In previous years, the Wisconsin faithful have complained plenty about their offense, while defense has been rock solid. This season, the tables have turned. After giving up 85 points and 1184 yards over the past two weekends, we have officially entered Madison's twilight zone. Badger fans blame their defense while giving lavish praise to their quarterback.
Fielding much of that blame this season has been Wisconsin's secondary. The first game of the season, the Badgers went up against Bowling Green's vaunted spread passing attack and gave up 458 yards and five touchdowns through the air. Freshman cornerback Allen Langford and junior safety Joe Stellmacher moved into the starting lineup. The unit responded by playing well for the next few weeks, until the Badgers traveled to Northwestern. Quarterback Brett Basanez used the spread offense and torched the Badgers for 361 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 51-48 victory.
'I don't think we were communicating well. We just all have to be on the same page,' freshman cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu said. 'If one person is playing man and one person is playing zone, that's a breakdown and that's what happened against Northwestern.' The much-maligned secondary currently ranks eighth in the Big Ten in pass defense.
Senior cornerback and defensive captain Brett Bell has attempted to be the leader of the unit all year. He tore his ACL in January and fought his way back to be ready for the start of the season. Bell has played well at times, but it is evident that his injury is hindering his movement. Though the coaching staff will not comment on Bell's play, the team's depth chart lists Ikegwuonu starting over Bell this weekend.
If he gets the nod, Ikegwuonu will be starting opposite another redshirt freshman in Langford. Even though he is struggling, Bell is doing his best to get the young Badgers ready for action.
'Brett is a great guy. Last week in Minnesota, when I was playing a lot, he was on the side lines helping me out, giving me tips, telling me what I'm doing wrong,' Ikegwuonu said. 'He is a great teacher. Just watching him; the way he goes about practice, the way he does all the little things, watching film. He does everything with a purpose and that is rubbing off on me and all the other DBs. He's our senior captain, and I look up to him a lot.'
The freshmen will have their hands full going up against Purdue, who runs a similar spread offense to Bowling Green and Northwestern. The Boilers currently rank third in the Big Ten, putting up 289 yards per game through the air. They are led by their sophomore receiver, Dorien Bryant, who leads the Big Ten in receptions with 58 and ranks second in yardage with 668. Ikegwuonu and the rest of the young secondary will be vital in the Badger's chances for victory this Saturday.
'I know that with a team like Purdue that likes to spread it out, that likes to throw the ball, the game is going to be on the shoulders of the defensive backs,' Ikegwuonu said. Stopping Bryant will go a long way toward getting the job done.
'[Bryant is] fast. He's not physically intimidating, but he is fast,' Ikegwuonu said. 'He likes to move around. We look at him as the heart and soul of their team. The body can't function without the heart, so if we take him out, we think we can have a great day on Saturday.'
Sophomore defensive tackle Justin Ostrowski returned to practice Tuesday. Ostrowski has yet to play due to a knee injury suffered in practice prior to the season. His target date is the Oct. 29 battle in Champaign against the Illini.
It is not clear as to whether or not freshman defensive tackle Jason Chapman and sophomore defensive end Kurt Ware will be able to play this Saturday against Purdue, because of ankle injuries. Junior tackle Joe Monty seems doubtful with a knee injury.
Junior offensive tackle Joe Thomas was selected as one of 12 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award. The trophy is given to the country's best lineman on both offense and defense.
