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Badger Bits: Is There Still Some Creativity Left in the Tank?

Does Wisconsin have any tricks left up their sleeve after pulling out all of the stops to defeat Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship Game?

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Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE

Wisconsin's offensive trickery in the Big Ten Championship Game has been well-documented, but equally as impressive was what the defense did to stymie Taylor Martinez and Co. Their "Indy" package--two down defensive ends split wide and a chaotic melange of linebackers and linemen in the middle--forced six sacks and two interceptions in a blowout win.

No one could accuse Wisconsin's defense of being vanilla, for one game at least. The Badgers appear ready to deploy the scheme again in the Rose Bowl. With a month to prepare, the Stanford Cardinal have likely spent at least some time thinking about how best to exploit the package, however. Stepfan Taylor could have a solid day if Wisconsin consistently puts just two players in a three-point stance on running downs.

We'll see what Wisconsin does as a counter to the inevitable counter. After the championship game, everything and anything should come as no surprise.

Five more days.

Links:

Bo Ryan isn't panicking despite a rocky start to the season.

Stanford starting defensive end Ben Gardner is from Homestead High School in Wisconsin. He still harbors resentment from being passed over for a scholarship by the Badgers.

Stepfan Taylor out dueled several top-flight running backs this season.

Miller time: Wisconsin offensive linemen show their appreciation for Bart Miller in the most obvious way possible.

Tiquention Coleman remains the only de-commit from the 2013 class. Gary Andersen was able to contact recruits beginning last Sunday.