What's next: Badgers have questions to answer for 2016
January 07, 2016 | Football, Mike Lucas
With momentum from 10 wins and a Holiday Bowl title, UW stares down a strong 2016 slate
After a quality bowl win, the Badgers will carry momentum (and plenty of experienced personnel) from their recently-completed 10-win campaign into the 2016 season. But there is no shortage of questions to answer — Who takes over for Joel Stave? How does the secondary come together? Can the offensive line make more strides? Who will lead the defensive coaching staff? — between now and kickoff at Lambeau Field on Sept. 3. | From Varsity Magazine
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
As they shared laughs for the final time as a secondary, Sojourn Shelton realized how much Michael Caputo, Darius Hillary and Tanner McEvoy had meant to his growth the last three seasons.
"When I came in here as a little pup, they showed me the way," said Shelton, a junior cornerback from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "And, now, they're passing the torch to me.
"I feel it's my responsibility to lead those guys (defensive backs) who are coming back in the winter and in the spring — in getting them ready for next year.
"I looked up to those guys. 7 (Caputo) and 5 (Hillary) and 3 (McEvoy) have prepared me to take on this role, how to lead. I was just happy see all the smiles on their faces."
Shelton had plenty to smile about last Wednesday night. His interception was one of the key defensive plays in the final minutes of Wisconsin's 23-21 win over USC in the Holiday Bowl.
"That's who I really did it for," he said of Caputo, Hillary and McEvoy, all fifth-year seniors. "Those guys are closest to me. We put in so much work together."
Toward the end of the season, Shelton began taking mental notes whenever he was around Caputo, knowing that's how Caputo grew; by filing away information from Dez Southward and others.
"I've been watching how Mike handles the meetings and stuff like that — when we're on our own and we're not with the coaches," said Shelton, who also studied his habits watching film.
"Since we've all been here together, we've been a really good secondary. And we want to keep improving. We have the guys who can do it. And we have the coaches do it. So why not?"
It will be one of the leading questions going into the 2016 season — along with identifying Joel Stave's replacement — since the secondary will be the position group hardest hit by graduation.
How will the Badgers replace Caputo, Hillary and McEvoy?
"Mike meant so much to this team, Tanner was so unique and Darius played a ton of football," said UW head coach Paul Chryst. "But that's kind of the fun of this all (coaching).
"Other guys are going to have to step into positions; they'll have to step into those roles. That group needs to take another step."
It's never easy when you lose quality players. Or coaches. The Badgers will have a new defensive coordinator with Dave Aranda leaving for LSU after three UW seasons.
"First of all," Chryst said, "I'm appreciative of being able to work with Dave for a year. I enjoyed getting to know him and his approach. Part of the beauty of Dave is that he's unlike anyone else."
So it would be impractical to suggest that the Badgers are looking for another Aranda to coordinate the defense. But Chryst is planning on sticking with the 3-4 scheme.
"For Wisconsin, it fits us in a lot of ways — who we can recruit and where," Chryst said. "At the end of the day, though, you have to be able to adjust to your personnel."
Chryst knows what he wants out of a coordinator, starting with a "guy who can help bring together the defense so we can get the most out of everyone, coaches and players."
Together is the operative word for Chryst. Together as in unity. Together as an intangible.
"Together," he said, "is when you have good defenses."
Chryst will cover the standard bases with his hire.
"There's a component of knowledge and thoroughness," he said. "The coaching skills, communication and how you work with people are as important as drawing up the X's and O's."
• • • •
Defensively, the Badgers will be missing some difference-making X's. But many pieces return.
"Next year is going to be really exciting," Shelton said. "Especially with the schedule we face."
Nobody will have to wait long to renew acquaintances with Aranda. Wisconsin will open the season against LSU at Lambeau Field. Even more daunting will be the meat of the Big Ten schedule.
Following back-to-back trips to Michigan State and Michigan — and a bye — the Badgers will draw Ohio State at home, Iowa on the road, Nebraska at home, and Northwestern on the road.
"We're giving Badger fans what they want; they wanted a tough Big Ten schedule and they've got one," said outside linebacker Vince Biegel. "I wouldn't want to have it any other way."
Shelton, 37 starts, and Biegel, 28 starts, will be the most experienced leaders on defense.
"We have to sharpen our blade and build that chemistry," Shelton said of the secondary. "It's a matter of putting the work in, and we can make this thing special."
Natrell Jamerson and Derrick Tindal shared reps at nickel back. Both may get a shot at replacing Hillary. Also in the mix may be Lubern Figaro and Titus Booker, who redshirted as a true freshman.
When Caputo was injured in the Alabama opener, D'Cota Dixon got his baptism at safety. Leo Musso, Joe Ferguson and Arrington Farrar are candidates for more playing time.
"We're giving Badger fans what they want; they wanted a tough Big Ten schedule and they've got one," Biegel said. "I wouldn't want to have it any other way."
Shelton is ready to be the catalyst of this group.
"It doesn't happen to everyone and it happens at different times to guys," Chryst said. "But once they develop genuine confidence, it changes their experience.
"If Sojourn is not there yet, he's close where he truly has genuine confidence in himself. I thought Daronte (Jones, the UW secondary coach) did a nice job with him.
"Sojourn benefited from having a really good room with Mike, Tanner and Darius. They got tested (by USC) and they were up for it and looked like they enjoyed the challenge."
While the new starters at cornerback and safety are breaking in — tackling LSU's Leonard Fournette will be the ultimate challenge — a battle-tested front seven should take some of the heat off them.
Joe Schobert, a first-team All-American, was a special player. Even without Schobert, the Badgers have some intriguing options at outside and inside linebacker. Jack Cichy has played both.
"Inside or outside, I'll play wherever they want me to play," said Cichy, who has two more years of eligibility. "And I'll try to contribute the best I can to help my team win. Joe has taught me a lot."
Despite playing in just the second half against Southern Cal, Cichy led the Badgers with nine tackles, including quarterback sacks on three consecutive snaps.
"We talk all the time, 'When the opportunity presents itself, can you seize it?' And he did," Chryst said. "He loves playing and I think guys like playing with him. He had a heckuva season."
Five starters return at four linebacker spots: Biegel, Cichy, T.J. Edwards, Chris Orr and Leon Jacobs, who was lost for most of the season with an injury. Jacobs can play inside or outside, too.
Another T.J. — T.J. Watt — came on strong in the nickel and dime packages.
Mounting a stronger pass rush is defensive end Chikwe Obasih's goal.
"We'll get to the QB a little bit more," promised Obasih, a redshirt sophomore. "You saw how the D-line got tremendously better. All of us are coming back, though we're going to miss Jake Keefer."
Keefer, a backup, was the only senior. Obasih, Arthur Goldberg, Conor Sheehy, Alec James and Olive Sagapolu will make up the defensive line nucleus for assistant coach Inoke Breckterfield.
"Fundamentals are a key and Coach Nokes (Breckterfield) came in and implemented them," said Obasih. "I think the D-line is willing and ready to jump into that (leadership) role."
Chryst feels the same way.
"This group," he said of the D-line, "will benefit from another year in the weight room with Ross (Kolodziej, the football strength coach). And this still a young group."
The Badgers held USC to just 65 rushing yards in the Holiday Bowl.
"It gives us a good sense of confidence, not overconfidence whatsoever," Cichy said. "There's nothing like a nice bowl win. It's going to motivate us in winter conditioning."
• • • •
The offseason, especially spring practice, will factor into the quarterback competition between Bart Houston, who will be a fifth-year senior, and Alex Hornibrook, who redshirted as a freshman.
"I love the way Bart competes," Chryst said. "He took advantage of this season by learning how to prepare. He got to play and trusted his preparation."
Houston completed 22 of 33 passes for 232 yards in UW's win over Illinois, taking over after Stave was injured.
"It gave me confidence," Houston said. "It just goes to show that I can do it."
Houston and Hornibrook, a lefty, both tried to learn everything that they could from Stave.
"Those guys are a little bit different," Chryst said. "But both of them have talent and the desire to be as good as they can. Those are good starting points.
"I think we've got two guys who are good quarterbacks. My job is to help them be game-ready. And I'm not going to worry about who's starting and who's not.
"Both love competing. Both like this team and they want to be contributors. I'm going to get them ready to play and we'll let the season determine the starter. I'm excited to work with both."
Whoever is the quarterback, he should have the luxury of depth at tailback with Corey Clement, Dare Ogunbowale, Taiwan Deal and Alec Ingold, who may be better suited physically for fullback.
"It was obviously a frustrating year for Corey in a number of different ways," Chryst said. "Some of it was out of his control. It doesn't mean this past year can't be a great learning experience for him."
Clement sees the bowl win as a potential springboard.
"It's not like it's going to give us an advantage for LSU," he said. "But we have something to look back at and say, 'This is what we can be if we put our minds to it.'"
Chryst felt like Ogunbowale was a model of unselfishness.
"Dare was willing to do anything for the group," he said. "His role changed in an instant and he was a guy who had fun playing.
"I thought Taiwan made some strides. Now, he's got to take that next big step."
That also holds true for the wide receivers, notably Rob Wheelwright and Jazz Peavy. Especially in the absence of Alex Erickson, who had the second-best season in school history with 77 catches.
After missing four games with a leg injury, Wheelwright came back for the bowl and responded with an Odell Beckham-esque stab (one-handed) on Wisconsin's first scoring drive against USC.
"Each and every year, we've always been the question mark," Wheelwright said of the receiving corps. "This year, we've done a lot to show people we're able to make plays when given opportunities."
Wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore hasn't given up on two unproven sophomores, George Rushing, who was in the rotation, and Krenwick Sanders, who was on the scout team.
"George works as hard as anybody," Gilmore said. "He's anxious this spring to prove that he's ready to play and it's my job to get him there.
"Krenwick has some of the most competitive hands on the team. We've got to get him to play fast. What I mean by that, I want him to be a little more hungry and a little more aggressive."
Because of injuries, the Badgers were rarely at full strength at tight end. With Austin Traylor's departure, Troy Fumagalli and Eric Steffes will do most of the heavy lifting next season.
"Foom (Fumagalli) is a good player right now, but I think he can be really good," Chryst said. "This year, he understood what it means to be an every-down guy. That's not always an easy transition.
"Some of the things where he can get better are controllable, like another year in the weight room gaining strength and a better understanding of defenses.
"Foom grew a lot this year. We're not a deep receiving corps and he needs to be a big part of the throw game and I also think he can get better in the run game."
Chryst acknowledged the inevitable "growing pains" associated with starting as many as four redshirt freshmen on the offensive line, which the Badgers did against Minnesota and Southern Cal.
"I think we've got two guys who are good quarterbacks," Chryst said. "My job is to help them be game-ready."
"We've got to get better," he said, "and I'm optimistic that we can."
The Badgers lose only one senior, left tackle Tyler Marz, who started 40 games.
"I appreciated what Tyler did," Chryst said, "and what Dan did before he got hurt."
Center Dan Voltz, a 27-game starter, blew out his ACL in late October.
"I should be full-go by summer conditioning," said Voltz, who will sit out the spring. "So I'll be with the team for June and July workouts."
Flexibility was an O-line theme. Michael Deiter moved from left guard to center after Voltz was sidelined. Beau Benzschawel shifted from right tackle to right guard after Walker Williams went out.
"It doesn't really matter where I play," said Benzschawel, sounding like Cichy. "I don't really care either way (guard or tackle) as long as I'm on the field."
The other returning starters are guard Micah Kapoi and tackle Jacob Maxwell.
"They probably played one of their better games against a good (USC) front," Chryst said of the O-line. "It's what they do with their experiences that will determine how good we can be."
There should be a healthy competition on the two-deep this spring. Some different names that you're bound to hear are Ryan Ramczyk, Jon Dietzen, Brett Connors and Logan Schmidt, among others.
Voltz volunteered a personal measuring stick for the youngsters.
"Just to see how much I've grown since I was a redshirt freshman — I'm a tremendously different player than I was two years ago," he said. "There's no limit to what these guys can do."
Given how raw these linemen were, and the assignment of mixing and matching combinations from game-to-game, Voltz singled out offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph, who tutors the O-line.
"He has brought a lot of positive energy," Voltz said. "He has really focused a lot on the mental side of the game as far as creating a mindset.
"The way he approaches techniques and other aspects of the O-line are different than coaches I've had in the past. He played here and he just brings a unique approach to everything.
"He makes you think about things differently. It has been a breath of fresh air because you can get stuck in the rut of going through the same drills and thinking about football the same way."
With Benzschawel at guard and Maxwell at tackle, the offensive line took a couple of giant steps at the end of the season. The Badgers rushed for 257 yards against Minnesota and 177 against USC.
"Everybody played their hearts out, it's super-big," Benzschawel said of the bowl victory. "We played two games with four redshirt freshmen starting and I think everyone grew up big time.
"This game (USC) is going to give us a big amount of confidence and will carry over into next year. Guys will strive to get better every day. That's really healthy and it's only going to make us better.
"I think we're on track to being one of those offensive lines that everybody talks about here."
It goes back to what Chryst was saying — cause and effect — when an opportunity presents itself. Can they seize it? If they do on the O-line, it could be a meaningful starting point for 2016.
