After reviewing the film of Saturday's 48-12 trouncing of Minnesota, Wisconsin head football coach Bret Bielema met with the media Monday to provide his analysis of the game and his plans heading into this Saturday's game at Purdue.
Much of the discussion revolved around the team's continued dominance on offense —UW has scored 141 points in its past three games —and though Bielema named senior quarterback John Stocco the game's offensive MVP, he spent even more time attributing the unit's recent success to senior offensive lineman Joe Thomas.
""Joe Thomas may be our biggest factor for success on the offensive line,"" Bielema said. ""There are certain times when we don't allow Joe to practice, just because we want him to be 100 percent for Saturday, and he's not in the back messing around with the wide receivers and the tight ends. He's right in there giving Danny Kaye, Andy Kemp [and] Eric Vandenheuvel advice on how to do things better, and that to me gives a true display of what he's all about.""
Thomas returned to lead the line this fall after nursing a knee injury over the summer, and has helped pave the way for the Big Ten's top rushing offense and leading rusher, freshman running back P.J. Hill. Bielema said Thomas' greatness truly emerged beginning with the Michigan game.
""He's really taken his intensity, I think, to another level as far as just finishing off players,"" Bielema said. ""Joe is just a naturally nice person by nature and sometimes hadn't displayed that [intensity] on the football field, but now he's beginning to do those things.""
The key factor heading into Saturday's game at Purdue (2-1 Big Ten, 5-2 overall), however, may be the defensive line, which has helped propel the No. 21 Badgers (3-1, 6-1) to the top of the Big Ten in both pass defense and total defense. The Boilermakers, on the other hand, easily lead the conference in pass offense (327 yards per game) and total offense (472 yards per game).
Purdue's offense is led by sophomore quarterback Curtis Painter, who has passed for 2,274 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.
""He's got more than a covey of receivers to throw to, as well as tight ends and running backs,"" Bielema said of Painter. ""He's a guy that really can throw the short pass and the intermediate pass with a good amount of accuracy. Their offensive line has given him good protection, and they're able to run an offense that's very similar to something that we probably saw two years ago.""
Despite Purdue's explosiveness on offense, Bielema said he will still try to defend as aggressively as possible and put pressure on Painter. That may be difficult, as the Boilermakers have attempted the most passes in the conference but have also allowed the fewest sacks.
""If [Painter] is pressured, he knows where to deliver the football,"" Bielema said.
Bielema expressed confidence in his corners, saying he has been happy with their development this year. He also said he will rely on his linebackers Saturday, who will be vital in defending the underneath passes of Purdue's spread offense.
""I think our guys—Dave Doeren has done a tremendous job [and Mike Hankwitz] puts those guys in positive situations—and the whole defense feels they can go out and perform against anybody,"" Bielema said.
As they practice this week, the Badgers will be without offensive line coach Bob Palcic, who is currently in New York with his ailing mother. Bielema said he hopes Palcic will be back with the team in time for Saturday's game.
