When one thinks about Wisconsin football the term “smash mouth” generally comes to mind, especially offensively.

The Badgers have always been unabashedly tough on offense. Wisconsin’s not the program that you’re going to see running much spread offense, read-option, of air-raid offense. In fact, when the Badgers do air it out it can be kind of surprising.

The Badgers have always boasted big, strong offensive lines and big, strong running backs — and that’s a combination that has worked out well for Wisconsin historically.

Wisconsin is about as Big Ten as you can get offensively. With that said, here’s an interesting stat from Evan Flood, who covers the Badgers for 247Sports, that may illuminate a part of Wisconsin’s offense that not everybody may think about.

Why were the Badgers so strong on first down, especially through the air?

The answer is simple: it comes back down to the run game. Specifically, it came down to the threat of the run game helping out the passing game against Iowa.

Speaking of great running backs, the Badgers have yet another one on their hands in sophomore Jonathan Taylor, and he’s made life a ton easier for Alex Hornibrook and the Wisconsin passing game. Defenses are expecting the Badgers to lean heavily on Taylor, especially when first down is traditionally an exploratory, running down.

I the case of Iowa, the Hawkeyes obviously packed the box on first down expecting Taylor to get the ball, and that allowed Hornibrook the opportunity to do some major damage on first down — to the tune of 80 yards and two touchdowns.

Taylor rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns against the Hawkeyes. Conversely, Hornibrook threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns of his own.

The first of the two was off the play-action pass.