'09 Wisconsin Football thread

[Jwill535]

Landingham was a complete disaster at S. Granted it was only for spring and some of fall, but it was enough to know he was going to be useless there.

[Heavystarch]

Water becomes even murkier as to the suspensions:

UW safeties intend to fight suspensions - JSOnline

Originally Posted by Garner Pleasant

At this point, we're going to follow the process that Butch is following. . . . I hate to say this, but you just can't treat people any old way. I think that is what he (Bielema) is used to doing. Maybe this is how they do things at Iowa. "And I hate to say that . . . but I hope the guy comes to his senses. Lawyers have been contacted, and we just want the kids' names cleared."

[Heavystarch]

BadgerBeat.com - Oates: UW has options at quarterback

Didn't really expect this, possibly a slight edge to Phillips?

Originally Posted by BB

"I think as things have shaken out over the course of the first week, the (thing) we've seen out of our younger players in particular is the growth and development that they've had," Bielema said. "The older players, Scott and Dustin, have continued to perform well, but we have probably given a larger percentage of the reps to Curt. We're excited how all of them keep moving along. I said last spring that we'd probably name someone 10 days out (from the opener) at a minimum, but hopefully that might be even more accelerated."

I'm not getting my hopes too high, but you never know

[MattC87]

Shouldn't this thread read "'09 Wisconsin Football Thread"?

[TroyD92]

Originally Posted by MattC87

Shouldn't this thread read "'09 Wisconsin Football Thread"?

.........

[TheFresher]

Originally Posted by Heavystarch

BadgerBeat.com - Oates: UW has options at quarterback

Didn't really expect this, possibly a slight edge to Phillips?



I'm not getting my hopes too high, but you never know

me either.... i can't really hold in the excitement for the possibilty of CP10 to start though

[TroyD92]

theirs mumblings going around that its CP10's job to loose....

[Bernini]

As much as I esteemed Budmayr, I think Phillips maintains his starting spot until he graduates, and then bridges the gap to Brennan. Phillips has an intangible "it" factor where he just senses things differently than other QB's on the field. Feels the rush and moves around appropriately to buy time, and then makes the right decisions. Then of course there's the added dimension of being able to run. Arm strength is not the most important factor for a quarterback, as long as it's accurate. Which I think his is. Then I think Brennan has every attribute that Budmayr has, only he's much bigger and has a better pocket sense. Whoever ends up being the QB's of the future, this depth we currently possess at the most important position on the field is unparalleled. It's a nice problem to have.

[TroyD92]

Sporting News Today - August 17, 2009

Claims Phillips will start

UW safeties intend to fight suspensions - JSOnline

Nevertheless, Shane Carter wants the opportunity to battle senior Chris Maragos for the No. 1 free safety position. That doesn't appear likely if he remains suspended through camp.
"He doesn't want to be anywhere but the University of Wisconsin," Butch Carter said.
Garner Pleasant said his son wants to see his name cleared and, like Shane Carter, wants to rejoin his teammates and contribute to the team.
"He hasn't done anything wrong," Garner Pleasant said. "He is a good young man. . . . He said he doesn't want to leave with that kind of a taste in his mouth, that his name has been smeared. Because once you've been suspended . . . everybody is going to say he had to have done something . . .
"They both want to stay, and they both want to play."

Sounds like a walking contradiction.

[Bernini]

Originally Posted by Heavystarch

From every report I've heard all spring he has improved in all areas. He would actually give us a playmaking threat out there. Maragos does nothing well, Carter at least has good ball skills.

We were best when we had a linebackerish SS and a ball-hawking FS. Now we have a tank at SS and a guy who is poor athlete who can't tackle or catch at FS. I'm with you Bern, I think we are in trouble in the outfield. It would have been nice to see Landingham on the field about now

Maragos is a good tackler, I think that gets overlooked because of his struggles against Shonn Greene and Iowa. But who didn't struggle against that beast. CM has a low center of gravity and reacts quickly to ball carriers trying to cut off his backside. I recall Wylie from Fresno State really embarrassing Carter on a RAC, but then trying to pull the same move on Maragos but got stoned.

I also think that Maragos' ball skills are excellent. He can leap, is coordinated, and really attacks the ball in the air.

So he does some things well.

His problem last season was knowing his assignments, like Carter. That's a product of inexperience, which he had, in spite of his seniority. Stellmacher improved dramatically from his junior to senior years. I remember him being a major cause of frustration to me earlier in his career. Same thing with Roderick Rogers. It can take a while for many at that position to develop. I think he'll be decent this season now that his reps are increased.

But I am concerned about that unit, and every other one on the defense, because of all the uncertainty surrounding them, few are proven, a couple of those who are perceived to receive that distinction are overrated (McFadden made some really questionable decisions and Brinkley was lucky his soft coverage wasn't exposed even more than it was), and the majority of the newly minted starters I wasn't particularly high on as recruits.

Ironically the strength of the defense could end up being the line. I've complained about DT recruiting especially the last couple of years, but unlike last season at least there is some depth along the line (approx. 7 viable rotation guys), they were very active as a unit in the spring game, and Watt has those guys playing extremely hungry ball.

[TroyD92]

IF Maragos can be anything like Roderick Rodgers I will be very happy, Rod was one of my favorite safeties ever, especially his senior year.

[Heavystarch]

Highly doubtful, since Rogers was basically a linebacker in all but obvious pass situations. Maragos is supposed to be our Leonard or Stellmacher

[TroyD92]

BadgerBeat.com - Wisconsin Badgers football: Friend's death created second thoughts for recruit

[TheFresher]

Oh God, no.. Carimi got carted off the field with a knee injury

Rivals $

[Heavystarch]

BB tweeted that it wasn't serious, out two weeks at most
Bret Bielema (BretBielema) on Twitter