For the past four games, Wisconsin has started a 2-4-5 defense, but against Notre Dame to start the season, the Badgers started a typical 3-4 defense. If Mike Tressel is smart, he may want to opt for that to add another body to the defensive front in an attempt to stop the UCLA running backs.
So, they biggest question facing the Badger defense is: What will they do to try to keep the Bruins from running roughshod over them?
Let’s jump right in and look at Wisconsin’s defensive personnel
Defensive Line
Wisconsin will start a pair of big redshirt seniors at the defensive tackles. Hammond Russell IV is listed at 6’, 4” tall and 320 pounds while Charles Perkins is listed at 6’, 2” and 333. Russell has made ten tackles including 1.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks. He also has a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Perkins has made seven tackles including a TFL and a sack. He has also intercepted one pass.
If the Badgers add a third defensive lineman, look for it to be senior Michael Garner. While Garner is listed as an outside linebacker, he was a starting defensive lineman against Notre Dame. He is also listed on the Wisconsin depth chart as one of the team’s second-string outside linebackers. Garner has made six tackles including a TFL. He also has a quarterback hurry.
Linebackers
Two sophomores will be Wisconsin’s starting inside linebackers. Cooper Catalano leads the Badgers in tackles with 45 while Mason Posa is right behind him with 40 including a TFL. Catalano also has two pass breakups, a quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery. Posa has a hurry along with an interception.
Moving to the outside linebackers, the Badgers will start two redshirt seniors. Sebastian Cheeks is sixth on the team with 15 tackles. He is tied for the team lead in TFLs with 2.5 and he leads them in sacks with 2.5, He also leads the team in quarterback hurries with five and forced fumbles with two. Tyrese Fearbry has ten tackles this season and he’s tied with Cheeks for the team lead in TFLs with 2.5. He also has two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.
If Wisconsin goes to a standard 3-4 defense, expect Cheeks to come out for Gardner and the nickel back to come out for inside linebacker Jon Jon Kamara. Kamara as made four tackles this year and he blocked a kick against Eastern Michigan.
Secondary
Redshirt senior Matt Jung and senior Marvin Burks, Jr. will be the two starting safeties. Jung is third on the team with 32 tackles. He is one of three Badgers with an interception, and he also has two pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. Burks has made 12 tackles and a pass breakup.
The starting corners will be redshirt senior Javan Robinson and sophomore Jai’mier Scott. Robinson is fifth on the team in tackles with 18 including half a TFL. Robinson leads the team in breakups with five, and he has a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble. Scott has made eight tackles and he’s broken up two passes.
Junior Bryce West will be the starting nickel back when the Badgers are in the nickel. West is third on the team with 19 tackles including two TFLs. He also has three pass breakups.
Analysis
UCLA offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy has a secret weapon this week, and it’s UCLA defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler. That’s because Hitschler spent six seasons working under Fickell between Wisconsin and Cincinnati, and he spent three seasons working under Wisconsin defensive coordinator Mike Tressel. So, Hitschler should still be pretty familiar with what the Badgers are doing defensive even though he left Madison after the 2023 season.
That should give UCLA a significant advantage offensively. Though, if Hitschler is using defensive schemes he learned working with Fickel, it could also hurt UCLA defensively.
Ultimately, I don’t think there are many defenses in the country which could stop the Bruin running game. So, while Wisconsin is only allowing an average of 114.6 rushing yards per game and 152.6 passing yards per game, I just don’t see them stopping Wayne Knight and Anthony Woods.
As far as the fact that Ty Dieffenbach will start in place of the injured Nico Iamaleava goes, I don’t think it will make much difference. Let’s be honest here. Nico wasn’t exactly tearing things up before he got hurt like Fernando Mendoza was last year. So, it really is a matter of “Next man up” at QB for the Bruins.
The bottom line is that I fully expect Bob Chesney and the UCLA coaching staff will have the Bruins ready to go tomorrow.
Go Bruins!!!
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Of note is that Wisconsin is loaded with seniors. Expect very few mistakes and penalties. Also their defense will be different as they will stack against the run until TD passes for a couple of TDs.