The defensive line in 2012 showed just how talented and deep of a unit it could be thanks to nagging injuries to just about every one of the starters on the line. Brendan Kelly was supposed to be gone, however he received an extra year of eligibility due to his injury history and will be back with the Badgers in 2013 and that makes this unit even better.
In fact all 4 starters along the line from a year ago are back and looking to stay healthy this time around.
Wisconsin's defensive look this season will have a lot to do with what this unit is capable of and right now that's one of about three big unknowns for this team to say the least.
So, let's not beat around the bush, let's break down what to expect form this unit in 2013!
Lost, but not forgotten: None
Starter(s) Still Here: David Gilbert (DE), Beau Allen (DT), Ethan Hemer (DT), Brendan Kelly (DE)
New Faces this Spring: None
Battles to be Had: DE and NT
Sure, it's going to sound like a broken record but change is the name of the game one way or another all over the defense for Wisconsin despite the fact that 6 starters return and all 4 on the D-Line specifically. How Wisconsin chooses to use it's D-Line and if they go full bore 3-4 or hybrid is largely dependent on if they see the fact that they have the talent and ability to play one or the other.
That said the biggest and most intriguing battle could be if they go full bore with the 3-4 as that likely means both Beau Allen and Ethan Hemer play along with Brendan Kelly. Now who occupies the Nose Tackle role? Our bet would be on Allen as he screams plugger & last season he was very disruptive up the middle, which is what you want out of a Nose Tackle. Hemer could move to a weakside end and allow Kelly to keep his role as he's big enough to do so. That means David Gilbert's role as a true defensive end could be at an end and that may not be the worst thing for a guy that could just concentrate on pass rushing and containment as a stand up linebacker instead.
However, if they stay more 4-3 this season and sprinkle in some 3-4 principles things will back to normal for UW and realistically there won't be a lot of battles to be had.
The depth of this unit is simply amazing as productive players like Warren Herring, Pat Muldoon, Konrad Zagzebski, and Tyler Dippel will be fighting for playing time along the line.
Player to Watch: James Adeyanju, DE
Adeyanju could well be in the mold of someone like David Gilbert, he's 6'3" and 240lbs and enters just his sophomore season. At his height and weight he could be one of the players that may end up being a candidate to play a role as a stand up end or OLB on passing downs as a transition begins for the defense.
Now, he doesn't have the most experience out there, playing in just three games last season, but he was the 2011 defensive scout team player and coaches in the past have raved about his athletic ability. I don't know about you, but that smacks of someone that could move and transition outside in a pass rushing role to say the least. So, we'll be watching his progress with a keen eye in spring ball.
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