UW offensive line seeks redemption vs. Michigan

MADISON – A review of the numbers reinforces their collective memory.

Wisconsin’s offense took the field 13 times last season at Michigan and the results were brutal, particularly for members of UW’s line.

UW had just one drive that resulted in points. That was a five-play, 31-yard march for a touchdown after an interception.

UW had just one drive that lasted at least 3 minutes. That was the Badgers’ first series, which was nine plays, 37 yards and 5 minutes 17 seconds long. UW ended up punting from the Michigan 38.

UW punted nine times, had three turnovers, finished with eight first downs, and gained 71 rushing yards on 28 attempts and 159 total yards in a 14-7 loss.

“I thought that Michigan kind of kicked our butt,” right tackle David Edwards said.

Right guard Beau Benzschawel couldn’t argue.

“I think after that week we took a step back,” Benzschawel said. “We watched the film and said: ‘Wow.’

“That is a feeling you don’t want to have.”

Humbled and beaten but determined. “I’m excited to play those guys this year,” Edwards said. “It is going to be an awesome challenge and we’re going to get them at home this year.”

UW’s revamped line, another year older and stronger, will play a significant role when the Badgers (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) face

Michigan (8-2, 5-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.

Led by freshman tailback Jonathan Taylor, UW is No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 8 nationally in rushing at 245.0 yards per game.

Michigan, despite losing 10 starters on defense from last season, is No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 3 nationally in total defense at 254.8 yards per game.

“I thought their defense was the best defense we faced last year,” UW senior tight end Troy Fumagalli said. “They were confident. They were old. They played hard.

“And you see a lot of the younger guys who played last year are stepping up. It will be, in my opinion, the best defense we’ve faced.”

End Chase Winovich (seven sacks, 13 tackles for loss), tackle Maurice Hurst (4 sacks, 12 tackles for loss) and end Rashan Gary (three sacks, eight tackles for loss) anchor the line.

Lineb acker Devin Bush leads the team in tackles (82) and passes broken up (eight). He is one of three players with at least five sacks and one of five with at least nine tackles for loss.

Fellow lineb acker Khaleke Hudson, who is replacing All-American Jab rill Peppers, leads the team in tackles for loss with 14 and has two interceptions. He had a Big Ten-record eight tackles for loss at Minnesota.

“I thought their defense did a great job,” UW offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph said, referring to the 2016 game. “And you watch them this year and you see them as good or b etter than they were.”

When the teams met last season in Ann Arb or, UW’s line featured Ryan Ramczyk at left tackle, Michael Deiter at left guard, Brett Connors at center, Benzschawel at right guard and Jacob Maxwell at right tackle.

Connors wasn’t physically strong enough for the challenge. He got the start b ecause Deiter filled in at left guard for Jon Dietzen, who was injured. Benzschawel also struggled and Maxwell was battling a shoulder problem.

“We couldn’t run the ball at all,” Deiter said. “We couldn’t get any movement.”

Either Jason Erdmann or Tyler Biadasz (left knee) will get the start at center on Saturday. Deiter has started all season at left tackle.

Dietzen is healthy and Benzschawel and Edwards have a comb ined 49 starts.

“We’re getting older,” Benzschawel said. “We’re getting more confident. And playing a lot of snaps with the same guys around us.

“That chemistry is one of most underrated things. I think that has gotten better each week.”

The line has endured growing pains and humb ling performances since 2015, when the coaching staff cobbled together a unit that wasn’t strong enough or experienced enough to defeat top-flight defensive front.

That season ended with four redshirt freshmen starting in the Holiday Bowl.

Deiter is the veteran of the unit with 37 starts — 16 at center, 11 at left guard and 10 at left tackle.

He understands the frustration the linemen felt in 2015 when they battled stronger, more experienced fronts. He understands as well as anyone how far the group has come since then. And he remembers losing the battle last season in Ann Arbor.

“You think you should be winning when you’re a redshirt freshman, with four redshirt freshmen on the offensive line,” he said. “You think you should be better because you still have confidence in yourself and your guys.

“But now we’ve hit the point where we have been working for so long, you expect it to happen. You knew at some point we were going to get better. How would you not? It has just been a lot of fun. …

“We know they’re a really good front. It’s going to be a physical game. We need to try to win those battles.”