Badgers grades, snap counts on defense from Week 7 vs. UCLA: Did the defense actually play poorly?
How did the Badgers fare on Saturday?
The Wisconsin Badgers suffered a 17-7 loss to the UCLA Bruins on Saturday, despite a strong defensive performance. The Badgers held UCLA running back Wayne Knight to just 23 yards on 13 carries, forcing the Bruins to rely on passing the ball. However, the Badgers struggled on defense, allowing UCLA to convert 13 third downs and keep possession for over 37 minutes.
The defensive line, led by Hammond Russell, played a crucial role, holding the top spot in snaps with 42. Outside linebackers Sebastian Cheeks and Tyreese Fearbry also contributed significantly with 58 and 45 snap counts respectively. Mason Posa, the linebacker, had a standout performance with five pressures. Cornerbacks Jai’mier Scott and Bryce West faced significant targets, with Scott getting 63 snaps and Bryce 59.
Safety Matthew Jung was ejected late in the game for a targeting call, and his performance was marred by a costly mistake on a third and long. Overall, while the defense showed resilience, particularly against the run, it was unable to contain UCLA's efficient passing game.
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