Badgers 2013 Bowl Opportunities | Should Wisconsin Find A New Quarterback?

The Wisconsin Badgers are going to finish the 2013 college football regular season at 9-3, and 6-2 in Big Ten Conference Play. The Badgers are now headed for the Capital One Bowl following the events of the Auburn-Alabama game this weekend, as Vern Lundquist called it, “an answered prayer”. The Alabama loss puts Ohio State into the national championship game if they beat Michigan State this Saturday. If Michigan State does indeed win that game, the BCS selection committee would probably bring Ohio State into the BCS as an at large team, therefore placing Wisconsin into the Capital One Bowl regardless. Yes the Badgers run of three straight Big Ten Championships is over, but overall a successful season.

Well if the Badgers had a successful season, they why are we talking about them needing to make a change at quarterback? The success this season for Wisconsin had nothing to do with Joel Stave. Rather the 9-3 record is due to the play of running backs Melvin Gordon and James White, as well as the fact that this defense was sixth in the nation in points per game at 14.8. Stave had nothing to do with it. In fact, Stave at times hampered Wisconsin. 

Does Wisconsin Replace Quarterback Stave?

I understand the Badgers are not exactly known for great quarterback play, but their quarterbacks have always been good caretakers of the football and of time of possession. Stave’s play in 2013 started out okay, but got gradually worse as the season went on, and this last Saturday, in the 31-24 loss against Penn State, Stave was just plain awful. He finished the game 29-53 with 339 yards and three interceptions. Don’t let the passing yards fool you, he played terrible.

I don’t think they will make a change before the bowl game. There is no reason to play Curt Phillips in the bowl game and it wouldn’t be a good idea to give any of the freshmen the start. They have gone this far with Stave, might as well let him finish the job. There are a lot of people who think that just because a player isn’t going to be in the team’s plan next season, he should be benched. I say let him finish the job he signed up for. But come the offseason, it may be time to look at other options. Right now, outside of Stave, and senior Curt Phillips, the Badgers have a lot of unknowns on the roster. Two freshmen who certainly look the part, Thad Armstrong and Bart Houston come to mind. Conner Senger, a freshman from Milwaukee that I have personally interviewed, is undersized but is a good football player. Another option would be a sophomore named Tanner McEvoy.

Bottom line, whether it is Joel Stave, or someone else, the Badgers need better play out of the quarterback play out of the quarterback position then what Stave gave them this season.  

Badgers Go With Joel Stave In 2013 | Passing Game Must Improve This Season

Though first-year head coach Gary Anderson has made no public announcement, analysts around the country are expecting Joel Stave to take the reigns at starting quarterback for the Badgers season opener against UMass on Saturday. The sophomore was seen working with the first-team offense during the team's final days of camp, while his competition, senior Curt Phillips, drilled with the second-line.

Stave and Phillips were the last to stand after spring and summer training camps whittled down the corps to just the pair. Starter through week four of last season, Danny O'Brien is the most notable name to be booted from competition for the spot in 2013. O'Brien lasted mere weeks as Wisconsin's lead signal caller before Stave took over the job through week 9. A broken collar bone in a game against Michigan State sat Stave for the season, allowing Phillips a chance for the final five games of the regular season.

During their respective times as helmsmen of the huddle, Phillips and Stave had virtually identical stats. Both completed nearly 60 percent of their passes with at least five touchdowns. Five interceptions between them was the low-point of their numbers on the year, though Stave's ratio of attempts-to-turnovers is significantly better due to his 119 possible pass-plays compared to Phillips 86. Stave's average 15 yards-per-pass also out-did his counterpart's in 2012; Phillips managed just over six.

That power of the long-ball is what most critics expect has kept Stave as the front-runner as camp winds-down. He told reporters this week that he has really been focusing on stretching the field with a stronger arm this summer.

Anderson also acknowledged his pleasure with the younger quarterbacks improved distance and accuracy, citing the Badgers being too dependent on their ground-game in 2012. Specifically the coach mentioned Wisconsin's ranking as the 16^th most rushing team on first down in the country, a down he thinks Stave could add a little flare to with the occasional surprise deep-ball.

Bucky Bets On Phillips | Do They Have Any Other Choice?

The Badgers must have felt as if they had seen this play out before.  Time was running out, the Badgers were in the lead, but it all faded away in the final moments. This time, the Spartans won it in overtime.  That didn't make it any easier to take. Wisconsin had the lead, and had pinned Michigan State back around their own 25.  Michigan found a way to get down the field, and scored the tying touchdown.  The Badgers didn't manage the clock, and the game went to overtime.

Wisconsin scored a field goal with their first possession.  Would that hold up?  The Spartans answered with a 12 yard touchdown pass that capped of a solid drive.  Game over, Badgers lose. Wisconsin is now 3-2 in the Big Ten conference. Stave is out for the season.  Bucky fans are now wondering if the team can manage to pick up the pieces. They face an uphill battle to say the least.

Curt Phillips Takes Over As Quarterback

Curt Phillips now takes over as QB. Sure, he was a high school star, but weren't most Big Ten starters? On top of that, Phillips has gone under the knife three times, and played in very few games.  Still, there is hope. Phillips can move.  O'Brien failed to do the same in the pro-style offense that Wisconsin is known for. Phillips will get a chance to ease into things, as he's facing a team that gives up huge rushing yards.  With that in mind, the Badgers run game could certainly set up Phillips for some easy passes.  The Badgers are running out of options. It's got to work.