Badger football has always been defined by its success running the football. From Alan Ameche to Ron Dayne, being able to pound out yards on the ground has always been a staple of Wisconsin football. Today, the ""three headed monster"" at running back, junior John Clay, sophomore Montee Ball and freshman James White, carry on the tradition for the Badgers.
In last week's season opening victory against UNLV the trio rushed for 278 yards on 50 carries and an average of 5.6 yards per carry. This was reminiscent of a year ago when Wisconsin rushers averaged 4.6 yards per carry and just over 203 total yards per game on the ground.
""We are a running team,"" Clay said. ""Setting up the run is always our main goal going into a game. We have to get that aspect going every week to have success.""
Head Coach Bret Bielema said at his weekly press conference Monday that each of the three running back adds a different skill set to the position which makes the running game especially tough to shut down.
""We all bring something different to the table which makes it very difficult for defenses to stop us,"" White said. ""John Clay is a bruiser, Montee is a very balanced back, and I can bring in some speed.""
""Its good to have three guys that can each bring something different to the equation,"" senior offensive lineman Gabe Carimi said. ""You have a guy like Clay who is a bulldozer, and then bring in a speed back like White and guys can't seem to tackle him because they are used to having to go low.""
But like any rushing attack the Badgers will only go as far as their offensive line will take them.
Last season the Badgers' line paved the way for an offense that averaged 31.8 points per game, best in the Big Ten, and 416.9 yards of total offense per game.
""Without our line our offense wouldn't be anything,"" Ball said. ""We wouldn't be able to function. We need them up there clearing the holes for us to fill.""
""It all starts up front with those guys,"" Clay added. ""It flows from them, they work hard up there to making those holes for us and allow us to get the ball in the end zone.""
Wisconsin boasts one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country this season, returning a total of six players who saw starting time during last year's campaign.
Leading the way for the line are senior All-Big Ten left guard John Moffitt and senior second team All- Big Ten left tackle Gabe Carimi.
""We definitely have good chemistry on the offensive line,"" Carimi said. ""We have a lot of guys returning from last year, which means we have had a lot of playing time together, which has allowed us to gel as a unit.""
The Badgers will look for much of the same from their running backs and offensive lineman in this weekend's home opener against the Spartans of San Jose State.
In last weekend's 41-21 victory in Las Vegas over the UNLV Rebels, John Clay rushed for 123 yards and 2 thouchdowns. Montee Ball ran for 79 yards and two touchdowns and James White added 59 yards on the ground in his first game as a Badger.
White is the newcomer in the Badgers backfield and arrived to the world of college football with an 18 yard run on his first carry as a Badger, a run that almost went for a lot more.
The coaches plan to use White this season as a change of pace back to spell John Clay and Montee Ball in the backfield. White, who rushed for 1,145 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior last year for St. Thomas Aquinas high school in Fort Lauderdale, and has the speed necessary to compliment the more bruising running styles of Clay and Ball.
But White thinks he can help the Wisconsin running game in any type of situation.
""I feel like I have the ability to do anything the coaches ask me to do,"" White said. ""It may look like I just go out there and try to run around the corner every time but I can lower my shoulder too, it depends on what the situation calls for.""
White also said that he is learning from his two older companions in the Badger backfield.
""I learn from them everyday,"" White said. ""When I make mistakes I know that I can come back to the sideline and they'll help me get better. I watch them everyday because they're both great running backs and by watching them I will get better.""
