BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. — Five years ago, Wisconsin's Paul Chryst made a not-too-subtle reference to what the inside linebackers could expect out of their new position coach, Bob Bostad. Chryst was of the opinion, "In some ways, many ways, you can coach a toughness." Something always linked to Bostad.

While conceding hiring Bostad as a defensive assistant was a little outside the box — since he had spent the previous 27 seasons coaching on offense with a focus on the O-line — Chryst insisted Bostad's vision and football acumen as a coach/teacher would translate to any position. He was right.

Now that the 55-year-old Bostad is returning "home" — to the Badger offensive line, where he developed some of the most decorated units in school history from 2008 through 2011 — he's bringing the same zeal to the re-assignment. Physical and mental toughness are still non-negotiable.

Bostad doesn't shy away from the notion that toughness can be coached — "I would say absolutely yes" and pointed to that trait in his inside linebackers, notably first-team All-Big Ten ironmen Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal, the Linebacker of the Year in the league. A couple of tough dudes.

They weren't the only ones in Bostad's room that fit the description. Or helped define the culture. "That group that we had this past season, all of those guys were beat up, but they didn't miss anything, they pushed through it," he said proudly. "We have to try and have that kind of mentality."

Was that Bostad's message in his first meeting with the O-line? On whether he even went down that path, he said, "I'm not coming in there and having a slogan. That's not my style. The real message is in the workload. It's not words. I didn't go in there with any grand speech or anything like that.

"I was just like, 'Here's what we're going to do today. Here's what we're going to do the next day. If you want to know why, we can go watch film. But this is what we're going to do based on what I know and what I know works.'

"I don't want to say that I was boring, but I'm not walking in there and doing cartwheels. We've got a lot of stuff that we've got to cover. There's a lot of stuff that has to be done. There have been some changes made. We have to get guys in their best spot …"

Elaborating on that personnel assessment, which is ongoing, he continued, "I spent a lot of time evaluating the (2021) season and I really thought my biggest challenge was to make sure I got them in the position that they would be at their absolute best."

Despite the loss of two starters from the Las Vegas Bowl — Josh Seltzner and Logan Bruss — Bostad is taking over a functional core group, headed by Tyler Beach, who's returning for a sixth year. Beach has 21 career starts. Jack Nelson has the second most starts with 13. Joe Tippmann has 11.

From there, it drops down to Cormac Sampson and Tanor Bortollini. Both have six starts. Michael Furtney is the only other returning player with starting experience (two games). Meanwhile, Logan Brown and Trey Wedig got considerable practice snaps on the No. 2 offensive line.

A highly-regarded freshman class caught Bostad's eye — Riley Mahlman, Nolan Rucci and JP Benzschawel — because they served on the scout team and ran plays against his linebackers. Joining them for spring ball will be Barrett Nelson, an early enrollee and Jack Nelson's younger brother.

"To have all those young guys is awesome," said Bostad, who will have to wait until this summer phase for signee Joe Brunner. He wanted to compete for a state championship in track and field at Whitefish Bay, according to Bostad. Who can blame him?

For now, Bostad is in the process of identifying leaders and cited Beach, Jack Nelson and Furtney for their voices. On the general attentiveness, he said, "It's really a player-driven group. They're coming in and listening intently and they understand if they're not doing things right, they'll remind each other.

"There's some good peer pressure there. And there's enough leadership to be a good unit.

"But we're in that stage where it's put your head down and go to work. Get good at your craft."

Bostad has always been good at his. Including four years coaching the O-line in the NFL.

"Being on offense, hence the word, you feel like you're on the offensive, on the attack," he said. "On the other side of the ball — and I'm sure it goes both ways — it's more, 'I wonder what they're going to do?' Here (on offense), you feel more like, 'Here's how we're going to attack.' There's more going on.

"You have your five guys. But you have to be totally locked into what the adjacent players are doing, whether it's the fullback, whether it's a tight end … I'm looking forward to getting back to that and designing things and finding ways to be a real productive offensive line and offensive unit.

"I loved coaching linebackers," he stressed. "What exceeded my expectations was the room. The players. They're the ones that made a huge difference in just coaching those guys. I'm really grateful when I think about that whole group, from Jack Cichy all the way to this final class, Jack and Leo."

Fielding the obvious question on whether coaching the linebackers has made him a better coach upon his return to the offensive line, Bostad said, "For my preparation, it gets you to answers a little bit quicker. You understand the setup a little bit more of a defense. The operation and how they work.

"The experience has been, for me, priceless. I feel a lot more rounded as far as looking at it from both sides now. It can help our production (on offense) just by being a little more ahead of the game … Is it going to make me a better line coach? I guess we'll see in all honesty."

To what degree, if any, have offenses evolved during his five years on defense?

At the end of the day, Bostad maintained, "It's still blocking, it's still the basics and it's still fundamentals. Up front, the part that doesn't change is that guy is still going to be six inches across from you (on the defensive line). So, you still have to be able to do a lot of the same things that we did before.

"I do think there are things people are doing that are worth investigating. Just watching other offenses — what their run menu was and how they did their protections — there were some valuable things in that and different ways to attack our defense and other defenses. But to say the game has evolved so differently, I don't think so."

Bostad has enjoyed his early communication with new offensive coordinator Bobby Engram.

"He's going to have a really good idea on how to attack some things and bring some fresh ideas," he said of Engram, who had been coaching tight ends for the Baltimore Ravens. "He has the same mindset that we all do around here. He still believes that you have to be able to run the ball.

"When you look at his resume as a wide receiver and coaching at all levels — and the highest level (NFL) — you get exposed to a lot of things. That's going to be a huge contribution. You can bring different twists on things. Just watching him on the board in the passing game has been really good."

Bostad has sat down with quarterback Graham Mertz and gone over specifics to the playbook.

"In setting up the run and how we did it, I just want to get on the same page," Bostad said. "There are some things we've always done really well in the past that the quarterback is going to be a big part of."

A run-oriented coach like Bostad, of course, is tailback friendly. And dependent.

It's why he's so encouraged to be working with Braelon Allen. Who wouldn't be?

"I'm just tickled that he's here and he's going to be carrying the ball because the guy is a beast," said Bostad, mindful that Allen was once targeted for linebacker/safety. "I look at him and I look at guys like John Clay and Montee Ball and even P.J. Hill who were kind of that style — hard downhill runners.

"Overall, I really like our running backs. There's some good talent there. The biggest thing is durability and availability. If we can stay healthy, the guys bring a lot to the table."

Bostad heartily endorsed his replacement, Bill Sheridan, with the inside linebackers. Bostad was the offensive line coach and Sheridan was the defensive coordinator for Greg Schiano with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-13). The 63-year-old Sheridan brings a wealth of experience to the UW staff.

"We're so fortunate to have him," Bostad said. "Obviously, he's extremely experienced. I told our guys, 'You're going to love this guy. He's going to do a great job.' He's going to bring a lot to the room, not just the players' room, but to the defensive room. He's a home run as far as a hire."

Chryst has felt the same way about Bostad. It's why he had no qualms about hiring a lifelong offensive line assistant to coach linebackers. What he said back then about Bostad still applies: "If you're a good coach, you know the game of football and how to teach, you'll be successful. Bob is all of that."

And now, he's back on familiar turf. Preaching and coaching toughness with the O-line.