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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin linebacker Jack Cichy attacks questions like ball-carriers: Head-on, downhill. So besides volunteering that eating waffles was one of the highlights of his Cotton Bowl trip, Cichy was willing to tackle something far meatier. Like T.J. Watt's decision to enter the NFL draft.
The exchange took place some 48 hours before Monday's kickoff between the Badgers and Western Michigan at AT&T Stadium; some 72 hours before Watt, the fourth-year junior from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, revealed Tuesday that he wasn't coming back for his final season of eligibility.
"Obviously, it would be a big loss; he's a playmaker, you know that," Cichy replied to the hypothetical that the Badgers would have to replace their third-leading tackler in Watt, whose 15.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks topped the No. 4 scoring defense (15.6 points) in college football.
"We want the best for him and we're going to respect whatever decision he does make and we're going to have to move forward with our defense as a whole, as a unit. We know that people are going to step up in ways that you really never know (or anticipate) until fall camp or the season."
Cichy pointed out how Ryan Connelly took over for Chris Orr, who was injured on the first defensive snap of the season. Cichy and Orr were the starting inside linebackers against LSU in the opener because T.J. Edwards, the leading tackler in 2015, was still recovering from a foot injury.
Cichy went on to note how seemingly everybody had questions about the Badgers' ability to replace safeties Michael Caputo and Tanner McEvoy, especially since neither Leo Musso, nor D'Cota Dixon had much playing experience beyond special teams and Musso's three starts in 38 games.
"There's always going to be quote, unquote surprises," Cichy reasoned.
Whether they match this year's surprise developments obviously remains to be seen.
"But we're going to have new ones next year, too," he predicted.
Since Cichy has played outside linebacker, would he be able to move outside again?
"I would be able to," he said with the self-assurance that marks his play on the field.
After pausing, though, he admitted that it wouldn't be his choice to make that move.
But he'd do anything for the team. Anything. Head-on, downhill.
That's how the Badgers plan on going into the 2017 season, Cichy suggested.
"After this game is over," he said of the Cotton Bowl and what turned out to be a 24-16 win over Western Michigan, "we're going to say goodbye to the seniors and it's going to be tough because we're a close group and they're all great guys."
But as soon as the players get back on campus, Cichy said, "Nothing that has happened this year matters anymore. It's going to have to be a fresh slate. The group we'll have together on Jan. 16 will have not earned anything at all."
Besides Watt, a first-year starter, the Badgers must replace outside linebacker Vince Biegel, a mainstay for four seasons and 54 games; cornerback Sojourn Shelton, the school record-holder with 51 career starts; and Musso, who led the secondary with five interceptions this year.
With such key personnel losses, can the Badgers still be a top-10 defense?
"I think so," Cichy said. "But it's going to come down to what we make of it."
Although he missed the final six games of the season after tearing a pectoral muscle at Iowa (Oct. 22), Cichy still wound up as the fourth-leading tackler. A year ago, he was the conversational focal point after recording sacks on three straight snaps against USC. Now the focus is on his rehab.
"I'll start jogging and running on Jan. 17, which will be good, and I never thought I'd miss doing cardio," he said, grinning. "From there, it's gradual. I'm towards the end of Phase 2 right now. Phase 5 is when I'll be fully back. Phases 3 and 4 are about a month and a half each."
Cichy is hoping to be "fully" back in late March or early April.
"But I'm not going to rush it," he said. "I'm going to take it day-by-day."
Orr has been trying to take the same approach after knee surgery.
"Neither of us would ever want to dwell on it," said Cichy, a redshirt junior from Somerset, Wisconsin. "But there are times where we will acknowledge that we've kind of been through a gauntlet together and that is hopefully going to pay dividends."
Few teams will be able to match or exceed Wisconsin's proven experience and depth at inside linebacker with Edwards, Connelly, Cichy, Orr and Leon Jacobs, who also has played off the edge. Along with leading the team in tackles, Edwards was the defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl.
"It was great to get the win and it's really exciting to think about what we're going to be next year," said Edwards, a redshirt sophomore from Lake Villa, Illinois. "With every senior class leaving, you need guys to step up, not only vocally, but leading by example. You only get better with more experience."
That applied to outside linebacker Garret Dooley, who replaced an injured Biegel in the starting lineup against Michigan and Ohio State. There were some inevitable growing pains for Dooley, a redshirt junior from Rochester, Illinois. But he had 40 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks.
"Garret has had a great season for us," said assistant coach Tim Tibesar, who handles the outside linebackers. "He has played at a very high level to the point that he fits right in out there and nobody knows that either Vince or T.J. (Watt) is not out there."
Dooley has modeled his game after them.
"The way I've grown is that I've been able to learn from some really good players like Vince and T.J.," he said. "Just by playing with them, and playing behind them, I've learned from what they do and some of the knowledge that they have given me about playing the game."
Dooley will use the offseason to work on his craft and "get bigger, faster, stronger."
Tibesar sees the same things happening with outside linebackers Zack Baun and Tyler Johnson.
"He (Baun) has had a couple of nagging injuries, nothing major, that has kept him out at different times," Tibesar said. "But he's probably right where we hoped he would be at this point in time. He's a guy who can jump into the rotation like Garret did this year."
Tibesar indicated that Johnson had made "huge strides" from last season.
It's no secret that the Badgers take pride in being a developmental program.
"You want to see the guys who are returning take the next step in their game," Tibesar said. "If they were a role player, step up to become a contributor. If they were a contributor, step up to become a starter. If they were a starter, they need to ask, 'What are the things that I need to improve on?'"
Or, as Tibesar proposed, "How can I take my game to the next level?"
That will be the question facing Wisconsin's defensive line. Everybody returns. Conor Sheehy. Chikwe Obasih. Alec James. Olive Sagapolu. Garrett Rand. Billy Hirschfeld. Jeremy Patterson. There's depth and experience. Obasih has 31 career starts, Sheehy has 19, James has 13.
"Our season will start up again with winter conditioning," said Dixon, who along with cornerback Derrick Tindal are the returning starters in the secondary. "That's where our 2017 season will start. It doesn't start on September whatever (Sept. 1), our first game against Utah State. It starts in the winter."
It should be a competitive spring among the defensive backs since so many return, ranging from the known (Dixon, Tindal, Natrell Jamerson, Lubern Figaro, Arrington Farrar, Joe Ferguson) to the unknown (Patrick Johnson, Titus Booker, Dontye Carriere-Williams, Caesar Williams).
Nick Nelson is both.
The Hawaii transfer has started 21 games. Just not here.
The same can be said of tailback Chris James.
The Pitt transfer has played in 23 games. Just not here.
Tight end Troy Fumagalli, the offensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl, is confident that the Badgers will be productive at running back and not only because of the fullbacks. The combination of Austin Ramesh and Alec Ingold — "Ramgold" — had 35 rushes, nine catches and seven touchdowns.
"I thought Bradrick did an outstanding job of growing this year," Fumagalli said of Bradrick Shaw, who had 88 carries for 457 yards and five scores. Taiwan Deal could be a factor in the fall, too. The running game, of course, also revolves around wide receiver Jazz Peavy, who rushed for 318 yards (15.1 yards per carry).
But wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore has expectations beyond the jet sweep for Peavy.
"Jazz has got to get bigger, Jazz has got to get stronger, Jazz has got to do a better job blocking," said Gilmore, knowing the younger guys will look to Peavy for leadership. "That's something (blocking) in his world that he has got to get better at. It has got to change and it starts in the weight room."
Gilmore is anxious to work with freshmen Quintez Cephus and A.J. Taylor in the spring.
"Both of those guys will be in position to compete for a job," he said. "Athletically, they run well enough. Physically, they're strong enough to get off the line and hold up in blocking. The next step for both of them is continuing to get more reps and learning the game."
Another freshman, Kendrick Pryor, redshirted and spent his time on the scout team. "It was tough to get all three freshmen ready to play," conceded Gilmore. "But athletically he flashes. He's going to be another guy who's going to make it interesting to see how it all unfolds."
Quarterback Alex Hornibrook is banking on developing a chemistry with his receivers.
But it doesn't stop there.
"I want to perfect the position and minimize the mistakes and take off with the offense," said Hornibrook, who started nine games during his redshirt freshman season. "There were a bunch of things that helped me out this year that I can grow from, whether it was good or bad."
It's not only going to be an important spring for Hornibrook, but his offensive line.
"I've got multiple trains of thought going," said offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph.
Some potential options have intrigued him.
"There will be good competition," he said. "I'm excited about the young guys."
The No. 1 question mark, for now, is whether left tackle Ryan Ramczyk will return.
If he doesn't come back, David Edwards may be a candidate to move over from right tackle.
"I think he could do it without much problem," Rudolph said.
It has been quite a growing experience for Edwards, a converted tight end.
"I'm really proud of the way he got himself ready to play and approached the position," Rudolph said. "He has really taken to coaching. He has really worked and embraced the job. And he has earned the respect of the guys that he plays with, which is saying a lot.
"His first real playing time in the heat of the moment was Ohio State and it wasn't great. But you know what? You've got to get through that stuff. It's the only way you grow and find out what it's like to have to prepare and be ready. He battles — which I really love."
Edwards, a redshirt freshman, knows that he's still a work in progress. "Spring ball is going to be huge for me as well as the two phases of weightlifting," he said. "I've definitely grown a lot and I like to think I've been learning on the fly a little bit. But I still have a way to go."
Moving forward, the Badgers should be extremely solid in the kicking game with kickoff specialist P.J. Rosowski, punter Anthony Lotti and placekicker Rafael Gaglianone. All three phases played a role in the 11-win season and will again when the 2017 team begins to take shape.
"Confidence means the world, it means a ton in this sport," said Fumagalli, who expressed it with his play in the Cotton Bowl. "There will be some regrouping, but it will be a fun process. We go through it every year. And we know what the expectation is for next year for everybody coming back."
Take it from one of the departing seniors.
"They'll do some great things, I feel," said Dare Ogunbowale. "They'll be real successful."
Again. Or still.
