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Wisconsin fans have found out just how important special teams play can be over the past two seasons. Not having a solid punting game, a reliable kicker and just average (at best) return games have stagnated what was once an annual strength of the Badgers football program.
Some new faces and a renewed focus from some familiar faces hope to see the Badgers turn things around in a portion of the game that arguably has cost them more than anything over the past two seasons.
Just what has changed and what should camp bring? Let’s find out…
What We Know
Honestly, there isn’t much known about many of the specialists Wisconsin will put out there. But, what is known is that kicker Rafael Gaglianone can’t repeat his 2015 performance.
After coming in and lighting the world on fire as a freshman, Gaglianone struggled this past season and connected on just 18 of 27 field goal attempts.
The message of unhappiness was surely sent by the coaching staff and it appears it was also received, as he reported to spring camp a bit slimmed down and reports suggest that the portly kicker has turned in to a workout warrior even more since spring camp.
Hopefully a return to a healthier weight will allow Gaglianone to keep the length strength he has always had and aide in much better accuracy. If not, Wisconsin could be in some serious trouble if they are in close games again this season.
What We Need to Find Out
MADISON, WI – NOVEMBER 21: Wide receiver Jazz Peavy #11 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs along the sidelines against Northwestern Wildcats on November 21, 2015 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Tom Lynn/Getty Images)
There’s little doubt that Wisconsin’s special teams have plenty of questions and little answers heading in to 2016 fall camp. No question is bigger than who is going to fill the return game roles. While both Robert Wheelwright and Natrell Jamerson were options last season, both are stepping up to bigger roles on their respective sides of the ball and may not be options this season.
It likely leaves a lot of younger players vying for this spot and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a player like Bradrick Shaw get his feet wet as a returner or to see a few of the young defensive backs get that opportunity as well.
Plenty of opportunities will exist in fall camp, and this may be a work in progress early on in to the season. That may not be the worst thing in the world, as the Badgers were just 11th in punt return average and 9th in kick return average in the Big Ten last season.
Player to Watch
Anthony Lotti, P
Wisconsin has been spoiled by some really good punters in the past two decades or so, however things took a dramatic turn for the worse in the last four to five seasons. Drew Meyer graduated and in steps one of the highest rated high school punters in the country.
No pressure or anything, but you are expected to elevate the level of play at this position and turn field position in to a big weapon once again. Lotti possesses a lot of the traits one looks for in a star punter and if he can channel more of the Kevin Stemke’s and Ken DeBauche’s of the Wisconsin punting legacy he’ll be just fine.
Hopefully he doesn’t show dramatic inconsistencies in his first camp with the Badgers.
Our Projected Depth Chart
K: Rafael Gaglianone;
P: Anthony Lotti; P.J. Rosowski
PR: Jazz Peavy; Sojourn Shelton
KR: Natrell Jamerson, Robert Wheelwright; Bradrick Shaw, Kendric Pryor
The post Wisconsin Badgers 2016 Fall Camp Preview: Special Teams appeared first on Madtown Badgers.
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