Whenever you lose a player at a position for any reason, an opportunity arises for the person next on the depth chart.
When you lose a player that is selected No. 3 in the NFL Draft, as Joe Thomas was, there might be a little more pressure for that person to succeed.
Enter freshmen left tackle Gabe Carimi.
I'm feeling pretty good,"" Carimi said. ""I just came out of working on my technique. I just have to keep on getting better than the week before.""
This marks Carimi's second year on campus, following a redshirt season a year ago. He was locked up in a heated position battle with sophomore Jake Bscherer last spring and with senior Danny Kaye this fall.
Carimi is relishing the fact he came out on top while also recognizing what he needs to improve upon.
""I feel I can still improve in my pass protection,"" Carimi said. ""[Kenny] Iwebema [from Iowa] gave me a run for his money during the game. He was a tough guy and he's going places other than college after that. I just feel like I need to be a little more stronger with my pass side and not give in so much.""
Coming out of Monona Grove high school, the Cottage Grove native was regarded as a highly touted recruit. As a Parade All-American and the No. 3 overall player in the state of Wisconsin according to Rivals.com he knows he only accomplished what he has done with the help of his high school coaches.
""I love my coaches in Monona Grove,"" Carimi said. ""They're the best coaches in the state of Wisconsin for high school. I love them all to death and I'd do anything for them, and I love keeping in contact with them.""
As Carimi's eligibility suggests, he is still a young player on a somewhat veteran line. Obviously the need to follow some of the older lineman is key in helping Carimi succeed.
""Kraig Urbik and Marcus Coleman both, I think, are leaders on the team,"" Carimi said. ""I look at both of them, they both helped me when I got my first sack, not to dwell on it too bad because it put me in a bad spin and it took me a couple of plays to get back into the groove again.""
Keying on the first Big Ten game of Carimi's career, he proved he has an open ear when one of his fellow linemen gets after him a little bit.
""Kraig [Urbik] was getting on me at the Iowa game because I needed to step up a little bit and it was true,"" Carimi said.
""I had 13 bad plays out of 75 and 11 of them were before play 30. He gave me a run for the money at first so I had to get back.""
Filling the shoes left by Joe Thomas require big feet, but four games into his career, Carimi is beginning to try them on.
