This year's spring depth chart for the Wisconsin Badger football team can be quite deceiving.
The present group looks to replace 13 starters from a 2004 team that finished 9-3 and fell just shy of a Rose Bowl birth. Even returning starters like junior-to-be John Stocco, who started every game at quarterback last season, are feeling like pressure from those who are eyeing his job.
\I feel much more comfortable this time around,"" Stocco said. ""I'm really trying to take on more of a leadership role.""
Perhaps one of the more disappointing areas of the spring has been the lack of competition at the quarterback position. Stocco's final numbers from 2004 are a major reason why the UW staff has been pushing back-ups sophomore Tyler Donovan and freshman Bryan Savage to make a run at the starting job.
With Stocco at the helm, the Badger offense ranked 93rd out of 117 Division I schools in total offense. Stocco completed just 52.6 percent of his passes and threw seven interceptions to go along with nine touchdowns. He finished ninth among Big Ten quarterbacks in the NCAA's passing efficiency ratings (109.8).
""The competition between this group is very good and it makes us all better,"" Stocco said. ""We are all friends and the competition in practice makes us all better.""
Though all three have taken reps with the No. 1 offense this spring, Stocco has remained just good enough not to lose the job, as his understudies still look uncomfortable at times standing in the pocket.
""Last year there were some plays with some longer reads that I had some problems with,"" Donovan said. ""But I think we are all getting used to the new schemes coach is putting in this year.""
Donovan, who attempted just three passes last year, has shown strides in his progress from this time last year, but remains inconsistent. At times, he has shown great poise in the pocket and has displayed the ability to throw the deep ball down field, but those highlights are often followed up by a blown read in the defense's coverage, resulting in an interception.
Still, his ability to make plays on his feet intrigues the coaches.
""It's a difficult learning curve,"" UW quarterbacks coach Jeff Horton said of Donovan. ""But we just need to keep up with what we are trying to teach him and I think he's going to be fine this year.""
Behind Donovan is red shirt freshmen Bryan Savage, who has learned more about football at the college level he prediced he would win the starting job before last season's Big Ten Conference opener.
In an effort to improve foot speed, Savage dropped 13 pounds to get to 215, but has been inconsistent so far this spring and his repetitions have been limited compared to those of Stocco and Donovan.
""It's not exactly what I want, but reps are not something you're given,"" Savage said. ""You have to earn your time on the field.""
At the conclusion of last season, the coaching seemed to be hinting that Savage, with his combination of arm strength and quickness, could presumably play his way into the starting role with a solid performance this spring. Yet Savage still appears to be learning the UW offense and has gained little ground on his goal to be the starting quarterback for the Badgers.
Whoever is able to secure the starting job before the season opener Sept. 3 against Bowling Green, the Badgers quarterback unit realizes one aspect of their game they all need to improve on.
""Consistency is the biggest thing for us,"" Donovan said. ""Things like those five-yard outs and the deep ball in particular. We just need to get the ball to our receivers and let them make plays.""
