🏈 Big Ten Network: Wisconsin

[Bamabww]

Football tour notebook: Tom Dienhart's fun takes from Wisconsin

• By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer

The BTN bus just left Wisconsin practice, and now it’s time to share some nuggets I gathered while I watched the Badgers practice Saturday morning.

I talked to new strength and conditioning coach Ross Kolodziej, who has altered the lifting program. He has the team executing more Olympic lifts like cleans, jerks, etc. It’s about moving more weight and becoming more explosive. “We changed expectations,” said Kolodziej, a former Badger. “They are much higher. At first the players were like, ‘Whoa!’”

There are more than 10 former Badgers who are part of the football operations for Paul Chryst, including Kolodziej, DC Joe Rudolph, strength assistant Bradie Ewing, GA Bill Nagy and quality control Taylor Mehlhaff, among others.

This is my fourth tour. And it’s the first time the Badgers practiced on an adjacent grass field by Camp Randall. A reason why? Heat. During practice, strength and conditioning coach Ross Kolodziej pointed a temperature gun at the grass field. It read between 78-80 degrees. He said the turf inside Camp Randall would be about 120 degrees on a day that hit 90 degrees in Madison.

RB Corey Clement told me he expects to be used often as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.

The tight end spot long has been a strong suit in Madison. And this year’s squad has some nice options in sophomore Troy Fumagalli and senior Austin Traylor, who typically has been an in-line guy. But he has improved his hands.

What a difference a year makes for senior QB Joel Stave. Last August, he lost the starting job to Tanner McEvoy and then developed a vexing case of the yips. He got the job back about midseason. Now, Stave is the unquestioned starter.

The secondary may really need Tanner McEvoy at safety, as there is a big drop off after him and Michael Caputo. Lubern Figaro isn’t ready. The secondary also is looking for a nickel back. Derrick Tindal may be the guy.

I asked S Michael Caputo what young guys on defense have caught his eye. He mentioned freshman S Arrington Farrar, freshman ILB Alec Ingold and sophomore S D’Cota Dixon.

Depth behind RB Corey Clement is … interesting. Junior Dare Ogunbowale is second team. He’s a former defensive back who arrived as a walk-on. Redshirt freshman Taiwan Deal is No. 3. He isn’t a “wow” guy. Top recruit Jordan Stevenson figured to impact but was denied admission and landed at Nebraska. True freshman Bradrick Shaw is a year away.

Redshirt freshman T.J. Edwards and junior Leon Jacobs are penciled in to be the new starters at inside linebacker, followed by sophomore Keelon Brookins and true freshman Nick Thomas. Edwards and Jacobs each got hurt in the first padded practice on Wednesday and missed today’s workout. Each is expected back but could miss the opener vs. Alabama.

The d line—which isn’t physically imposing–has been shuffled. Arthur Goldberg has moved from nose guard to end with the emergence of Conor Sheehy. Chikwe Obasih is the other end in the 3-4 scheme of coordinator Dave Aranda. The Badgers use a lot of pre-snap movement to compensate for a lack of size.

- See more at: http://btn.com/2015/08/15/football-...un-takes-from-wisconsin/#sthash.mXWMYdf2.dpuf

 

[Bamabww]

5 things Tom Dienhart learned at Wisconsin football practice

• By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer - 2 days ag0

The fifth stop on our annual summer trek across the Big Ten brought us to Madison, Wisconsin, where we watched the Badgers practice Saturday morning.

Before we turn our attention to Northwestern, which we will watch Monday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, here are five things I learned at Wisconsin practice:

1. The offensive line could have issues. Long the bellwether of the program, the Badger front is being rebuilt. And depth is spotty, as four linemen have been lost since 2013—two to concussions, one to a medical issue, one to depression. And the team missed on a few recruits who signed but didn’t pan out. That’s how this unit got to this point. Junior center Dan Voltz and senior left tackle Tyler Marz are good building blocks. Redshirt freshman Michael Deiter is solid at right guard. After that, things are a bit fluid. A guy staffers love is true freshman Jon Dietzen. He went through spring drills. The guy is gonna be a stud.

2. There isn’t a lot of size up front on defense. The first-team line is sophomore Conor Sheehy at nose tackle and sophomore Chikwe Obasih and junior Arthur Goldberg at the end slots. In nickel packages, sophomore Alec James and redshirt freshman Zander Neuville were with the first-team unit.

3. Senior Alex Erickson is the clear No. 1 wideout. But is there a legit No. 2 behind him? Erickson has trimmed up and cut body fat, getting a bit faster in the process. The wideouts understand that they will be pressed often, so getting a clean release off the line will be vital to getting open. The second-best wideout may be senior Tanner McEvoy, who is slated to start at safety. The No. 3 wideout may be junior Rob Wheelwright. Senior Jordan Fredrick is among the top four. He has played a lot and needs to shine. He can block. Can he catch more? After that foursome, there is a real sameness to the receivers in junior Reggie Love, sophomore Jazz Peavy and sophomore George Rushing, among others. The lack of drama at quarterback should help these guys, right?

4. Senior Tanner McEvoy intrigues me. In fact, he may be the most intriguing player in the Big Ten—a truly dynamic talent. The 6-6 McEvoy was the starting quarterback this time last year. Now, he’s slated to start at safety. And he also will play some receiver, where he has been working out almost exclusively in camp. McEvoy needs to refine getting off press coverage. I think he’s gonna impact on both sides of the ball, but no one knows for sure what his primary position will be. Much will depend on how well the other wideouts develop. If the receiver position stabilizes, McEvoy figures to play mostly at safety, where he has a chance to be a pro.

5. Corey Clement will be a stud. I figured this. But, it was good to see him up close and personal. We all got a glimpse of him last year, when he ripped off 949 yards rushing as Melvin Gordon’s caddie. Clement is a 5-11, 217-pound junior. But I wonder if potential issues on the line could impact Clement. And how will he respond to being the No. 1 back and the pressure and expectations that come with that spot? Many of his yards in the past have come vs. worn-down defenses, too. How will Clement fair vs. top-line defenders?

- See more at: http://btn.com/2015/08/15/5-things-...onsin-football-practice/#sthash.znnjysvs.dpuf

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

Damn. Did Chryst pay him to poor mouth them or is that a legit report?

 

[BlackPawnMartyr]

5. Corey Clement will be a stud.

Thats my fantasy RB1 :hurray::hyper::hyper::agree::moon::agree::hyper::hyper::hurray: