Baggot: Five things that stood out in Week 1

Photo by: Brandon Harrison

Baggot: Five things that stood out in Week 1

August 05, 2017 | Football, Andy Baggot

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What has our Badger Insider learned from watching practice?

By: Andy Baggot

ANDY BAGGOT
Insider

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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin is now a week deep into its preseason training camp. Here are five takeaways, allowing for the fact there's been no full-scale contact outside of guys smacking a remote-controlled tackling dummy:

1. In an ideal world, head coach Paul Chryst would like to employ a six-man rotation at wide receiver. There's a long way to go until the season opener vs. Utah State on Sept. 1, but five of those spots appear filled for now with seniors Jazz Peavy and George Rushing, sophomores Quintez Cephus and A.J. Taylor and redshirt freshman Kendric Pryor. True freshmen Cade Green, Danny Davis and Emmet Perry have all served notice that they could help.

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2. Several days of marveling at the overall quality and depth of the front seven prompted a visit to the UW statistical archives. Going back to 1981, the most quarterback sacks in a season by the Badgers is 43, set in 1992. Going back to 1977, the most tackles for loss in a season is 101, set in 1998. No predictions, but those are numbers you might want to file away for future reference.

3. Junior Chris James, a transfer from Pittsburgh, and sophomore Bradrick Shaw have gotten the most prominent reps with the No. 1 offense at tailback. Senior Rachid Ibrahim, a graduate transfer from Pitt, has been getting a steady diet of work as well. There seems to be a good mix of size, speed, slash, elusiveness and pass-catching acumen in that group.

4. The UW running game will be even more dynamic if junior Taiwan Deal continues to stay on his current course of rosy health. He's the only back on the roster with a 100-yard rushing effort in his college career – 147 vs. Hawaii in 2015 – and he's the only one with multiple starts (three). But he's been unable to generate any sustained momentum due mainly to injuries. Off-season ankle surgery and some weight loss – from 224 to 219 – seems to be paying dividends. Deal has been practicing with an attitude.

5. At the end of spring practice in April, a mix of UW offensive players were asked which defensive teammate had caught their eye. The majority pointed a verbal finger at redshirt freshman Isaiahh Loudermilk, a 6-foot-7, 306-pound end who has added big-time size – he weighed in at 277 at the outset of last year – and strength. He took reps with the No. 1 unit during the first week of camp even though veterans abound along in defensive front.