Wisconsin Football Spring Storylines – A Coach’s Perspective

Wisconsin Badgers spring football is fast approaching so it’s time to take a look at some of the storylines to follow. 

I don’t want to repeat the same 5-6 storylines that everyone else has mentioned so far. So, I’m going to tackle this from a coach’s point of view. From a tactical, fundamental, and personnel perspective, what will I be looking for this spring?

Wisconsin Football Personnel Packages

Wisconsin football has seen a lot of roster turnover, both in and out. This talent shift, plus our returning players’ more experience, will hopefully allow the coaching staff to use different personnel packages. 

Offensively, the Badgers primarily use 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three receivers), but the roster is set up for diversity this year. This shift is due to emerging players like Trech Kekahuna, who can complement the established starters without displacing them entirely. 

The wide receiver unit is seen as promising, with unproven talent ready to contribute. More receivers mean less dependence on the other questionable positions like tight end or running back. The tight end group will have versatility in body types, which could lead to a variety of potential roles. Similarly, the running back room may lack a true lead back.

However with such a large room with a lot of skill diversity there is a lot of potential. We saw a bit of 20 personnel last year so we could see more especially with a couple of the backs having pass catching ability.

Despite the shit to the 3-3 front, Wisconsin football operated predominantly in a 2-4 or 3-4 set. This was in response to the available roster, but the offseason has seen the addition of new linebackers, all with different skill sets. This influx of talent offers the potential for more dynamic defensive schemes, including different fronts and situational rotations. The importance of athleticism in this defense cannot be understated. 

The previous limitations took a while to overcome, but in 2024, we could see a Badgers defense that is more in line with the vision Luke Fickell had for the team from the beginning. 

More Movement

While the Wisconsin football offense used motion and shifts last year, they weren’t a focal point of the offense. This perhaps led to the large amount of man coverage we saw last season. 

By increasing the use of pre-snap movement, Phil Longo can create more dynamic plays. The defensive reaction to dynamics is usually to play off and keep the offense in front of them. Now you have the defense trying to occupy space. This allows the offense to create stress, which is the whole point of the Air Raid offense.

Defensively, the focus needs to be generating pressure. Using strategic movement and emphasizing overwhelming the point of attack rather than relying solely on traditional blitzes. The defensive philosophy, in which you can see some influence from Dave Aranda, prioritizes athleticism and aggressive play. 

Playing less static defensively gives more opportunities to catch the offense off balance. Using movement can create overloads out of seemingly nowhere. The hope of the Wisconsin football coaching staff is that the pressure that was missing due to lack of athleticism can be overcome through the scheme — and can once again become the focal point of the defense.

Updated Fundamentals

The transition to Phil Longo’s style of offense was slow last year. Wisconsin football had a team full of players not used to his unique approach, led by transfer quarterbacks. 

Player fundamentals were not thrown out the window, but Coach Longo has been known to be lenient for the sake of efficiency. In year two, I expect to see a much more Longo-esqe offense. 

Especially starting with the QB room, expect to see even vets like transfer QB Tyler Van Dyke to be in line with the “textbook definition” of the Dairy Raid. In addition, the younger players who spent most of last year developing could see their focus on fundamentals rewarded with a more prominent role. We saw this late in the seasons with guys like Vinny Anthony and Quincy Burroughs, both of whom are in line for significant playing time this year.

Defensively, we will see less of the “best of both worlds” approach. Last season we saw Coach Fickell’s playbook meld Wisconsin’s defensive tradition. Suppose last year was the trial period, where players familiarized themselves with the system. In that case, the upcoming spring should see a stricter adherence to the defensive strategy that led Fickell’s staff to so much success at Cincinnati. 

The influx of talent will lead to the implementation of new footwork and aggressive fundamentals to enhance performance, moving away from the cautious and passive approach seen previously. 

Emerging Young Players 

College football has changed forever. Unlike the traditional approach of redshirting players for several years before easing them starting roles, there’s now a push for early involvement. 

There is a fear of losing players to transfers if they don’t see early opportunities. Looking ahead, there’s an anticipation of seeing many young Badgers players on the field, reflecting this new era built upon online recruiting. Players and fans know the names and the backstories of these kids and expect to see them on the field. 

But if a young player expects to get on the field, the staff needs to see adaptability and immediate impact. That’s how you can come even close to counteracting the changes to the sport. Either the kid shows he’s absolutely ready to play now, and you train him up as if he’s going to have a role, or you push him to the point of proving to himself that he needs time to develop. 

Either way, expect to hear those young names a lot this spring.

The Obvious Wisconsin Football Storylines 

It wouldn’t be a spring storyline preview without mentioning the obvious. What is Van Dyke’s comfort level and rapport with the other Wisconsin football receivers? 

What does the depth chart look like on the offensive line? Could Bryson Green or CJ Williams emerge as a true #1 WR? Do we have a TE on the roster ready to take the next step? 

Defensively, what’s up with the defensive line? How are the transfer linebackers fitting in? Will young DBs like Braedyn Moore or Amare Snowden break into the lineup? There are so many questions, and yet we will get so few answers. 

While spring practices may not reveal much about tactical aspects beyond the generic answers, they provide an opportunity to gauge player development and potential lineup adjustments.

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