With the graduation of former Wisconsin football quarterback Tanner Mordecai, a fresh face has emerged as the leader of the offense.
Quarterback Tyler Van Dykea five-year-old player who previously played in the team Hurricanes in Miamientered the transfer portal earlier this offseason. Van Dyke struggled with Miami and never quite lived up to his potential, much like the Hurricanes. With the change in scenery, the massive question surrounding Van Dyke is whether he can improve on what he did before.
Wisconsin football quarterback Tyler Van Dyke hopes everything works out
After an fascinating career in Florida, the talented quarterback now heads to Madison, Wisconsin, hoping to turn his career around. Former Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke once showed promise, but its results have deteriorated significantly.
Van Dyke began his collegiate career in 2021 after an unattached 2020 season and had the best season of his career. Miami finished the season 7-5 but forwent a scheduled bowl game due to concerns about a COVID-19 outbreak and ended the season early. The following year, head coach Manny Diaz I will go away and Mario Cristobal would take over power, which turned out to be a move that hinder success from Van Dyke.
Miami has transitioned from an open, aerial style of play to a more conventional, professional style of attack that has underperformed over the past two seasons. Van Dyke has thrown 29 touchdowns over the past two years, four more than he threw under Diaz in 2021 alone. While the quarterback has struggled on the field in his fresh system, Cristobal has searched for answers and made a number of changes to his starting lineups on offense and defense.
Van Dyke spent parts of the last two seasons as a backup quarterback after two consecutive losses and indigent offensive performances. The Wisconsin football staff believes the management of his situation led to his inconsistent play on the field.
Can the Wisconsin Badgers football coaching staff turn the tables on Van Dyke?
For the Wisconsin football staff, Van Dyke’s recruitment and eventual commitment was contingent on the quarterback’s improvement. The Badgers were quick to point fingers after Van Dyke’s commitment, stating that his previous struggles were due to the problems of the Miami football staff, not the quarterback. Wisconsin plans to prove their point as Van Dyke helps the team to a competitive finish this upcoming season.
The real question, though, is not whether Miami actually did a indigent job on offense, but whether Van Dyke is actually as good as talent evaluators believe.
In 2021, Van Dyke had nearly 3,000 yards through the air, 25 touchdowns, and a passer rating of 160.1. 2021 was easily Van Dyke’s best season yet, despite facing the worst offensive line of his career. Wisconsin believes that with a better offensive scheme and a group of players in front of the quarterback in Madison, Van Dyke can really shine.
Reducing turnover and making books easier to read is key to Van Dyke’s success
Whether the problem was the show itself or the talent surrounding Van Dyke, there is no excuse for turnover quarterbacks allowed. Van Dyke was tackled just 10 times last season, the fewest in his three-year career as a starter, but he threw a career-high 12 interceptions. The quarterback wasn’t behind a frail offensive line or facing a lot of pressure, but rather fell victim to bad reads.
The losses significantly slowed the production of both the Hurricanes and Van Dyke, which partially led to their 7-6 record last seasonFor Van Dyke to truly turn things around and play to his full potential this season, the quarterback needs to take what he’s given. Often, when he’s behind, Van Dyke has forced the ball, leading to interceptions, instead of going where the defense allows.
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