Inside the Huddle: Taylor and Badgers want to make more magic vs. Miami
December 27, 2018 | Football, Mike Lucas, Bowl Central
Wisconsin receivers eager to end season on a high note in rematch with Hurricanes in Pinstripe Bowl
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — To Miami's defensive backs, A.J. Taylor was just a number, a No. 4 on the screen during their film study of the Wisconsin offense leading up to the Orange Bowl. This is not to say that they didn't respect Taylor as a wide receiver. It's just that Taylor hadn't done enough to strike fear in anyone.
Tight end Troy Fumagalli had the most receptions (43) and posed the biggest threat to the Canes secondary. Quintez Cephus had the second most catches (30) and a team-high six touchdowns even though he hadn't played in the previous four games after suffering a season-ending injury.
Taylor had caught 23 passes for 370 yards and four touchdowns; two more catches, eight more yards and two more TDs than Danny Davis, who had played in two fewer games. There's a very good chance that Miami may have also underestimated Davis' potential impact on the outcome.
Taylor has gone back and watched the tape a few times; the tape of Wisconsin's stunning 34-24 win over No. 10 Miami last December at Hard Rock Stadium, the Canes home field. A few times? "Right after the game I had a look at it," he said. "And then the next day. I watched it for a couple of weeks."
All in all, he said, "Honestly, I've probably watched it 30 times from the game 'til now."
Last week, the UW receiving corps, as a position group, reviewed the Orange Bowl tape.
"We watched to compare personnel," Taylor said.
And one thing stood out.
"We're going against a lot of the same people," he added.
Practice at Meadowlands #OnWisconsin // #Badgers
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFB) December 24, 2018
Miami's starting linebackers are the same as they were in the 2017 game against Wisconsin. Shaquille Quarterman and Michael Pickney are the second- and third-leading tacklers this season; Zach McCloud is eighth. Quarterman was first-team All-ACC. The trio has a combined 103 career starts.
Three starters return in the secondary, led by safety Jaquan Johnson, the leading tackler; and cornerback Michael Jackson, Jr. Both were among 14 semifinalists for the Thorpe Award which annually honors the top defensive back in college football.
Johnson has 28 career starts; Jackson has 22. Both are seniors. Joining them in the starting lineup are senior safety Sheldrick Redwine (29 starts), who had six tackles and a tackle for loss against the Badgers; and sophomore cornerback Trajan Bandy (15 starts). All four starters earned All-ACC recognition.
The Hurricanes have excelled in pass defense, holding opponents to 140.8 yards per game, the top mark in the nation. Michigan is second (145.9). Seven different players have at least one interception. Two have been returned for scores. Bandy and Redwine have three picks each.
"I do remember they have good DBs," Taylor said. "They're fast, they're physical, they're tough. There's going to be a big speed change that we're going to have to get used. When you get into the game, it's a different level than we've really been competing against."
Asked if they're trash talkers, he said, "Not too much. I'm not a big talker, either. I just play."
Taylor's actions spoke loudly in the Orange Bowl. On the first third down of the game (third-and-9), he caught a pass for 18 yards, setting the tone for the offense. Taylor ended up with a career-high eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.
"I don't think I caught any route twice," he said. "Every route was different."
What made the difference?
"We just decided to compete," he said. "Something clicked in everyone's head."
Miami coach Mark Richt attested to that during his postgame comments.
"He was throwing darts; he threw it on the money in a lot of tight coverage," Richt said of quarterback Alex Hornibrook, who was the MVP after throwing for 258 yards and four touchdowns. "Good route-running, good concepts, good protection, good throws and good catches."
Hornibrook will not play in the Miami rematch because of symptoms from a head injury. Canes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, who has accepted the Temple head coaching job, doesn't expect the Wisconsin offense to change much structurally with Jack Coan as the starting quarterback.
🎶 "I'm coming home, coming home "Tell the world Jack's coming home" 🎶 Sayville, New York, native Jack Coan prepares to start at QB in the @PinstripeBowl. He'll do so at Yankee Stadium, just 55 miles from his home doorstep.
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFB) December 23, 2018
If there is a difference, it may be in how the Hurricanes view the Badgers receivers.
"I'm going to have to prove myself again," Taylor said.
After a strong start to the 2018 season — 10 catches for 219 yards in the first two games — Taylor struggled with consistency. He caught 14 passes over the next eight games. Twice, he was blanked. Some of it had to do with the uneven play at quarterback. But he wasn't making any excuses for himself.
"It's making those little catches," he said. "There are definitely some that I wish that I could have back. I don't care how the ball was thrown, I have to work on catching it. It's tough. There are always things going through your head. When you're down, you're looking for that light."
Taylor saw the "light" at Purdue in what was his reawakening. After managing just five catches in the previous four games, he matched that total (five for 89 yards) in Wisconsin's triple-overtime victory over the Boilermakers. Coan's two longest completions (34 and 24 yards) were to Taylor.
What clicked for Taylor in West Lafayette?
"I really don't know," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "It could be the football gods."
Upon further review, he said, "I took advantage of my opportunities."
And that's something the Badgers must do against the Hurricanes. Again.
"Ending on a good note always helps everything," Taylor said of the importance of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, especially since both teams have fallen well short of preseason expectations. "Winning can give us a sense of confidence and build our identity going into next year."
"One of those places that kind of had a magical feel to it" Earlier this month, D'Cota Dixon spent a few days in New York for an awards banquet. Now, he's excited to share the NYC experience with his teammates for the @PinstripeBowl.
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFB) December 20, 2018
First and 10: Miami
1. Defensive tackle Gerald Willis, a second-team All-American, has pulled himself from the game because of a lingering hand injury. Willis, a senior captain, had 18 TFLs – more than any other DT in the country. The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder had a season-high four TFLs vs LSU in the opener.
2. Joe Jackson is the lone returning starter on the D-line from the Orange Bowl. Jackson, who leads the Canes with nine sacks this season, is just one of seven active FBS players with at least 24 career sacks. He has five TFLs and four sacks over the last two games.
3. Miami loves to create havoc with a defense that has produced 126 TFLs and 37 sacks to go along with 15 picks, 41 pass breakups and nine fumble recoveries. The Canes overwhelmed Pitt with 14 TFLs and six sacks and completely shut down the Panthers offense (62 plays, 200 yards).
4. QB Malik Rosier was more dangerous as runner (9 rushes for 41 yards) than passer (11-of-26 for 203 yards) against the Badgers. Has split time with N'Kosi Perry, who reportedly has been suspended. Combined, they've completed only 52 percent of their passes (19 TDs, 10 picks).
5. Tailback Travis Homer, second-team All-ACC and the team's offensive MVP, needs 31 yards to reach 1,000 for the season. In 21 career games as a starter, he's averaging 82.3 yards and had 168 vs. Pitt. Had 12 carries for 64 yards and one touchdown vs. Wisconsin.
6. Complementing Homer in the backfield is sophomore Dee Jay Dallas, who leads the Canes with 1,162 all-purpose yards. Had a 65-yard TD on punt return vs. Pitt. Has also seemingly overcome a fumbling problem. Has rushed for over 100 three times. Had 69 vs. UW.
7. Turnover Chain 2.0 has more stones (4,000 to 900), more weight (6.6 pounds to 4.4) and a new charm (Sebastian the Ibis has replaced the "U" logo). Over the last 25 games, the Canes have 55 takeaways. DB Trajan Bandy has worn the chain the most: five times.
8. Miami's leading receiver and punt returner Jeff Thomas was dismissed from the program after the Nov. 17 win at Virginia Tech. He had 35 catches for 563 yards and three touchdowns. Thomas, an East St. Louis native, has transferred to the University of Illinois.
9. With Thomas' departure, tight end Brevin Jordan, a true freshman, has emerged as one of the leading receiving options with 30 receptions and four TDs. In the red zone, the Hurricanes like to feature 6-foot-5 Lawrence Cager, who has a team-high six scores.
10. After losing four straight (Virginia, Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech), the Hurricanes have rallied to dominate Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh, 62-17, in winning back-to-back games. Defense has been a strength all season. Opponents are averaging just 4.2 yards per play.
Peace, Love & Happy Holidays ✌️ Another day in New York City #OnWisconsin // #Badgers
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFB) December 24, 2018
Note to Quote
As the narrative goes, Richt spent practice time on the first day of training camp drilling on third-down scenarios, offensively and defensively. It has paid off. Miami ranks No. 1 nationally in third-down conversion defense (23.7%). Pitt was 1-of-15; Virginia Tech was 2-of-12. Meanwhile, after ranking No. 125 in offensive third-down conversions (29.0%, including 2-of-10 vs. UW) last season, the Hurricanes have jumped to No. 48 (41.6%) through 12 games. By comparison, Wisconsin ranks No. 54 in third-down conversion percentage on defense (40.8%) and No. 60 on offense (38.3%). In their losses, the Badgers have gone 4-of-13 (BYU), 2-of-11 (Michigan), 4-of-12 (Northwestern), 4-of-15 (Penn State) and 4-of-11 (Minnesota) on third-down conversions. Question du jour: Can they sustain drives against the Canes? Miami has forced three-and-outs on 41.4% of opponents' possessions.
Quote to Note
On replacing the injured Ryan Connelly at inside linebacker, Chris Orr said: "I tried to comfort him first because I know how it feels to miss time. Then, I started getting my mindset ready to play the whole game. I've prepared like a starter every week. Even if you don't play a second, you have to be prepared and when you do get out there, you have to put your all-out effort into it. For me, it was special teams. I was in all phases and it was definitely fun to see that side of the game. Whatever the case, you have to play every play like it's your last. You understand what I'm saying? It's not like you lose your love for the game just because your rep count might have gone down."
