Quarterback Tanner Mordecai's return not enough to spark Wisconsin's putrid offense in 24-10 loss to Northwestern
MADISON – The good news for the Wisconsin Badgers was that Tanner Mordecai, Braelon Allen and Chimere Dike were on the field together for the first time in four weeks.
The bad news was that the reunion didn’t last long.
Allen, the team’s leading rusher, played only a few snaps after the first quarter. Dike saw limited action throughout the contest.
The only constant was Mordecai, who took every snap from center in his first game back from a broken right hand. It would have been reason to celebrate if the team didn’t play so poorly overall.
UW’s 24-10 loss to Northwestern on Saturday at Camp Randall equaled its worst to the Wildcats in 28 years.
"Tanner is a tough dude, and whether it's three weeks outside of surgery, I thought he did as good as he could do probably in a lot of situations,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said. “But he's fighting through a lot."
Doctors place screw in Tanner Mordecai's hand to help it heal
Mordecai was injured in the first half of UW’s loss to Iowa on Oct. 14. He explained Saturday that he broke the metacarpal bone that connected to the index finger. Doctors put a screw in the bone to help it heal.
The recovery was slower than expected.
“I thought I was going to be back quicker,” he said.
Mordecai’s numbers Saturday were slightly above his average. A 63.7% passer entering play, he completed 31 of 45 passes (68.9%) for 255 yards. That was his second-highest yardage total of the season. He also had eight runs for 25 yards.
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The reality, however, is the offense struggled, producing just two explosive plays – defined as gains of 20 yards or longer – and failing to reach the end zone until the final minute.
Though Fickell wasn’t sure Mordecai would play until he made it through warmups, the coach had a good idea the senior would return to action after he went through practice Tuesday and Wednesday.
How much discomfort did Mordecai play with Saturday? He wouldn’t say.
“It was fine,” he said. “It was good. I wasn’t worried about it.”
Chimere Dike plays with brace; Braelon Allen limited to three carries
Dike, who wore a brace on his right knee, played the next most snaps of the three players. He was targeted once on an incompletion to the end zone in the second quarter.
Allen’s availability was uncertain for the game, but he was given a chance to show what he could do. He finished with three carries, all in the first quarter, for 0 yards.
It's more than he was able to do last week when he wasn't in uniform for the Badgers' loss at Indiana.
“It didn't seem like he was able to kind of let loose and go,” Fickell said. “We kind of gave him the opportunity. We had to maybe see it in the first drive or so there.
“But I think it became a little bit evident that it didn't feel like he was good enough to go."
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tanner Mordecai's return can't spark Badger football's lowly offense
