With only 12.5 sacks on the season and trouble stopping the run, the Wisconsin defensive line has gotten its share of criticism. However, the fact that the line has been decimated by injuries cannot be overlooked, as nine different defensive lineman have sacks and even more have seen playing time. Nonetheless, the line is beginning to get a little healthier with the return of sophomore Justin Ostrowski, who showed some improvement Saturday against Purdue.
'It's definitely important to have him,' sophomore Nick Hayden (who is tied for the team lead with 2.5 sacks) said. 'He would have been the starter had he not been injured, he'll do a great job when he's healthy.'
'Justin did a good job for us [Saturday],' defensive line coach John Palermo said. 'He was in there 15 snaps and he did a really nice job.'
A definite standout in high school and one of the best linemen in Wisconsin, Ostrowski played in 11 games last year but was largely overshadowed by the four Badgers drafted into the National Football League. His chance to shine this season has been delayed, and while he is not yet 100 percent, he is starting to get there.
'His knee's a little stiff and sore right now, so if he can work through that he'll play this week,' Palermo said. 'It's great because he's a kid that loves football and has missed football.'
Attempting to pick up the slack have been Hayden (fourth on the team in tackles), sophomore Kurt Ware (2.5 sacks), and freshman Matthew Shaughnessy (4.5 tackles for loss), who had a total of six games experience coming into the season.
The lack of experience may have shown earlier in the season, but it appears that the line is starting to get its positions down.
'The people that have had to step in for the injuries, they've been doing great,' Hayden said. 'I just do my job and they do their responsibility.'
'[Matt's] kind of been the rock on defense right now,' Palermo said. 'He played 83 snaps against Minnesota, to ask a 225-pound kid to play 83 snaps against 300-plus pound lineman is a feat in itself.'
Even though the line (and the whole defense) had some early trouble stopping the run against Purdue, came up with key turnovers and was able to make stops at the right times. The philosophy of the defense all year has seemed to be 'bend but don't break,' as they give up a lot of yards but continue to make huge plays at critical moments. Saturday's game was a culmination of that philosophy.
'The whole defense executed properly [Saturday], tackled better, and just created turnovers which we needed to do,' Hayden said.
As the Badgers enter Champaign on Saturday, they will be going against a team that has scored a paltry 30 points in its last three games combined. While the defensive line and defense as a whole could use a confidence-building game like this, they are not taking the Illini lightly.
'Every game is a big game. Illinois has been struggling but they're looking to upset someone,' Hayden said. 'We can't go in there thinking it's going to be a breeze. We just need to go in there and give it our all.'
