The UW Badgers football team is back in the \spring' of things as they complete their second week of team practices and host their annual intersquad game this Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
Hopefully, this spring will be a success and serve as a preview of things to look forward to in the fall.
Offensively, the team returns with a number of their stallions from last season-namely sophomore running back Anthony Davis. Davis looks to achieve his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season and continue the trend of dominating backs emerging from the UW program. The nation's leading rusher over the last two seasons with a combined 3,021 yards, Davis has looked as sharp as ever in practice even though the coaching staff is looking to keep the running back out of any contact.
""Getting back into the flow really just takes a matter of a few practices for us,"" Davis said. ""It only takes a couple of hits to get you straight.""
Appearing to have even gained an extra step in practice, the sophomore back is getting better and better, and on a team loaded with talent, Davis is quite possibly UW's best player.
Also returning for the Badgers on offense is perhaps the Big Ten's best receiving corp. Freshmen wide receivers Jonathon Orr and Brandon Williams return with junior Darrin Charles, who finally came out of his 2002 hibernation during the Alamo Bowl to make the biggest play of the post-season. However, the most intriguing player at this position is, without a doubt, fifth-year senior and all-American wide receiver Lee Evans. Evans is returning to the field after sitting out his true senior campaign due to a knee injury suffered during last year's spring game.
The combination of these four players presents the best group of wide receivers in the conference and potentially the best group of wide outs in the entire nation.
""I think they [the defense] just won't be able to key on me,"" Evans said. ""We're gonna have enough weapons where we can spread it around, it'll come from different directions, from anywhere. I definitely think that gives us that dimension that we really need in the passing game. I definitely think we can get into a multi-receiver set. Everyone can make plays ... everyone's explosive. So I think that's gonna be one thing, when we trot out with four receivers we have four potential threats on the field.""
Although the offense returns a strong group of players, the team also has the task of replacing a handful of starters from a season ago, mainly three offensive linemen and a starting quarterback.
Junior Jim Sorgi will finally get the starting nod at quarterback without having anyone looking over his shoulder and questioning his position in the starting lineup.
His play in the past has given him the experience needed to immediately come in and make an impact, especially since the team is aware of what Sorgi is capable.
""Jim and Brooks are two totally different quarterbacks,"" Evans said. ""Brooks makes plays with his feet while Sorgi allows his arm to make plays a lot of times. Definitely as a receiver, sometimes when you don't think the ball might come up, it comes up ... but definitely with Sorgi at quarterback it definitely gives our offense another dimension.""
With three offensive linemen graduating there are some big shoes to be filled. Since there are no clear-cut favorites as replacements, this game will be a good chance for the rest of the guys to make a name for themselves and hopefully earn a spot as a contributor to UW's potentially explosive offense.
