This Week's Wisconsin Mailbag

Could big changes be on the horizon with the Wisconsin football program? How did the Badgers get to this point? Badger Blitz answers subscriber questions in this week’s Wisconsin mailbag…

Is Jeff Grimes’ Offense Really Better Than Phil Longo’s?

I think we first need to acknowledge that Jeff Grimes has barely gotten to work with Billy Edwards. On top of that, with no run game to complement anything, any offense is going to look like hot garbage.

That being said, I never felt like Phil Longo stressed a defense outside of a few games here or there. You watched him spread the field with basic route concepts and stuff that was very easy to defend. How many times did we watch Tanner Mordecai or Braedyn Locke hold onto the football for eternity because they couldn’t find anyone open? Watching the game from above in the press box, you had receivers and backs running to the same area, short, quick hitch routes with receivers who don’t specialize in getting separation, with the exception of Will Pauling, and a fake commitment to having a power-run style.

I don’t love Grimes as a playcaller or agree with his feel for the game, but I think he does have an understanding of how to stress a defense with pre-snap motion, a variety of ways to the ball to his playmakers, and a willingness to take deep shots (when he’s got his guy under center). In the fall, I didn’t project big numbers for this offense, by any means, but I thought it would be practical for this program. I think you also have to cut Grimes some slack, because he’s dealing with an offensive line that’s been plagued by youth and injuries.

Based on what I saw during spring practice and fall camp, I think Grimes needs a few different weapons, too. A more mobile quarterback, better blocking receivers, and a battering ram at running back.

Who would be your most realistic top of the board candidate to replace Luke Fickell?

I don’t think there’s a Wisconsin guy who should take this job right now. A lot of people will say Jim Leonard? I wouldn’t want to hand him this mess. If the Badgers do move on from Luke Fickell, this program is going to blow up and start over from scratch. Leonhard, who’s not a big portal guy, not a great recruiter — I’d worry about legacy with an already impatient fan base. I just don’t think this is the time/situation for him to come home.

I’ve talked about him before, but Fran Brown at Syracuse would be my guy. I think this team needs a shakeup, someone who doesn’t tolerate losing, and can breathe life into this program. He was 10-3 in his first season with the Orange. Had his starting quarterback not gone down with an injury, Brown would be in much better shape than his 3-3 start, but he’s pulled back-to-back studs out of the portal at quarterback as well.

Keep in mind, he’s a New Jersey guy. Brown has already come out and said he doesn’t want to leave. But, we’re talking about a guy who makes around $4 million and is at a basketball school in the ACC.

Where did things go wrong with Fickell?

I’ve generally highlighted four areas. It’s tough to say which area was most damning, but I’ll start with the portal.

We’re in an era where you have to win with transfers and Fickell is simply not. He came in guns blazing out of the gate and had what we all thought was a terrific portal class. It was full of big names, but many of the more highly touted players simply didn’t pan out or didn’t progress in their second year. Then, in 2024, his best addition was Elijah Hills. Bless his heart, Hills squeezed out every ounce of talent, but an undersized FCS transfer should not be leading the team in sacks.

You can’t ignore the quarterback injuries either. In three straight seasons, Wisconsin has suffered a major injury at the most important position in sports. If Tanner Mordecai doesn’t break his hand, maybe that’s an eight-win season. If Tyler Van Dyke doesn’t tear his ACL, perhaps Wisconsin gets to a bowl game and Fickell isn’t even on the hot seat right now. I’m not sure we’re in a completely different spot in 2025 if Billy Edwards were healthy, but perhaps the Badgers avoid a pair of embarrassing blowouts.

Third, I think it’s been bad hires. There were really bad reviews of offensive coordinator Phil Longo and offensive line coach Jack Bicknell. There’s also a handful of current assistants where you look down the roster and say, ‘Which of their players are really getting better?’ But mainly with Longo, I don’t mind hiring an offensive coordinator with a different ideology, especially if you’re a defensive coach, but then you need to be hands-off. You can’t be beefing with the guy all season to the point where Fickell feels the need to fire Longo two games before the end of the 2024 campaign. Then, bringing in the same defense at Cincinnati and hoping that a lighter front seven would translate to the Big Ten was also odd. Even more strange that Mike Tressel has a Big Ten background and thought UW could out-athlete people.

Fourth, and a lot more of this is coming out now, but Fickell’s coaching style and motivation tactics are rumored to be more on the intimidation side than anything. I don’t know if it’s more of an issue because he inherited a lot of Paul Chryst guys, and they’re used to having a relationship with their head coach after practice and after the game, but Fickell apparently just isn’t the guy you want to fight for, and he has a hard time turning off the switch when it comes to football.

Big picture, given what you know about UW administration, what structure do you see succeeding here in today’s college football landscape?

I don’t know if I have a strong opinion on how a football program needs to operate. There’s more than one path to success. I do think the most important aspect of a program right now is the ability to manage and attract talent. There’s no getting around it; there’s an arms race taking place in college football, and these super rosters are forming. Indiana is the exception to the rule. They’ve got a head coach who can rub some magic fairy dust on the program, or make a deal with the Devil, and get them to compete with the best. Even though the football program was dead, the Hoosiers also have real money.

In order for Wisconsin to make up for what they lack in NIL, again, not that they’re poor, I think they’ve gotta have an intuitive, hands-on, general manager. Meaning, I’d want him watching college football games across the country 24/7, developing relationships with agents, and being in the portal even if it’s not open. One thing the basketball program does really well is that they prepare to lose everyone on their roster annually, and they recruit like it. They saw Nick Boyd coming from a mile away. They were ready to pounce on that, and all the back channels were taken care of before the San Diego State transfer hit the portal. They only recently got a GM, but the assistants were doing most of that heavy lifting. Now, they’ve got a numbers guy too who can truly help them figure out what players are worth and where money is best spent.

You just saw Oklahoma hire a football guru in Jim Nagy. I think somebody like that is ideal, a general manager who is constantly aware of what’s going on nationally, can evaluate talent and potential fits for the program, and if possible, give some insights to the team during practice — not as an extra assistant coach, but somebody who is going to see things from a different viewpoint. I think the Badgers need someone who isn’t necessarily close to the players and can tell it like it is. Obviously, there are off-season negotiations that take place. You’d like some relationship, but you can’t be buddies with these guys and get your judgment clouded. When it comes to roster management, it’s not college athletics anymore. This is pro sports.

I’m not versed enough to know specifically what UW needs from an athletic director, but you touched on one of the key parts in your initial question, and that’s an AD who can deal with the UW politics. There’s a real belief that the administration isn’t fully committed or willing to do what it takes to win at an elite level. You need an athletic director who can sell or move them in the right direction when it comes to spending the money and/or getting the right players in this program, which sometimes is one in the same. You can even look to the basketball program as an example. They do a lot of their own heavy-lifting with NIL. That’s not acceptable to me. They’ve also lost players, really good players, because of money or contractual issues. And those players have no problem winding up at other power-four programs.

The UW football program made over $150 million for the school in 2024, in its worst season in more than 20 years. An AD needs to wield that power and convince the right people there’s more to be had as well. Having a top football program is good for the overall health of the university and the state itself. The Wire conducted a study and found that universities whose football programs were coming off a major bowl win saw a 19 percent rise in student applications. I’m not suggesting football is the most important thing, at the end of the day it’s a game, but it is oftentimes the cultural hub of a university.

From a head coaching standpoint, relationships have to be vital. This has to be a personable guy who can get Wisconsin discounts when it comes to player retention. It is too difficult in this era to try and find under-the-radar prospects, develop them, and hope they stick around for 4-5 years. It’s also not advantageous with what you can get in the portal, especially if you’re going to buy high school talent. If there is a new head coach coming to Madison, it’s gotta be a guy who lives in that locker room and a guy the players can trust/know he has their backs. It’s simply too hard to keep talent around. It’s a lot harder without a relationship at the top. Doesn’t have to be a UW guy, but I think you have to hire someone you feel confident being here for the long haul and who is invested in this place.

Do you think Wisconsin thought Danny O’Neil was more than he is? Does Carter Smith have potential?

I really don’t think Wisconsin thought of O’Neil as a potential starter down the road. From everything I heard since spring, the Badgers believed Smith was more of the future. UW went and got O’Neil, because he had starting experience, and they needed a backup who could potentially keep things afloat should an injury to the starter arise. Obviously, that hasn’t happened, but Hunter Simmons was simply a depth piece. UW had three scholarship quarterbacks in the spring.

As for Smith, I would never write off a true freshman. Did I get the sense he was anywhere near ready based on fall camp? No. Do I think Grimes prefers him down the road? Yes. Smith hasn’t shown a lot yet outside of the dink and dunk game. He can get the ball out early and is pretty accurate in that 8-10 yard range. Smith’s legs might be his best attribute right now. I like him in the read-option game. However, I wouldn’t say he’s wowed me yet with his arm talent, command of the offense, and ability to carry that.

If I’m comparing him to other true freshmen I’ve seen through one year, I wouldn’t say Smith is ahead of Graham Mertz, Alex Hornibrook, or Joel Stave.

What do you think Wisconsin’s chances are with Amari Latimer?

The RPM predictions have been rolling in for Ohio State since this question was asked, but here’s what I was going to write.

The signs have been there as of late. Latimer chose to wear an Ohio State sleeve at his most recent game. This came right off a visit to Columbus, in which he didn’t tell Wisconsin about ahead of time. Latimer apparently spoke with the UW staff during and assured them he was still solid. Many have also seen the interview with his father at Badger Connect, as well as Latimer publicly apologizing for his decision to rep the Scarlet and Grey while being committed to UW. But listen, if I come home and my wife is having dinner with another man, but nothing’s happened yet, I’m still going to be suspicious.

I went down to Atlanta before the Wisconsin-Alabama game. I made it clear, I didn’t want to drive three hours before an 11 a.m. kickoff the next day to have my time wasted — i.e. if Latimer wasn’t going to end up signing with UW. I was looked dead in the eye and told the four-star running back wasn’t going anywhere.

Now, at the time, the Badgers hadn’t lost to Maryland or Iowa in embarrassing fashion. The Buckeyes also weren’t lurking in this recruitment. Even befor the Ohio State visit, Wisconsin had been talking with other backs. Even though publicly Latimer and his family feel firm, I think behind the scnees there is concern.

Thoughts on Matt Campbell?

If I were ranking candidates and also including ones I think aren’t likely, Matt Campbell would be up on my list. Earlier, I wrote about a relationship-driven head coach and doing more with less. Well, this is that guy.

Now, a lot of people had tried to get him out of Iowa State and haven’t been successful. Of course, there was a time we said that about Luke Fickell and Cincinnati as well. Campbell is making just over $5 million at Iowa State. I’m sure the Cyclones, if they felt a real threat, would bump that figure.

My only question is what type of message would this hire send? Three years ago, Chris McIntosh made a commitment to winning championships. This feels somewhat like a Paul Chryst hire. Campbell is going to be consistent, but he’s got one double-digit winning season in nine years. Campbell is 47-38 in the Big 12. My question would be, you fired Chryst and kicked a Wisconsin man to the curb for what? We’re in a different world than we were three years ago. The Badgers need a rebuild from scratch, but is Campbell that guy who gets you over the hump to start competing with the college football elite?

Now, Campbell has made an irrelevant Iowa State football program a contender. Like Wisconsin used to be, the Cyclones are that team that you don’t relish playing. They do the right things, punch above their weight class, and they’re just flat out tougher than most of their opponents. Campbell has built a helluva culture there and that fan base has rallied around it. And there’s something to be said about perhaps Campbell has taken ISU as far as he can. Give him better resources, maybe he’ll really thrive.

Either way, I think this is a call you have to make.