Badgers offense has to change under new OC Bobby Engram
Wisconsin's offense has sputtered each of the past two seasons. Can new OC Bobby Engram help UW get back on track?
Head coach Paul Chryst and the Wisconsin Badgers aren’t oblivious to their current situation. For UW to contend for a Big Ten title in 2022, the Badgers offense will need to improve – in a hurry.
Last season, Wisconsin finished eighth in the Big Ten in total yards per game (371.1). The Badgers’ dominant running game was held back by inconsistent quarterback play and an anemic passing offense that ranked 120th overall (160.2 yards per game), 105th in passing efficiency (120.70) and 83rd in yards per completion (11.76).
Gone are Joe Rudolph and Wisconsin’s top three pass catchers, opening the door for coach Chryst and Company to shake things up in 2022.
Enter first-year offensive coordinator Bobby Engram, who needs to invigorate a stale and waning offensive scheme at UW.
Coach Engram comes to Wisconsin from the Baltimore Ravens, for which he spent eight seasons working under several highly respected coaches.
“Running the football well is important, using the play-action pass, being multiple and doing a lot of different things offensively, but doing them well. For me, it’s bringing a fresh look and my own sense of creativity to what’s already been proven successful here. I’ve been fortunate to be around some great coaches and players in the NFL, and I want to bring the best of what I’ve learned to the Badgers,” Engram said in a Wisconsin football press release.
No wholesale offensive changes are expected to be made in 2022. However, Chryst and Engram will collaborate to bring an infusion of new ideas to the field this season — hoping to jump-start Wisconsin’s offense and return to the top of the Big Ten standings.
Let’s take a look at Wisconsin’s returning personnel entering the 2022 season:
Running Backs:
Coach Engram inherits the No.2 rushing attack in the Big Ten — led by freshman All-American Braelon Allen and senior tailback Chez Mellusi.
The duo have complimentary running styles. Allen is a workhorse capable of taking the lion’s share of the carries, while Mellusi is a slashing runner that proficiently catches passes out of the backfield. It wouldn’t be a stretch for both RBs to exceed 1,000 yards of total offense in 2022.
I’ll be most interested to see if coach Engram can find a way to get the running back room more involved in the passing game. The best offenses can tailor the offensive scheme to the strengths of the returning personnel, and Wisconsin knows where its bread is buttered.
Pass-Catchers:
At wide receiver, junior Chimere Dike will be the unquestioned WR1 in the Badgers passing attack. Behind him, the room has plenty of young, potential-filled options, such as Skyler Bell, Keontez Lewis and Markus Allen, who will fight for meaningful snaps.
Despite being riddled with injuries, UW has a full collection of young ascending tight ends with diverse skills that will collectively work to replace the production of Jake Ferguson.
Offensive Line:
The Badgers return starters Jack Nelson, Joe Tippmann and Tyler Beach. Behind them, coach Bostad has no shortage of talented options pushing to see the field. Wisconsin has eight scholarship offensive linemen that were four- or five-star prospects coming out of high school.
On paper, this is the most talented room on the roster based on recruiting rankings. The hope is coach Bostad can elevate the offensive line play and return it to the Wisconsin gold standard.