After allowing 54 points in their first two home games last season, including 23 in a loss to UNLV, the Badger defense has shut down opposing offenses in 2004. In Wisconsin’s first two games this year, the Badgers have allowed only nine points and haven’t surrendered a touchdown.
The impressive defensive unit has scored more points than they have allowed, registering two safeties and a touchdown on the year. With linebackers Jeff Mack and Alex Lewis gone to the NFL, the Badgers have been successful in relying on a dominant defensive line, a secondary that includes defensive backs Jim Leonhard and Scott Starks, and a new linebacker corps.
Head coach Barry Alvarez praised the work of his defense, highlighting the play of the veteran defensive line, which features seniors Anttaj Hawthorne, Jason Jefferson and Erasmus James and junior Jonathan Welsh.
“I like the things we are doing. I am not going to diminish that,” head coach Barry Alvarez said. “I think it all starts up front where we get pressure with those four guys. That’s where it all starts when they can pressure them…I have been very impressed with our productivity. They have been very productive, they like playing, they’re enthusiastic and they have a spirit about them. The important thing is they know they can get a lot better…It’s a very good start.”
Fierce Felines: Looking to remain undefeated, the No. 20 Badgers (2-0) will travel to Arizona to take on the unranked Wildcats (1-1) Saturday. This past week, the Wildcats dropped a difficult game to No. 14 Utah 23-6.
Though Arizona was in the game until the last five minutes, the Wildcats’ offense had four turnovers that day, with two of them coming inside their opponent’s 10-yard line. Although Arizona is just 1-17 against ranked opponents in the last four years, the Wildcats have reworked their football program this year, hiring a new coaching staff and a rookie head coach, Mike Stoops. Despite their trouble against ranked opponents, Alvarez isn’t overlooking Arizona.
“It’s (Stoops’) first job, a prestigious university and conference,” Alvarez said. “Their defense is coached very well. They’re sound, they’ll try to put pressure on you and they run to the ball very well…They have a lot of speed on both sides of the ball. Their receivers are talented, their secondary can really run; the defensive line is very active and athletic. More than anything else what jumps out at me is their speed, and they are coached well.”
The heat factor: In addition to the game, the Badgers will have to deal with the added distraction of the intense desert heat of Arizona in the middle of the afternoon.
Originally, the kickoff for the game was scheduled for 10 p.m. CDT. Because of national television coverage, the game will start at 3 p.m. CDT. At 3 p.m. CDT Monday, the temperature in Phoenix was a cool 107 degrees.
Alvarez said not only will his team have the challenge of their first road game, but they must also tackle the intense Arizona heat.
“You have to address (the heat),” Alvarez said. “At one o’clock this past Saturday it was 104. So, we have to address that. We’ll start hydrating today, and we have a plan to deal with (the heat) as best we can. I don’t think there is a player on their team that has played a one o’clock kickoff there. But it would be foolish if you wouldn’t recognize it’s an issue that we have to deal with.”
For this Saturday’s kickoff, the expected weather conditions in Arizona are sunny with highs around 103 degrees.
