We’re exactly two weeks until opening kickoff at Lambeau Field and fall camp is winding down. The depth chart is slowly coming together, but here are the latest updates on where the team is at.
Quarterback battle ongoing
At Friday’s scrimmage, Houston took a step forward after a subpar week. On Saturday, Houston still looked sharp and avoided throwing any interceptions. Hornibrook also looked sharp as well, especially in red zone drills, but did throw two interceptions.
At this point in camp, Houston seems to have taken the slight lead over Hornibrook in the quarterback competition. Throughout camp, even going back to spring practice, Hornibrook has been more of a playmaker, connecting on more deep passes. But in taking those risks and throwing the long ball more, he is more prone to throw interceptions. Houston, on the other hand, plays more conservatively, avoiding interceptions, but has been making bigger plays while still avoiding throwing picks.
On the offensive line injuries, continue the revolving door in the trenches. Left tackle Ryan Ramczyk left practice with a left leg injury, according to multiple reports. His injury is not considered serious. While the running game seems poised to be on the cusp of breaking out after a rough last season, not having the continuity on the front line will not help progress the run game.
Linebackers continue to prepare
With many questions left on the offensive side of the ball, especially at the quarterback position, the defense is in a position to lend some form of consistency to this team. Although linebacker T.J. Edwards is still out indefinitely (foot), fellow linebacker Chris Orr thinks they’ll be able to weather the potential loss.
“We lost somebody with some starting experience and a good player, but I still think we have good depth in the room, great linebackers there, guys that will work hard,” Orr said of Edwards.
If Edwards does miss the first game, he will be missing a date with Heisman hopeful Leonard Fournette and the LSU Tigers. Orr and the Badgers are excited to use to show that they are ready to take on their tough schedule.
“Everybody will be able to see September 3, something that this defense, that we’re really excited for,” Orr said. “I think we’ll possibly be even better [than last season]. We have more experience in the front end so you can stop the run, you can stop a lot of people in college football and we also have play makers in the back end, guys with experience in the back end that nobody don’t really take into account.”
Secondary coming together?
In the back end of the defense, senior Sojourn Shelton will be leading a unit with a lot of new faces.
Despite the lack of in game experience though, Shelton believes that the playmaking ability is there, and that is what matters most for the veteran leader.
“Experience, no matter if you played one game or no games, if you’re a playmaker, you’re a playmaker so that experience thing, I don’t buy into that,” Shelton said. “You know these guys in my group, they can make plays and that’s what we’re going to do.”
With the younger guys coming on, as the season approaches, defensive backs coach Jim Leonhard likes the depth that is starting to show itself and how the players have responded to added responsibility. One of the younger players making plays in fall camp is freshman Caesar Williams. In the past two days of practice, Williams has come on as a ball hawk, getting two interceptions off of Hornibrook in as many days.
“You can never have enough depth,” Leonhard said. “We’re getting to the point in camp where you’re starting to push a lot of guys and give them a little extra and see what they can handle and its always fun to see the young guys…handle the extra load.”
The natural leadership coming from Shelton has been a huge reason why the younger guys have been able to shorten the learning curve and start making plays.
“It’s been fun to watch [Shelton] grow into that leadership role and kind of take it naturally. You don’t want to force it on anybody,” Leonard said. “I think the guys really respect his experience and his play on the field, how he approaches every single day.”
Under new leadership, coaching wise, the defense has been able to rely on the players natural leadership to smooth transition. Although the schedule is tough, as fall camp has progressed, it seems that the defense is ready to roll and carry on the tradition of hard-nosed defense that Wisconsin fans have become accustomed to.
Injury Report
The following players did not practice on Saturday: Vince Biegel, Quintez Cephus, David Edwards, T.J. Edwards, Henry Houden, Natrell Jamerson, George Panos, Logan Schmidt, Bradrick Shaw, and Mason Stokke. Kendric Pryor and Austin Ramesh were limited.