The Wisconsin Badgers enter the 2002 football season with potentially one of the most dominant offenses in the Big Ten. Not only do they return last season’s leading receiver and rusher, they also feature the most proven and experienced quarterback in the conference.
Perhaps, though, the most unique and advantageous aspect of the Badgers’ attack lies in the experience of their offensive line. All five starters return to their starting roles this season, combining their familiarity with each other and individual athletic abilities to form one of the most feared and dominating offensive lines in the conference.
Not known for their highlight reel plays or pictures in newspapers, these men in the trenches have more than proven their significance to the Badgers’ offense.
In addition to opening up holes for Anthony Davis to rush for 1,466 yards last season, they allowed the protection necessary for quarterbacks Brooks Bollinger and Jim Sorgi to pass for over 1,000 yards apiece, a first-time feat in the history of Wisconsin football.
These same five guys will be expected to spearhead this highly touted offense back toward the penthouse of the Big Ten conference.
Senior Al Johnson, considered to be one of the best centers in the nation, anchors this treacherous line; a line that averages 305 lbs. per person. Al’s cousin, Ben, also a senior, lines up at left tackle and, at 6-foot-7, stands as the biggest starter on the offensive line. Senior Jason Jowers starts at right tackle, while sophomores Dan Buenning and Jonathon Clinckscale occupy the positions at guard.
In an age of artificial turf, torn ACLs and early entries into the draft, it is a truly unique accomplishment for a healthy offensive line to return all five starters.
Al Johnson, who opted to forgo the NFL draft last spring, understands the significance of this year’s returning line, stressing the importance of experience once the regular season opens up play.
“Our biggest advantage is our experience,” Johnson commented. “We know more about each other, about the game, and we are beginning to understand what every other guy on the line is doing.”
A certain level of confidence, comfort and trust has developed between this group of guys over the last year and a half, allowing each lineman to focus solely on his individual job.
“It’s real assuring knowing that the other four guys lined up next to you have been there before and that they’re going to do their job,” Ben Johnson said. “It’s a nice thing to not have to worry about.”
After continued improvement in the offensive line throughout last year’s disappointing season and a year of experience under their belts, the members of the o-line just hope they can pick up where they left off in 2001. This season being the last for three of these starters, the bar has been set high.
“We’ve set our expectations pretty high after a full season of playing together,” stated Jowers, who only missed nine snaps last season. “Now we just have to go out and execute.”
“We know what we’re capable of doing, and it’d be nice to finish our careers with a championship,” added Al Johnson.
The trust and camaraderie that has developed on the field among these five guys has certainly spilled over to times not spent on the playing field. Positive chemistry off the field has certainly contributed to the success this group has experienced over the last few years.
“We have a lot of fun off the field with each other,” commented Al Johnson. “We joke around a lot, give and take a lot of jabs–it’s a good time. It’s good for the group.”
Perhaps the most unique of off-field relationships is that of Al and Ben Johnson, two cousins who have lined up on the same offensive line for the last 11 years. Hailing from Brussels, Wis., the two held influence on each other in deciding to come to Wisconsin and will most likely embark on their final season of playing in the same uniform. Al and Ben both enter the 2002 season on the watch list for the Outland Trophy, which honors the top offensive lineman. They have been roommates throughout their tenure here in Madison, and both understand the uniqueness of their situation.
“It’s something that not a lot of guys can say they’ve done,” stated Ben Johnson. “It’s been long and arduous, but it’s been a lot of fun.”
“It’s a pretty remarkable thing to have played together for as long as we have,” added Al Johnson. “But it’s something that won’t hit either of us until next season, when we’re not playing together.”
In a conference known more for smash-mouth football, moving the chains and running between the tackles, the size and experience of the offensive line will bode extremely well for the offensive game plan. Dominating the line and establishing a running game is something that has come to be expected, and these five players will be a driving force in Wisconsin’s quest for the Big Ten crown.
“Confidence, maturity and experience isn’t something you can teach in a camp,” said Jowers. “It comes from playing together over a period of time, and we just hope that we can build off of that as this season unfolds.”
