Badgers prove they're still potent on ground

MADISON, Wis. — In the adrenaline-infused bowels of Camp Randall Stadium, with Wisconsin football players celebrating another blowout victory, there was Travis Frederick somberly expressing disappointment.

Really. Despite an undefeated start and a No. 4 AP ranking, the Badgers’ burly offensive lineman had found an area to critique.

Frederick was speaking about the team’s running game, which mostly has been overshadowed by a strong passing attack led by quarterback Russell Wilson’s Heisman-worthy start. Frederick felt a sense of dissatisfaction with the disparity in overall yardage.

For himself. For the offensive line. For everything the Sharon, Wis., native had grown up seeing of Badgers football.

“Here at Wisconsin, the rushing game is always one of our first priorities,” Frederick said. “And we’ve been a little bit disappointed in the way that it’s been going, with us having more passing yards. Even though we’ve got great skill guys out there … I think for us, it’s been disappointing to not have more rushing yards.”

But in Saturday’s 59-7 demolition of Indiana, with Wisconsin’s leading receiver Nick Toon sidelined with a foot injury and Wilson’s passing not needed so much against an inferior opponent, all became right in Frederick’s world. The Badgers served notice that one of their greatest weapons remains a strong running game, even as “Russell Mania” continues to sweep the country.

The Badgers (6-0, 2-0) gained more yards rushing (332) than passing (192) for just the second time this season. And they accomplished the feat well before Wilson was pulled late in the third quarter with the game easily in hand.

“Today was good for us,” Frederick said. “It was a step in the right direction that we did have more rushing yards than passing yards.”

Wisconsin’s season rushing statistics now have pulled nearly even with those in the passing game. The Badgers have rushed for 1,545 yards and have passed for 1,594 yards.

“Today really showed that we’re extremely balanced, that we’re capable of putting the ball in the air and on the ground,” said running back Montee Ball, who carried 14 times for 142 yards, continuing his touchdown binge with three scores. He now has 16 rushing touchdowns in six games, plus a TD pass after connecting with Wilson on a 25-yard trick play in the second quarter.

James White, who has been inconsistent, also contributed 87 yards on 13 carries, including a dazzling 15-yard touchdown run in which he juked a cornerback and stiff-armed a safety.

Ball has received most of the publicity in the Badgers’ running game because of his scoring. Few seem to remember that it was White who led the team in rushing a year ago with 1,052 yards, the fourth-best tally by a freshman in school history.

“They do some creative, really nice stuff,” first-year Indiana football coach Kevin Wilson said. “Bottom line, if they get out in space, those two backs are pretty good. I don’t know if they have blazingly great speed, but it’s pretty good speed. They run through trash and they’re always moving forward. They had a bunch of nice 8-, 9-, 10-yard runs, and then some big ones.”

White said he felt motivated on Saturday after tallying just 26 yards on 11 carries two weeks earlier against Nebraska.

“(Running backs) coach (Thomas) Hammock was talking to me when I was on the sideline waiting for Montee to get tired,” White said. “He was like, ‘When you get in there, make a play. Just get 4 yards.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I hear what you’re saying because you’ve got to get 4 yards before you can get 40.’ That’s been my motto for the whole week.”

The combination of Ball and White has created headaches for opponents, and that didn’t change. The two combined for 229 yards on the ground, the first time they had topped 200 this season.

Coach Bret Bielema said part of the reason the statistics have been skewed is that his two best running backs haven’t been needed for long stretches because of the Badgers’ sheer dominance. Wisconsin is outscoring opponents roughly 50-10, and neither Ball nor White saw any carries in the fourth quarter against Indiana.

“We just haven’t been able to build up Montee and James’ numbers because we were playing so well in those non-conference games, they just didn’t get a lot of yardage out there,” Bielema said.

Even Wilson incorporated himself in the running game on Saturday. In addition to completing 12-of-17 passes for 166 yards with a touchdown, he tallied 42 yards on two carries. His longest run, a 25-yard scamper to the Indiana 8-yard line, led to a touchdown in the third quarter that put Wisconsin ahead 38-7.

The game was over for all intents and purposes before that drive. The rushing attack was a big reason why. And it’s a strength the Badgers will need to rely on as they prepare for the most challenging portion of their Big Ten schedule.

“With our running backs and offensive line, to get to the second level and then make a move to score a touchdown, it’s vital for our offense,” Wilson said. “If we can do that and also throw the ball extremely well, I think that’s a great thing.”