It's easy to forget that at one point last year Wisconsin was 9-0 and ranked 4th in the country, though everyone remembers the Purdue game. Senior cornerback Scott Starks picking up the fumble for the game winning score-the turnover that led to the season's biggest touchdown. This year, it's a different kind of turnover that will define UW's season; the turnover in defensive personnel. Last year the Badgers finished in the top ten in the nation in four major defensive categories, including scoring, allowing only 15.4 points per game (good for 6th in the country).
The backbone of the dominating \D"" was without a doubt the starting defensive line which featured 2004's Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Erasmus James, First-Team All-Big Ten Antajj Hawthorne, and honorable mention recipients for All-Conference honors, Jason Jefferson and Jonathan Welsh. All four have since graduated, opening the door for a new class of pass-rushers and run-stoppers. These up-and-comers have the potential to patrol the line of scrimmage the way their predecessors did but make no mistake; last year the line was a bottomless well of talent-this year it's a fountain of youth.
Sophomore Jamal Cooper and junior Joe Monty bring experience to the line, each having played in all 12 games last year and each notching a start. Sophomore Brandon Kelly will also be asked to step up in UW's quest to replace the four horsemen who had to trade in their playbooks for diplomas.
""We had a great defense last year and the expectations are to have an even better defense so everybody needs to work together and that is one thing the coaches are stressing, is communication,"" said Kelly. ""We are a young defensive line so we have to communicate with each other as well as make plays and execute.""
The changing of the guard has brought the emphasis on communication among the line, as it is more important than the physical gifts each individual lineman possesses. Defensive line coach John Palermo pioneered a line that last year had consummate chemistry on the field and off, which and elevated play to an unfathomable degree-Cooper and company believe they are well on their way in that department.
""We got a real good bunch. I like everybody, we all get along,"" said Cooper. ""We might not hang out as much as those guys did but when we see each other we have a good time.""
Freshman Gino Cruse, Jr. couldn't agree more. ""Watching film on [last year's defensive line], they were a great group of guys. The chemistry was great and they communicated. Right now we are trying to develop our own chemistry"" said Cruse."" He added, ""I love my squad. I love my team. The same people that will jump my ass will be the same people that will go to bat for me and have my back.""
Of all the likely contributors on the defensive line, none are younger than Cruse. He is a red shirt freshman who strikes the casual observer as a precocious youngster with a lot to learn (even dabbling in some youthful indiscretion earlier this year, violating Wisconsin's Student-Athlete Discipline before his suspension was modified and he was allowed to return to practice). He is respectful and cautious (though not sparing) with his words, willing to comment on his areas for improvement but hesitant to speak for his older, more experienced teammates.
""On the field, there are a lot things I have to work on. Personally, I need to be more of a student of the game,"" said Cruse. ""Oh, and communication because, I mean, I need to practice listening (laughs)... that's my biggest thing is just listening.""
If he can work on listening, he and his line can answer the call and silence the skeptics when the season kicks off in the fall. But given the high precedent set for defensive line talent and production, is there any extra pressure on these young men being applied by Coach Palermo?
""I don't think he is riding us any harder,"" said Cruse, sporting a mischievous smile and pausing for the punch line. ""I mean everybody knows about my coach-he's a jockey, he'll ride you no matter what.""
The boisterous bunch surely has an attitude conducive to success. Kelly-to the delight of the coaches-harps on mental discipline, Cooper calls the team not simply young but ""hungry,"" and Cruse hits on just about everything. The new-look defensive line has already begun to put its nose to grindstone in spring practice, but they do not kick off the ""Erasmus Who? Campaign"" until the fall. We will have to wait and see how they come along-in the meantime, we are all as restless as they are young.
