Van Ginkel, Baun hope to make impact
MADISON – Able to participate fully in practice for the first time since injuring his right ankle against BYU in September, outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel fashioned his best overall performance of the season last week against Illinois.
“Last game was significantly different,” Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said of Van Ginkel, who recorded a sack and a season-high four solo tackles and six tackles overall in the 49-20 victory over the Illini. “You watch the tape and you see the health coming back. Is he 100% yet? No.
“But that definitely was the best he felt and therefore the best he has played.”
Fellow outside linebacker Zack Baun, after several near-misses, finally recorded his first sack of the season. He finished with four tackles.
“Hopefully it takes pressure off,” Leonhard said of Baun's first sack. “Now go play and be a game-changer. We think he has that ability. We’ve been pleased with the way he is playing and we think he is capable of more.”
Van Ginkel and Baun could be gamechangers when UW (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) faces Northwestern (4-3, 4-1) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill.
Led by quarterback Clayton Thorson, who is averaging 41.1 passes per game, the Wildcats have passed on 58.2 percent of their plays (326 passes, 234 runs). They have allowed 18 sacks, an average of 2.6 per game. Among Big Ten teams, only Michigan State (19) and Illinois (20) have allowed more.
UW will be without end Isaiahh Loudermilk (ankle), and nose tackle Olive Sagapolu (knee) will be limited if he plays at all.
Van Ginkel tweaked his right ankle on the final play of the third quarter against Illinois but has practiced all week and insists he feels fine.
“It felt the best it has ever been since I injured it,” he said of his work before the Illinois game. “And this week in practice I’ve been able to do even more.”
Baun, in his first season as a starter, is third on the team in tackles with 43. He was encouraged after finally getting a quarterback down on the ground.
“It gives you the confidence to want to go out and get more,” he said, “because now I got over that barrier. I know I can do it.”
Both sacks occurred in the third quarter – Van Ginkel’s on the Illini’s first series and Baun’s on their third series. Both players got into the backfield quickly.
With Illinois facing third and 5 from the UW 49, Van Ginkel anticipated the count and got a jump on the right tackle. He used a spin move after quarterback MJ Rivers started to scramble and brought him down for a 10-yard loss.
With Illinois facing third and 5 from its 30, Baun engaged the right tackle and spun quickly to the inside. The right guard tried to drift back and help, but Baun’s quick move allowed him to split the double-team and he tackled Rivers for a 9-yard loss.
“I was definitely working at it,” Baun said about recording his first sack. “Did I feel pressure? No. Just that I had to keep working. No frustration.”
UW has recorded only 11 sacks, an average of 1.6 per game and the 10th-lowest total in the Big Ten. Penn State leads the league at 3.6 per game (25 in seven games), followed by Ohio State at 3.3 (26 in eight games).
UW had three sacks through four games but in the last three games has recorded two, three and three sacks. The Badgers sacked Thorson eight times in a 33-24 victory last season.
“He is a good athlete,” Van Ginkel said. “He has good awareness of where guys are coming from and how to escape. So we’re going to have to contain him and get to him early.
“He is a good quarterback. The back end is going to have to help us out and we’re going to have to help them out.”