Seniors Chris Maragos and O'Brien Schofield are leading an improved Wisconsin defense this season. Both are enjoying career years. Maragos leads the Badgers in interceptions with three, including one to secure the victory over Fresno State. Schofield has racked up 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss while getting national attention for his skills. While the defensive is prone to struggle to stay strong all game, the leadership of Maragos and Schofield is the key to this squad's success.
Wisconsin's defense was near the top of the ""Things-To-Improve"" list over the offseason and heading into game eight, the hard work is paying off.
The improvement is in the numbers. The 2009 squad is giving up less points (24.9), rushing yards (114.6) and total yards (326) per game compared to 2008. And they are performing well enough to be in the top-five defensively in the Big Ten for passing, rushing, turnover margin and total defense. It's also important to note that they have yet to totally collapse like last year's team did against Penn State and Iowa.
Senior safety and captain Chris Maragos said the improvement comes down to the defense taking responsibility for themselves and teammates.
""Guys took it upon themselves and took accountability and I think when guys continue to do that we end up having success. People talk about the defense being accountable to the team but in between that each person needs to be accountable for the defense. I think that's what guys are doing and they're handling their business,"" Maragos said.
It was a shaky start to the season for the Badgers. At times in the Fresno State game it looked like the defense was ready to implode. They allowed 468 yards to the Bulldogs and gave up third down conversions almost at will.
When the conference schedule began, the squad solidified itself a bit, but they still struggled with giving up big plays late in games. Against Michigan State, the Badgers gave up two late-passing touchdowns, letting the Spartans get within a touchdown of the Badgers. On the team's trip to Minnesota the defense almost coughed up the late 24-13 lead.
Ironically, the squad's best performances this season came in Wisconsin's two loses. In Columbus they held Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes to 184 total years and only 10 points (the offense and special teams were responsible for the other 24). Then, against Iowa, they contained the Hawkeyes, allowing only 65 rushing yards and 20 points. Some defenses might be discouraged if they play well but the offense can't pull through the win, but Maragos said the squad just concentrates on progressing each week.
With Purdue coming into Camp Randall, the defense is focused and for the most part healthy. Schofield, who's quietly having a monster year for the Badgers, was thankful for the bye but ready for the team to get back on the field.
""A lot of guys were kind of a little banged up after the first seven games,"" he said. ""It was good for guys to get healthy and really get in some extra rehab in here so we could be full- fledged ready to go for Purdue.""
The Boilermakers provide a challenge defensively for the Badgers, especially because of Purdue's quickness. They have sophomore running back Ralph Bolden, who Schofield said was one of the most athletic backs he's seen, and their quarterback, senior Joey Elliot, is second in the conference in total offense.
""Watching them on film, they're guys that have a lot of speed,"" Maragos said. ""The quarterback has a live arm. He can really throw. It's going to be an edges type of game; they're really going to work the edges. We need to make sure we're assignment- sound and playing aggressive.""
The team will be without freshman linebacker Mike Taylor. He leads the Badgers in tackles but was lost for the season against the Hawkeyes. It's a tough blow, but the defense has replacements ready to step up.
""Mike's a good player,"" Maragos said. ""He's young and Badger fans have all the right reason to be excited about him for the future. We got guys that are going to step up, Blake Sorensen and Chris Borland. They're both playmakers and the loss of [Taylor] is going to hurt but the next man's in.""
This weekend marks the beginning of the final stretch for the Badgers' defense, and Schofield took it upon himself to make sure the team is prepared. He, along with fellow senior Mickey Turner, went to head coach Bret Bielema and asked to give a message to the other seniors.
""The biggest thing was we wanted to relay we're in the middle of the season, this is all we have right here, a 5-2 football team,"" he said. ""It's really important for us to be leaders as a group of seniors and not accept the losing feeling and not allow guys on the team to accept that.""
