The Dairy Raid Podcast

The summer break is upon us and even though July is the worst month on the sports calendar we can still find time to talk about Wisconsin football. On today's docket: Colton Joseph. Is he the savior the Badgers offense needs or can his unique skill set bring out the best in everyone around him? If you have any questions for a future mailbag drop them here! https://forms.gle/apPmnHxZhhasBvJv6For mo...

Badger fans went into spring hoping a true workhorse back would emerge and bring back the feel of old Wisconsin football. That never really happened. What emerged instead was a potential 1A option surrounded by a group of backs whose skill sets fit together naturally and give the run game more balance. The core traits that have always defined Wisconsin running back play are still there and still c...

Wisconsin didn't tweak its wide receiver room this spring, it rebuilt it. With major roster turnover, new position coach, and no established WR1, the Badgers leaned into competition and physicality to completely reshape the position group. From Tyrell Henry's consistency to Eugene Hilton Jr.'s versatility. Jaylon Domingeaux brings a physical edge, and Zion Kearney could be the deep threat we have...

Coming into spring there was an assumption that tight end was going to be a problem. The Badgers have to replace a second-team All-Conference player in Lance Mason at a position that is pivotal for what Jeff Grimes wants to do offensively. Tight ends in this offense are not just extra blockers or safety valve receivers. They help dictate spacing, manipulate coverage, create cleaner reads for quart...

Wisconsin's 2026 spring practice revealed far more than a quarterback competition. It revealed the early construction of a completely new quarterback room identity. While inconsistency and growing pains were common throughout practices, the quarterback room gradually began to separate itself. The room finally feels unified philosophically, with every quarterback fitting a similar offensive archety...

Welcome back to the Dairy Raid as we kick off our “Spring Forward” series, breaking down what we learned from Wisconsin Badgers football this spring and what it means heading into 2026. Today’s focus: an offensive line in transition under Eric Mateos—new faces, new roles, and a clear emphasis on rebuilding identity through technique, communication, and controlled physicality. The flashes are there...

Spring ball is wrapping up, and with the weather finally turning, it felt like the perfect time to get out for a morning walk and talk. Thanks to you the Dairy Raid community I've got a great set of questions to work through, from balancing teaching vs. coaching football to evaluating where this roster's depth stands coming out of spring. We also dig into what a "successful" season would mean for...

Happy Spring Break to those of you who have the ability to observe and to the rest of us Happy "regular old day" Day. The Badgers are taking advantage of the spring break and so it gives us as fans and want to be pundits like myself a moment to reflect on what we have seen from spring practice so far and what to look forward too which to me sounds like a perfect opportunity for a Q&A. If you have...

Spring football isn’t just about surface-level storylines so rather than focusing on hype the real value comes from evaluating big-picture elements like player development, and program leadership. With constant roster turnover and a win-now environment, growth, role clarity, and identity matter more than ever. A successful spring doesn’t provide answers, but it does reveal what’s being emphasized...

I know it's hard to call anything from a 4-8 season successful but we can at least all agree that the defense took a positive step forward. Key transfer portal additions plus the emergence of a pair of young linebackers turned a former liability into a strength. Can another portal overall and more youth finish the job? What is the purpose of spring football? How do coaches approach it, and what ca...

To say the 2025 offense was a disaster is an understatement, but with new players and coaches at key positions there is room for optimism this spring. But how will we know what's working and what isn't? What is the purpose of spring football? How do coaches approach it, and what can as fans learn about the team this spring with such limited access. Answers to these questions and more as we preview...

Finally after what has seemed like the longest off season in Wisconsin football history the Badgers are back on the field for Spring football. What is the purpose of spring football? How do coaches approach it, and what can as fans learn about the team this spring with such limited access. Answers to these questions and more as we preview our spring preview series. If you have any questions for a...

Wisconsin defense that finally took a step forward after two seasons of trying to “merge the elite". The staff recognized that better scheme-to-player fits were needed and fatal flaws could not be fixed by simply better coaching. A major overhauls of the defensive line and outside linebacker rooms, combined with improved inside linebacker play helped transform the unit back into the Top 25 however...

To say the Badgers have been busy so far in the portal is an understatement. In fact they have been adding players so fast that sometimes media like this become outdated before they even get published! Today we look at the players who have been added so far and ask the questions about the roster that their addition might answer. If you have any questions for a future mailbag drop them here! https:...

Before the transfer portal list gets any bigger, and hopefully it doesn’t over the holidays, I wanted to run through the Badgers who’ve entered and give my honest two cents. Some of these will be quick, because when you look at it from the film-room reality side, they just didn’t factor in much; others land in that space where message-board panic takes over and suddenly the sky is falling. My goal...

While this off season so far has not been short on topics to talk about I figured it was time I reached out to you for your questions and you responded by giving me a lot to talk about! What are my early thoughts to the new offensive line coach, the state of the run game, and whether the offense is truly finding an identity plus lot's more! If you have any questions for a future mailbag drop them...

The silly season has begun and the coaching staff has a lot of work to do to bring Wisconsin football back to the level that we as fans expect. Today we take a dive into the staff, the work they have done, and what work they have left to do. And while I would never advocate for the firing of a coach I can see what is plainly there and which coaches are not working at the level that is needed for t...

The silly season has begun and even though we are still weeks away from the transfer portal opening it is never too late to get a head’s start on such an important topic. In this episode we will look at the current Badgers roster and look for holes that need to be filled, positions that can be upgraded, and take a look forward at a potential depth chart. For more in depth content check out the Dai...

Wisconsin high school coaches have spoken, but it’s what they said in the margins and between the criticisms that spoke the loudest about the future of in state recruiting and the Wisconsin football program. A youth movement has already started in Madison and it’s not just 2 stars from Peshtigo anymore. If you have any questions for a future mailbag drop them here! https://forms.gle/apPmnHxZhhasBv...

After a hard-fought loss to Oregon, Luke Fickell may have just bought himself more time in Madison. Despite numerous injuries and a tough road environment, Wisconsin showed grit and defensive progress that should quiet talk of a midseason firing. We break down why the “players don’t play hard” narrative is flat-out wrong, and why the locker room’s belief still matters. Plus, we dive into why Hunte...

I never thought I’d see the day that Badger Nation would turn on Barry Alvarez, but after comments he made on his radio show the fan base and media alike are sharing their displeasure with The Don. Is it repressed memories of being scolded by our parents or the fact that he didn’t publicly agree with the #FireFickell movement? Whatever is it it fails to see the point that maybe Barry is right. If...

Why is the Grimes offense a better fit for the Badgers? Why has the transition been smoother than from Chryst to Longo? Let's have a chat about that plus a look into the use of unbalanced formations and a dive into which unit has improved the most for Wisconsin Football and why. If you have any questions for a future mailbag drop them here! https://forms.gle/apPmnHxZhhasBvJv6 For more in depth con...

Back out in the neighborhood for the first "walk and talk" of the 2025 season. With some great questions from you the viewer we talked about growth within the defensive scheme, the future of the offensive with Danny O'Neil at QB, and much more. For more in depth content check out the Dairy Raid on Substack - https://dairyraid.substack.com Find audio-only versions on your favorite podcasting app, l...

It has often been said since Jeff Grimes has been hired that despite the heavy run focus nature of his offense the vertical passing game will be an important component of the system. But what if the roster offers limitations that would hinder a traditional down the field passing game? In ability to create separation? An offensive line who may have problems handling speed on the edge? That's where...

A lot has been said this off season about the lack of depth, the youth, and the overall questions that is the Wisconsin cornerback room. Outside of All-American candidate Ricardo Hallman the room is young, and inexperienced. The defensive coaching staff's major task is to take advantage of the natural ball skills these young players have and build coverage safeguards in so that these kids won't be...