It’s time to start Hopkins now. #OnWisconsin
My last Badger thought for this week before UW finds a way to defeat Iowa on Saturday:
The Badgers easily have a top 10 defense in the country. And if the havoc they created against USC is repeatable, they may have the best defense in the country. And if Wisconsin has the best defense in the country, they'll be able to win out playing Army style football. #OnWisconsin
Already said as much yesterday (see below). The script worked for that game, and he executed it.
The problem is what happens when the script turns. If we’re ever down and have to throw, we're screwed.
Nobody’s arguing he can’t run a check-down offense with a lead. The argument is that’s the only offense he can effectively run.
https://t.co/cmTj3AXUzz
@BestDamnBroker No. I don't think Joseph was bad last night. He did was asked of him. Take the check down and don't turn it over.
I think trust that Ryan Hopkins could execute a similar gameplan.
Colton Joseph only managed to produce a combined 90 yards (pass + rush) against a USC defense that came into Madison giving up 240 pass yards a game.
Make no mistake about last night. The defense was next level dominant. Byran Jackson was excedllent. There was not a lot happening at the QB position.
Ryan Hopkins should be starting next week. #Badgers
9 days ago, Luke Fickell punted the ball down 10 points with 4:57 in the game to an offense that was approaching 20 first downs in the game.
And some of you have lost your minds over the thought of playing a quarterback the head coach trusts to play quarterback when the game script demands it.
Side note. if you get so offended by my football takes that you comment underneath just to personally insult me, you will be blocked-my posts are not intended for children.
@JeffBell1969@YaBoy_Badger I agree but I think it's more likely based on what we've seen that he'll contribute more towards losses than wins as our full time starting quarterback.
@TXBadger21 I think a lot of coaches would have made the change before they lost trust in their QB to the point of punting on 4th and 9 down 10 with under 5 against a team that had 20 first downs on your D.
@JT_87_04 A week ago, Luke Fickell punted on 4th and 9 down down 10 with under 5 to go against a team that had 20 first downs us.
Let's hope that game script is favorable the rest of the way out!
@StephO1821@barryisthedon My last word.
If Luke Ficekll thinks he has a starting level B1G QB, his decision to punt on 4th and 9 down 10 with under 5 against a team moving the ball against Wisconsin all night was......weird.
Oops. Should've run that by the AI, right Barry? (he's on the thread).
I would say characterizing anything in the underlying post as an accusation is reductive because the claims are supported by ample evidence.
This isn't personal. I think Colton Joseph has nice leadership qualities and could aid this team in packages. But I don't think he's a B1G starting level QB. I think we have two options behind him-one a young guy with an arm and legs/potential high ceiling and an experienced guy who likely has the potential to lead a more efficient passing offense.
If your guidance is to turn off my eyes, ears, and brain, I'll politely decline.
An 85% completion percentage, yes. But 58 yards. My concern is that Iowa (or any team thereafter) could shut down our run game and gets an early lead. If the game script requires some passing down field, we''ve lost. See UCLA and Fickell's decision to punt down 10 with less than 5.
I would be surprised if we beat Iowa without a passing attack that the Badgers make the Hawkeyes respect. If Wisconsin is completely one dimensional on offense, the defense will probably need to score a touchdown for the Badgers to win.
That said, I think there's a 50/50 shot the Badgers D scores a TD this weekend.
Ok. Now you're speaking my language.
The paragraph disclaims four things: credentials, practice attendance, inside sources, and breaking news. The post does none of those. It takes public numbers and on-record quotes, attributes them, and draws one conclusion from them. Line by line:
“I’m not credentialed media.” Correct. The post isn’t reporting. It’s an argument built from public numbers and on-record quotes, with no claim of access anywhere in it.
“I’m not at practice.” Correct, and the argument doesn’t depend on it. Practice would matter if I were claiming Hopkins is better. I’m not. The argument is that there’s asymmetric upside to starting Hopkins: the current production is on film and sets a floor so low that the cost of finding out is near zero. Practice access would tell me who’s better. It wouldn’t change the asymmetry.
“I don’t have sources inside the building.” Correct. Every number is PFF or the box score. Every quote (Butt, Guiton) is their public, on-record statement, attributed to them. No “I’m hearing.” No anonymous anything.
“I don’t break news.” Correct. Nothing in the post is new information, and nothing in the post claims to be presenting new information. The only original content is the conclusion.
“If you want insider access, support the people who do that.” Still true. See my reposts for a running illustration of exactly that support.