The Wisconsin Badgers' 2002 spring football season is finally underway.
With less than two weeks until the April 20 spring football game, the Badgers are practicing hard, looking to improve on last year's sub-par season.
The offense is still the same explosive squad with its nucleus intact, but the defense, on the other hand, has some new faces and is in the rebuilding phase.
After losing a handful of defensive starters to graduation, including lineman Wendell Bryant and linebacker Nick Greisen, Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach Kevin Cosgrove is looking forward to remodeling and re-establishing a force on defense.
Led by junior linebacker Jeff Mack, the Badgers have a new look in the middle of the defense. Coming off a back injury that sidelined him for the last four games of the season, Mack will look to improve on his 34 tackles from last year while he is moved back to his normal middle linebacker position.
Cosgrove highlights the move for Mack as one of the keys to rebuilding the defense.
\By having Mack in the middle now, he can go back to being the productive player we know he can be,"" Cosgrove said. ""His speed and strength up the middle will be a better fit for him.""
The Badgers, although lacking in size at linebacker, are clearly much quicker than in years past.
The spot that Mack vacates is now in the hands of speedy sophomore linebacker Kareem Timbers. The Chicago native is excited to be the outside linebacker for Cosgrove and the Badgers because it allows him to exploit some opposing offenses with his tremendous quickness.
""Moving to outside linebacker is going to be great for me,"" Timbers said. ""It allows me to use my speed and also my strength to fly around the field. This will allow me to blitz more and attack the outside of the offensive line.""
Cosgrove said he likes how the move will affect the defense as a whole.
""Kareem is in a good position now,"" Cosgrove said. ""A man with that speed playing linebacker allows for a very dangerous tackler out on that field.""
One of the major goals that Cosgrove, Mack and Timbers stressed is cutting down on the number of big plays the defense has given up in the past.
The Badgers are coming off a season in which the usually sound and stingy defense was picked apart by both the running and passing games of opposing teams.
""We have gone back to the fundamentals and taking it one step at a time,"" Cosgrove said. ""It is important that we stress the importance of consistency and concentration.""
While consistency is a factor, the players stressed a focus on every play.
""Focusing is the key,"" Mack said. ""We have to focus the whole game, play aggressively and play fundamental defense.""
For the first time in years, the defense lacks a big-name, big-time player. However, do not think that that bothers the players one bit.
""That is what the spring game is for,"" Mack said. ""It's the time for players to step up and make some big plays, have some fun and make a name for themselves. We are not looking for one individual star, but for us to play like a team and everyone step it up. We are going to have to regain that respect on defense.\
