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Badgers scramble to fill holes left by injuries
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - New Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema is calling it a “no-flinch policy.”
The Badgers enter the 2006 season depleted by three recent injuries and the loss of several of last year's offensive stars to the NFL draft.
But Bielema, who takes over as head coach this year after two years as the Badgers' defensive coordinator under Barry Alvarez, simply expects the rest of his players to move on.
“What we have to be able to understand is, it's next man up,” Bielema said.
Wisconsin may be without quarterback John Stocco for Saturday's season opener against Bowling Green at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The senior had knee surgery Aug. 11 after aggravating a previous injury.
And the Badgers also lost two other starters to injury last week: Receiver Marcus Randle El, who is out for the season with a knee injury, and fullback Chris Pressley, who might miss the rest of the year with a leg injury.
Add in the seven offensive players the Badgers lost to the NFL draft in April, and the Badgers are left to rely heavily on unproven players this season.
“We've battled a little bit of adversity, but we're excited,” Bielema said.
Stocco is expected to return soon, but Bielema said on Tuesday that junior Tyler Donovan is likely start on Saturday night because he has taken most of the repetitions in practice.
Donovan will give Wisconsin a much different look than Stocco, a traditional pocket passer known more for his game-management skills than his flashy plays.
“We all know what John has been able to do,” Bielema said. “But if you watch Tyler on film, you see a guy that can run. He can bring the option game, he can do different things with the football in his hands that are a little bit different, and we have to build to those capabilities and those strengths.”
The injury to Randle El, younger brother of Washington Redskins receiver Antwaan Randle El, will force the Badgers to rely on young receivers.
“We'll have new receivers step in,” Bielema said. “We unfortunately had a limited amount coming back at that position, but I'm excited about a couple freshmen coming in.”
The Badgers do return highly regarded offensive tackle Joe Thomas, who had to skip the NFL draft and return to school after hurting his knee last year.
“He's really brought a lot to the table, and especially in the last two weeks has put his body in position and regained that confidence that he's going to have to have,” Bielema said.
Bowling Green finished 6-5 last year under head coach Gregg Brandon, clinching a share of the MAC East title and their fifth straight winning season.
They also proved to be a handful for the Badgers in Madison last year, taking an early 20-7 lead before Wisconsin rallied for a 56-42 victory. But they'll be without quarterback Omar Jacobs, a Pittsburgh Steelers draft pick.
“They have expectations that they have set there as a program, and I don't expect anything to be let down off of that,” Bielema said.
Brandon doesn't take much comfort in the fact that the Badgers offense has been depleted by injuries and the draft.
“I thought Randle El would be a pretty good player for them,” Brandon said. “But they are an established Big Ten program. Their backups are going to be pretty good, too.”
The Falcons will likely play six to eight freshmen.
“That's something that we have tried to pound into these kids in camp: 'You're in Division I now,”' Brandon said. “A couple of these kids just played their last high-school game a couple months ago, in some of these all-star games. Now, they're going to go into Cleveland Browns Stadium and play one of the premier teams in the Big Ten. It will be interesting.”
The Badgers enter the 2006 season depleted by three recent injuries and the loss of several of last year's offensive stars to the NFL draft.
But Bielema, who takes over as head coach this year after two years as the Badgers' defensive coordinator under Barry Alvarez, simply expects the rest of his players to move on.
“What we have to be able to understand is, it's next man up,” Bielema said.
Wisconsin may be without quarterback John Stocco for Saturday's season opener against Bowling Green at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The senior had knee surgery Aug. 11 after aggravating a previous injury.
And the Badgers also lost two other starters to injury last week: Receiver Marcus Randle El, who is out for the season with a knee injury, and fullback Chris Pressley, who might miss the rest of the year with a leg injury.
Add in the seven offensive players the Badgers lost to the NFL draft in April, and the Badgers are left to rely heavily on unproven players this season.
“We've battled a little bit of adversity, but we're excited,” Bielema said.
Stocco is expected to return soon, but Bielema said on Tuesday that junior Tyler Donovan is likely start on Saturday night because he has taken most of the repetitions in practice.
Donovan will give Wisconsin a much different look than Stocco, a traditional pocket passer known more for his game-management skills than his flashy plays.
“We all know what John has been able to do,” Bielema said. “But if you watch Tyler on film, you see a guy that can run. He can bring the option game, he can do different things with the football in his hands that are a little bit different, and we have to build to those capabilities and those strengths.”
The injury to Randle El, younger brother of Washington Redskins receiver Antwaan Randle El, will force the Badgers to rely on young receivers.
“We'll have new receivers step in,” Bielema said. “We unfortunately had a limited amount coming back at that position, but I'm excited about a couple freshmen coming in.”
The Badgers do return highly regarded offensive tackle Joe Thomas, who had to skip the NFL draft and return to school after hurting his knee last year.
“He's really brought a lot to the table, and especially in the last two weeks has put his body in position and regained that confidence that he's going to have to have,” Bielema said.
Bowling Green finished 6-5 last year under head coach Gregg Brandon, clinching a share of the MAC East title and their fifth straight winning season.
They also proved to be a handful for the Badgers in Madison last year, taking an early 20-7 lead before Wisconsin rallied for a 56-42 victory. But they'll be without quarterback Omar Jacobs, a Pittsburgh Steelers draft pick.
“They have expectations that they have set there as a program, and I don't expect anything to be let down off of that,” Bielema said.
Brandon doesn't take much comfort in the fact that the Badgers offense has been depleted by injuries and the draft.
“I thought Randle El would be a pretty good player for them,” Brandon said. “But they are an established Big Ten program. Their backups are going to be pretty good, too.”
The Falcons will likely play six to eight freshmen.
“That's something that we have tried to pound into these kids in camp: 'You're in Division I now,”' Brandon said. “A couple of these kids just played their last high-school game a couple months ago, in some of these all-star games. Now, they're going to go into Cleveland Browns Stadium and play one of the premier teams in the Big Ten. It will be interesting.”
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