During the offseason, and especially during camp, the Wisconsin football staff focused on improving specific aspects of their game.
Wisconsin finished last season with a record of 7-6, including a loss in the playoff game to LSU Tigers and currently starting as a point guard Garrett NussmeierThe Wisconsin staff was vocal about how they fell tiny of expectations all of last season, and now the staff is eager to make some grave changes. One specific change the staff wants the defense to make is to “reverse the momentum” after allowing massive plays.
Wisconsin Badgers football team looks to sturdy, confident defense for 2024 season
One area the Wisconsin football staff focused on during offseason camp was defense heading into next season. Wisconsin put on an impressive defense last season, but it also had its moments and struggles in certain areas. Wisconsin Football Head Coach Lukasz Fickell stated at the beginning of camp that he believed the team could improve in “all three phases of football.”
Defensively, Wisconsin has focused on putting pressure on the quarterback and making sure the pocket doesn’t stay clear like it did last season. The Badgers have focused on the defensive end of the game in the first week of practice.
How can the Wisconsin football team improve its defense?
One of the key things that Coach Fickell mentioned during his media availability is that the defense needs to focus on shifting the momentum “back.” However, Fickell never said exactly how he expects the defense to accomplish that task. The coach stated, “We’re going to defend on this one and find ways to shift the momentum back.”
Perhaps one way Wisconsin’s defense can improve its performance in animated situations is third pass conversion rate. The Badgers allowed 39.25% third-down conversions last season, which isn’t bad, but it’s an area where the team can gain momentum. Limiting third-down conversions to long yards, in particular, could be an area of focus for Wisconsin, as they allowed a number of conversions that were ten or more yards away.
Another area where Wisconsin could improve to allow the defense to change the animated in their favor is attacking the quarterback. Wisconsin sacked the opposing quarterback 23 times last season, but allowed their own quarterback to be sacked 29 times. The sack rate for the Wisconsin football defense was extremely low and allowed for grave momentum and morale derailments.
What does Coach Fickell expect from the defense in terms of dynamics?
Coach Fickell meant, and dispelled, in his response that Wisconsin football’s defense needs to be resilient this season. Fickell noted that the team as a whole struggled on the field last season, but in particular, he found that the defense struggled to rebound. Perhaps it’s a combination of the lack of pressure last season or the individual who was on the field.
Regardless, Fickell stated that the staff is committed to working with the defense to find ways to limit the momentum the offense gains. Fickell stated, “I think it was obvious when you saw the momentum shift in favor of the offense today.” The coach also emphasized the importance of shifting momentum back in favor of the defense, stating, “That’s what we didn’t do to end practice today.”
Fickell also emphasized that these live practice situations allow the coaching staff to really see how the dynamics can impact the game. The staff plans to work closely with the defense over the next few practices to implement different mental and physical plans.
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