Photo by: Tom Lynn
Lucas: Tippmann in the middle of O-line’s potential
August 13, 2022 | Football, Mike Lucas
Junior center named to annual ‘Freaks’ list
BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. – Near the end of the two-hour practice, they squared off. Pass rusher vs. Pass blocker. Nick Herbig vs. Jack Nelson. Keeanu Benton vs. Joe Tippmann. And so on – up and down the line of scrimmage. They had drilled the same techniques and fundamentals at the start of the workday.
Now they were fighting through fatigue.
"I was definitely tired," Tippmann admitted. "But you have to play through that.
"You never know when you're going to have a game like Illinois last year."
In this context, the one-on-one drill was replicating what it takes to push through a fourth quarter. Or a long drive. Tippmann recalled it being fairly warm last October at Illinois – the temp was in the mid to upper-80's – and the Badgers had three scoring drives of 18 plays/67 yards, 14/79 and 13/75.
"Coach Bo works us hard throughout the whole practice," Tippmann said of offensive line coach Bob Bostad, who has taken over the position group after spending the last five seasons with the inside linebackers. "He's setting us up for when we're in a game scenario, we'll actually be less tired.
"I think he's doing an awesome job preparing us for that."
Whether early or late in practice, Bostad didn't put a whole lot of stock into timing. Or when a certain drill was conducted as much as how it was executed by the individuals. "It's great," Bostad allowed, "when you get to the end of the day and guys are feeling it and they've got to step up."
That Tippmann is often matched against Benton is a positive for both players. And their respective units. Last year, Benton was named second-team All-Big Ten (coaches) while Tippmann was afforded honorable mention recognition (coaches and media). Both are Al-American candidates in 2022.
"Any rep against Keeanu Benton is good for us," Bostad said. "Good for anybody."
In total agreement, Tippmann said, "We talk about it every day. He's always making me work harder. Even last season, there wasn't a nose tackle in the Big Ten that I went against that was better than Keeanu. It's awesome knowing that I'm getting that great work every single day."
Tippmann was recently the subject of additional national recognition on Bruce Feldman's annual college football "Freaks" List in The Athletic, a list ranking extolling the physical freakishness of athletes, one through 100. The selection pool includes players, coaches, NFL scouts, school contacts.
The Badgers had two players in the Top 30. At No. 18, tailback Braelon Allen (406 power-clean, 610 back squat, 365 bench, 1.49 10-yard split); at No. 28, Tippmann (635-back squat, 455-bench, 1.65 10-yard split "which would've been faster than any O-lineman at the NFL combine this year").
Also ranked were UW defensive tackle Isaiah Mullens at No. 53 (375 power-clean, 741 back-squat, 435 bench, 4.32 agility, 30.5 inches vertical) and punter Andy Vujnovich at No. 80 ("pro agility time quicker than most top defensive backs"). Vujnovich was a 'Repeat Freak.' He was No. 87 in 2021.
Tippmann hit PRs in every single lift this summer. He exceeded his best in the bench by 25. How does that translate on the field? "It definitely brings a greater confidence," he said. "Especially knowing I'm the guy with the strongest bench on the team and I should be able to move this guy (D-lineman)."
A 10-game starter in 2021, Tippmann had the third most snaps (706) on the offensive line behind Tyler Beach (788) and Nelson (730). But he missed the bowl win against Arizona State and all of spring practice while rehabbing from labrum surgery. In fact, he's had both of his shoulders operated on.
"I have to get my feet back under me … I'm slowly doing that," Tippmann said of his personal timetable in getting ready for the Sept. 3 opener. "There's definitely stuff I know that I need to work on. The first thing is just being honest with myself. I know I have to get there and I'm not there yet."
Bostad appreciates such candidness from Tippmann, "I think he would admit that he's a little bit rusty right now and just kind of getting it back. Mentally, he's pretty good. He's in a good place. There's just a lot to learn. It's brand new for him. He might have seen it and heard it and been in meetings.
"But doing it is a different thing. That's where he's at. But he's improving every day."
No two coaches are going to manage and school their position group the same way, a reality that Tippmann and his teammates have embraced in transitioning to Bostad. "It's definitely a little bit different," Tippmann acknowledged. "But from a playbook standpoint, I've got that down."
After a recent practice, Bostad spoke at length about Tippmann's development.
"I know I've said this before, but he just has some exceptional physical traits that you really like to work with," he said. "He's got good size, good strength, good length. He's smart. He's tough. That's really a good starting point. He has experience … he talks, and he communicates and he's into it."
Bostad makes sure of the latter. "In the meetings, he sits right next to me, and we go through it. You have to, right? … (because) I'm not with them on the field," he stressed. "They have to get the calls, they have to know the rules (as it applies to O-line techniques), they have to get us targeted."
At Bishop Dwenger High School (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Tippmann was known as a strong team leader. And it's no different here. "To be a good leader, it takes you doing it first," Tippmann said. "I would never ask somebody to do something I wouldn't do. Leading by example is huge."
During training camp, the Badgers have been lining up with Nelson, Beach, Tippmann, Michael Furtney and Logan Brown on the O-line. Tippmann has noted of Beach, the left guard; and Furtney, the right guard, "I can tell for sure they got better through the spring." The competition has been keen.
Starting with Tanor Bortolini, who's versatile enough to play guard, center or tackle, Bostad has been developing some depth with Bortolini, Riley Mahlman, Nolan Rucci, Trey Wedig, JP Benzschawel, Dylan Barrett, and freshmen Joe Brunner and Barrett Nelson, among others pushing for reps.
"It's an awesome (meeting) room, a super close group of guys," said Tippmann, a 6-6, 317-pound junior. "We all trust each other and we're able to be honest with each other, too. That's a big thing. If one of us isn't playing up to our potential, we can talk to them, 'Hey, you've got to work on it …'
"These guys have done the same thing for me."
As has Benton in those mano a mano, Badger a Badger matchups.
"It's a great measuring stick," Bostad said. For anybody.
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. – Near the end of the two-hour practice, they squared off. Pass rusher vs. Pass blocker. Nick Herbig vs. Jack Nelson. Keeanu Benton vs. Joe Tippmann. And so on – up and down the line of scrimmage. They had drilled the same techniques and fundamentals at the start of the workday.
Now they were fighting through fatigue.
"I was definitely tired," Tippmann admitted. "But you have to play through that.
"You never know when you're going to have a game like Illinois last year."
In this context, the one-on-one drill was replicating what it takes to push through a fourth quarter. Or a long drive. Tippmann recalled it being fairly warm last October at Illinois – the temp was in the mid to upper-80's – and the Badgers had three scoring drives of 18 plays/67 yards, 14/79 and 13/75.
"Coach Bo works us hard throughout the whole practice," Tippmann said of offensive line coach Bob Bostad, who has taken over the position group after spending the last five seasons with the inside linebackers. "He's setting us up for when we're in a game scenario, we'll actually be less tired.
"I think he's doing an awesome job preparing us for that."
Whether early or late in practice, Bostad didn't put a whole lot of stock into timing. Or when a certain drill was conducted as much as how it was executed by the individuals. "It's great," Bostad allowed, "when you get to the end of the day and guys are feeling it and they've got to step up."
That Tippmann is often matched against Benton is a positive for both players. And their respective units. Last year, Benton was named second-team All-Big Ten (coaches) while Tippmann was afforded honorable mention recognition (coaches and media). Both are Al-American candidates in 2022.
"Any rep against Keeanu Benton is good for us," Bostad said. "Good for anybody."
In total agreement, Tippmann said, "We talk about it every day. He's always making me work harder. Even last season, there wasn't a nose tackle in the Big Ten that I went against that was better than Keeanu. It's awesome knowing that I'm getting that great work every single day."
Tippmann was recently the subject of additional national recognition on Bruce Feldman's annual college football "Freaks" List in The Athletic, a list ranking extolling the physical freakishness of athletes, one through 100. The selection pool includes players, coaches, NFL scouts, school contacts.
The Badgers had two players in the Top 30. At No. 18, tailback Braelon Allen (406 power-clean, 610 back squat, 365 bench, 1.49 10-yard split); at No. 28, Tippmann (635-back squat, 455-bench, 1.65 10-yard split "which would've been faster than any O-lineman at the NFL combine this year").
Also ranked were UW defensive tackle Isaiah Mullens at No. 53 (375 power-clean, 741 back-squat, 435 bench, 4.32 agility, 30.5 inches vertical) and punter Andy Vujnovich at No. 80 ("pro agility time quicker than most top defensive backs"). Vujnovich was a 'Repeat Freak.' He was No. 87 in 2021.
Tippmann hit PRs in every single lift this summer. He exceeded his best in the bench by 25. How does that translate on the field? "It definitely brings a greater confidence," he said. "Especially knowing I'm the guy with the strongest bench on the team and I should be able to move this guy (D-lineman)."
A 10-game starter in 2021, Tippmann had the third most snaps (706) on the offensive line behind Tyler Beach (788) and Nelson (730). But he missed the bowl win against Arizona State and all of spring practice while rehabbing from labrum surgery. In fact, he's had both of his shoulders operated on.
"I have to get my feet back under me … I'm slowly doing that," Tippmann said of his personal timetable in getting ready for the Sept. 3 opener. "There's definitely stuff I know that I need to work on. The first thing is just being honest with myself. I know I have to get there and I'm not there yet."
Bostad appreciates such candidness from Tippmann, "I think he would admit that he's a little bit rusty right now and just kind of getting it back. Mentally, he's pretty good. He's in a good place. There's just a lot to learn. It's brand new for him. He might have seen it and heard it and been in meetings.
"But doing it is a different thing. That's where he's at. But he's improving every day."
No two coaches are going to manage and school their position group the same way, a reality that Tippmann and his teammates have embraced in transitioning to Bostad. "It's definitely a little bit different," Tippmann acknowledged. "But from a playbook standpoint, I've got that down."
After a recent practice, Bostad spoke at length about Tippmann's development.
"I know I've said this before, but he just has some exceptional physical traits that you really like to work with," he said. "He's got good size, good strength, good length. He's smart. He's tough. That's really a good starting point. He has experience … he talks, and he communicates and he's into it."
Bostad makes sure of the latter. "In the meetings, he sits right next to me, and we go through it. You have to, right? … (because) I'm not with them on the field," he stressed. "They have to get the calls, they have to know the rules (as it applies to O-line techniques), they have to get us targeted."
At Bishop Dwenger High School (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Tippmann was known as a strong team leader. And it's no different here. "To be a good leader, it takes you doing it first," Tippmann said. "I would never ask somebody to do something I wouldn't do. Leading by example is huge."
During training camp, the Badgers have been lining up with Nelson, Beach, Tippmann, Michael Furtney and Logan Brown on the O-line. Tippmann has noted of Beach, the left guard; and Furtney, the right guard, "I can tell for sure they got better through the spring." The competition has been keen.
Starting with Tanor Bortolini, who's versatile enough to play guard, center or tackle, Bostad has been developing some depth with Bortolini, Riley Mahlman, Nolan Rucci, Trey Wedig, JP Benzschawel, Dylan Barrett, and freshmen Joe Brunner and Barrett Nelson, among others pushing for reps.
"It's an awesome (meeting) room, a super close group of guys," said Tippmann, a 6-6, 317-pound junior. "We all trust each other and we're able to be honest with each other, too. That's a big thing. If one of us isn't playing up to our potential, we can talk to them, 'Hey, you've got to work on it …'
"These guys have done the same thing for me."
As has Benton in those mano a mano, Badger a Badger matchups.
"It's a great measuring stick," Bostad said. For anybody.
Players Mentioned
RB
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OL
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OL
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NT
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OL
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OL
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OL
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OL
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OL
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OLB
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OL
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DE
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OL
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OL
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OL
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OL
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P
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OL
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