Badgers banged up on D heading to Michigan
No. 15 Wisconsin enters Saturday’s pivotal Big Ten Conference clash at No. 12 Michigan with a patchwork defense.
Although this is not the game that the Badgers’ defensive staff would like to be making wholesale changes because of injuries and a first-half suspension, the Badgers have to show their championship mettle and overcome both.
Wisconsin (4-1, 2-0) is hit the hardest in the secondary with cornerbacks Travian Blaylock (right leg), Deron Harrell (upper body) and Caeser Williams (right leg) all questionable for the Michigan game.
Also, cornerback Faion Hicks has been playing with a thumb injury and safety D’Cota Dixon, the most experienced starter in the secondary, is hampered by a foot injury. Freshman starting safety Scott Nelson will have to sit out the first half due to a targeting ejection in the win over Nebraska.
“Our whole approach is, ‘How do you help them grow and how do you help them come together?’” Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said. “It takes individuals to be at their best for the unit to be at its best. And everyone is at a different point in their career.”
Besides the injuries, the Badgers’ secondary struggled against Nebraska as quarterback Adrian Martinez passed for 384 yards and two touchdowns and wide receiver J.D. Spielman caught nine passes for 209 yards.
“Confidence is to be earned,” Chryst said of his secondary. “They have to have something to fall back on and trust. And that’s when you have to trust the techniques that are being taught. You have to trust that the other people around you are doing their job, and those are all areas that we need to grow and get better at.”
Michigan (5-1, 3-0) has won five straight games since opening the season with a loss to Notre Dame. In addition, Wisconsin has won five of its last eight games against Michigan. The Wolverines certainly will use last season’s 24-10 loss to Wisconsin as a motivating chip.
Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson, an Ole Miss transfer, will be a key player to watch. Patterson has completed 69 percent of his passes, and surely will try and test Wisconsin’s injured secondary early in the game. Patterson has completed 95-of-138 passes to go with 10 touchdowns.
Michigan running back Karan Higdon has helped solidify the offense with his stellar running. Through six games, he has rushed for 582 yards on 101 carries.