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Earlier this week we took a look at the 2016 Wisconsin Badgers football offense…you know, because what else is better to do in January than look forward to warmer days and Badgers football returning?
That said, it is time to flip the script and look at the defensive side of the ball. We also have a treat for you at the very end of it all — our 2016 WAAAAYYYYY TOO EARLY SEASON PREDICTIONS!!
Hooray Predictions!
With that said, let’s take a look at a defense without a leader…shall we?
Projected Defensive Depth Chart:
DE: Chikwe Obasih, Jr.
NG: Olive Sagapolu, So.
DE: Arthur Goldberg, Sr.
OLB: Jack Cichy, Jr.
ILB: T.J. Edwards, So.
ILB: Chris Orr, So.
OLB: Vince Biegel, Sr.
CB: Sojourn Shelton, Sr.
FS: Arrington Farrar, So.
SS: D’Cota Dixon, Jr.
CB: Derrick Tindal, Jr.
One thing we know, the Badgers aren’t switching away from the 3-4 defense anytime soon. It would be stupid given the results under Aranda and given the personnel on board too. Wisconsin is finally a roster made up of players designed to play the 3-4 scheme to perfection, switching away from it would mean another 2 or 3 years of transition and this is a team that can’t afford it given all the changes happening on the other side of the football. So, no matter who is hired, we’re pretty confident the 3-4 defense will be the go-to for UW.
3 Biggest Strengths:
— Linebacker: Losing a first team All-American at a place like Wisconsin usually means bad things are in store. However, since Dave Aranda landed at Wisconsin, the Badgers have done nothing but hit home runs at linebacker. Chris Borland was a maniac in the 3-4 scheme and Joe Schobert went from after thought to one of the most productive linebackers in the country this pat season. With Vince Biegel returning at one of the outside linebacker spots along with now sophomores Chris Orr and T.J. Edwards up the middle, Wisconsin has three-quarters of a great linebacker group back. Even more reason for optimism exists with the return of Jack Cichy, who came out of nowhere to be highly disruptive and productive late in the 2015 season. Look for him to get the spot occupied by Schobert.
— Defensive End: If there is one thing to fall in love with about Wisconsin’s recruiting as of late, it is the varied and potential-filled depth they have created at the defensive end position. Chikwe Obasih has become a very solid option, while Wisconsin has seen guys like Arthur Goldberg, a nose guard upon arrival, become a productive defensive end a well. Most impressively, the Badgers have the likes of Garrett Rand, Billy Hirschfeld and Isaiah Loudermilk to help set a bigger edge than ever before. UW has speed and technique with Obasih, and it also has length and athleticism to help hide blitzing linebackers in Hirschfeld and Loudermilk. With big options available to the defensive coordinator coming in, Wisconsin can be even more dangerous in the front seven than it was in the previous two years. Look for a lot more rotation at defensive end, making it hard for opposing offenses to deal with what Wisconsin can do.
— Upgraded Recruiting: No if, and’s or buts about it, the Wisconsin Badgers are recruiting at a level they never have on the defensive side of the football. With all of the transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense and all the graduation happening over the past two years, the Badgers have had to rely on youth for production at key spots nearly from the word go. Last season was perhaps the biggest example of that, and those young players stepped up in major ways. No way a Chris Orr or a Conor Sheehy see the field that quickly with the old scheme or even make it to Wisconsin either. Same for the Badgers’ leading tackler in 2015 — T.J. Edwards. There’s also Arington Farrar, whom the coaching staff loved so much they had to get him on the field even if the safety spots were taken up. Oh, and lets also not forget names like Olive Sagapolu, D’Cota Dixon and Derrick Tindal as well.
The 2016 class proves this even more, as the Badgers have a commitment from 4-star defensive tackle Garrett Rand and have pulled two big named safeties in 4-star Eric Burrell and Patrick Johnson III. There’s also Isaiah Loudermilk and Noah Burks who have impressed on the all-star circuit so far this offseason.
Simply put, Wisconsin is dealing with an overall different level of athlete and recruit than it ever has before. Credit the likes of Dave Aranda and some of the previous coaching staff, but also credit names like Tim Tibesar, Inoke Breckterfield and Ted Gilmore for recruiting the crap out of areas Wisconsin has struggled to pull top talent from in the past (South Florida, Texas and the DMV area).
3 Biggest Question Marks:
— Who is the Defensive Coordinator?: This is the biggest question mark known right now. Will Paul Chryst hire internally or go outside of the program. Will the Badgers revert back to a 4-3 scheme or move on with what has really made them take it to another level, the 3-4 defense. Names like Todd Orlando (Houston) and Tim Tibesar (Wisconsin) have surfaced as obvious candidates to look at, but there has been a serious lack of names leaking and even our sources have come up empty to date. Credit the coaching staff for keeping this stuff quiet, but with the 14-day waiting period having started late last week there’s plenty of time for stuff to develop. Wisconsin needs to hit a home run here or it could be in some serious trouble with the top level recruits it has locked down to date for the 2016 class and potentially beyond.
— How irreplaceable is Michael Caputo?: Wisconsin’s biggest defensive weapon and perhaps most underrated player nationally, was easily safety Michael Caputo. His unique ability to play equally well against the run and the pass allowed Aranda to be exotic with packages and schemes, and it allowed him to blitz like crazy. Do the Badgers have another player like that on the roster? Maybe a guy like Farrar, who can flat out hit and fly around is the guy, but it is a huge ask and a huge role to fill. Any doubts about how important Caputo and his overall role on the defense was to UW’s success was put to rest with his early concussion against Alabama. After he left, Wisconsin got gashed over and over again by the run and the pass. Keep him in the game and Alabama’s offensive output looks a whole lot different. Do the Badgers have that one player who changes how offenses prepare for a game? That will be a major question heading in to 2016.
— Can Shelton Shine?: Sojourn Shelton busted on the scene in his freshman campaign, racking up four interceptions and talking a ton to back up the production as well. His sophomore campaign was a step in the wrong direction and he didn’t record another interception from his freshman season until he nabbed one against USC in the Holiday Bowl. That adds up to 26-straight games without an interception. Shelton was much better in one-on-one coverage during 2015, but there seems to be another level he can reach in his game. The 2016 season will be his finale, can he go out with the same kind of bang he came in to UW with? If so, the Badgers defense could be really dangerous once again.
Defensive Position Battles to Watch:
— Nose Guard: Many believe that Conor Sheehy is entrenched as a starter, but NOT SO FAST MY FRIENDS. While Sheehy performed well inside this season (31 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks), Sagapolu was performing at an incredibly high level by the end of his freshman season as well. In fact, he was one of the best players on the field for the Badgers defense in its Holiday Bowl performance against USC. It just didn’t show up on the stat sheet. Don’t be surprised to see Sagapolu and Sheehy battling for the starting job with a new defensive coordinator in town (whomever that is going to be).
— Cornerback: No, the starting roles at cornerback won’t be battle for, but there will be nothing short of a huge battle heading in to the season opener as to who is going to be where on the depth chart. With only Sojourn Shelton, Derrick Tindal and Natrell Jamerson returning at cornerback, you can bet the newcomers are going to be thrown in the fire. Who emerges from a recruiting class that currently includes Dontye Carriere-Williams and Ke’Shan Pennamon will be the biggest mystery. If none are ready it could be trouble for the Badgers defense that likes to keep its corners on an island.
— Safety: It seems logical that the two guys with the most potential grab the starting roles vacated by Michael Caputo and Tanner McEvoy. That would mean Arrington Farrar and D’Cota Dixon grab the free and strong safety spots. However, there are some veteran options around that could pose a serious challenge. It seems as if Madison-area native Leo Musso has been on the cusp of a starting position for awhile now, and the same for Lubern Figaro. Both have seen major minutes in their careers and have started at various times. However, both have slid down the UW depth chart with each successive year. With the field clear and a new defensive coordinator coming in, perhaps those two make a move towards a starting spot. They will also have to fend off two highly-touted safeties added in the 2016 recruiting class — Patrick Johnson II and Eric Burrell. What we do know is that no matter what, the Badgers back end of the defense is loaded with talent and potential. It may be a bit of a learning by fire situation at times, but look for talent to make up for what they lack in knowledge.
The post Way too early Wisconsin Badgers 2016 Preview: Defense appeared first on Madtown Badgers.
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