Sports
Tuesday november 15, 2011 DailyCardinal.com
Football
Fighting Illini present new challenges Long layoff between meetings, stiff Illinois run defense will test UW in key conference match-up By Michael Tews The Daily Cardinal
The Wisconsin football team (4-2 Big Ten, 8-2 overall) has been running on all cylinders after throttling Minnesota 42-13 to retain possession of Paul Bunyan’s Axe for the eighthstraight year and is looking to carry that momentum into Saturday’s game against Illinois (2-4, 6-4). The team will rely on junior running back Montee Ball, who broke the Big Ten Conference record with his 27th trip to the endzone, and the Heisman hype has continued to escalate. “Montee ball has a lot of talent and its all the tangibles, all the things he does in a leadership aspect which is pretty impressive,” senior quarterback Russell Wilson said. “I’d probably have to vote for Montee because he’s my teammate and they call him Moneyball.” Ball will look to add his total touchdowns and infiltrate the end zone against a Fighting Illini run defense that ranks second best in the conference, holding opponents to a mere 114.9 yards on the ground per contest. Breaking through the Illinois defense may be more difficult as usual this weekend, as the
Badgers will be without starting center junior Peter Konz, who sustained a dislocated ankle in the game against the Gophers. However, head coach Bret Bielema is excited for backup center sophomore Ryan Groy to showcase his talent. “Pete is the best center in college football that ive seen play the game so anytime you lose someone of that caliber it obviously hurts in a certain regard,” Bielema said. “But I’m extremely excited for Ryan. He’s been a very unselfish player, has done really anything for the team and just a good kid who really wants a challenge.” In addition to a stout run defense, Illinois has an aggressive pass rush led by junior defensive end Whitney Mercilus, who leads the nation in sacks. “Mercilus has a knack on the pass rush, bend the corner very well and is very efficient with his hands,” Bielema said. With Mercilus’s pass rushing ability in mind, Wilson discussed his tactics on evading the pass rush and extending plays to keep drives alive. “You have to make sure you are stepping up in the pocket, throwing the ball on time, making sure you are gaining positive
Mark kauzlarich/the daily cardinal
Montee Ball will aim to add to his Big Ten record for touchdowns in a season against an Illinois rush defense that ranks second in the conference, allowing only 114.9 rushing yards per game. gains every single play and go from there,” Wilson said. Wilson will be on the lookout for sophomore tight end Jacob Pederson, who has emerged as a viable target in the redzone and is tied for the most touchdowns by a tight end in the NCAA with eight.
“The advantages he has on linebackers and safeties is something you don’t see to often and I believe he’s one of the best in the country,” Wilson said. The Badgers have not faced the Fighting Illini in over three seasons with the last meet-
ing resulting in a 27-17 win for Wisconsin in 2008 as John Clay made his first career start. Bielema admitted that the long period of time since the Badgers have faced the Fighting Illini
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