TE Neuville’s blocking key to run game

MADISON – Wisconsin tailback Bradrick Shaw was already several yards past him, dragging Nebraska defenders inside the 10-yard line, but tight end Zander Neuville still hadn’t heard a whistle.

Knowing his job as a blocker wasn’t finished, Neuville tossed Nebraska cornerback Chris Jones to the turf like a rag doll.

Boos rained down from the Nebraska fans as Jones got up and stood facemask to facemask with Neuville.

“I didn’t think it was that bad,” Neuville said, grinning. “I just threw him down. Right as I threw him down they started blowing the whistle. He got all mad about it.

“I hit him and I didn’t hear the whistle so I just kept playing.”

The block was one of several highlights for Neuville, a redshirt junior who played his best game of the season in UW’s 38-17 victory.

“I said it from the beginning, I love Zander,” said Joe Rudolph, UW’s offensive coordinator/line coach. “He brings a great edge not just to the tight end room, but to this offense.

“He is tough and he works and he truly is a guy that tries to get better each day. You see that happening.”

UW’s coaches saluted the work of the linemen, fullbacks and tight ends in the victory over Nebraska as freshman Jonathan Taylor rushed for 249 of the Badgers’ 353 rushing yards.

Their work will be critical when No. 6 UW (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) hosts Purdue (3-2, 1-1) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Purdue enters the game 11th in the Big Ten in rushing defense, allowing 151.0 yards per game. That number isn’t impressive on the surface but remember the Boilermakers allowed an average of 238.4 rushing yards per game last season.

The defense has improved dramatically under first-year coach Jeff Brohm and the Boilermakers are 20th nationally in forcing three-and-outs at 40% (20 of 50 possessions).

Purdue’s front seven features five seniors – three linemen and two linebackers.

The front four averages 6-foot-2, 278 pounds. Weak-side linebacker T.J. McCollum, a graduate transfer from Western Kentucky, leads the team in tackles (40). Senior middle linebacker Ju’Whan Bentley has 34 stops and sophomore strong-side linebacker Markus Bailey has 31.

“Two things with Purdue’s defense,” Rudolph said. “First, I think they really do have outstanding talent. Not only do they have talent, they have depth.

“I feel like we’re playing against some of those guys forever. That is what makes them good.

“They are playing with great effort and great tenacity. But they’re also very, very talented and they’re very experienced.”

Neuville was outstanding in the victory over Nebraska, delivering crushing blocks against linebackers and defensive backs. Tight ends coach Mickey Turner lauded the work of Neuville, Troy Fumagalli and Kyle Penniston.

"At the same time, he said we can’t be satisfied with how we played that game," Neuville said.

The block on Jones, a kick-out that allowed Shaw to cut inside, came with UW holding a 24-17 lead.

On the next play, Neuville lined up outside left tackle Michael Deiter. Neuville came down inside and engulfed linebacker Dedrick Young as Taylor gained 2 yards to the Nebraska 6.

“He didn’t know I was coming so when I hit him I felt him kind of lift up a little bit,” Neuville said. "Then I washed him past the tackle and dumped him.”

Neuville had key blocks on the next two plays, the second of which was a 2yard touchdown run by Taylor.

Neuville engaged linebacker Ben Stille at the line of scrimmage and gradually drove him into the end zone.

“We hit each other and we were stalemated for a little bit but at the end, I started to get some movement,” Neuville said. “Then I could feel J.T. running in behind me. That was fun to get that finish into the end zone.”

Taylor has a Big Ten-best nine rushing touchdowns. UW leads the league in rushing at 257.6 yards per game.

"They are very good at what they do," Brohm said. "I mean, he can run the football and he's got strength and he can break tackles. They have got big guys ahead of them that can block.

"They have big tight ends that can do their part, and when he's got a full steam going ahead, he's going to get yards. So it will be a challenge."