Can the Wisconsin football defense dial-up some pass rush?

The Badgers have struggled to get after opposing QBs this season.

The Wisconsin Badgers entered the offseason fully aware that the pass rush needed a serious shot in the arm. Despite making some notable moves in the transfer portal, the defense’s inability to generate pressure has turned into one of the biggest letdowns of the 2024 season thus far.

Adding length and athleticism were priorities for the coaching staff. The revamped front seven, in many ways, was expected to be a strength for the Badgers. But after three games, it’s evident that this group, especially the outside linebacker room, is falling short in a big way.

On paper, six sacks from the defense through three games isn’t awful, but when you dig deeper, the reality is that Wisconsin isn’t generating consistent pressure off the edges.

One of the biggest surprises has been the lack of impact from Wisconsin’s transfer outside linebackers. Leon Lowery and John Pius, both brought in to bolster the pass rush, have combined for just four pressures on 63 pass-rush snaps. A combined 6.3% success rate simply isn’t good enough if you’re hoping to compete with the big dogs in the Big Ten.