Gameday (LSU) - Saturday, August 30, 2014 - The Daily Cardinal

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Gameday Season Preview 2014

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Predicting the rest of the 2014 season Following the highly anticipated tilt against LSU to open the season, the remainder of the Badgers’ schedule gets a little bit easier. Here’s a breakdown of the other 11 games.

Compiled by Jim Dayton

Wisconsin’s projected record: 11-1 vs. Western Illinois Sept. 6

backer Kevin Kintzel. Those two combined for 19 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. On offense, running back J.C. Baker comes off an 1,100yard season in which he averaged over five yards per carry and scored six touchdowns.

Regardless, this one will not be close. If Badger fans are looking for a game to fully enjoy their Breese Terrace tailgate parties, this is it.

vs. Bowling Green Sept. 20

nearly 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns while throwing just seven interceptions.

He thoroughly outshined fellow quarterback and Heisman candidate Jordan Lynch in the MAC title game, tossing five touchdowns and completing 77 percent of his passes.

Though both of the Falcons’ top pass catchers are gone, they still retain four receivers who were targeted at least 30 times. In the backfield, Bowling Green’s top four running backs combined to average 5.4 yards per carry. All four of those backs return in 2014.

The defense isn’t quite as exciting as the offense. While the secondary was the strength of the defense, allowing an opponent completion rate of just 55 percent, the Falcons struggled against the run, giving up 4.5 yards per carry.

Bowling Green’s offense is intriguing and the Falcons might be the favorite to repeat as MAC champions. However, the defense will struggle to contain the Badgers’ two-headed rushing attack.

Melvin Gordon and Corey Clement will both have big games as Wisconsin wears down Bowling Green in the fourth quarter.

There’s not much to say here. Wisconsin makes its home debut against an FCS program that went 4-8 in 2013.

The combined opponent record in the Leathernecks’ four victories was a paltry 11-36.

Western Illinois at least returns two key players on its defense: lineman Gino Durley Jr. and line-

Much like Wisconsin’s 16-14 squeaker over Utah State in 2012, this game will likely be a lot closer than most people expect. Bowling Green won last year’s MAC title by stomping previously unbeaten Northern Illinois in the conference championship and won 10 games for the first time since 2003.

The Falcons begin their first season under the tutelage of head coach Dino Babers. Besides having a name befitting a 1950s nightclub singer, Babers has an impressive resume. He spent four seasons as the wide receivers coach at Baylor working with future NFL players Kendall Wright and Terrance Williams alongside quarterback Robert Griffin III. Babers then spent two seasons in his first head coaching gig at Eastern Illinois.

Retaining many elements of Art Briles’ high-flying Baylor offense, Babers oversaw quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s 5,000yard, 53-touchdown season last year.

At Bowling Green, Babers inherits a roster already full of offensive talent.

Quarterback Matt Johnson threw for

vs. South Florida Sept. 27

It might be hard to remember, but South Florida was once ranked No. 2 in the nation during the wild 2007 college football season. The Bulls followed that up with three straight postseason victories in a bunch of nondescript bowl games.

Since then, however, not much has gone right in Tampa. The Bulls won just 10 games in the past three years. Last season under first-year head coach Willie Taggart, South Florida went a putrid 2-10 and was blown out 53-21 by McNeese State, the biggest loss ever by an FBS program to an FCS one.

The Bulls now find themselves in the midst of a major rebuild. Down the stretch last year, Taggart blew up the team and gave major playing time to a variety of freshmen and sophomores. According to 247 Sports, he also landed the best recruiting class in the American Athletic Conference this year by a substantial margin.

Taggart, who led a quick turnaround at Western Kentucky before taking the South Florida job, seems to have the pro-

at Northwestern Oct. 4

Treyvon Green as the starter, who posted solid numbers last year but has nowhere near the explosiveness of a healthy Mark.

The Wildcats’ defense is deep and full of experience but Northwestern needs to improve on a pass rush that ranked in the lower half of college football last year in a number of advanced stats.

While the defense as a whole limited big plays last year, its breakdowns almost always came in the secondary. This is due in part to the weak pass rush—giving an opposing passer extra time is obviously never a good thing.

However, the secondary could afford to make more plays on its own. Less than a third of the Wildcats’ impressive 19 picks came from cornerbacks and safeties.

Northwestern should return to being a middle-tier school in the Big Ten. But the Wildcats do not have enough offensive playmakers to compete against the Badger defense. This is Tanner McEvoy’s breakout game as Wisconsin starts off conference play with a win.

vs. Illinois Oct. 11

the team, offensive coordinator Bill Cubit needs to forego his pass-first philosophy and focus on running back Josh Ferguson.

Last year, Ferguson was one of the nation’s most explosive backs in terms of frequently getting downfield (a stat known as opportunity rate) and what he did when he got there (highlight yards). His numbers in each of these categories were parallel to elite runners like Melvin Gordon and LSU’s Jeremy Hill.

The Illinois defense has taken a tremendous step back over the past three seasons, going from eighth in the country in Defensive F/+ (an advanced metric that holistically ranks all FBS defenses) in 2011 to 100th last year.

Recent defenses have featured plenty of youth. Despite the newfound experience, there are major question marks surrounding the pass rush and defensive line, which in turn hurts the pass coverage.

The game plan against Illinois is to basically build an early lead against its porous defense, take the ball out of Ferguson’s hands and force the offense to rely on an inexperienced passing game. Wisconsin does just that and wins handily.

The Wildcats absolutely fell apart last year, going from a 4-0 start and a No. 16 ranking to seven straight losses and missing a bowl game for the first time since 2007.

During the seven-game losing streak, Northwestern also lost four consecutive one-possession games. Horrible luck like that probably won’t recur, but then again ask Wisconsin about its recent inability to win onepossession contests (3-13 in the Badgers’ last 16 such games).

With quarterback Kain Colter gone, Trevor Siemian will take over as the full starter, ending the two-quarterback system that was in place the last two seasons. Siemian needs to improve on his awful 11:9 touchdownto-interception ratio and his mediocre 59 percent completion rate.

Running back Venric Mark was supposed to return after missing most of last fall with an ankle injury but he recently transferred to West Texas A&M. That leaves

Illinois has somehow played in a Rose Bowl more recently than Michigan. Feel free to reread that sentence. It came in that crazy 2007 season that also saw the Wolverines lose to Appalachian State at home and Kansas win the Orange Bowl. There’s no telling what was in the water that year.

The Illini have since returned to being a Big Ten also-ran, appearing in (and winning) just two bowl games in the past six years. Third-year head coach Tim Beckman may be on the hot seat this year if he doesn’t improve on his 6-18 record.

Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase has graduated, a rather prolific passer who went unnoticed during Illinois’ decline. Wes Lunt now steps in as his replacement after winning the training camp battle over two other candidates. Lunt sat out last season after transferring from Oklahoma State, where he started five games as a true freshman in 2012 and posted so-so numbers until injuries forced him out of the lineup.

With both Scheelhaase and the team’s three leading receivers no longer with

gram headed in the right direction. While help is coming in the future, the Bulls still face an uphill climb .

Sophomore Mike White was recently named the team’s starting quarterback following a freshman campaign in which he threw three touchdowns and nine interceptions while splitting time.

The defense was mediocre last year, lost several key players and now finds itself in a transition to a 3-4 alignment.

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vs. Maryland Oct. 25

for an impressive 12 touchdowns.

For all the athleticism on offense, however, Maryland had a high number of three-and-outs and was rather inept at finishing drives, scoring an average of just 3.9 points per trip inside the opponents’ 40-yard line. The offensive line also struggled in both pass protection and short yardage running situations.

The defense brings back most of its important players. Against the run, the unit excelled, particularly in short yardage situations. The secondary was young and prone to breakdowns in pass coverage.

Diggs has garnered all types of preseason hype as a player to watch in the Big Ten and Wisconsin will have a tough time containing the Maryland passing game. The Terps are a unique challenge to the Badger defense, but their offensive inefficiency will be their undoing as Wisconsin pulls away in the second half.

at Rutgers Nov. 1

it’s on punts or kickoffs, with five returns of at least 40 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, the young secondary was annihilated last season. Rutgers allowed 170 pass plays of at least 10 yards, the worst mark in the nation, and gave up 58 plays of at least 20 yards, the third-worst total in the country. Opposing quarterbacks completed 64 percent of their passes for 31 touchdowns and eight picks.

The defensive line was the strength of the unit last year and at least has a potential all-conference player in tackle Darius Hamilton. Still, Rutgers was one of the nation’s worst at stopping the run in third and fourth down short yardage situations, giving up a first down or touchdown a hideous 80 percent of the time.

Rutgers’ major lapses in pass coverage and its inability to get off the field on third down will lead Wisconsin to put an absurd amount of points on the scoreboard.

The Badgers hit the second half of the schedule against one of the Big Ten’s new additions for 2014. The Terrapins have suffered awful injury luck recently, like last year when two former five-star receivers, Stefon Diggs and Deon Long, were lost because of broken legs.

Diggs and Long return this fall and are two of the best athletes on an offense already loaded with explosive players.

Their three replacements filled in admirably last season, forming a deep receiving corps full of talent and experience.

Quarterback C.J. Brown also reprises his starting role. He is a dual-threat under center but must improve his mediocre passing numbers—a 59 percent completion rate with just 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Brown’s running numbers also dipped nearly three yards per carry between 2012 and 2013, though he did rush

According to overall F/+ ratings, the Scarlet Knights have managed to regress in six of the past seven seasons, a rather remarkable statistic. With its tough inaugural Big Ten schedule, Rutgers might make it seven years out of eight. Of its eight conference opponents, seven posted a winning record last year.

The Knights are really similar to fellow Big Ten newcomer Maryland in that they have athletic players at the skill positions to produce big plays but overall inefficiency that negates them. Rutgers matched the Terrapins’ 3.9 points per trip inside the opponents’ 40.

Still, the team does have weapons like oft-injured running back Paul James, whose explosiveness numbers are even better than Illinois’ Ferguson. Returner Janarion Grant is a major threat whether

at Purdue Nov. 8

It couldn’t have been much worse for the Boilermakers last season. They went 1-11 and their lone victory came against a horrendous Indiana State team that also went 1-11 while playing in the FCS. Even that was a nail biter, as Indiana State threw a last-minute interception in Purdue territory to seal a 20-14 decision.

Purdue scored 14 points or fewer in six games last season and averaged the fifth-fewest points in the FBS. At the very least, the Boilermakers bring back most

Gameday Season Preview 2014 11

of their skill position players.

Purdue’s awful offensive line, which allowed 39 sacks overall, loses four of its starters. The unit was also horrible in short yardage running, succeeding on thirdand-2 or shorter just 46 percent of the time.

On defense, Purdue created a havoc play (sack, tackle for loss, pass defensed or forced fumble) on just 11.5 percent of its snaps, ranking 117th in the country.

Wisconsin will use Purdue as its final tune-up game before the most challenging stretch of the schedule since LSU.

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vs. Nebraska Nov. 15

The Cornhuskers have somehow managed to lose exactly four games in each of the past six seasons. A program that once won three national titles in four years during the mid-1990s has since fallen off to become the epitome of college football’s second tier.

True to form, Nebraska might continue that four-loss streak in 2014. There are some of the nation’s best playmakers on both sides of the ball but also some major question marks that will hold the team back.

Sophomore quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. will start this year. He is a volatile player that averaged over 14 yards per completion but also one that only completed 52 percent of his passes and tossed interceptions on six percent of his throws. Armstrong is mobile but he is nowhere near the running threat former Husker quarterback Taylor Martinez was.

However, the offense does have Ameer Abdullah. The senior running back ran for nearly 1,700 yards while averaging

at Iowa Nov. 22

After an Orange Bowl win following the 2009 season, the Hawkeyes have returned to the Big Ten’s middle tier. Iowa has won an average of seven games in the four seasons since then and has recorded just one bowl victory.

The Hawkeyes feature a mediocre but competent offense in 2014, led by quarterback Jake Rudock and a three-man running back committee. Rudock started off slowly last season but came on down the stretch, posting a passer rating of at least 127 in eight of the team’s final 10 games.

Still, the passing game offers nearly no threat to break off a big play. Last season’s top four receivers averaged a dismal 6.8 yards per target, ranking in the lower third of college football.

Because Iowa stayed healthy last year, the defense must now replace three start-

vs. Minnesota Nov. 29

Wisconsin’s regular season comes to a close with a Thanksgiving weekend tilt for Paul Bunyan’s Axe. The Gophers haven’t won this rivalry game since 2003.

In 2013, Minnesota was a feel-good story as the team jumped out to an 8-2 start under inspiring head coach Jerry Kill. However, the Gophers dropped their next two games against Wisconsin and Michigan State, then inexplicably lost to a weak Syracuse team in the Texas Bowl.

It was indicative of Minnesota’s season, one in which the Gophers beat the teams they should have beaten (besides Syracuse) and fell to the better ones.

Quarterback Mitch Leidner completed 55 percent of his throws and averaged just six yards per attempt last year. any day A runner more than a passer, he was sacked on an alarming 14 percent of his drop-backs.

The identity of the Gophers’ offense, however, is its running game.

Minnesota ran the ball on over 78 percent of its plays and had the

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six yards per carry last fall. He was one of the country’s best runners in terms of reaching the second level of the defense and gaining big yards once he got there.

While his talent is a sure thing, Abdullah will be stuck behind an offensive line that returns a total of just 16 career starts, one of the lowest marks in the nation.

Junior defensive end Randy Gregory is rocketing up 2015 NFL Draft boards and could be one of the top picks next year. Gregory recorded 10.5 sacks last fall, the most in the Big Ten, and 16 tackles for loss.

Like the offense’s heavy reliance on Abdullah, Gregory is the main focal point of a defense that has its holes. There are concerns over the supporting cast in run defense and several redshirt freshmen will have to play big roles in the secondary.

If this game was in Lincoln, I’d probably pick the Huskers, but the Badgers do have homefield advantage. Regardless, this is Wisconsin’s second-toughest game outside of the season opener and will not be decided until the fourth quarter.

ing linebackers and half its secondary with players that did not get much chance to play.

To illustrate this, the three departed linebackers combined for 35.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, six interceptions, six passes defensed and six forced fumbles. Their backups totaled 22 total tackles and zero of everything else.

The Hawkeyes do, however, play a weak schedule. They could win nine or 10 games and be a surprise contender for the division title. Iowa benefits from playing its most difficult opponent, the Badgers, at home and could make this one interesting.

Still, Iowa is devoid of standout players. While Nebraska has Abdullah and Gregory to complement a mediocre roster, there is nobody like that on either side of the ball for the Hawkeyes. Wisconsin’s talent advantage wins out here.

sixth-fewest pass attempts in the country.

The backfield has three strong runners in David Cobb, Donnell Kirkwood and Rodrick Williams, Jr., and Leidner was the team’s second-leading rusher last year with nearly 500 yards on the ground.

The defense was solid but unspectacular in 2013.

It was often prone to slow starts but was still one of the nation’s best at shutting down opponents once they got inside the Gophers’ 40-yard line, allowing just 3.7 points per trip.

Minnesota must find a complementary player to defensive end Theiren Cockran. His 7.5 sacks last year were higher than the rest of the line combined.

Improving the pass rush will help the secondary, which must deal with the loss of safety Brock Vereen to the NFL. The Gophers’ biggest challenge will be winning against other second-tier teams like Iowa, Nebraska and Michigan.

Succeeding there certainly gets Minnesota to its third straight bowl game, something that hasn’t happened since the team went to five in a row from 2002-’06.

Last year during Thanksgiving weekend, the Badgers were upset by an aboveaverage team at home when Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg had his breakout game. Though you can draw a few parallels between these situations, the Gophers do not have a player like Hackenberg capable of taking over the game and Wisconsin retains the axe again.

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gameday

Gameday Season Preview 2014

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LSU Tigers

Wisconsin Badgers

team roster

team roster

01 02 03 04 05 05 06 06 07 07 08 09 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 21 22 22 23 24 25 25 26 28 29 30 31 31 32 34 34 36 36 37 38 38 39 41 42 43 44 45 46 46

Jordan, A.J. Stave, Joel Doe, Kenzel Gaulden, Devin Hillary, Darius McEvoy, Tanner Clement, Corey James, Alec Caputo, Michael Gillins, D.J. Shelton, Sojourn Fredrick, Jordan Gaglianone, Rafael Sanders, Krenwick Peavy, Jazz Reynard, T.J. Armstrong, Thad Jamerson, Natrell Bondoc, Evan Houston, Bart Senger, Connor Wheelwright, Robert Dixon, D’Cota Love, Reggie Cadogan, Sherard Rushing, George Baretz, Lance Ogunbowale, Dare Connelly, Ryan Musso, Leo Ramesh, Austin Jean, Peniel Andersen, Chasen Kinlaw, Caleb Hudson, Austin Brookins, Keelon Gordon, Melvin Tindal, Derrick Straus, Derek Deal, Taiwan Floyd, Terrance Landisch, Derek Cummins, Connor Figaro, Lubern Jacobs, Leon Obasih, Chikwe Watt, Derek Ferguson, Joe Spurling, D.J. Endicott, Andrew Neuville, Zander Rosowski, P.J. Kelliher, Brady Hayes, Jesse Watt, T.J. Trotter, Michael Steffes, Eric Herring, Warren Austin, Matt Traylor, Austin

CB QB WR CB CB QB RB DE S QB CB WR K WR WR CB QB WR S QB QB WR ILB WR OLB WR WR CB OLB S RB CB ILB RB DB S RB CB FB RB CB ILB WR S OLB DE FB S FB K LB P LS OLB TE ILB TE NG ILB TE

6-0 6-5 5-8 5-10 5-11 6-6 5-11 6-3 6-1 6-3 5-9 6-4 5-11 6-1 6-0 5-9 6-3 5-11 6-1 6-4 5-10 6-2 5-10 6-3 6-3 6-1 5-11 5-11 6-3 5-10 6-1 5-11 6-0 5-9 6-2 5-10 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-0 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-1 5-10 5-9 6-5 6-3 6-8 6-3 6-5 6-0 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-3

190 220 176 187 188 222 217 259 212 201 178 214 231 193 187 175 215 180 201 218 183 201 206 214 232 190 195 188 225 194 247 194 221 180 205 209 213 174 230 216 191 231 200 179 230 268 236 210 212 175 226 186 247 229 247 220 259 294 218 248

RS JR RS JR SR RS JR RS JR RS JR SO RS FR RS JR FR SO RS JR FR FR RS FR JR RS SO FR FR RS SO RS FR SO FR RS SO RS SR FR SR RS SO FR RS SO RS FR RS SR FR FR FR RS FR RS JR FR RS JR FR RS JR SR RS SR FR SO RS FR RS JR RS FR RS FR SO FR FR RS FR RS JR RS FR RS SR RS SO RS SR FR RS JR

47 48 48 49 49 50 52 53 54 55 55 56 56 57 58 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 66 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 78 82 84 86 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 99

Biegel, Vince Cichy, Jack Fumagalli, Troy Arneson, Sam Schweitzer, Justin Harrison, Josh Maxwell, Jacob Edwards, T.J. Costigan, Kyle Denlinger, Trent Dooley, Garret Fischer, Ben McGuire, James Ruechel, Ben Panos, George Schobert, Joe Trotter, Marcus Udelhoven, Connor Marz, Tyler Williams, Walker Deiter, Michael Connors, Brett Benzschawel, Beau Gault, Jaden McNamara, Aiden Voltz, Dan Ball, Ray Hemer, Ben Lewallen, Dallas Biegel, Hayden Kapoi, Micah Schmidt, Logan Havenstein, Rob Stengel, Jake Maly, Austin Erickson, Alex Eckert, Sam Meyer, Drew Zagzebski, Konrad Patterson, Jeremy Keefer, Jake Sheehy, Conor Goldberg, Arthur Hirschfeld, Billy Russell, Jack Adeyanju, James

OLB ILB TE TE OLB OLB OL OLB OL OL DE LB LS ILB OL ILB ILB LS OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL WR TE WR TE P DE NG DE DE NG DE K DE

6-4 6-2 6-5 6-4 6-1 6-0 6-6 6-1 6-5 6-6 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-5 6-2 6-0 5-11 6-5 6-7 6-5 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-4 6-3 6-7 6-4 6-6 6-6 6-4 6-4 6-8 6-3 6-5 6-0 6-5 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-3 6-6 6-0 6-2

244 220 246 244 208 223 295 229 319 308 238 211 216 224 301 240 226 211 321 320 317 311 291 310 315 311 324 274 321 303 323 300 333 203 250 196 220 187 277 326 269 279 290 271 176 262

RS SO SO RS FR SR FR RS SR FR FR RS SR RS SO RS FR FR RS SR RS SR FR JR RS SR RS SO RS JR RS SO FR FR FR FR RS FR RS SO RS JR RS FR RS SR RS FR FR RS SO RS SR RS JR RS JR RS SO FR RS JR RS SR FR RS JR FR RS SO FR JR RS JR

01 02 03 04 06 07 08 09 10 10 11 12 12 13 13 13 14 14 15 16 16 17 17 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 27 28 29 30 30 31 31 32 33 34 34 35 35 36 38 39 39 40 40 41 41 42 43 43 44 44 45

Leslie, Quantavius Peterson, Avery Garrett, Clifton Alexander, Kwon Harris, Brandon Fournette, Leonard Quinn, Trey Diarse, John Jennings, Anthony Suits, Austin Dickens, Micah Lang, Jeff Thompson, Corey Clise, Jake LaBorde, Chris Thomas, Dwayne Domingue, Trent Williams, Lionel Dupre, Malachi Kragthorpe, Brad White, Tre’Davious Bergeron, Brandon Foster, Jared O’Brien, Myles Magee, Terrence Boyd, Luke Robinson, Rashard Feist, Ronnie Louis, Lamar Paris, Ed Henry, Reshaud Martin, Ronald Hilliard, Kenny Surtain, Brandon Mills, Jalen Jefferson, Rickey Battle, John Pfau, Kyle Schiro, Bennett Welter, D.J. Collins, Jalen Adams, Jamal Triche, Jordan Williams, Darrel Meullion, Devante Voorhies, Devin Gamble, Cameron Keehn, Jamie Breda, Lenny Gage, Russell Riley, Duke Wallace, Abraham Dickson, Travis LeBeau, Tommy Delahoussaye, Colby Harper, Jordan Neighbors, Connor Jeter, Colin Tre’ Sullivan Jones, Deion

WR WR LB LB QB RB WR WR QB S CB WR S CB WR CB K/P S WR QB DB QB QB LB RB DB DB LB LB DB RB S RB DB S S S K FB LB CB S DB RB FB S K P WR DB LB WR TE S K TE FB TE DB LB

6-4 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-1 5-9 5-10 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-2 6-3 5-11 5-11 6-2 6-0 6-2 5-9 5-10 6-3 6-1 5-11 6-1 5-8 6-2 6-0 5-9 6-0 6-0 6-1 5-10 5-11 6-1 6-2 6-0 5-10 6-0 5-9 6-2 5-11 6-4 5-9 6-0 6-1 5-11 6-3 6-0 5-10 6-2 5-11 6-6 5-8 6-1

179 200 242 227 188 230 194 210 216 202 179 193 218 212 191 182 170 205 187 200 191 187 200 205 217 170 177 224 229 208 195 220 232 177 194 204 186 191 214 235 198 206 162 230 253 208 190 220 167 180 218 182 237 185 176 228 229 236 179 220

SR FR FR JR FR FR FR FR SO FR FR SR JR FR JR SO SO FR FR JR SO SO JR SR SR SR SO JR JR FR FR SR SR SO JR SO FR FR FR SR JR FR JR FR JR FR FR JR FR FR SO FR SR JR SO SO SR SO SR JR

45 46 47 48 48 49 50 50 51 51 52 53 53 54 55 56 57 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 67 69 70 71 72 74 75 76 77 78 79 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99

Tharp, Josh Bower, Tashawn Moore, John David Alexander, Donnie Franklin, Jake Jones, Melvin Ferguson, Reid Pittman, Christian Ballis, John Rucker, Jonathon Beckwith, Kendell Boudreaux, Logan Leger, Grant Maclin, Justin Porter, Elliott Lealaimatafao, Trey Godchaux, Davon Townsend, Cody Teuhema, Sione Rasco, Jermauria Gallman, Trey Cheramie, Alex Mikush, Justin Malone, K.J. Clapp, William Hawkins, Jerald Domond, Jevonte Fanaika, Hoko Collins, La’el Austin, Jonah Dodd, Andy Alexander, Vadal Washington, Evan Boutte, Josh Pocic, Ethan Brumfield, Garrett Valentine, Travonte Upchurch, Tony Chark, D.J. Dural, Travin Stokes, Logan Gordon, Dillon James, Miquel Spears, Kevin Travis, Reid Washington, Jacory Smith, DeSean Bain, Maquedius LaCouture, Christian Neal, Lewis Patterson, M.J. Hunter, Danielle Thomas, Quentin Johnson, Mickey Herron, Frank Clark, Deondre Gilmore, Greg

TE DE TE LB TE FB LS LB LS LB LB LS LB DE OL DT DT OL DE DE OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DT WR WR WR TE TE WR WR DL TE TE DT DT DE DE DE DT DT DT DE DT

6-3 6-5 6-3 6-1 6-5 6-2 6-2 5-11 6-1 6-0 6-2 5-11 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-0 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-1 6-0 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-5 6-6 6-4 6-6 6-6 6-5 6-7 6-4 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-5 6-4 5-8 6-3 6-0 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-5 6-1 6-3 6-6 6-4 6-1 6-4 6-3 6-5

209 237 229 201 262 258 236 205 215 205 245 218 218 240 297 300 298 274 232 247 256 280 347 289 295 309 310 330 321 330 336 340 334 340 301 309 325 230 184 192 255 295 161 195 342 221 242 299 300 255 231 240 303 310 278 244 305

FR SO FR FR SR SO JR JR JR FR SO JR JR SR SR FR FR SO FR SR FR FR FR FR FR SO SO SR SR JR FR JR SR SO SO FR FR FR FR SO SR JR FR FR FR FR SO FR SO SO FR JR JR JR FR FR FR

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Gameday Season Preview 2014

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Similar styles square off in Houston

By Jim Dayton THE DAILY CARDINAL

In recent memory, Wisconsin always seems to kick off its season against some inferior school that nobody really has any desire to watch. There was Akron in 2008 and UMass last year, along with a host of other dreadful teams in-between.

For at least the foreseeable future, the cupcake openers are no more. Wisconsin suddenly headlines college football’s opening weekend with a clash against SEC power LSU in Houston. It is the first of three consecutive seasons in which the Badgers begin the year against an SEC school, with games against Alabama and an LSU rematch to follow.

Over the past five years, the Tigers are tied for fourth in the nation in wins among major conference programs. In nine seasons under head coach Les Miles, LSU has posted seven double-digit victory totals and won a national championship. The numbers back up the Tigers’ status as one of the country’s best.

This season, however, LSU is remarkably similar to Wisconsin, the poster child for good-but-not great programs everywhere.

There is a reason that the preseason AP poll puts the Tigers at No. 13 and the Badgers just one spot behind.

Like Wisconsin, LSU is forced to replace a number of key contributors from last year’s squad that went 10-3 and won the Outback Bowl against Iowa. Nine Tigers were drafted into the NFL this past May, tied for the most of any school.

While the Badgers are tasked

with replacing their entire starting defensive front seven from last season, LSU’s biggest losses come on offense. Gone are top receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., who accounted for 62 percent of the team’s targets in the passing game. Together, they were one of the nation’s top big play wide receiver duos, combining for 103 receptions of at least 10 yards and 45 catches of at least 20.

Leading rusher Jeremy Hill left Baton Rouge for the NFL after averaging nearly seven yards per carry as a sophomore. Besides compiling over 1,400 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, his 18 receptions also made him the Tigers’ third-leading receiver.

Perhaps the biggest loss of all, however, is quarterback Zach Mettenberger. Despite the Tigers being one of the least pass-happy teams in the nation, the senior still threw for over 3,000 yards and completed 64 percent of his passes. He averaged a ridiculous 10.4 yards per pass attempt, the third-highest mark in the country, demonstrating his essential role in LSU’s occasionally dynamic pass attack.

Finding replacements for these players will be somewhat of a mixed bag. In the backfield, seniors Terrence Magee and Kenny Hilliard both had their fair share of big games last season in limited time. True freshman Leonard Fournette is one of the most highly touted running back prospects in years but his role for this season opener will likely be minimal. The receiving corps is full of athletic, blue-chip recruits who will be forced to

play immediately to fill the void on the outside.

But when Mettenberger tore his ACL in last year’s regular season finale, Anthony Jennings took over and was about as inconsistent as he could possibly be. In relief of Mettenberger against Arkansas, Jennings led a game-winning drive and finished 4-7 for 76 yards and a touchdown.

In the bowl game, however, he was atrocious, going 7-19 for just 82 yards and an interception.

Jennings may split snaps with freshman Brandon Harris. This inconsistency and inexperience under center will probably force LSU, which was already a runheavy team last fall, to emphasize the ground game even more. The Tigers’ offensive line returns all but one member of its two-deep rotation to a unit that excelled in run blocking last season.

This offensive philosophy is a mirror image of Wisconsin’s identity. Like the Tigers, the Badgers have a strong group of running backs, a bunch of unproven receivers and an inexperienced starting quarterback in redshirt junior Tanner McEvoy.

On the other side of the ball, both of LSU’s starting defensive tackles from last fall are now gone from a defensive line that wasn’t all that great to begin with.

The Tigers were adept at stopping up-tempo spread offenses like Texas A&M, but struggled against teams that could pound the ball on the ground.

LSU must improve its playmaking up front. Both starting ends, Jermauria Rasco and Danielle Hunter, return after combin-

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Head coach Gary Andersen looks for a career-defining victory as No. 14 Wisconsin takes on No. 13 LSU in the season opener. ing for an underwhelming seven sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last year. Besides creating more havoc behind the line of scrimmage, the defense needs to capitalize more on turnover chances. Opponents fumbled the ball 22 times against the Tigers, but LSU only recovered eight of those.

Behind the front seven, the secondary should be the strength of the defense. The unit was constantly in flux last season due to injuries.

According to Bill Connelly of SB Nation, of the Tigers’ eight defensive backs that averaged more than one tackle per game, only three played in all 13 games. That means a wealth of experienced reserves behind a now-healthy secondary.

Again, there are plenty of similarities between the LSU defense and the Badger defense.

Wisconsin faces a more challenging rebuild up front since it loses all seven primary starters. However, the Badgers return three of four starters in the defensive backfield. Though pass coverage occasionally had major lapses last season, Wisconsin’s secondary is loaded with talent like sophomore cornerback Sojourn Shelton and should be the strength of the defense.

The outcome of this game will likely be decided within

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Fall 2014, Issue 1 2142 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Avenue Madison, Wis., 53706-1497 News and Editorial 608-262-8000 fax 608-262-8100 edit@dailycardinal.com sports@dailycardinal.com l

Editor-in-Chief Jack Casey Managing Editor Jonah Beleckis Gameday Editors Zach Rastall Andrew Tucker Sports Editors Jack Baer Jim Dayton Photo Editors Emily Buck Tommy Yonash Graphics Editor Cameron Graff Social Media Manager Rachel Wanat Copy Chiefs Kara Evenson, Justine Jones Jessie Rodgers, Paige Villiard

one possession. Dating back to the 2011 Rose Bowl against TCU, the Badgers have played in 16 such games and have won only three of them. According to the Pythagorean projection, a formula that uses point differential to predict winning percentage, Wisconsin should have had a record of approximately 7-9 in these 16 games, rather than the hideous reality of 3-13. Depending on your level of optimism, the Badgers will stick to their recent history and lose another close game or finally be the beneficiary of regression toward the mean.

With both teams having similar identities on offense and defense, picking a winner is difficult. However, these teams are structured very differently as LSU’s entire roster is full of four-star and five-star recruits at all different positions.

Judging by the rest of Wisconsin’s schedule, it is entirely possible that the team goes undefeated after this game.

Though this one is awfully hard to predict, the Badgers’ roster turnover makes a perfect regular season hard to fathom. Losing once is likely and it happens here, as the Tigers’ athleticism and the close neutral site proximity to Baton Rouge swing the game in LSU’s favor.

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Comparing recent conference history

By Jack Baer THE DAILY CARDINAL

It’s not exactly a secret that the Southeastern Conference has been dominant in the last decade.

Seven titles, all in a row, and conference pride growing exponentially with every crystal football hoisted. The last time the SEC had a losing record in bowl games was 2002. In that same time frame, the Big Ten has had nine losing bowl records, the ACC five, the Big 12 four and the Pac-12 three. In the BCS era, the SEC had a 34-25 record against the Big Ten. Make no mistake, the juggernaut that was the Florida State Seminoles taking down Auburn in the final minutes of last year’s championship game doesn’t mean the SEC’s reign as the top football conference in the country is at an end. Not when the conference has the depth that it has. Alabama, Auburn, LSU,

Georgia, South Carolina, and maybe a resurgent Florida or Tennessee could compete for a title this year (cue Bret Bielema sad/confused face).

The SEC won the BCS era.

They took home more national championships than every other conference combined and also led in BCS bowl wins and regular bowl wins.

Meanwhile, the Big Ten. Let’s be real, the midwestern conference hasn’t been the class of college football for a long time.

Decades, really. Massive alumni and fan bases and a strong collection of coaches can’t make up for a sheer lack of access to recruits.

Of the top 50 players in 247Sports’ composite football recruit rankings, 35 hail from states with SEC schools. States in Big Ten territory? Five, and if you are still bemoaning the Big Ten’s addition of Maryland and Rutgers, just know that three of those recruits hail from D.C., Maryland and New Jersey.

It gets worse when you consider that two of those five Big Ten area recruits, Jalen Tabor and Clifton Garrett, headed down south to Florida and LSU respectively. That two matches the number of those 35 SEC state recruits that decided to go to Big Ten schools. The SEC is better at poaching, and they already have the biggest game reserve.

So how does Wisconsin and the Big Ten turn this tide, as it were? They will not do so quickly, as it means reaching the hearts and minds of hundreds of very large young men sitting in front of television sets across the south and convincing them that football played in the cold is an enjoyable and eventually lucrative pursuit.

Of course, the one thing in football that is assuredly enjoyable and eventually lucrative is winning, so in this chicken and egg standoff, the Big Ten is going to need good luck, good scheduling and good coaching to go on a winning streak.

Think of what a win Aug. 30 does not just for Wisconsin, but for its entire conference.

This is all to say the Big Ten faces an uphill battle to conference supremacy that is almost perpendicular. Reaching any level that could be considered glory years is going to require seismic shifts in the college football landscape. Shifts like the College Football Playoff.

This new era is a clean slate.

A chance to reset the record

books and give the Big Ten a time period where it doesn’t have to combat its recent lack of success. A first impression, almost. For Wisconsin it all starts with a season opening date with one of the most successful SEC schools out there, Louisiana State University.

With a committee now deciding who gets the chance to fight for the title, every prominent team in the country is going to try scheduling marquee opponents for its nonconference schedule.

Wisconsin has arguably done as good a job at competitive nonconference scheduling as any program in the country, with season openers against LSU, Alabama and LSU again in the next three years. Considering the level of competition in the Big Ten West—and therefore opportunities to move up in the rankings—it’s something they have to do.

Think of what a win Aug. 30 does not just for Wisconsin, but its entire conference. Sure, LSU lost

Zach Mettenberger, Jeremy Hill, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry and its usual glut of underclassmen defenders—it’s still LSU. Their players are fast, their stadium is awesome and Mike the Tiger is still an actual tiger. Playing them can be a statement game for any team in the country. For a team like Wisconsin, a relative unknown in this year’s rankings thanks to its quarterback situation and turnover on defense, it’s a defining game. After the Badgers’ date in Houston, it’s a journey through a relatively easy Big Ten West, with only Nebraska and Iowa posing true challenges. Maybe Maryland, if Stefon Diggs decides to get frisky.

If Wisconsin wants to reach the College Football Playoff and take a Big Ten conference desperately in need of nationally competitive teams with it, winning this LSU game is where it all starts. As the status quo changes in the next few years to where the Playoff dictates it, every team in every conference is not just a team, it’s a flag bearer.

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THIS WEEK’S BIG GAMES (21) Texas A&M at (9) South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. 5:00 p.m. Thursday (16) Clemson at (12) Georgia, Athens, Ga. 4:30 p.m. Saturday (1) Florida State vs.

Oklahoma State, Arlington, Texas 7:00 p.m. Saturday (14) Wisconsin vs.

(13) LSU, Houston, Texas 8:00 p.m. Saturday

PRESEASON POLLS AP TOP 25 1. Florida State (57) 1496 2. Alabama (1) 1361 3. Oregon (1) 1334 4. Oklahoma (1) 1324 5. Ohio State 1207 6. Auburn 1198 7. UCLA 1106 8. Michigan State 1080 9. South Carolina 1015 10. Baylor 966 11. Stanford 885 12. Georgia 843 13. LSU 776 14. Wisconsin 637 15. USC 626 16. Clemson 536 17. Notre Dame 445 18. Ole Miss 424 19. Arizona State 357 20. Kansas State 242 21. Texas A&M 238 22. Nebraska 226 23. North Carolina 194 24. Missouri 134 25. Washington 130 Others receiving votes: UCF 94, Florida 87, Texas 86, Duke 71, Iowa 68, Louisville 48, Marshall 41

USA TODAY/COACHES 1. Florida State (56) 1543 2. Alabama 1455 3. Oklahoma (3) 1382 4. Oregon (1) 1314 5. Auburn 1271 6. Ohio State (1) 1267 7. UCLA 1085 8. Michigan State 1050 9. South Carolina (1) 1009 10. Baylor 965 11. Stanford 955 12. Georgia 905 13. LSU 833 14. Wisconsin 654 15. USC 627 16. Clemson 535 17. Notre Dame 509 18. Arizona State 358 19. Ole Miss 346 20. Texas A&M 266 21. Kansas State 257 22. Nebraska 228 23. North Carolina 175 24. Texas 143 25. Washington 142 Others receiving votes: Missouri 126, Florida 122, UCF 102, Mississippi State 74

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This season’s games to watch

By Grey Satterfield THE DAILY CARDINAL

Chance The Rapper once said, “And we back! And we back! And we back!” and the glorious return of college football is no different.

The annual fall drama returns better than ever with all your favorite characters and a plot twist like no other, the College Football Playoff. Here are five regular season games to keep an eye on as the magnificent wave rolls its way into bracket form.

1) Sept. 6, Michigan State at Oregon Schools are listening to the notion that strength of schedule matters. No longer will there be complaining of who got left out of the title game. That griping will now take the shape of who got left out of the playoff. The same moaning from the third place team will now be shifted down to the fifth place team and the world keeps turning.

With that in mind, a boost in strength of schedule might be the difference between fourth and fifth when the regular season is over, and defending Rose Bowl champion Michigan State and Nike runway model Oregon are listening.

The Spartans head to Autzen Stadium under the helm of returning quarterback Connor Cook, who put up 2,755 yards last season as well as 22 touchdowns. The offense around him will look very similar to last year’s Big Ten conquering campaign featuring star tailback Jeremy Langford and most of last year’s receiver corps.

The Spartan defense is a different story with four starters off to the NFL. They still return defensive end Shilique Calhoun who will be critical in pressuring Oregon’s quarterback and potential Heisman candidate Marcus Mariota.

The Ducks bring a high-flying offense about as frequently as the IRS mails out tax refunds. Saying they’re going to score is a given.

But recently, the Duck’s potent offensive attack has been held in

check by overly physical teams like Stanford and last season’s Arizona.

Look for the stiff Spartan defense to punish the finesse of the Oregon attack. One more thing to keep an eye on, Oregon lost starting left tackle Tyler Johnstone to an ACL tear. The Spartans’ path to Mariota just got a little easier.

2) Oct. 4, Stanford at Notre Dame Last year’s dramatic Rose Bowl losers, Stanford looks to make it three straight conference championships in 2014. It returns standout quarterback Kevin Hogan and most of their offense apart from bruising running back Tyler Gaffney, now a New England Patriot.

Stanford’s crushing defense was also depleted by the NFL draft but this is not the first time the team has lost so many key players. The Cardinal has been proving skeptics wrong for a while now and a skid seems almost impossible. That explains the preseason No. 11 ranking.

Stanford’s gauntlet Pac-12 schedule is broken up with a trip to South Bend to take on a very intriguing Notre Dame team. Depending on your level of optimism, the Irish could finish anywhere between 11-2 and 4-7. Regardless, they somehow earned a No. 17 preseason ranking in both the AP and coaches polls.

Returning from suspension after an undefeated regular season, Everett Golson will be passing from the golden domes again during Brian Kelly’s sixth season at Notre Dame. Golson is returning after missing last season for academic violations. Four other Notre Dame players are facing allegations of similar activity.

Notre Dame’s defense will be anchored by linebacker Jaylon Smith who made impressive strides last season as a freshman.

The matchup with Stanford should be a great physical contest and we’ll be in for a treat if it’s half as good as their controversial overtime classic from 2012.

GREY SATTERFIELD/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

A win over Oregon would boost defending Rose Bowl champion Michigan State’s resume for the College Football Playoff.

3) Oct. 11, Oklahoma vs.

Texas The early kickoff, the stadium split 50-50 at midfield, the Texas State Fair and the best rivalry in college football can only be described in three words: Red River Shootout.

The Sooners enter this year on a fabulous high following a dramatic win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl behind quarterback Trevor Knight. If Knight plays as well as he did in the Sugar Bowl all season, the Sooners have a chance to run the table in the Big 12, but that’s one big if.

The Sooners were plagued last season by inconsistent quarterback play, but Knight’s promise has expectations soaring in Norman. Another Sugar Bowl standout, linebacker Eric Striker, hopes to lead the Sooner defense to a Big 12 title.

The annual showdown in Dallas will feature a new character, Texas head coach Charlie Strong. How well Texas will do this season is anyone’s guess, but returning starting quarterback David Ash and wide receiver Jaxon Shipley hope to return Texas to national prominence.

The Sooners and Longhorns both have intriguing nonconference matchups, but it’s not ludicrous to think both teams arrive in Dallas undefeated.

The winner of the game will be in the driver’s seat not only for the Big 12 conference title but also a berth in the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma could very well avenge its tough loss in last year’s edition of this game and take advantage of Strong’s rookie season with the burnt orange.

4) Oct. 30, Florida State at Louisville How could we forget Florida State, defending national champion and home to reigning Heisman trophy winner Famous Jameis Winston?

Everyone knows that going undefeated is difficult, and doing it twice in a row might be impossible, but if there was a team to do it, why not this one? The Seminoles lost a lot of players to the NFL but as long as Jameis is under center, why not?

This team eradicated the competition last year with a 51-14 win over No. 3 Clemson, a 41-14 victory over No. 7 Miami and a 45-7 win over No. 20 Duke in the ACC championship game.

The juggernaut Noles will travel to ACC newcomer Louisville on the last Thursday in October. Louisville is coming off

an impressive 12-1 season highlighted by a thrashing of ACC member Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

The Cardinals also welcome back head coach Bobby Petrino (let’s hope he left his motorcycle in Arkansas). Despite losing quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to the Minnesota Vikings, expectations are high in Louisville’s first ACC campaign.

The atmosphere will be electric on a Thursday night when the Cardinals host Jameis and the Noles, but it’s safe to say Petrino will need a few years to build Louisville into a Playoffcaliber team.

5) Nov. 29, Auburn at Alabama The long-awaited rematch to the best game of 2013, the Iron Bowl. I’m not crazy enough to say that this year’s Thanksgiving weekend matchup will be anywhere as good as last year’s, but it’s fun to dream.

Last season Auburn was one play away from claiming the SEC’s eighth straight national title and becoming one of the most darling Cinderellas college football has ever seen. Too bad Jameis had other plans.

Alabama enters the season on a two-game losing streak, which is very uncharacteristic. They’ll have a new quarterback this season, Florida State transfer Jacob Coker. He’ll take the reigns of an impressive arsenal of weapons including wide receiver Amari Cooper and two dynamite running backs in T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry.

Nick Saban’s coaching staff could be getting stronger with the addition of offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. It’s also safe to assume that old Nick won’t be attempting any more 57-yard field goals against Auburn.

Auburn returns this season under the dynamic offense of Gus Malzahn. However, it’s reasonable to assume that the conference known for defense will start to catch on this season.

The Tigers were easily one of the luckiest teams in 2014 and many pundits are assuming their carriage will turn back into a pumpkin, a pumpkin that Nick Saban has been dreaming of smashing all summer.

The winner of this game will then possibly journey to Atlanta for the SEC championship game for a chance at a Playoff berth. Who knows who the final four will be, but it will sure be exciting.

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Players to watch on the Badger offense Eyes from all across the country will be on running back Melvin Gordon

By Andrew Tucker THE DAILY CARDINAL

Melvin Gordon

Redshirt junior Melvin Gordon is a name Badger fans are quite familiar with. After rushing for modest gains in the 2012 regular season, Gordon burst onto the scene in that year’s Big Ten championship game against Nebraska.

Despite being the third-string back behind Montee Ball and James White, Gordon rushed for 216 yards and a score in the game that served as a sign of what was to come.

Last year, Gordon took center stage for UW as a part of its potent two-pronged rushing attack that combined for 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. Gordon earned a spot as second-team All-Big Ten, as well as an honorable mention on Sports Illustrated’s AllAmerican team. With partner White moving on to the NFL, the redshirt junior Gordon will be the top dog in the Badgers’ rushing attack with sophomore Corey Clement complementing him in the backfield.

After the success of last year, many expected Gordon

MELVIN GORDON GREY SATTERFIELD/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

JORDAN FREDRICK

plays similarly to Abbrederis in that he isn’t afraid to match up physically against corners when going to get jump balls. Listed at 6 feet 4 inches, Fredrick is three inches taller than his predecessor, proving he has the body to fit the aggressive style of play.

While a stout rushing attack is UW’s mantra, Wisconsin must keep defenses honest with a respectable passing game. Last year, the Badgers had Abbrederis and tight end Jacob Pedersen, but after losing both, there is a large void to fill.

Finding a reliable target early on to help Tanner McEvoy’s transition to starter will be a must for Wisconsin’s offense.

Look for Fredrick to be a force in the passing game this season.

Rob Havenstein

ROB HAVENSTEIN NITHIN CHARLLY/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

to bolt for the NFL. However, after choosing to stay, he instantly became the center of Wisconsin’s offseason hype. He was named to both the preseason first-team All-Big Ten

and All-American lists, as well as being put on the watch lists for the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards, both given to the top player each season.

More notable, he is on Heisman

JANE THOMPSON/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

watch lists for both Sports Illustrated and ESPN. After a successful season of running the ball last year, expect to see more of the same from Gordon this season.

Behind an experienced offensive line that returns four starters, Gordon’s rushing numbers could end up being more exceptional than last season.

However, one area Gordon could improve upon is his role in the passing game. Last year, he only had one reception for 10 yards while White had 39 receptions for 300 yards and two touchdowns. With an inexperienced group of wide receivers, the Badgers need Gordon to become a reliable checkdown option out of the backfield.

Jordan Fredrick

Redshirt junior wide receiver Jordan Fredrick has always had a connection to Wisconsin football. His father played tight end for the Badgers from 1979-’81. Fredrick grew up in Madison and was a unanimous choice for All-City Offensive Player of the Year, as well as being an AP All-State receiver.

Last year, the Badgers had Abbrederis and tight end Jacob Pedersen, but after losing both, there is a large void to fill.

Now, after years of playing in the shadow of Jared Abbrederis, Fredrick will have to fill his shoes. After being targeted only 18 times last season, he is the Badgers’ returning receptions leader despite just 10 catches in 2013. Fredrick

Many fan bases give little love to the big men up front, but with Wisconsin’s history of constantly putting out toptier offensive linemen, Rob Havenstein is a player to watch this season. With Gordon and Clement running behind him, Havenstein’s success is essential to the Badger offense.

The redshirt senior returns this year as Mr. Reliable, having played 40 games in his three seasons, the most games played on the team. His time on the field has been productive, leading to second-team All-Big Ten honors last season. He was a key part in helping last year’s offense set school records for total offense, rushing yards, and yards per rush, leading the way for the explosive White and Gordon and protecting quarterback Joel Stave.

With Gordon and Clement running behind him, Havenstein’s success is essential to the Badger offense.

This year, Havenstein comes in as a preseason All-Big Ten firstteam player, as well as a preseason fourth-team All-American. In addition, Havenstein is on the Outland Trophy watch list and the Lombardi Award watch list, both given to the best linemen.

Havenstein anchors a unit that returns four starters and has a handful of reserves that got playing time last year due to injuries. Havenstein looks to be the next notable Badger lineman, joining the likes of Travis Frederick and Gabe Carimi.

After losing several receiving threats, a strong offensive line is crucial to the Wisconsin attack. The running game may need to compensate for lost passing yards, a tall task considering the group last year set team rushing records. Secondly, it will help McEvoy immensely to have a clean pocket to work with as he figures out the new receivers. All this points back to pressure and a large workload on Havenstein, and at 6 feet, 8 inches and 333 pounds, he certainly is big enough to carry that burden.

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Questions for the Wisconsin offense What else besides Melvin Gordon’s expected success does the Badger offense need to thrive?

By Jake Powers THE DAILY CARDINAL

Does Tanner McEvoy have a short leash if he struggles early?

Wisconsin’s quarterback competition has finally been settled.

Redshirt junior Tanner McEvoy edged out fellow redshirt junior Joel Stave to earn the start in the Badgers’ Aug. 30 season opener against LSU, sources told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Does UW avoid being onedimensional on offense?

Wisconsin’s offense, although highly potent (34.8 points per game in 2013), struggles with striking a balance between the passing and running game. The Badgers had 557 rushing attempts last season, the fifth-most in the Big Ten Conference, and 355 pass attempts, which ranked second to last in the conference.

NITHIN CHARLLY/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Tanner McEvoy will be given a tough first test against LSU. Stave started all 13 games last year, but McEvoy, who saw time at safety and wide receiver in 2013, beat out the incumbent starter and will play under center for the first time since 2012, when he started for Arizona Western.

McEvoy’s athleticism opens another dimension for Wisconsin’s offense. In contrast with Stave, who is more of a pocket passer, McEvoy is able scramble away from pressure to avoid taking sacks and he has the potential to make big plays on designed quarterback runs.

Given that this will be McEvoy’s first start at quarterback with UW, expect head coach Gary Andersen to allow him to work through any initial setbacks. He will have to show confidence in his decision and give McEvoy time to settle in and adjust to Wisconsin’s early opponents, even if the offense sputters at first.

Andersen stuck with Stave throughout all of 2013, even when the quarterback displayed inconsistency, throwing 13 interceptions on the year. This likely indicates that Andersen will let McEvoy play out the majority of the game, but there is the possibility that Stave could see some playing time.

If McEvoy has difficulty airing the ball out, Andersen may turn to Stave’s more experienced arm to attack the second level. This could be an effective way to change up the offense for a few plays at a time if McEvoy’s debut starts slow.

That being said, it appears that it’s McEvoy’s show now and he will take the vast majority of snaps this season.

This discrepancy was largely due to the fact that the Badgers simply did not need to pass when their running game was quickly picking up big chunks of yardage.

Four starters from the 2013 offensive line are back: redshirt senior tackle Rob Havenstein, redshirt senior guard Kyle Costigan, redshirt senior center Dallas Lewallen and redshirt junior tackle Tyler Marz. The experience on the offensive line should mean that Wisconsin can replicate 2013’s incredibly efficient running game. Led by the now-graduated running back James White and current junior Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin averaged 6.6 yards per rush in 2013.

With Gordon returning and sophomore running back Corey Clement expected to take considerably more handoffs this season, Wisconsin’s success on offense will once again rely primarily on the running game. Additionally, with the inexperienced Tanner McEvoy at quarterback, the Badgers need Gordon and Clement to perform well if the passing game does not click. UW could quickly become very onedimensional on offense if McEvoy struggles to produce through the air, as was the case last season when Stave could not establish a consistent passing game at times.

Expect Wisconsin to try to mix up the play calling a little bit by integrating more play action passes to catch opponents off guard and generate yardage through the air. The speedy McEvoy is dangerous when he rolls out of the pock-

et, and his threat to run should draw secondaries in, which will allow UW wide receivers space to get open downfield.

Although the Badgers will play to their strengths and keep the ball in the hands of their talented backfield, a fresh start with McEvoy at quarterback could allow Wisconsin to develop a more balanced offensive scheme.

Can Corey Clement fulfill last year’s Melvin Gordon role?

First, it was Montee Ball and James White. Then, White took over the starting job and was complemented by Melvin Gordon. Now, it’s Gordon’s turn to be Wisconsin’s feature running back, while sophomore running back Corey Clement will step into the role of a change-of-pace option to spell the starter.

The key to Wisconsin’s twoheaded monster approach to the running game that has been a staple since 2010 is that there has been little talent drop-off from the starting running back to the backup. This was especially the case in 2013, when White and Gordon rushed for 1,444 and 1,609 yards, respectively. The backs had an almost identical number of carries, as White rushed 221 times and Gordon had 206 attempts.

With Gordon entering the season as the starter, Clement’s contributions will likely come on third down situations and when Gordon

NITHIN CHARLLY/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Corey Clement will be given more opportunities to thrive. needs rest. Standing at 5 feet, 11 inches and weighing 217 pounds, Clement is a powerful runner who could prove to be overwhelming to tired defensive opponents when he spells Gordon.

In 2013, Clement ran for 547 yards on just 67 carries, good for an average of 6.5 yards per carry. Clement also complemented White and Gordon’s scoring with seven touchdowns of his own, including a 75-yard scamper against Tennessee Tech. Sept. 7.

With his unique combination

of size and speed, Clement will prove to be a valuable cog in the Wisconsin offense, even if he does not get the same amount of carries that Gordon did last year in a similar role. Andersen has stated that he believes Clement can step up in crucial situations and pick up some yards to extend a drive or to pound the ball into the end zone. If Andersen can insert Clement at precisely the opportune times, his fresh legs will undoubtedly spell trouble for UW’s opponents this fall.

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Wisconsin’s defensive players to watch UW has many players who are expected to step up after its defense lost the entire front seven

By Sam Karp THE DAILY CARDINAL

Sojourn Shelton

However, with another year to grow, Shelton should improve his footwork and positioning to face the ball more often.

Shelton could emerge as the face of a secondary that

primary starters up front.

Shelton will have the opportunity to show off his improvement from the offseason when he faces off against the likes of Nebraska senior wide receiver

Wisconsin has not recently been known for its secondary, but sophomore cornerback Sojourn Shelton has the potential to change that. After an impressive freshman season, Shelton seems poised to take advantage of his opportunity to lead the Badger’s secondary this year.

Coming out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Shelton was the first freshman to start a season-opening game for the Badgers since Travis Frederick in DEREK LANDISCH (LEFT) 2009. Shelton lead the team with four interceptions and eight passes defensed during the 2013 season.

Shelton’s four interceptions tied for third in the Big Ten, were third among the nation’s true freshmen and were the most ever by a Badger true freshman.

However, Shelton also showed his inex- SOJOURN SHELTON SHOAIB ATLAF/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO perience at times last season, as he developed a habit of getting called returns three of four starters. Kenny Bell and Maryland junior for pass interference. Arizona Shelton, redshirt junior cor- wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

State’s passing offense exploit- nerback Darius Hillary and If Shelton can avoid a sophoed Shelton during their match- redshirt junior safety Michael more slump, he will continue up, leading to numerous pass Caputo may be the strength of a to develop into the leader of the interference calls against him. defense that lost all seven of its Badger secondary needs.

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Derek Landisch

Unfortunately for the Badgers, the day they have been dreading for the past few years is finally upon them. 2013 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and

LSU on Aug. 30 in Houston.

While nobody can completely replace what Borland meant to Wisconsin’s defense, Landisch should be able to fill his leadership role well.

CHIKWE OBASIH

Chikwe Obasih

Not many have felt the benefit of Wisconsin’s strength and conditioning program like redshirt freshman defensive end Chikwe Obasih.

The Brookfield, Wis., native was listed at 235 pounds when he signed with the Badgers in February of 2013 and is coming into AEVYRIE ROESSLER/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO the 2014 season listed at 268 pounds.

Despite Obasih’s added weight, he is still the lightest starter on the defensive line, which the Badgers hope will bring speed off the edge in the pass rush, an element Wisconsin’s defense lacked last year.

Obasih is expected to be joined on the line by redshirt senior defensive end Konrad SHOAIB ATLAF/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO Zagzebski and redshirt senior nose Big Ten Linebacker of the Year guard Warren Herring. While Chris Borland has moved on to the NFL and the San Francisco 49ers. Wisconsin needs to fill If Shelton can avoid a the leadership role in the linesophomore slump, he will backing corps and senior linecontinue to develop into backer Derek Landisch seems to the leader of the Badger be the one who will fill the void secondary. on the inside.

Landisch started two games and played in 13 during the 2013 season, most notably recording three tackles and one forced Obasih has no playing experifumble during the Capital One ence, Zagzebski and Herring Bowl against South Carolina. have a combined 65 games He finished eighth on the team played and five games started.

Herring is expected to be the leader of the defensive line but Obasih has the chance to Herring is expected to be be the x-factor to push the unit the leader of the defensive over the top. After starting the line, but Obasih has the spring out as a third string linechance to be the x-factor to man, Obasih has done nothing push the unit over the top. but impress on his way to earning a spot in the starting lineup.

Obasih has not only used the offseason to gain weight but in tackles with 33 last season. also has used it to improve his Landisch will not only be technique and understanding tasked with replacing Borland’s of defensive schemes. Obasih production but also with help- has constantly been working ing to replace the production of with defensive line coach Chad the entire linebacking corp from Kauha’aha’a and fellow defensive the 2013 season, which will also linemen Herring and Zagzebski. be without Ethan Armstrong, Brendan Kelly and Conor O’Neill.

Landisch is by far the most Landisch is by far the most experienced of Wisconsin’s experienced of Wisconsin’s expected starting linebackexpected starting ers, leading the unit with 38 linebackers, leading the games played and three starts. unit with 38 games played Junior outside linebacker Joe and three starts.

Schobert, redshirt senior inside linebacker Marcus Trotter and redshirt sophomore outside linebacker Vince Biegel have combined for a total of 53 games Despite his lack of experiplayed and four starts. ence, Obasih has shown the Landisch suffered a hamstring maturity required to continue injury during practice Aug. 13. He to improve his game. Now, he is expected to be ready for the just has to turn preseason hype Badgers’ opening game against into on-field production.

gameday dailycardinal.com

Gameday Season Preview 2014

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Questions for the Wisconsin defense Will the Badgers be able to replace several key departing players, including Chris Borland?

By Zach Rastall THE DAILY CARDINAL

Can Wisconsin successfully replace its front seven?

A major contributing factor to Gary Andersen’s successful debut season in Madison was the veteran leadership on defense.

Talented players like Chris Borland, Beau Allen and Ethan Hemer helped make the transition to Andersen’s 3-4 scheme under defensive coordinator Dave Aranda.

The defense as a whole had success in 2013, ranking sixth in scoring defense, seventh in total

like Borland, Allen and Hemer brought to the table, but unlike them, they will take the field as starters with a year of experience in Andersen’s scheme under their belts.

The Wisconsin run defense may not rank as highly as it did in 2013, but there’s no reason to expect a steep drop-off in 2014.

Will returning experience make the secondary a strength?

Unlike the front seven, the UW secondary didn’t experience a lot of turnover following the 2013 season.

WILL GIBB/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Sophomore Sojourn Shelton is the new face of the secondary. defense, fifth in rushing defense and 17th in passing defense.

However, it was UW’s run defense that was especially stifling. Each of Wisconsin’s 13 opponents recorded fewer rushing yards against the Badgers than their per-game season averages and Penn State’s Zach Zwinak was the only player to run for more than 100 yards against UW last season.

Wisconsin will be forced to overcome losses in its defensive personnel, as eight players in the front seven departed after the 2013 season. This leaves Aranda with a projected front seven that has a combined total of just 12 starts between them.

Though there are many questions surrounding this somewhat untested group, the Badgers do return several players that were contributors on defense last year.

Senior inside linebackers Marcus Trotter and Derek Landisch are both expected to be playmakers on defense in 2014, and Trotter even led the team in tackles in two games last season while filling in for an injured Borland.

Other potential key players include redshirt senior nose guard Warren Herring (who recorded four sacks while playing behind Allen last year), redshirt senior lineman Konrad Zagzebski, redshirt sophomore nose guard Arthur Goldberg and redshirt freshman defensive ends Chikwe Obasih and Alec James.

This group may not have the experience that players

Safety Dezmen Southward is gone to the NFL and will be missed, but he is the only significant loss to the secondary.

Redshirt junior safety Michael Caputo returns along with cornerbacks Sojourn Shelton and Darius Hillary to give experience to the defensive backfield.

Caputo was one of Wisconsin’s best surprises in 2013, earning an All-Big Ten honorable mention from the media after starting 12 games and playing in all 13 of the Badgers’ contests.

Meanwhile, Shelton was a breakout star in his freshman season for UW. Shelton, who also earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection from the media, led the team and was tied for third in the conference with four interceptions. That total was also third highest among all true freshmen in the country, and the second most by a freshman in UW history.

Replacing Southward as a starter at safety will be true freshman Lubern Figaro, but redshirt senior Peniel Jean, redshirt sophomore Leo Musso and freshman Austin Hudson are all expected to see some playing time as well.

Figaro, a mostly unheralded recruit from Everett, Mass., has stood out above the rest throughout the spring and could end up being a major playmaker for the Badgers if he continues to progress.

In recent years, the secondary hasn’t really been Wisconsin’s strong suit on defense, even in

2013. Shelton certainly was a breakout star for the Badgers last year, but he did make his fair share of mistakes like any freshman. This included a crucial dropped interception near the end of the first half against Ohio State, which allowed the Buckeyes to score a touchdown on the very next play and take a momentum swing into halftime.

But the defensive backfield is now more experienced and has plenty of depth, so expect it to shine in 2014.

How can the Badgers fill the void of Chris Borland?

Perhaps the biggest challenge facing Dave Aranda and the Wisconsin defense in 2014 is finding a way to replace linebacker Chris Borland.

Borland was the Badgers’ undisputed leader on defense last season and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He also set a Big Ten record by forcing 15 fumbles during his career at UW, which is also the secondhighest total in FBS history.

Needless to say, Borland left big shoes to fill in Madison, and it’s unreasonable to expect any single player to step in and replace him.

That being said, Wisconsin will look to get a combined effort at linebacker to make up for the void in production left by Borland’s departure.

Senior Derek Landisch, UW’s top returning tackler at linebacker, will start on the inside along with fellow redshirt

AEVYRIE ROESSLER/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Marcus Trotter has big shoes to fill at inside linebacker. senior Marcus Trotter.

When Borland missed two games last year with a hamstring injury, it was Trotter who filled in admirably. He led the team in tackles against both Illinois and Iowa, recording 18 total tackles in these games. To put that into perspective, Trotter had made 14 tackles in his entire collegiate career before Borland’s injury.

But now Trotter and Landisch will lead the way at inside linebacker, while junior Joe Schobert and redshirt sophomore Vince Biegel will sit atop the depth chart at outside linebacker.

Schobert and Biegel will play an essential role in Aranda’s

defense, as the 3-4 scheme gives outside linebackers plenty of opportunities to wreak havoc in the opponent’s backfield. The Badgers haven’t been particularly good at creating turnovers over the past two seasons, finishing tied for last in the Big Ten in turnovers per game in 2012 and eighth in 2013, so it will be key for these two to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and cause mistakes.

It will take a group effort to pick up the slack left by the departure of Borland, a player that comes around maybe once a decade, but the Badgers are confident they have the talent at linebacker to still be effective at the position.

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