Linebacker plays with fire
Connelly diagnoses quickly, then attacks
Arlington, Texas — Like an accomplished poker player recognizing a tell, Wisconsin’s Ryan Connelly diagnosed the play almost before the snap.
“The quarterback had a way of doing his draw fake that was a little different,” the redshirt sophomore inside linebacker said. “That is what I keyed on.
“And I just said: ‘OK, it is overtime and I’m going.’ ”
The play in question occurred in UW’s 23-17 overtime victory over Nebraska. Trailing by six points, Nebraska faced second and 7 from the UW 22. Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. took the snap and dropped into the pocket. A subtle upper-body movement Connelly had noticed on video and during regulation told him the
play was a draw.
Connelly shot through the gap between right guard and center and dropped running back Terrell Newby for a 1yard loss. After two incomplete passes, UW had the victory in hand.
“He’s got great athleticism and he can run through gaps at 100 miles an hour and just blow things up,” said redshirt junior linebacker Jack Cichy, who suffered a seasonending shoulder injury Oct. 22 at Iowa. “That is one of the things that has made him so increasingly good as the year has progressed.
“The coaches have told him just go and good things usually happen.”
Connelly is set to make his eighth start of the season when No. 8 UW (10-3) faces No. 14 Western Michigan (13-0) at noon Monday in the Cotton Bowl.
With Cichy and Chris Orr (knee) sidelined because of injuries, Connelly has filled in better than anyone could have predicted.
“Going in, if everybody stayed healthy he might not have played that much,” defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox said.
Connelly, who played quarterback at Eden Prairie (Minn.) High School and joined UW as a walkon, is fifth on the team in total tackles (54) and tackles for loss (six).
The key to Connelly’s success has been his ability to diagnose plays quickly and attack, as he did in overtime against Nebraska.
“The ability to recognize plays has just come from more experience and that has made me more confident,” said Connelly, who replaced Orr in the opener against LSU at Lambeau Field. “I am a lot more confident than I was in the game at Lambeau.
“And that is very important. It can make the difference between a TFL (tackles for a loss) and a (gain) of 8 yards.”
According to Cichy, Connelly didn’t always trust his eyes. Former UW defensive coordinator Dave Aranda and Wilcox both worked relentlessly to convince Connelly
to be more assertive.
“Even if it is wrong and he makes a mistake at 100 miles an hour,” Cichy said, “some good is going to come out of it.”
Connelly eventually learned that. Like most young players, he was initially obsessed with being in the right place every time and sticking to his assignment.
“The thing coach Wilcox has taught me is that football isn’t always perfect,” Connelly said, “and sometimes just being physical and faster than the other guy helps you make the play. So I am starting to trust my athleticism.”
When UW opened against LSU, Orr and Cichy were the starting inside linebackers. T.J. Edwards was still recovering from a broken foot and didn’t play.
When Orr suffered a season-ending knee injury on UW’s first defensive play, Connelly was thrust into the lineup.
He responded with a tackle on his first play and finished with seven tackles, tied for the No. 2 mark on the team.
When Cichy went down at Iowa, Connelly’s role expanded.
He has responded with aplomb.
“Ryan is such a diligent worker,” Wilcox said. “It is very important to him. He puts a ton of time into it. He wants to be good.
“When his time came, he took advantage of it. He was ready. I couldn’t be more proud and happy for him, because he has put the time in and earned it.”