How the Badgers' Defense Plans to Counter Ohio State Star Marvin Harrison Jr.
Oct 21, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) drags Penn State Nittany Lions safety Kevin Winston Jr. (21) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 20-12.
© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Wisconsin Badgers have a big challenge ahead in the upcoming Ohio State game, especially in wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The son of the NFL Hall of Famer has football in his blood and it shows. In his latest game against Penn State, Harrison managed 11 catches for 162 yards and it was his fifth game this season that he went 100 yards. Speaking about Harrison, Ohio State's coach Ryan Day said, “We targeted him 16 times. I think he was open on most of those 16 plays. He showed up in a big spot."
There’s a reason Harrison is projected as a high first-round pick for the 2024 NFL draft. Not only is he a skilled football player but he's also bigger and faster than most. This makes the challenge multi-dimensional. Wisconsin needs to bring a diversified defensive strategy that goes beyond one-on-one matchups, involving special attention from the secondary and different defensive looks.
Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebackers Maema Njongmeta (55) and Jordan Turner (54) tackle Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson (2) at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason-USA TODAY Sports
© Tork Mason-USA TODAY Sports
Playing Smart: The Key for the Badgers' Defense
The Badgers' defense will need to stay focused and work together to stop a powerhouse like Harrison. Cornerback Ricardo Hallman leads the Big Ten with four interceptions and should be at the forefront of Wisconsin's strategy. Hallman emphasized the need to be physical, “Ultimately we’re going to have to challenge him and make him earn it, be physical with him, make sure he doesn’t have anything easy, and don’t let him get comfortable out there.” The idea is to disrupt his comfort level and force him into errors.
Inside linebacker Maema Njongmeta is another piece of the Badgers' defense puzzle. Just this season he's racked up 31 total tackles with 2 sacks. Njongmeta is right on track to break his record from last season when he recorded 95 total tackles.
Cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean has only played in 6 games with the Badgers but he's already off to a promising start, pulling off 12 total tackles so far this season. He spoke about the need to play 'our style of ball', stating, “You’ve got to have good discipline, do the little things right. We can’t make it to the point where we’re playing scared. We’ve got to play our style of ball.”
Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean (10) prior to the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Lessons from Last Year
Wisconsin suffered a painful 52-21 defeat against Ohio State last season. Ricardo Hallman recalls the team's lackluster performance, "We just didn’t execute. “We watched the film after. It was bad. It was brutal after every play. We weren’t executing. We were messing up something. I just think in a way the moment got too big for us. ... We didn’t play sound as a defense.”
Final thoughts
Wisconsin cannot afford a repeat of last year's errors if they aim to contain Harrison and claim victory. The Badgers' defense has a chance for redemption after last year's heavy loss, but it requires a team effort.
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