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by
Joel Welser
#6 Wisconsin
Badgers
Big Ten
2006 Record: (12-1, 7-1)
Coach: Bret Bielema (12-1 at Wisconsin, 12-1
overall)
Starters Returning: 18 (9 offense, 7 defense,
2 specialists)
Offensive Starters Lost: QB John Stocco, OL
Joe Thomas
Offensive Starters Returning: RB P.J. Hill,
FB Bill Rentmeester, WR Paul Hubbard, WR Luke Swan, TE Andy Crooks, TE Travis
Beckum, OL Marcus Coleman, OL Andy Kemp, OL Kraig Urbik, OL Eric Vanden Heuvel
Defensive Starters Lost: DE Joe Monty, LB
Mark Zalewski, S Roderick Rogers, S Joe Stellmacher
Defensive Starters Returning: DT Jason
Chapman, DT Nick Hayden, DE Matt Shaughnessy, LB DeAndre Levy, LB Jonathan
Casillas, CB Jack Ikegwuonu, CB Allen Langford
Starting Specialists Lost: none
Starting Specialists Returning: K Taylor
Mehlhaff, P Ken DeBauche
Wisconsin finished the 2006 campaign with a 12-1
record. Yet, the benefit of an easy schedule had a lot to do with that nice
record. When the Badgers actually played a decent team besides a trip to the Big
House, where they lost to Michigan 27-13, Coach Bret Bielema and his squad
stepped up. The victory over Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl catapulted the
Badgers towards the top of the Big Ten in 2007.
Offense:
Usually it is the loss of a quarterback that hurts
the most, but not in Madison. Quarterback John Stocco and left tackle Joe Thomas
are the only players missing from last year’s attack. Stocco threw for 17
touchdowns and six interceptions, but like every Wisconsin quarterback in the
recent past, his numbers are replaceable. Senior Tyler Donovan and Allan Evridge,
a transfer from Kansas State, will battle it out for the honors. With the return
of Paul Hubbard and Luke Swann, along with one of the best tight ends in the
nation, Travis Beckum, the new quarterback will have plenty of options.
Replacing Thomas is a little more difficult.
Returning the four other starters on the line helps, including juniors Kraig
Urbik and Eric Vandenheuvel, but not having Thomas to run behind will make
things a little more difficult for back P.J. Hill. Hill rushed for 1,569 yards,
tops in the Big Ten, as a sophomore. Even without his favorite lineman, Hill
should flourish again in the Badgers run heavy offense.
Defense:
The Wisconsin defense only gave up 12.1 points per
game last season. The unit absolutely shut down everybody they were supposed to
and it should not be much different this time around. The big guys on the line
must replace Joe Monty, but there is plenty of talent and depth with Matt
Shaughnessy, Kurt Ware, Jason Chapman, Nick Hayden and Mike Newkirk. The
linebackers lose leading tackler Mark Zalewski, but return Jonathan Casillas and
DeAndre Levy. Sophomore Elijah Hodge, the brother of former Iowa standout Abdul
Hodge, is expected to step into the starting role after recording 25 tackles and
two sacks as a freshman.
The secondary is a cause for concern with the
absence of safeties Joe Stellmacher and Roderick Rogers. Sophomores Aubrey
Pleasant and Shane Carter will have to develop quickly. The corners return
starters Jack Ikegwuonu and Allen Langford. Despite the return of seven
starters, the defense is still relatively young. Only one of the returning
starters is a senior and only one of the other projected starters is an
upperclassman.
The Bottom Line:
Kicker Taylor Mehlhaff and punter Ken DeBauche are
one of the best tandems in the nation. Mehlhaff earned second team All-Big Ten
honors, while DeBauche made the honorable mention list. Both will be eyeing
first-team status for their senior campaigns. The truth will come out with the
Badgers this year with a schedule that is much, much more difficult than last
years. Winning the Big Ten is not out of the question, but many of the toughest
games will come away from Camp Randall Stadium. |
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