Anyone who contests that running backs in the UW football program are no more than cogs in a well-oiled machine may want to think twice before accepting such a notion as gospel. While Wisconsin boasts one of the best offensive lines in the country, the Badgers' ground attack arguably hinges entirely on senior running back Anthony Davis' health and production.
Davis' only full game this year was last week's methodical drubbing of Illinois. He appeared briefly in the season opener before coming down with an eye injury, which would eventually keep him out for the better part of four of Wisconsin's first five games.
In the two games Davis has played, the Badgers are averaging 244 rushing yards, while picking up a stellar five yards per rushing attempt. In the three games that Davis missed, the Badgers averaged only 140 yards per game with a mere three yards per carry. Davis himself has 291 yards on the season for an astounding average of 7.3 yards per carry.
In Davis' absence, sophomore Booker Stanley, junior Matt Bernstein and freshman Jamil Walker all tried to fill the void he left, but without No. 28 in the backfield, the ground game just was not as impressive. Now the Badgers-especially the offensive line-are glad he is back, visor and all.
\I think it was obvious he gave us a boost,"" said offensive line coach Jim Hueber. ""Some backs see a little bit easier than others do, and he's the type of the guy that, even with all those yards, he wishes there was something he had seen better.""
Hueber is perhaps the most grateful of all that Davis has made his return to the starting lineup. In spite of being at the helm of one of the most dominating offensive lines in the nation, Coach Hueber credits the play of his star running back with the Badgers' success. Some liken the debate over the importance of a good offensive line versus a running back to the ""chicken and the egg"" debate. When it comes to piling up rushing yards, Hueber is very clear which comes first.
""No matter what you do, you always take your running back first and then you work your ass off to block for him,"" said Hueber. ""Most guys will tell you that if you have a good back then you become a really good blocker-if you have a great back, you have a chance to be a really great blocker.""
One should not be surprised, however, by Hueber's contention that his line feeds off Davis' explosive ability. After all, it may be true. But it also seems that Hueber simply exemplifies the selfless attitude that comes with being an offensive lineman. They are the anonymous titans who wage war on every down and get little or no attention for their services. They line up, dominate, and duck behind their running backs' achievements, evading the glory and accolades while contributing to the team's success as much, if not more, than anyone. But what kinds of running backs make these offensive lineman happy to accept their roles as unsung heroes?
Backs like Davis. ""These kinds of backs run through arms, they get around guys that are only half-blocked, and they make things happen,"" said Hueber. ""So we're very happy Davis is back, and I think he's happy to be back. It's somewhat of a symbiotic relationship.""
Davis will likely begin to put up Heisman numbers while the line will continue to make him better-as he does for them. The line does deserve national acclaim, however. 1,000 yard rushers have been a staple of the program with the exception of last year-and so far in the 2004 campaign, while the yards per carry is less than ideal without Davis, a 5-0 record is hard to argue with. Wisconsin features a ball-control offense, and the offensive linemen who have dominated the line of scrimmage are keeping the defense off the field and rested. For their efforts, they do not go completely unnoticed either.
""The O-line is one of the most physical lines we've probably ever had,"" said Bernstein. ""They are up there and they punish people up front.""
The punishment should continue as their confidence builds with Davis in the backfield, but they are prepared to make adjustments in case the injury bug bites again.
""The offense is set up for [Davis],"" said Hueber. ""What we probably haven't done is changed much to cater to the other guys because we would like them to look at the field the same way he does.""
This mindset is a sound one because it teaches running backs to aspire to have Davis' field vision and overall ability at the position, but Hueber admits that sometimes developing the running backs takes a backseat to immediate production.
Davis or no Davis, when it comes down to it, the line's approach is fundamentally the same.
Said Hueber, ""I tell them to take the same approach every time. I say 'you are the only guys that are going to go out on the field 70 snaps a game and have to hit somebody. You better have your mind right and you better go after it for all 70.'\
