Despite the Falcons’ win against Indiana this past weekend, this week brings them the chance to do something they have not done yet this season. Get a win on the road.
This weekend they are given that opportunity as they travel to Madison, Wisconsin to play the number 19 ranked Wisconsin Badgers.
“I think if you want to be a good team you have to find a way to win on the road,” head coach Dino Babers. “I told our team right now that we aren’t a good football team. You can’t be a good football team unless you win on the road.”
The atmosphere of Camp Randall Stadium can make it tough on the Falcons, but they are taking the necessary precautions to be ready. They have taken the time during practice to work on silent cadences and make sure they are locked in on snap counts, tight end Chris Pohlman said.
“It is a very difficult place to play,” Babers said. “I’ve been up there as a part of Big Ten staffs and never had a win up there. It is a very noisy place and an electric atmosphere.”
The atmosphere is the least of the Falcons’ worries as they will be going against a running back who has been mentioned multiple times when talking about the Heisman Trophy.
“Gordon is exceptional, he is a Heisman trophy guy,” Babers said. “He is one of the best running backs in the country. The one guy from Indiana [Tevin Coleman] you saw what he did out here on the football field and Gordon is probably a step above him.”
In the game against the Hoosiers the Falcons held running back Tevin Coleman scoreless in the first half. In the second half Coleman was able to break out and ended the game with 193 yards and three touchdowns. Although they were not able to keep a handle on Coleman through the second half as well, Babers thought the defense played well.
“I thought our defense did a fabulous job. I know all the numbers and stuff that looks yucky,” Babers said. “It’s hard to keep a player down like that.”
The Hoosiers’ spread style of offense is different than the Badgers’ offense despite the similarity of standout runningbacks. The Badgers have been known for their power running game in the past but have implemented some things that aren’t typical of a Wisconsin team, Babers said.
“They are taking their heavy packages and breaking out in one-back and no-back sets,” Babers said. “With that being said, all of their offensive linemen are still 300-pounders, all their fullbacks are huge and they can still come down hill and run the football on you.”
The Badgers’ offense is more than just Gordon; they have solid receivers and a new quarterback who is very athletic, cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah said.
Stopping an offense like the Badgers could be challenging for a defense that has given up a combined 101 points and 1,290 yards in their two games against FBS teams. The defense has been plagued by the injury bug early in the season as Babers said another starter was injured and won’t play this weekend.
“It’s going to take an effort of all 11 players,” Adjei-Barimah said. “I think we have improved in the last two weeks and that’s all that really matters. We are trying to play so well that the first week gets thrown out the window and nobody even remembers it.”
The Falcons will need to forget the win last weekend and focus on what they can do to get a win on the road in Madison.
“Indiana and Wisconsin are different teams and it’s in a completely different environment,” Pohlman said. “It’s another team, another challenge. Just like anybody else, our focus should be there and it should be just as good or better than any other game.”
