This Week in Badgers: Mayo and Maniecki
Season 2 / Episode 14
Welcome to This Week in Badgers, MAYO BOWL CHAMPIONS edition. We will of course discuss all things related to mass produced salad dressing, look at a potential shake-up in the RB room, examine other comings and goings and talk about all the things we should be doing now that the new year is upon us.
Off-season content
The dreaded off-season is upon us and I’ve been thinking of ideas for the Newsletter to fill the pre-Spring Football lull. If you’ve got any topics or ideas you think would be interesting, something I somehow haven’t covered yet or anything you want to contribute yourself feel free to reply to comment below, or @ me on Twitter. Topics that aren’t Graham Mertz and/or play-calling are particularly welcome.
We Should Talk About the Mayo Bowl
If you’re here you surely know the remains of the Mayo Bowl trophy live in Madison as the Badgers turned an oh God what are they doing 14-0 deficit into a fairly easy 42-28 victory.
We’ll get the negative stuff out of the way - the Badgers didn’t play that well, or at least much different than they had in the previous 7 weeks. The offense averaged 4.1 yards per play against a suspect Wake Forest defense and the one exciting play was called back by penalty. The defense struggled to produce much of a pass rush against a suspect Wake Forest OL and the DBs couldn’t stick with the Wake Forest WRs all game.
But of course Wake kept throwing interceptions. They couldn’t stop throwing them. One after another. It was beautiful. Credit to the Badgers of course but when the QB routinely throws balls to your players its a pretty easy way to win. Throw in some special teams plays finally going the Badgers way as Devin Chandler had a nice return and TWIB favorite Jaylan Franklin blocked a punt and we won’t talk about how he should have scooped and scored. Fun game.
The whole thing had a Spring Game feel to it for me. Half the team was sitting out and guys we’ve heard about but seen much of like Logan Brown and Michael Furtney got extended action. The final 8 minutes was an empty-the-bench situation and basically every guy who traveled with the team found his way on the field. Chase Wolf even came in to do a 2 minute drill with a lot of QB sweeps, I think? Did I dream that?
Once it became clear the Badgers were going to win it was super enjoyable to see a bunch of new faces out there. I feel like both fans and the team got something out of the Bowl game and glad they were able to find a way to play.
The season could have gone a bunch of directions after the awful Iowa game, and while the Badgers aren’t going to win any awards for how the last two games looked, they got the wins, got to celebrate and everyone feels a bit better for how the season went. Its all you can ask for.
Can we talk about Duke’s Mayo? It has to be one of the more successful bowl sponsorships. I saw all sorts of talk on Twitter about where to get it, people posting pictures of it and of course the huge focus on the sideline jug that did not contain mayo, sigh. It was all a Rovellian wet-dream.
When I see AT&T sponsoring a game it makes me think about my cell phone bill, when I see Duke’s Mayo making an aggressive move for my mayonnaise brand loyalty I tip my hat and buy a jug (container? jar?) of it and let it sit in the fridge for 9 months before throwing it out.
Kudos to Duke’s Mayo, available at fine retailers everywhere.
We Should Complain About Something
I hope to God the EXTREME lack of information about the team from UW is a one year outlier and they get back to something non-embarrassing next year.
It was really bad all year. Waiting until 5 minutes before the game to post the starters (not listing backups of course, heaven forbid). Guys like Danny Davis and Isaac Guerendo were missing in action for literal months without any word from UW as to why. It was supremely frustrating to follow as a fan. We’ll talk about Nakia Watson in a little bit, but in his interview with Jesse Temple he mentioned he sprained his ankle in practice before the Indiana game and had a 4-6 week recovery. What harm would there have been in letting fans know this during the season? Just bizarre.
If they wanted to explain their thinking here I think we’d be all ears and very understanding, everyone is doing their best and all that, but by not even acknowledging it just seems like they don’t care about the fans.
We Should Talk About Roster Turnover
I mentioned last week that I think they’ll want to be as close to 85 scholarship players as they can be next year, and right after the bowl game we had decisions from some players. I don’t think the timing is an accident, I’m sure the team wants to have an idea of what numbers they’ll have sooner than they would in a “normal” year.
Changes at Running Back?
Nakia Watson, remembered: Semi-surprised when I first saw the news but after about 2 seconds of thinking, really wasn’t. After redshirting in 2018 he wasn’t able to do much to help with the RB load in 2019 behind Jonathan Taylor, and this year fell behind Berger and Groshek in the rotation. Jesse Temple had an exit interview with him and seemed like he just didn’t want to be in a situation where playing time wasn’t assured. Fair enough.
I’m going to sound like Bill Simmons here but I’ve got a “2 year rule” on Badger RBs where I lower expectations if they haven’t shown anything after year 2. (I’m still working on the name) Every mainstay Badger RB I can think of has at minimum shown glimpses of being “the guy” by the time year 2 is over. Watson not being able to help Taylor at all in his 2nd year was probably a sign.
My thinking is that RB is a spot that relies on natural athleticism and speed, something guys usually have or they don’t and its not a position where physical development happens as much as others. Of course guys get injured and there can be other reasons for slow development, but in generally after 2 years in, we sorta know. Isaac Guerendo (3 years in) and Julius Davis (2 years in) are unfortunately past two years and my expectations have been downgraded accordingly. You can update your spreadsheets.
Since I’m somehow on a 4th paragraph about Nakia Watson and you’re still reading — a quick thought on Julius Davis. The fact that he has been on the team for 2 years and not contributed should probably temper expectations, but I think the very online fans (like myself) are overreacting to his old man being oustpoken on Twitter when thinking about his future. Maybe he’ll transfer or seek other opportunities but he hasn’t yet, so maybe hold off on his Badger funeral. Almost all sports parents are insane, some just use Twitter more.
Transfer Opportunities: Somewhat out of nowhere, word broke last week that the Badgers were leading for the services of USC transfer RB Markese Stepp. Stepp is a big dude at 6’, 235 lbs and a bit out of place for USC’s Air Raid offense. A former 4 star guy from Indiana the Badgers recruited out of HS, he seems like a solid backup option that should have a little more potential than Watson.
Stepp had a pretty forgettable 2020 (didn’t we all, hey-ooooo) with just 165 yards on 45 carries but that was in line with a USC team that averaged just 3.2 yards per carry so maybe not a reflection just on him. If you want to be optimistic, he was really starting to turn it on in 2019 with a 3 game stretch where he had 210 yards on 33 carries against good competition in Washington, Notre Dame and Arizona. He injured his ankle in the Arizona game and missed the rest of 2019, but at least showed his potential as a #2 back for a stretch.
In assistant coaches leaving news, Inoke Breckterfield appears to be off to Vanderbilt. First reported on the message boards and Jaypo has sorta confirmed without confirming. Hopefully with the financial strain COVID has put on athletic departments we’re spared the “Wisconsin doesn’t pay assistants enough!” nonsense, but someone will write the article, mark my words.
Breckterfield seemed fine and well-liked but I’m not especially worried the Badgers will have a hard time finding someone to take his spot.
They’re Back!
Before we get into what this means for the Badgers, what’s with Badger players and chain restaurants near East Towne Mall? Last year we had Jonathan Taylor at Doolittles, now this.
Obviously very significant and to me at least, very surprising to see Ferguson back for a 5th year. They would have managed at TE but this gives them another year to get Eschenbach, Rucci, Pugh or whoever some reps as a backup and not need to rely on them. With all the questions at WR, they need all the help they can get and this is really a significant boost.
Faion Hicks and Jack Sanborn
Surprised they had to announce they were back as neither seem to be on NFL radars, but neither was Rachad Wildgoose so I’m definitely not complaining. Sanborn is obviously a team leader on defense and a true difference maker at the spot. Hicks was always just “fine” to me at CB but as we all know you can never have too many guys there.
We Should Stake Some Claims
Let it be said: This Newsletter is designing, building and driving the Aaron Witt Hype Train
I read a lot of Badger stuff and I don’t feel like he’s being talked about much. Evan Flood didn’t have him in his projected two-deep for 2021 and mentioned Izayah Green-May and Darryl Peterson over him in another preview piece. Jaypo had a quick 2021 look without mentioning him. Its a hype train that needs to be built so we’re building it.
I think people are going to be very surprised by him next year. At 6’6” 240 lbs at the start of the year, you have to figure with an off-season he’ll add a little more weight and come back as one of the bigger and most physical OLB they’ve had since TJ Watt. Despite the numbers at OLB he was on the travel roster this year, played some special teams and even got a few meaningful snaps at OLB and a nice sack/fumble late in the Bowl game. That’s really, really rare for a True Freshman at OLB. I think any 2021 preview that doesn’t mention him is making a mistake.
One more: I think people are sleeping on Matt Henningsen a bit. When we analyze the lack of a pass rush the focus is on Baun and Orr, which is of course fine and correct, but I think losing Henningsen was equally damaging. Last year he was in the backfield a lot, with 4 sacks and a couple of fumble recovery TDs. I think he was their best pass rushing DE on the roster and should be talked about more.
Other stuff around the web:
I filed a link to Jaypo’s gamer and it should post later in this list
Obviously Mertz being better in 2021 is key, I liked Jesse Temple’s post-Mayo article on him. Mertz and his parents are saying the right things if nothing else.
Mentioned earlier, but not feeling Flood’s projected depth chart. Anyone can look at the roster and fill in the boxes, take some swings! Give me something here!
Jon at Rivals took a go at it as well, he got Aaron Witt in his two deep but nothing super surprising either. Give me a True Freshman starter, give me a position change, go big or go home!
Have to give it to my guy JR for taking the broken trophy and turning into #content. Sometimes I’ll be knee-deep in the 1987 media guide looking up something for this Newsletter and stop to wonder if there’s something wrong with me, so JR researching the Missouri mascot dropping the Independence Bowl trophy in 2011 makes me feel better.
Jaypo’s gamer
I’m out on Recruiting for the moment since we seem so far away from any actual commits, but Drew Hamm at B5Q has you covered if you need some out of state 2022 guys to dream on.
Ebay Item of the Week
Ebay is full of random game programs that feature some pretty killer photography and this one from the 1996 game against Eastern Michigan is one of my favorites. Remember letter jackets? Man.
Every player in the photograph looks like a stereotype from a movie. It looks like a Wisconsin version of Varsity Blues. As an old millennial, I love it so much.
We Should Remember Some Guys
Since European immigrants are in the news lately, this weeks’ guy is Jason Maniecki, a DE from 1991-1995. Maniecki’s family emigrated from Poland when he was 10 and when he arrived in the US he had the first name Zbigniew, spoke no English and had never played football. He ended with a solid Badger career, a 5th round spot in the NFL draft and a 3 year NFL career. Not bad.
In addition to being a great HS football player Maniecki was a two-time state champion wrestler. A backup to Lamark Shackerford on the 1993 Rose Bowl team, he started and excelled as a starter in 1994 and 1995, earning 2nd team All-Big Ten both years.
Maniecki’s most memorable play was probably dragging down Wally Richardson with one hand to help seal the win at #6 Penn State in 1995. If you have a moment you should watch it here, its incredible. He’s still engaged with the Penn St guard (Packer legend Marco Rivera!) and finds a way to throw down a 220 lb QB with one hand. He also had a big sack to seal the Minnesota win the same year. The mammoth Polish closer the Badgers needed.
Maniecki battled knee trouble throughout his time at Wisconsin and his NFL career was cut short due to numerous back injuries. Following his brief career with the Buccaneers he stayed in the Tampa area and sells real estate these days.
Jason Maniecki, remembered.
Whew. We’ll cut it here for this week. Thanks for reading, eat Duke’s Mayo, go Badgers.
…when are these coming back Andy?