(Much  like the last blog from Metrodome, I’ll be posting in reverse chronological order; in other words, the most recent observations will be at the top, with the older ones toward the bottom).

PACKING UP
With 8:00 left, I am packing up the laptop and heading downstairs for a brief ceremony after the game to honor the Big Ten Conference tri-champion Wisconsin Badgers.  Look for our postgame report on the late newscast. 

THANK YOU SENIORS
 Jon Budmayr is on to replace Scott Tolzien, who gets a nice ovation from the fans.  It’s pretty amazing to think how far Tolzien’s come in the past two seasons, from being down on the depth chart prior to the 2009 season, to being the established leader of the offense.  Once again, Tolzien turns in some incredibly efficient numbers: 15-19 passing, for 230 yards, and 4 TD’s…and another 0 in the INT column.  The guy is a winner, plain and simple.

IF THE PRESS BOX IS A ROCKIN’, DON’T COME A KNOCKIN’
We are literally shaking up here during “Jump Around.”   It’s roller coaster-like, for sure, and fun, as long as the TV  monitors up here don’t come crashing down.

HIM, TOO
Aaron Henry’s interception return for a touchdown gives the Badgers 70 points through three quarters.  Back in the day, Wisconsin wouldn’t score 70 points in three games.

GETTING THE MOST OF OF SENIOR DAY
Fans were chanting “J.J. Watt,” and for good reason, after the senior blocked a NU extra point.  Seriously, what more can this guy do? 

IT AIN’T OVER BUT IT IS
James White’s TD run makes it 63-17, and the only thing in question now is the final score.  Can Wisconsin put up more points than it did vs. Austin Peay (70) and Indiana (83)?  I’ll say yes to the former, but no to the latter.  It all depends when Bret Bielema starts pulling the starters. 

REMEMBER HIM?
 John Clay enters the game and loses 2 yards.   As if on cue, Montee Ball goes back in and rips off a TD run of 44 yards, in which he shows exceptional patience, vision, cutback ability, and speed.   The depth at running back on this team is simply amazing.

NOT YOUR FATHER’S BADGERS
Three yards and a cloud of dust?  Not any more…Tolzien to Toon again, the Badgers lead 49-17, and there are still 14 seconds to go in the 1st half.  Wisconsin put up 70 against Austin Peay and 83 versus Indiana.  Who knows what they’re capable of in this one, especially if NU keeps committing turnovers.   Given that style points do matter in the BCS universe, I don’t expect the Badgers to take the foot off the gas pedal, at least in the 3rd quarter.  Consider the statement made to pollsters…loud and clear.  It’s not a flawless Wisconsin team, but it’s a pretty darn good one, and one very deserving of its high ranking in the polls.

PLENTY TO WORK ON IN THE NEXT MONTH
Including: kick coverage.   I don’t think the NU kick return will spark a Wildcats comeback, but it’s something for Wisconsin’s special teams coaches to work on while the Badgers prepare for their bowl game.

ABOVE AVERAGE
With the Tolzien to Toon TD pass, Wisconsin has already eclipsed its per-game scoring average (40.2 points/game).  Tolzien is 11-14, for 166 yards and 3 TD’s.

99-WATT JOLT
J.J Watt is dominating this game defensively.  Another strip, this time of Watkins, leads to a fumble recovery by Aaron Henry.  Badgers are now +5 in turnover ratio, and threatening to score once again.

LOUD THEN QUIET
Scott Tolzien’s beautifully thrown ball to Lance Kendricks for a Wisconsin touchdown brought the Badgers fans to their feet, in full-throated roar…but it’s quiet in here now, as Kendricks remains down on the field.  At first glance, it looks like he may have gotten the wind knocked out of him.  Kendricks is being escorted from the field now.  

CATS ALIVE
Northwestern responds to the turnover and UW  TD with a 11-play, 63-yard drive, in 3:03, to make the score 28-10.   Evan Watkins is no Dan Persa (or Kain Colter, for that matter), but he was able to keep the Wildcats drive alive (and the UW defense honest) with a couple of runs, including a gutty effort to get into the end zone.

THREE PLAYS LATER
Wisconsin is in the end zone, after a Scott Tolzien TD pass of 18 yards to David Gilreath.  The Badgers are ruthlessly efficient in this one.   It’s early, but you wonder whether the Wildcats will be able to make this one even remotely close.  It’s not due to lack of effort; a Pat Fitzgerald-coached team will not roll over, but the Cats are just not executing, and the Badgers are taking advantage.

WATT’S UP, KAIN COLTER?
NU’s backup QB was doing some good things running the ball (compared to starter Evan Watkins), but Colter got introduced to J.J. Watt when the Wildcats started throwing the ball.  The resulting pressure led to a wobbly pass that was picked off by Badgers linebacker Mike Taylor.  Wisconsin, once again, has great field position after the turnover.

BALLIN’
Montee Ball’s TD is his 3rd of the day.  He now has 74 yards rushing.   Not bad for a guy who was 3rd on the UW RB depth chart not too long ago.

ONE QUARTER IN THE BOOKS
The stats are tilting Wisconsin’s way.   Total yards UW 146, NU 106.  Rushing UW 80, NU 34.  1st downs NU 6, UW 7.  Again, the key category is turnovers, NU 3, UW 0.

BUT THERE GOES THE SHUTOUT
Northwestern is on the board with a long field goal by Stefan Demos.  The Wildcats taking advantage of some good field position, brought about by their defense, which forced Wisconsin to go 3-and-out following the last turnover.  Really, the stats are fairly even in this game, but the 3 NU turnovers are clearly the difference so far.

ONE MORE FROM THE D
Cornerback Antonio Fenelus with outstanding form on that interception, locating the ball, shielding the receiver, and making the pick on the NU 5-yard line.  Wisconsin is +3 in turnover margin, and there are still more than 5 minutes remaining in the 1st quarter…amazing.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
After the game, if the Badgers are running around on the field hoisting the Big Ten trophy, Wisconsin’s defense ought to get a ton of credit.  This time, it’s J.J. Watt forcing a fumble and Tyler Dippel recovering.  From there, a few Montee Ball runs, and the Badgers own a 14-0 lead.  It’s early, very early, but the mood in this place is more toward the coronation side of things (as opposed to the coronary side of things).

THAT WAS INTERESTING
The average grumbling quotient in the Camp Randall press box is generally always lower than it is at Lambeau Field, but a few of my  media bretheren were questioning the 3rd & 1 play call.  Instead of pounding the ball up the middle or off tackle, the Badgers ran a reverse to Lance Kendricks and promptly lost 6 yards.   In the interests of being balanced, good special teams coverage on the Brad Nortman punt pins Northwestern back on its own 4 yard line.

I GOT YOUR STATEMENT RIGHT HERE
As if on cue, the defense creates a turnover, good pressure on the QB by Ethan Hemer, Aaron Henry applying the hit, with Jay Valai getting the pick, giving Wisconsin posession on the Northwestern 40.  So far, so good for the Badgers. 

LIKE I SAID, NO HELP NEEDED
A great opening drive by the Badgers: 5 plays,  74 yards, in 2:24, the big plays being a 30-yard screen pass from Scott Tolzien to Lance Kendricks, followed immediately by a 32-yard run by Montee Ball.  Clearly, Wisconsin looks ready to play…now it’s the defense’s turn to make a statement.

NO HELP NEEDED
With both Ohio State and Michigan State winning today, Wisconsin needs a win to clinch a share of the Big Ten title.   My guess is that the team is just  fine with that, they’d just as soon earn it on the field.

READY TO GO
I’ve got internet access, a spot in the press box, and some food.  Life is good.  There’s plenty of state-wide representation today in the press box, which you’d expect, given what’s on the line today.

Posted under Hometown Sports

(For this blog, I’ll be posting in reverse chronological order; in other words, the most recent will be at the top, with the oldest toward the bottom.  Enjoy, and if you’re so inclined, add your comments.)

IT’S ALL OVER
Packers win 31-3, Green Bay’s biggest win ever over Minnesota here in the Metrodome.  I am heading downstairs for postgame, catch our reports tonight at 10:00 P.M.

NOW THEY’RE MAKING NOISE
With 8:50 to go in the 4th, Vikings fans are chanting, “Fire Childress.”  But the their apathy is so widespread, the chant only lasts 10-15 seconds…

NO GLOATING FROM TED
Ted Thompson, who is sitting in the row behind me, looks as stoic as ever.   Still, you think that somewhere inside, he feels vindicated about the decision made by he and Mike McCarthy to promote Aaron Rodgers to Packers quarterback.   All those people who went on message boards late in the summer of ’08 to bash TT & MM must feel a little sheepish now.

EXODUS…MOVEMENT OF JA PEOPLE
They’re not playing Bob Marley on the PA system (“Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne), but they should, because many of the purple-clad loyalists (and I use that term, loosely) are heading for the exits.   Those that remain are sitting quietly in their seats.

TODAY’S MEETING TO DISCUSS THE VIKINGS FANS APATHY PROBLEM HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST
The folks wearing purple don’t even seem to care enough to boo this team…and that’s a sad commentary.

PICK UP YOUR UNDERGARMENTS, PLEASE
Greg Jennings absolutely undressed a couple of Vikings defenders on that TD pass.  Who were those defenders, you ask?  Does it even matter any more? For the record, it was Madieu Williams and Asher Allen, NFL players who, on that play, looked like really bad high school defensive backs.   Not a whole lot of booing in here, more like stunned silence. Still, I’ll be keeping the ear plugs for now.

CUE THE BOOING
Vikings booed off the field by their fans.  Only fans cheering in here are wearing green and gold, although there appears to be one woman singing “Skol Vikings.” GB converts turnover into points.  Packers will also get the ball to start the 2nd half.  Not good for the home team, looking good for the visitors, but there’s a lot of football left to play (a cliche, I know, but I’ve seen too many wacky things happen in this dome over the years)

WHAT WAS THAT I JUST SAID ABOUT TRAMON WILLIAMS?
Another All-Pro play by Williams, who jumped the slant route, and picked off Favre’s pass intended for Harvin.

GOOD AND LUCKY
Good: Rodgers made a beautiful toss down the sideline to Jones for a 39-yard gain, then Rodgers showed his escapability avoiding the rush and throwing a dart to Jennings in the end zone.  Lucky: Asher Allen dropped what would have been an end zone interception.   You need to be both good and lucky to win NFL games.   Packers offense starting to get untracked after slow start. 

LIKING THE STRATEGY
Crosby popped up the kickoff leading to a 3-yard return from Jeff Dugan out to the 31.  I’ll take that any day over letting Harvin have a chance to break one.

BETTER THAN NOTHING
The long pass leads to a 42-yard field goal by Mason Crosby.  Drive stalled after the big gain, but getting points on a drive has to be a boost for a Packers offense that up to that point, had been spinning its wheels much like plenty of vehicles on I-94.

FINALLY
A long gain by the Packers, as Rogers hits Greg Jennings for a gain of 47 yards.   Nice job by Jennings of battling for the ball and making a big play.

THAT’S GOTTA HURT
Tramon Williams literally planted Greg Lewis into the turf.  WIlliams continues to play at an All-Pro level.

APPARENTLY NOT
Green Bay goes 3 and out after the turnover.  Packers have just one 1st down in this game.  Not sure if it’s rust coming off the bye week, or the usual problems the Packers deal with when they visit the Metrodome.  It starts up front, and the GB O-line is not winning those battles.  

1ST TURNOVER
Charles Woodson (who else) strips Toby Gerhart, and A.J. Hawk recovers.   Can the Packers do anything with this momentum shift?

1ST QUARTER STATS
Vikings gettting untracked offensively, 89 total yards for Minnesota compared to 8 for Green Bay.   Packers have done next to nothing offensively.   It appears they’ve committed to run the ball, it remains to be seen how long they stick with that strategy.  If they can keep the Vikings off the scoreboard or hold them to a field goal on this drive, my guess is that the Pack will continue to pound the ball.   If it’s a TD and a 10-0 lead, GB may have to pass.

ANOTHER INJURY UPDATE
Vikes linebacker Chad Greenway has left the game with an apparent head injury, maybe poked in the eye?

INJURY UPDATE
Vikings right guard Anthony Herrera has left the game with a knee injury; his return is doubtful.

VIKES ON THE BOARD
A small victory for the Packers defense, holding Minnesota to a field goal.  Big play in the drive was a 25-yard run by Adrian Peterson, but he’s been bottled up pretty well otherwise.  Still, he and Harvin are the most dangerous guys on the field.  All in all, Green Bay is applying pretty good pressure on Favre. 

ONE GOOD 3 AND OUT DESERVES ANOTHER
Pretty conservative play-calling by the Packers on their opening drive,  Brandon Jackson runs and an incomplete pass, Rodgers and Quarless not on the same page there.

EVEN QUIETER NOW
After the Vikings go 3 and out on their first series.

NOT AS LOUD AS I CAN RECALL
It’s loud in here, but there seems to be an air of anticipation from the Vikings faithful, as if they’re waiting on their team to do something postive.  How long will they have to wait…we shall see.

Posted under Hometown Sports

Only two games remain in the  football regular season for the Badgers, and those two will determine where Wisconsin will be playing its bowl game–either in Pasadena, New Orleans, or (please, no, not again) Orlando.

Yes, I know that the vagaries of the BCS system and the intricacies of the Big Ten tie-breaking system could still impact the Badgers’ bowl plans, but for the most part, Wisconsin does control its own destiny.

Even if Bret Bielema’s boys just gave me 83 reasons not to worry about either a trip to Ann Arbor or the finale at Camp Randall versus Northwestern, both games are potential traps for the Badgers.

Granted, I also thought the Indiana game would be a potential trap, but that was assuming IU quarterback Ben Chappell, the Big Ten’s leader in passing yardage, would a play a full game.   Clearly, Chappell was so important to the Hoosiers’ fortunes that his teammates all but quit when the QB went to the sidelines in the second quarter with an injury.   

If Wisconsin’s going to win out, the Badgers have to control some pretty good QB’s over the next two weeks: Denard Robinson of Michigan, and Northwestern’s Dan Persa, who just happen to rank 1 & 2 in terms of total offense in the conference (Robinson: 340.7 yards/game, Persa: 310 yards/game)

The best way to control a dynamic offensive player is to keep him on the bench, and it would seem that Wisconsin would have a better chance of doing that at Michigan.  The Wolverines are woeful on defense this season.  They are 9th in scoring defense among Big Ten teams, allowing 32.1 points/game, just ahead of 10th place Indiana (33.6).   Michigan is 11th in total defense, allowing 433.9 yards/game.  The Badgers, meanwhile, rank 2nd in the Big Ten in time of possession: 31:45 per game.

Offensively, Northwestern’s not as dynamic as Michgan (NU is 5th in total offense, UM is 1st), but the Wildcats are better defensively (5th in scoring defense, 8th in total defense) compared to the Wolverines.

This Wisconsin team is not invincible, but it’s the most balanced of the Bielema-era Badgers, and probably the most mature.   I’ll say Wisconsin wins its final two games, but both will be an adventure.  

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports

It’s the place where Washington Avenue South, West 78th Street, and Viking Drive all converge…or, if you prefer, here’s the actual address of Winter Park (Minnesota Vikings headquarters): 9520 Viking Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota. 

“Vikings headquarters” may even be a misnomer these days, because the word “headquarters” implies that it’s the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated.  Exactly what has been coordinated at 9520 Viking Drive in the last 3+ weeks is unclear.  The same NFL organization that swung a trade for Randy Moss (to great fanfare), waived the talented but tempermental wide receiver after four games, 13 receptions, 174 yards, and 2 touchdowns.  That’s not coordination–it’s a complete lack thereof.

I’m no expert on NFL drafts or trades, but that’s some whizzinator-poor value the Vikings received for giving a 3rd-round pick to the Patriots.  It’s also whizzinator-poor judgement to have pulled the trigger on the deal in the first place–did anyone at Winter Park think Randy Moss had undergone a personality transplant?  Could anyone at Vikings HQ claim that Moss’ October behavior was out of character?  Had anyone met the guy?

Still, it’s not that surprising, when you consider that this is the same organization that went “all-in” to convince a soon-to-be 41-year old quarterback to get off his lawn tractor and finally report to practice–albeit, several weeks late. 

There’s been so much organizational ineptitude this season that I’m guessing part of the long-suffering fan base has to be yearning for the days of Mike Tice, Denny Green, and Red McCombs.   Any more miscalculations and missteps by Brad Childress and we’ll be invoking the name of Les Steckel, who was elevated to Vikings head coach in 1984,  after the legendary Bud Grant stepped aside.

For those too young to recall those dark days, here’s an excerpt from a Sports Illustrated article, which sheds some light on the debacle that was Steckel’s one season as head coach: 

Posted under Hometown Sports