The Wisconsin football spring game is hardly a foolproof look at how the team will play in the fall.
To avoid any injuries, there were no kickoffs, all punts ended in fair catches and a ""tackle"" of the quarterback was a two-hand touch, adding to a host of odd rules meant to make the glorified scrimmage more interesting for fans.
Although it is important to avoid reading too much into what happened at Camp Randall Stadium Saturday, there were a few signs of what to expect when the Badgers take the field against Northern Illinois Sept. 5.
First, senior quarterback Dustin Sherer has improved his game in spring practices and, though he is incredibly talented, freshman Curt Phillips is not ready for the starting role.
Despite throwing an interception that sophomore Tony Megna returned for a touchdown, Sherer seemed to be a more accurate passer. Speaking of the interception after the game, head coach Bret Bielema said the team cannot have those types of situations from its experienced players, but admitted that, aside from the big mistake, Sherer is ""significantly better"" than he was last season.
Phillips showed a great deal of potential in the game as well, throwing two touchdowns and running for one more. Bielema said Phillips has made huge strides learning the offense in the past year.
""[Phillips] threw a couple of strikes,"" Bielema said. ""He's a lot further along right now.""
The progress Phillips made could not overcome his youth in other areas, however, and will likely need another year before he has completely mastered the starting role, something that should not be much of a problem given the years he has left to play for Wisconsin.
Sherer might not be perfect, but with the experience he has at the position, he's certainly the best-prepared quarterback on the team.
The future of the Badger running game was also on display in the game, with sophomore John Clay, junior Zach Brown and freshman Erik Smith showcasing the diverse styles of play they will bring to the team.
Power backs Clay and Brown had productive games, rushing for 62 and 110 yards, respectively, while the more agile Smith had 56, including a 43-yard sprint down the sideline.
Despite a slow start to the game, Clay was breaking tackles and gaining yardage for the Cardinal team by the second quarter. Smith was also unremarkable in the first quarter, as the White team had him doing the kinds of inside runs that would better suit Clay or Brown.
However, later in the game when Smith's runs were mostly to the outside or when he was in the open field, his talent as a speedy back was clear. Brown said the different styles the three running backs bring to the game will be a valuable asset in the coming season.
""We definitely bring something different to the table and I think it showed today,"" he said. ""It's just great to have different backs that can do different things in the game.""
Although the spring game does not show how the team will perform in the thick of Big Ten football, it can give an indication of the potential in many of the players.
After Saturday's contest it is clear the Badgers have an up-and-coming talent in Phillips and an improved quarterback in Sherer, as well as a ground game that brings a balanced threat to their opponents.
