ICSTR, Badger Edition

It was another special teams day where BG had that not so fresh feeling, as the Falcons clocked their first back to back negative games since the Kent-Buffalo combo at the end of 2012.  BG has not had 3 straight negative games since the annulus horribulus, 2010.  So let's hope that doesn't happen.  Meanwhile, Wisconsin had the best special teams game by a BG opponent in the entire history of the ICSTR, dating back to 2009.

It was a little tough for BG.  You need a 45 yard punt to get a point, and BG had at least two that were between 40 and 45.  Anyway, BG had only 3 quality plays--a TB, a big punt and a Givens KO return to the 40.  On the negative side, BG had two punts where big returns negated a big kick, two bad kickoff returns and one strong return for UW.

UW just had a buttload of obvious plays.  Remember, the system is asymmetrical...kicking a touchback is a point for the kicking team, but not a negative point for the receiving team, because there was nothing they could have done about it.  So UW had 15 positive plays for 16 points and only 3 negative plays.

Just to show...the "whipping" was in all phases.

One thing.  BG's KO returns seem to be soft.  Moore was doing it, but made some poor decisions against Indiana, so Givens had the job, and while he had one good one, he didn't necessarily do a lot better.  With the talent we have at the skilled positions, you'd not expect this to be a weakness.

BG Positive (+3)
BG KO TB (+1)
BG KO ret to 40 (+1)
BG 57 yard net punt (+1)

BG negative (-5)
BG -1 yard net on punt (-1)
BG KO ret to 19 (-1)
BG 17 yard net punt (-1)
BG KO Ret to 11 (-1)

UW KO Ret to 39 (-1)

UW Positive (+16)
UW KO TB (+1)
BG -1 yard net on punt (+1)

UW KO TB (+1)

BG KO ret to 19 (+1)

BG 17 yard net punt (+1)

UW KO TB (+1)

BG KO Ret to 11 (+1)

UW KO TB (+1)
UW 17 yard PR gets net under 45 (+1)

UW KO TB (+1)

UW KO Ret to 39 (+1)

UW Punt to BG 4 (+2)
UW 43 yard FG (+1)
UW KO TB (+1)

UW Negative (-3)
BG KO ret to 40 (-1)
UW Missed XP (-1)
UW >45 yard net punt with Penalty (-1)