You’re about to read a sentence that I’m not sure I’ve written in the 3.5 seasons that this site has been in existence.

The Wisconsin secondary is vulnerable. Extremely.

That’s not really a wild take after the Badgers just allowed over 400 yards of offense to a true freshman quarterback…who plays for a winless Nebraska team. That’s not a dig at the talented Adrian Martinez.

That’s a dig at the Wisconsin secondary, and a nod to Shea Patterson, who will see that unit on Saturday in Ann Arbor.

You see, this isn’t the Wisconsin secondary that was fifth in FBS against the pass last year. The Badgers enter Week 7 ranked 54th in FBS defending the pass, which is obviously a byproduct of some major depth issues.

Against Nebraska, the young unit lost cornerback Deron Harrell to a head injury while safety Scott Nelson was ejected for targeting, which means he’ll be out for the first half of the Michigan game.

But it’s not just that. Wisconsin could also be without cornerbacks Travian Blaylock and Caesar Williams, both of whom are listed as questionable. And just in case that wasn’t enough, D’Cota Dixon, the best and most experienced player in Wisconsin’s secondary, could be playing through a foot injury after he needed medical attention late during Saturday’s game.

In other words, I’d be shocked if Michigan isn’t cooking up all the ways that it can exploit this banged-up unit.

Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Martinez is almost like a younger version of Patterson. Both are shifty guys who surprise people with how quickly they can accelerate in the open field if they see a crease. They aren’t one-read and run quarterbacks, though, which is what makes them more dangerous.

And Patterson, like Martinez, can extend the play if pressure doesn’t get to him. That’s a nightmare scenario for a struggling secondary.

Right now, you can’t trust the Badgers to stay in coverage. That’s why Nebraska, which actually has dynamic weapons on the outside, was successful hitting on big plays.

That bodes well for a Michigan passing game that’s athletic, and more importantly, coming into its own.

This could wind up being a big Nico Collins game with his ability to get behind a secondary. He’s got a catch of 35 yards or longer in four of Michigan’s six games, including his first career touchdown back in Week 2 (via Stadium):

That play was Michigan’s first wide receiver touchdown catch in 362 days. Including that one, Michigan is up to 9 touchdowns to receivers this season. That doesn’t include the production of tight end Zach Gentry, who actually leads Michigan in receptions (20) and receiving yards (306). Wisconsin has allowed 4 touchdowns to tight ends in its last 3 games.

The Badgers pass defense and the Michigan passing offense are trending in different directions, no doubt.

And lets’s be clear. Michigan still has to run the ball effectively with Karan Higdon. We know how much offensive line woes have hurt the Wolverines against top-25 teams during the Jim Harbaugh era. If Michigan struggles to get push like it did when it was held to 1.8 yards per carry against Notre Dame, it’ll be another frustrating night against a ranked team.

But we also know how much quarterback woes have limited the Wolverines against top-25 teams. Whether that’s been the result of a lack of talent at the position or a lack of creativity in the play-calling, Michigan simply hasn’t been very good offensively against the nation’s best.

There’s no excuse for that continuing on Saturday. Against a Wisconsin secondary that’s being patched together, this game plan should be neither conservative, nor predictable. Patterson is too dynamic for Michigan to repeat its Notre Dame dud.

Even Harbaugh’s daughter can’t help but notice how improved Patterson and the Wolverines have been during their 5-game winning streak since losing to the Irish:

Patterson has a chance to do something on Saturday that he hasn’t done since he made his first career start at Ole Miss in 2016. That is, beat a top-25 team.

A prime opportunity awaits against a struggling secondary. In many ways, it feels like a redo for Patterson to have his first big-time moment at Michigan. Perhaps too inexperienced playing in Harbaugh’s system and on the road against a stout Notre Dame defense, Patterson might not have been ready for it.

He can — and should — seize that moment on Saturday.