Leading up to Notre Dame’s game against Wisconsin, the Badgers talked plenty of trash about how they wouldn’t stay away from star defensive back Leonard Moore’s side of the field. Turns out, all that big talk was mostly a smokescreen.
Even when the Badgers had some offensive success, they still weren’t throwing to Moore’s side of the field. Staying away from Notre Dame’s top cornerback left Luke Fickell’s squad trailing the Fighting Irish by a 13-10 halftime deficit. The most famous time they did go after Moore, he almost made an incredible one-handed interception. That likely dissuaded quarterback Colton Joseph and his teammates from trying very often.
Moore was on the field for 33 passing plays. While he was roaming the secondary for the entirety of the game, Wisconsin threw at him only four times, according to Pro Football Focus. On those four targets, the Badgers had just 2 catches for a total of 16 yards.
Even when Wisconsin ran its offense on Moore’s side of the field, it had very little success. Which, of course, is what everyone outside Madison knew would happen.
Notre Dame football star Leonard Moore saw just four targets despite Wisconsin's challenge
Rewind to last Monday, when Fickell said Wisconsin can't 'shy away' from going toward Moore’s side of the field. He said he couldn’t have his Badgers treat Moore like he wasn't anyone else, and they couldn’t cut the field in half and still run their offense.
Since he made those comments, plenty of people tried to tell the head coach on the hot seat entering the game, that it would be a very bad idea to make Moore show him why he’s a feared defensive back.
In the end, even when Wisconsin didn’t throw to Moore’s side of the field, Joseph struggled badly in the second half. He finished the game completing 19 of 30 passes for 217 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception by DJ McKinney, which was returned for a touchdown. That pick-six may have been the clearest sign that the Badgers were staying away from Moore so religiously that Joseph forced a bad throw on the opposite side of the field.
If Wisconsin wants to feel better about itself, it can at least take solace in knowing that it is not the first Notre Dame opponent Leonard Moore has made look silly. The bigger lesson is simple: once again, it is better not to poke the bear.
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