Having lost a playmaker in NFL first-round draft pick J.J. Watt, the Badgers figured to see a bit of a drop-off on the defensive line heading into the 2011 campaign. But while it was certainly tough to replace a high-energy, high-impact player like the Houston Texans rookie, it seems that UW has done a good job thus far, going back to the ""bend but don't break"" philosophy that has worked well throughout the Alvarez/Bielema era.
While the stat lines may not be as gaudy with the loss of Watt's production, the line has shifted its focus, concentrating on making it a team effort at putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and shutting down the opposing run game.
""What I think it is is just a change in how we play,"" sophomore defensive tackle Ethan Hemer said. ""We are a year wiser; we're willing to make plays and we've got the experience now where we can make some sacrifices and it's not going to burn us.""
One of the reasons that the adjustment process has been so smooth is the leadership that remains in seniors Patrick Butrym and Louis Nzegwu. In addition to combining for 13 total tackles over the first three weekends, the two veterans have led the transition process from day one, both on and off the field.
""Its critical,"" UW defensive line coach Charlie Partridge said of the senior leadership. ""Those guys need to keep everybody on task, and with everybody getting into the game, those guys need to have the same urgency, the same work habits as those older guys.""
""It's huge,"" Hemer said. ""They're guys that we can really look at and say ‘these are guys that are all about Wisconsin.""
Yet with Watt being the only major departure from the defensive front after last season, perhaps it's more a change in personality than a change in personnel. After all, the Badgers still returned four players with starting experience on the line, not exactly indicative of the ""rebuilding"" process you'd think with the press surrounding Watt's departure.
One of the more pleasant surprises over the early part of the season has been the return of redshirt junior Brendan Kelly.
After redshirting in 2010 due to injury, Kelly has made his mark off the bench this season, posting a career-high six tackles against Oregon State and following that up with a two-tackle, one-pass break-up performance against Northern Illinois. Kelly's nine total tackles led the Badger line through the first three weekends of play.
""That's college football. Who's going to be that next guy; who's going to be the guy that leads your group,"" Partridge said. ""There's a number of guys that we're really happy with who've stepped up their game.""
Still, with the start of Big Ten play less than a week away, the Badgers are looking for someone to step into the playmaker role as Watt so forcefully did during last year's Big Ten title run.
""We want more than [just playing solid],"" Hemer said. ""We're definitely not content with the way we're playing.""
""Four playmakers are better than one,"" junior defensive lineman David Gilbert said. ""If you have four JJ Watt's, that's a whole different ballgame.""
