MADISON, Wis. -- It's been said many times over that using two quarterbacks in football means a team really has no quarterbacks. But Northwestern is proving this season such a belief truly is a thing of the past.
The Wildcats, 4-1 and ranked No. 19 in the latest Associated Press poll, have succeeded with a two-quarterback system that is unique in college football because each player is so different from his counterpart. One man, Kain Colter, is a runner who throws occasionally. The other, Trevor Siemian, is a thrower who seldom runs. Together, they pose one of the more complex problems for defenses trying to gain an advantage.
This week, Wisconsin (3-2) will get its crack at Northwestern at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday in Camp Randall Stadium. And players are eager for the opportunity to stop them.
Badgers outside linebacker Brendan Kelly said the Wildcats ran a two-quarterback system more effectively that he had ever seen.
"I think in my college career, I've never been a part of a system that truly did use two quarterbacks," he said. "I've seen guys get pulled and other guys come in. But I've never seen a mutual shared quarterback relationship. It's kind of different to see in the Big Ten, especially to see two quarterbacks like that. It'll be an interesting game plan."
Added UW linebacker Chris Borland: "Usually that's a scenario borne out of a quarterback controversy or neither of them are very good. Both of these guys are very good. It's amazing what they're able to do with it. They seem to embrace it. It's a testament to those guys. It's a challenge for other defenses."
Excluding a game against Cal in which Colter suffered an injury on the first offensive series, Colter has taken about two-thirds of the first-team snaps (180 to 110). Sometimes, however, he remains on the field as a wide receiver when Siemian enters and has even caught a touchdown pass this season. Colter is second on the team in rushing yards (253) with four touchdowns.
Though Colter generally throws about half as much as Siemian, his completion rate is astounding. He has completed 39 of 47 passes (83.0 percent) and would lead the NCAA in passing percentage if he had thrown enough times to qualify. Last week during a 40-30 loss against Ohio State, Colter completed all 12 of his pass attempts for 98 yards. Siemian, meanwhile, completed 13 of 18 passes for 245 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
"I think it's pretty impressive," Badgers quarterback Joel Stave said. "Because (Colter) stays in the game most of the time. But I think the other guy, (Siemian), when he comes in and then goes out and comes in again for third down or something, that'd be a tough job being taken out of the game, put back in for a third-down situation, stuff like that. So I think he does a really good job handling the situations he's put in."
Despite seeing fewer in-game reps, Siemian has completed 60 of 88 passes overall (68.2 percent) for 916 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions. He currently ranks 17th in the country in completion percentage. He is also first in the Big Ten in pass efficiency, while Colter ranks third.
Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen compared Northwestern's quarterback split to what the Badgers were doing with running backs Melvin Gordon and James White. Gordon has 68 carries this season and is averaging 139.6 yards per game. White has 69 carries and is averaging 94.6 yards.
"It works," Andersen said of Northwestern's system. "The key thing is both kids believe in it, and that's what matters most at the end. It's not probably what the coaches are doing. Something magical is the fact that those two kids work well together. They both respect each other, and they make the offense work, I'd say very similar to the relationship that Melvin and James have at the tailback position. They both believe in each other, and they're unselfish guys."
This isn't the first time Wisconsin has prepared to face two quarterbacks this season. But it is the first time the Badgers know for certain they'll see each player take the field. Two weeks ago, questions lingered about whether Braxton Miller or Kenny Guiton would play for Ohio State. Miller ultimately re-took the starting job following an injury, and Guiton never entered the game against Wisconsin, save for being a holder on special teams.
When Wisconsin prepared for Miller and Guiton, Badgers players said both basically did the same things, which didn't require them to change their defensive gameplan. But that won't be the case for Saturday's game against Northwestern
"One of the biggest things is to realize they both can pass and they both can run," Kelly said. "But obviously (Colter) is a lot more of a running quarterback. They like to do the zone reads, away zone with him. They've got a pro-style offense as well they can have off that.
"That's challenging from a coverage standpoint just because you have to prepare for two different types of passing games and two different types of run games. You've got the QB run game and then you've got the regular run game."
Borland added that Colter was a better thrower than people thought, while Siemian had proven to be a better runner -- just another twist to an already complex system Wisconsin's defense will have to master if it hopes to stay afloat in the Big Ten race with Ohio State.
"You've just got to be prepared for anything," Borland said. "This is a huge game for them, so we're expecting everything they've got."
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