This week, we're taking a look at one position that was a problem for each Big Ten team in 2014 and how they might fix it in 2015. Next up is Wisconsin.
Problem position: Wide receiver
Why wide receiver was a problem in 2014: We all know that Wisconsin's passing game wasn't very good in 2014, and the quarterback position was an area of trouble at times. But the lack of upper-echelon talent at wide receiver was even more glaring the season after Jared Abbrederis departed. The Badgers ranked just 12th in the Big Ten in passing offense, and averaged a pedestrian 11.6 yards per reception. Former walk-on Alex Erickson led the team with 55 catches for 772 yards, and the next most productive receiver was senior slot man Kenzel Doe, who had 17 catches for 197 yards. Tight end Sam Arneson, who was a big pass-catching weapon, has graduated.
How it can be fixed (solutions on the roster): Erickson will be back, and should remain the No. 1 option. Wisconsin will hope to get more out of Jordan Fredrick, who had 13 catches last season, and the disappointing duo of Reggie Love and Robert Wheelwright. Love scored on a 45-yard end around in the opener against LSU, then did almost nothing the rest of the season. Wheelwright's touchdown catch in the season finale against Minnesota was somehow his only reception of the year. A trio of rising sophomores -- George Rushing, Natrell Jamerson and Krenwick Sanders -- will be asked to contribute more, with Rushing looking like the most promising of the group.
How it can be fixed (potential help from 2015 recruiting class): Not much, at least so far. Wisconsin has only one receiver committed in this year's class, and that's Andrew James from Fort Lauderdale, Florid. He's a three-star prospect, according to ESPN Recruiting.
Early 2015 outlook: One of the main priorities for new head coach Paul Chryst is developing the passing game, including the quarterbacks and receivers. Still, Wisconsin is unlikely to become Wide Receiver U any time soon. This is still an offense that will rely heavily on the run game and use its tight ends (Troy Fumagalli should step in for Arneson in '15) and tailbacks as receiving options. Yet the Badgers receivers are often open because opposing defenses pay so much attention to the run game, so they need to be much better than they were last season. If even one or two wideouts can step up to help Erickson, that would go a long way toward improving the entire offense.