The Wisconsin Badgers pulled off a big blow last weekend, defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 52-6 for a big win, having recently seen themselves defeated by significant margins in two straight games.

Now sitting at 3-2, the Badgers have a crucial matchup coming up on Saturday, taking on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on the road, with the spread essentially even appearing before the game.

Wisconsin could have a tough defensive battle in this one, as the Scarlet Knights have had strong defensive performances this year, while the Badgers have a good secondary that held up well against Purdue.

But one of the most important aspects the Badgers can utilize when it comes to their offensive end is their running backs, especially in the passing game.

Wisconsin saw real success last weekend as they threw on their running backs in the passing game and got several explosive plays in the air, while Darrion Dupree had a nice 18-yard catch after a nice find by Braedyn Locke on a 3rd and long. Additionally, Cade Yacamelli had a good 17-yard pickup that worked 1-on-1 against a linebacker with a corner route that was easy to complete.

The Badgers have several running backs who appear to be able to generate success through their playing styles, and some of those players got a bigger opportunity last weekend with the change in lineups at the position.

Have the Badgers unlocked a new threat in the passing game, with running backs serving as receivers out of the backfield?

“It’s unique when you have guys that are a little bit different,” head coach Luke Fickell said of the running backs this week. “And I think Tawee (Walker) and Darion Dupre Dupree are different in that way. Both can carry the ball. Both can be effective pass protection and catch the ball, but are different. And then you throw Cade Yacamelli into the mix, and he’s different too. He’s a little bit more in, what I would say, Tawee realm, in some ways, in some situations, with a little bit more uniqueness of really good ball skills and things that can be caught.

“But I think those guys in particular give us a bit of a different dynamic now. And I think that for me, it’s always good when you’re in a group, right? I mean, it’s like pass rushers. If one side of the field goes in and the next guy comes in and he does the same things, it doesn’t make it as difficult for the guy in front of him. And so the ability to be able to move those guys, subsidize those guys, they can all run the football. It is not the case that if so and so is in it, (it is known) that they throw it. But they do have different skills that give them the opportunity to perhaps do other things.

If the Badgers can get sustained production from their running backs in the air, it would be a big advantage, not only because there is another weapon available in the passing game, but it would force teams to counter through the box not as often to stack. as they have done so far, by opening up the run game.

It looks like Wisconsin is turning a corner in that area, as they are starting to install more plays that require normal running back routes, potentially setting up some shot plays.

“I hope (the running backs get more opportunities in the air),” running back Cade Yacamelli said this week. “I mean, I feel like we won the whole fall camp, and I mean, in the spring too, so I mean, honestly, I hope so. I think Coach Longo will definitely trust us more and more as we make those plays. I mean, we just had three plays so the running backs can kind of take drag routes, like deep shots, things like that. So obviously it gets us excited, especially if he’s excited enough to call and he has confidence in us.

With the number of good elusive backs Wisconsin has, there should be a focus on more downfield routes for the running backs, rather than the swing passes and flats we’ve become accustomed to over the past year and a half.

That aspect would open up the offense in a major way, as the running backs thrive in man-to-man coverage, and we saw some of the results against Purdue last weekend.

Facing a strong defense against Rutgers on Saturday, Wisconsin will need all the weapons they can get, and a new one may have just been unlocked.