When one thinks of Wisconsin football nowadays, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the pedigree of running backs and the powerful running game Wisconsin has been able to cultivate. Behind every great running back the Badgers have had, however, has been the blockers doing the dirty work.
For as much success as the Badgers have had in cultivating great running backs, including Ron Dayne and Michael Bennett, the Badgers have had even more success in cultivating NFL offensive linemen. No matter how many quality linemen the Badgers lose to the NFL, year after year they keep churning out more. The trend continues on. Even after losing John Moffitt, Gabe Carimi and Bill Nagy, who are all now starting in the NFL, the Badgers' offensive line continues to pave huge holes for Wisconsin running backs.
The Badger offense, behind the men in the trenches, is ranked eighth in total offense (532 yards per game), 13th in rushing yards (245 yards per game) and is tied for second in rushing touchdowns with 16 total this season.
Despite their success, the men opening the gaps do not receive the same level of publicity as quarterback Russell Wilson and the rest of the skill players. But they do not lament it: They embrace it.
""It is something that I had to adjust to, but it's definitely something I embrace now,"" said senior fullback Bradie Ewing, another player who has earned more publicity than he's been given. ""It feels like I get a touchdown when I have a nice block and out of my peripherals, I see Montee or James run up my tail end and get a big gain or a touchdown.""
It is the selfless play of Ewing and the men up front that makes the Wisconsin offense the powerhouse it continues to be year in and year out.
The Badger offense will rely on these men in the trenches more than ever this Saturday as they face a perennial defensive powerhouse in No. 8 Nebraska (0-0 Big Ten, 4-0 overall) at Camp Randall.
Nebraska and its ""blackshirt"" defense have a storied history of turning out great defensive players. This is especially true on the defensive line, with names like Grant Wistrom, Ndamukong Suh and now Jared Crick.
Crick, a second team All-American last year, will start this week for the Huskers after missing last week's game against Wyoming with an apparent head injury that he suffered against Washington. Crick, who has 14 tackles including three for losses and a sack, is the strength of the Cornhusker defensive line, making plays all over the field.
""He's explosive,"" Wisconsin center Peter Konz said. ""He's going to give you his strongest move and he's going to go hard and he makes a lot of plays that way.""
Playing a defense like Nebraska's will create a tough task for the Badgers, but this is not something they will shy away from.
""Nebraska is historically one of the strongest programs with the strongest defensive lines,"" Konz said. ""This is the game you want to be in. It is where you want to show people what you got.""
The men up front for Wisconsin, in a big game like this weekend's against Nebraska, can serve another purpose. This game has been hyped for over a year, will be covered by national media outlets and will be played in primetime before a stadium filled with raucous fans from both universities. It is in this type of game that the offensive line becomes most important.
In a game where momentum can shift on a dime, it is important that the Badgers' offense, especially the men up front, set the tone immediately. If the Badger blockers can open up huge holes for Ball and White right off the bat, allowing them to rip off big gains, Wisconsin can get the crowd going right away. This will also open things up for the Badger play-action game later on, making Nebraska's task all that much tougher.
With all the hype, the glitz and the glamour of this Saturday's game, it will come down to just one thing—will power.
Whatever team is able to assert its will over the other is going to decide who wins this week's game. This is why the offensive line and the rest of the Badger blockers will be so important this week, as the ability to control the game lies with them. If they can dig down deep and drive their man off the ball against their will, the Badgers will be very successful come Saturday night.
