Wisconsin opened spring football practices two weeks ago with a very young defensive backfield, a new defensive backs coach and a new fiery attitude. First-year defensive backs coach Ron Cooper from Alabama A&M brings an aggressive attitude to a defensive backfield that lost all-Big Ten cornerback Mike Echols and free safety Joey Boese and was torn apart by opposing teams last season.
\We're a lot more aggressive,"" junior strong safety Michael Broussard said. ""We are doing a lot of new things, running new coverages. We've disguised some of our formations so the offense doesn't always know what we are doing.""
Cooper's implementation of this new attitude and scheme with the young defensive backfield has been successful through practices this spring.
""Everything has been really good so far,"" Cooper said. ""All I ask is that the guys get better each day and they have gotten better each day. I work to make sure they understand and learn schemes and get them better with technique. I want to give them a change in attitude, get them cockier and more aggressive.""
Broussard, along with sophomore cornerback Scott Starks, are the two starters that the Badgers will be looking to for leadership. Free safety is still up in the air. Freshman Dontez Sanders is practicing at the position right now. However, Cooper said he believes he needs to get another player to practice at the position because he feels that ""free safety is a tough position for a true freshman to learn.""
Senior B.J. Tucker will start across from Starks to begin the year.
""I'm pleased with my first two corners,"" Cooper said.
Tucker has starting experience in his years at Wisconsin. Sophomore Brett Bell, who played in 11 games last year, backs up Tucker.
""It's a big adjustment [being an elder of the secondary], but we've got a lot of guys contributing, and a lot of guys who haven't played,"" Broussard said. ""We're not singling out anyone to be a leader. We expect everyone to kind of hold their own.""
Starks comes back this year after having a rough last season. Though tying for the team lead with three interceptions last season, Starks was the true freshman across from Echols, being the target of a lot of teams' aerial attacks.
""It didn't shake my confidence at all, because I knew I was young, and I knew I was going to have to learn under fire,"" Starks said. ""It was good experience and I should come out strong this year.""
Starks prepared himself for this season by working throughout the offseason. ""I worked on one-on-one drills four days a week and watched film twice a week,"" Starks said. ""I also got bigger and stronger on top of that.""
The offseason work should pay off for the young cornerback. ""I want to get better. I want to be an asset to the team. If the other team is going to come my way with the ball I want them to pay for it,"" Starks said.
Lofty goals come with this young crew. ""We're looking to win and get back to a major bowl. I want to gain some respect in the Big Ten again,"" Broussard said.
Cooper said focusing on teamwork will be key for the young team.
""Right now, we've got to play together as a unit and understand what we are trying to do coverage wise,"" he said. ""If they can understand that, we will be in great shape.\
