UW must replace seven defensive starters
MADISON – Wisconsin is scheduled to open spring football practice Tuesday, less than three months removed from its 34-24 Orange Bowl victory over Miami.
The annual spring game, which is a modified practice, is set for 6 p.m. April
13. However, this spring UW has three practices scheduled after that – April 17, 19 and 20.
UW is preparing for its fourth season under Paul Chryst, who has compiled records of 10-3, 11-3 and 13-1 since returning to his alma mater from Pittsburgh.
The Badgers return the majority of the starters from an offense that finished third in the Big Ten in scoring (33.8 ppg) and total offense (415.0 ypg) in 2017.
By contrast, the defensive staff will have to identify and / or develop several new starters on a defense that finished No. 1 in the Big Ten in points allowed (13.9 per game) and yards allowed (262.1 per game) last season.
Here are five questions to ponder this spring as UW looks to win its third consecutive Big Ten West Division title:
1. Can Inoke Breckterfield rebuild the defensive line?
Ends Alec James, Conor Sheehy and Chikwe Obasih played their final college game in the Orange Bowl. James enjoyed his best season at UW and finished fifth on the team in tackles (52). Sheehy, who could play end or nose tackle, tied for 10th in tackles (35). Obasih missed six games because of a knee injury but played well late.
The top three linemen back are nose tackle Olive Sagapolu, end Garrett Rand and end Isaiahh Loudermilk.
Breckterfield will need more than three bodies, however.
The next candidate appears to be end Aaron Vopal, who will be a redshirt freshman next season.
Freshman nose tackle Bryson Williams from Lincoln, Neb., might be ready to play immediately. Williams is on campus and set to participate in spring ball, which should enhance his chances of playing early.
The importance of fielding a stout line can’t be overstated. UW’s inside linebackers generally have been to flow to the ball and make plays because of the ability of the linemen to tie up blockers.
2. Can new outside linebackers coach Bobby April adequately replace Tim Tibesar and develop playmakers?
Tibesar’s work in three seasons as UW’s outside linebackers coach was marked by having outstanding starters and capable reserves ready to fill in.
April, entering his first spring on the staff, probably has more questions than answers.
With Garret Dooley and Leon Jacobs preparing for the NFL, Andrew Van Ginkel should be the clear leader of the unit. Van Ginkel grew more comfortable as the ’17 season progressed and made huge plays in the Big Ten title game and Orange Bowl.
The rest of the unit is laden with questions.
Can Zack Baun, who missed last season after suffering a broken foot in camp, stay healthy? Is walk-on Tyler Johnson, who showed promise in spot duty last season, ready for an increased workload? Have players such as Christian Bell, Izayah Green-May and Noah Burks developed enough to contribute? Can Arrington Farrar, who wasn't able to crack the regular rotation at safety or inside linebacker, earn playing time at outside linebacker? Or can Paul Jackson, a junior-college transfer who joined the program last season, earn a role in the rotation as Van Ginkel did last season?
3. Can defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard successfully revamp the secondary again?
Leonhard had to find two new starters in the secondary last season. Nick Nelson took over at cornerback opposite Derrick Tindal, and Natrell Jamerson took over at safety next to D’Cota Dixon after switching from cornerback in the spring. The unit flourished.
Nelson, Tindal and Jamerson are gone, all looking to make it in the NFL. That leaves Dixon as the lone returning starter, although Dixon will be held out this spring because of a shoulder issue.
Dontye-Carriere-Williams, the third cornerback as a redshirt freshman in 2017, should be in the mix to start this season. Other candidates include Faion Hicks, Madison Cone and freshman Donte Burton, one of several early enrollees.
Look for Patrick Johnson, Eric Burrell and Scott Nelson to battle to start opposite Dixon.
4. Who will fill the void caused by the departure of tight end Troy Fumagalli? UW has a history of developing outstanding tight ends, and the latest was Fumagalli, a former walk-on.
Three tight ends caught passes for UW last season. Fumagalli led the way with 46 catches for 547 yards. Zander Neuville, who suffered a season-ending knee injury at Minnesota, was next with nine catches for 81 yards. Kyle Penniston was third with seven catches for 56 yards.
With Neuville still recovering from surgery, Penniston should get plenty of work this spring. Ditto for Gabe Lloyd, Jake Ferguson and Luke Benzschawel.
Ferguson, from Madison Memorial High School, appears to have the best chance among the unproven young players to develop into a receiving threat.
5. Will UW have enough options at tailback?
Jonathan Taylor surpassed all expectations as a freshman in 2017. He set the FBS record for rushing yards as a freshman with 1,977, which was 63.3% of UW’s team mark of 3,121 rushing yards.
Taylor needs to protect the football better and become more of a threat in goal-line situations.
The staff likely will use the spring to see who can keep Taylor fresh.
Chryst raved on signing day about Nakia Watson and projected the freshman could complement Taylor. Watson won’t join the team until summer workouts, however.
Chris James missed five games last season because of a knee injury and finished with just 233 rushing yards.
Bradrick Shaw suffered a seasonending knee injury at Minnesota and probably won't be fully recovered until camp. Taiwan Deal missed all of last season because of an ankle injury and has been slowed by ankle problems during his first three seasons at UW.
Walk-on Garrett Groshek proved invaluable last season by averaging 4.9 yards per carry and finishing with 297 yards but he is being held out this spring to recover from an injury.
Running backs coach John Settle has to find at least one and probably two dependable backups before the ’18 opener.