Questions remain about UW’s defense
MADISON – Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst and his staff were scheduled to hold the 15th practice of preseason camp late Saturday.
Twelve of the first 14 practices were open to reporters.
Based on those sessions, here is a breakdown of the team’s depth with the Aug. 31 opener against Western Kentucky approaching.
DEFENSE
With only four starters back from a unit that finished second nationally in total defense (262.1 ypg) and third in scoring defense (13.9 ppg), the focus was on defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s troops when camp opened.
Defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield placed Kayden Lyles -- moved from the offensive line in June — on the No. 1 unit at the end on the first day of camp and he hasn’t wavered. Matt Henningsen, a walk-on from Menomonee Falls, quickly moved past Aaron Vopal to take over the other end spot.
With their average size of 6-foot-3 and 314 pounds, Lyles, Henningsen and senior nose tackle Olive Sagapolu appear to have the bulk and athletic ability to form a solid starting trio.
Vopal and redshirt junior David Pfaff, who has played in a total of five games, are next up at end. Freshman Bryson Williams is the No. 2 nose tackle.
UW is young and thin on the line. The key to bolstering the depth of the line is how quickly end Isaiahh Loudermilk, who had left-knee surgery in May, returns. Loudermilk remains ahead of schedule and could be back before the Big Ten opener on Sept. 22 at Iowa.
“It is a young group so you’re going to learn constantly,” Leonhard said. “You start going through training camp and guys start getting nicked up or sore and you see who can push through it.
“That is a season to me, is finding guys who can play when they’re not 100%. Because that is ultimately where football is played.”
There appear to be fewer questions at linebacker.
If inside linebacker T.J. Edwards can recover from a right-hamstring injury suffered on Aug. 4, he will be part of a solid trio including Ryan Connelly and Chris Orr.
Andrew Van Ginkel, Zack Baun and former walk-on Tyler Johnson are the top three outside linebackers.
If Baun and Johnson can make enough plays to draw the attention of opposing offense, Van Ginkel should wreak havoc against the run and pass.
Baun, 6-3 and 230, is the lightest of the trio and lighter than previous outside linebackers.
He will need to use speed, quickness and leverage to get into the backfield.
The fourth option here appears to be redshirt sophomore Christian Bell, who remains an unknown quantity.
“That whole group is still trying to figure out their roles,” Leonhard said.
Leonhard has identified senior D’Cota Dixon and redshirt freshman Scott Nelson as the top two safeties. Dixon should provide a physical presence. Nelson can hit as well but has shown in camp a knack for finding the ball and making quarterbacks think twice about throwing into his area.
Redshirt sophomore Patrick Johnson is the top reserve.
Questions remain at cornerback, however, as Leonhard has mixed and matched combos all camp.
Redshirt freshman Faion Hicks and redshirt sophomore Caesar Williams have been working with the top unit.
Yet it is too early to count out redshirt sophomore Dontye Carriere-Williams, who was the No. 3 cornerback last season, or redshirt freshman Deron Harrell, who has made a smooth transition from wide receiver.
OFFENSE
The expectations before camp opened were that UW would be led by a veteran and versatile line; quarterback Alex Hornibrook would be more confident thanks to his sparkling performance in the Orange Bowl; the tight ends would contribute by committee; and the combination of Jonathan Taylor and four experienced wide receivers would help UW field a formidable offense.
That formula was holding true until Saturday night when wide receiver Quintez Cephus announced via Twitter he was leaving the team indefinitely because he faces criminal charges in Dane County for an April incident.
Offensive coordinator/line coach Joe Rudolph has eight linemen capable of starting.
They are right tackle David Edwards, right guard Beau Benzschawel, center Tyler Biadasz, left guard Michael Deiter, left tackle Jon Dietzen, Cole Van Lanen (left tackle), Jason Erdmann (guard or center) and Micah Kapoi (guard or center).
Deiter who started every game at left tackle last season, is back inside where he is more comfortable. That has left Dietzen and Van Lanen to battle at left tackle.
Dietzen, if healthy, likely will be la- beled the starter but both players will get significant work this season.
Cephus, A.J. Taylor, Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor combined for 100 catches, 1,573 receiving yards and 17 touchdown catches last season despite missing a total of 11 games because of injuries.
With Cephus out indefinitely, UW will have to rely on Taylor, Davis and Pryor.
Wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore would love to bolster the depth and dynamic freshman Aron Cruickshank appears to be the next option.
Taylor, who set the FBS freshman rushing record with 1,977 yards last season, could be better as a sophomore and finish with fewer yards. He should be more of a threat as a receiver.
If senior tight end Zander Neuville is fully recovered from a torn ACL in his right knee and a nagging hamstring injury, his blocking will prove invaluable.
Kyle Penniston has been more consistent in camp and Jake Ferguson will be a matchup nightmare for foes as a receiver.
SPECIAL TEAMS
UW’s staff has two quality kickoff men in Zach Hintze and P.J. Rosowski and hopes to bolster the return games this season.
Yet the No. 1 question is how long senior kicker Rafael Gaglianone, who has been battling back problems, will be out.
Redshirt freshman Collin Larsh has taken over as the No. 1 kicker with Gaglianone focusing on rehabilitation.
Larsh is confident and accurate but Gaglianone, who had season-ending back surgery and played in only three games in 2016, is almost automatic. He’s hit 23 of his last 26 field-goal attempts and with four game-winning kicks has shown he is immune to pressure.