After they field questions, Badgers eager to begin finding answers
July 22, 2018 | Football, Mike Lucas
Senior trio prepares for unofficial start of season at Big Ten Media Days
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — One of the questions that Michael Deiter will get from strangers is about his eating habits. It makes sense since he's usually hanging out with Beau Benzschawel and Jon Dietzen.
"They always want to know what we eat … I don't know why," Dieter said innocently without a hint of sarcasm. "But I guess if you saw us, you'd say, 'What do they eat to stay so …'"
So … big?
He didn't complete the thought. He didn't have to. Deiter, Benzschawel and Dietzen are Wisconsin offensive linemen. Each is listed at 6-6. Their combined weight is just under 1,000 pounds.
"To the average person," Deiter said, "we're just way bigger."
But he would like you to know that he eats the same things that you eat. Just bigger portions.
Deiter would also like you to know that he's "super excited" about returning to left guard.
In this case, he was anticipating one of the questions that he will get at Big Ten Media Days.
Deiter, safety D'Cota Dixon and inside linebacker T.J. Edwards will be Wisconsin's player representatives Monday and Tuesday at the annual preseason forum and kickoff luncheon in Chicago.
Outlining the standard questioning, Deiter said, "They'll want to know — as leaders — how our team looks, what we're excited about and what's different about this team this year."
Where Deiter is lining up is one of the biggest differences.
"I'm excited to be able to pull on some power stuff again," said Deiter, who will move back to left guard after spending last season at left tackle filling the hole created by Ryan Ramczyk's departure.
"I'm excited things are that much closer (inside); there's not so much space. Obviously, guys are heavier in there. It's all about going back to more physicality and strength and a little less athleticism."
Deiter will be the first UW offensive lineman to make the Chicago trip since 2014 when right tackle Rob Havenstein joined tailback Melvin Gordon and defensive tackle Warren Herring at the event.
Befitting his versatility, Deiter was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten pick and a second-team All-American last season. Overall, he has started 41 games: 16 at center, 14 at left tackle, 11 at left guard.
Although he will likely wind up at guard or center in the NFL, he has no qualms about being used where needed the most; whatever is in the best interests of the UW offense trumps the individual.
"At the end of the day, if I do have to go out there and play left tackle, it's not the end of the world," he said. "We made it work last year and we can always make it work again."
But he's confident that Dietzen, who has 20 starts at guard, and redshirt sophomore Cole Van Lanen have the requisite skills to play outside. "So, I'm not worried about left tackle at all," Deiter said.
Nor is he concerned about redshirt freshman Kayden Lyles making the transition from the O-line to nose tackle; a move made recently to shore up the depth on the defensive line.
Three reliable fixtures have graduated in Conor Sheehy (54 games, 32 starts), Alec James (54, 26) and Chikwe Obasih (49, 31). Obviously, their savvy and experience will be hard to replace.
The lone returning starter is Olive Sagapolu. In the spring, Isaiahh Loudermilk and Garrett Rand got a lot reps. But Loudermilk is recovering from surgery and Rand was lost for the season with an injury.
So, the Badgers had to address their numbers on the D-line, which they have, for now, with the 6-3, 323-pound Lyles.
"When we were using him as a freshman for a defensive lineman, helping us get fits (in practice drills), he gave us the best look," Deiter said of Lyles, who prepped his senior year in nearby Middleton.
"He's smart enough to learn all the stuff (on the defensive line) by the start of camp. He's good at bending and he's athletic enough. He will definitely be able to help us out."
As a whole, the D-line rotation will be largely inexperienced.
"It's going to be interesting to see how those young D-linemen respond," observed Edwards, a first-team All-American in '17. "We're going to need them to learn and play at a high level very quickly."
Edwards, a starter in 39 of 40 career games, cited the correlation between what happens on the line of scrimmage and the second level of the defense for the inside 'backers.
"The reason we do what we do is because of those guys up front," said Edwards, speaking for his position group, notably Ryan Connelly and Chris Orr. "We need them to be very strong."
A year ago, Edwards was one of the UW reps in Chicago, along with Jack Cichy and Troy Fumagalli. So, he has a good feel for how everything works and the type of questions that he will get.
"How are you guys going to replace the outside 'backers?" he proposed for one. "I've got a feeling that's all I'm going to hear at media day. It's a question mark every year.
"T.J. (Watt) and Vince (Biegel) leave, now what are you guys going to do? And, then, Leon (Jacobs) and (Garret) Dooley show up. So now they leave, now what are you going to do?
"I'm excited to see what Zack Baun and Tyler Johnson and Christian Bell are going to do and obviously we still have Andrew Van Ginkel there."
Van Ginkel, a junior college transfer, played in the shadows of Jacobs and Dooley before garnering his own headlines late in the season. He had 10 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
"It's weird not having Leon (Jacobs) and Dooley and Cich (Cichy) here," Edwards said of the turnover in the linebacker corps. "It's a different atmosphere and a different environment.
"But it's very cool because now we get to create the flow of the locker room and how things work. It's a new challenge, for sure."
Given the loss of three starting defensive backs — corners Derrick Tindal and Nick Nelson and safety Natrell Jamerson — Dixon figures to field numerous questions about the secondary in Chicago.
"I feel like we're going to do just fine, if you ask me," said Dixon, one of two returning DBs with starting experience; the other is Dontye Carriere-Williams. "I feel pretty confident about this group."
At safety, he likes the mix with redshirt freshman Scott Nelson and junior Patrick Johnson. "I feel like the secondary should lead the way," Dixon said. "I don't feel like there's a weakness."
• • • •
Deiter, Edwards and Dixon were each given a "Fill in the Blank" exercise.
The offense can reach its goals and expectations if …
"If," Deiter said, "we execute. We have all the pieces to the puzzle. We just need to put them where they need to be, and we need to make sure there are no distractions."
The defense can reach its goals and expectations if …
"If," Edwards said, "our chemistry is as strong as it has been in the past. "With all these new pieces — new DBs, new D-linemen, new outside 'backers — forming that bond right away is huge."
"If," Dixon added, "are leaders lead. We have some key leaders on defense: T.J., me, Olive, Gink (Van Ginkel). Our leaders need to lead and set the standard and be the example."
As a team, the Badgers can reach their goals and expectations if …
"If," Deiter said, "we're focusing on having fun while being focused. If you're having fun, you're probably playing well. And If you're focused, you're probably playing well."
"If," Edwards said, "we're good in situations where things go bad. You don't know how this team is going to bounce back because we haven't been tested yet.
"I'm sure something is going to go wrong, something is going to happen, it's football. We've been around long enough, we know how it goes and we'll see how we respond with things like that."
"If," Dixon said, "we don't make it bigger than what it is; if we don't listen to the noise, the hype and the media. We just have to go out there and play football.
"After an historical season (13-1 in '17), there's a lot of hype and a lot of targets on our back. Don't play timid. Don't look at Western Kentucky any different than Penn State."
On Aug. 31, the Badgers open the season against Western Kentucky at Camp Randall Stadium. On Nov. 10, they will play at Penn State, one of their many challenges in a tough road schedule.
Quarterback Trace McSorley will be among the Nittany Lions player reps at the Big Ten Media Days, which are generally QB-friendly. This year is no exception.
Joining McSorley in Chicago will be Iowa's Nate Stanley, Michigan State's Brian Lewerke and Northwestern's Clayton Thorson. Purdue is taking two QBs, David Blough and Elijah Sindelar.
"I love the game and I love to compete against them," Dixon said. "And, obviously, it's all business on the field. But it will be really cool to get to know some people off the field."
It's the essence of preseason kickoff functions for the players. It's also the two-minute warning signaling the end of summer and the approaching start of training camp.
Fine by Edwards. "I'm embracing my last run," he said excitedly about the season.
He was echoing Deiter and Dixon, and an excited fan base.
