Badgers in 2012: Who will return?

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dinkything

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Looks like the Badgers will lose 5 senior starters on defense heading into next year:

1. DE Nzegwu
2. DT Butrym
3. LB Claxton
4. CB Fenelus
5. FS Henry

And at least 5 senior starters on offense

1. QB Wilson
2. RT Oglesby
3. RG Zeitler
4. WR Toon
5. FB Ewing
TE Byrne (part-time starter)

I noticed on line (and heard of) a few 2012 NFL mock drafts this weekend. Interestingly, 3 Badger juniors are mentioned, which may or may not mean anything at this point.

1. C Konz...projects as a 1st or 2nd rounder
2. LT Wagner...projects as a 3rd rounder
3. RB Montee Ball...just entering the discussion, but I've seen as high as late 1st round http://walterfootball.com/draft2012charlie_1.php

Any chance one or more of the Badger juniors might bolt next spring?
 

I come in peace, just offering my two cents.

QB- Wilson is gone
RB- 95% sure Ball is gone, and he is projected as a top 3 round draft pick
WR- Toon
OL- Ogelsby and Zeilter are gone. I would have said Konz is for sure gone (he's taking 18 credits this semester so that he can graduate early), but he dislocated his ankle during the battle for the axe, so who knows. Wagner will be back, he has a ton to gain by doing so. Losing Ogelsby is addition by subtraction IMO.
TE/FB- Byrne and Ewing graduate. Really going to miss Ewing, he's the #1 FB in the country according to several draft sites.

DL- Losing Nzegwu, not a huge loss by any stretch. Losing Butrym is no big deal. We have a 6 man DT rotation right now, very talented.
LB- Lose Claxton, not a huge loss, we have a ton of depth behind him
CB- Lose Fenelus, huge loss. First team all Big Ten this year IMO. Cromartie and Smith at CB will be very good, however. Both have ton of experience and have been above average.
S- Lose Henry. He's a leader, and we lose more in that sense than we do in terms of actual talent. Shelton Johnson will be replacing him, and he's very experienced, and an upgrade in talent IMO.

Will be interesting. Our offense should take a step back, but our D will be in the top 1/3 of the Big Ten. We return a ton of talent.
 

It doesn't really matter who the Badgers lose, because they always have someone just as good or better behind them. Just ask Ohio Valley Badger, he'll tell you.
 

It was clear talking to my Badger buddies leading up to this game and many Badger fans before and at the game yesterday that they are all disappointed that they didn't live up to their own expectations this year. I'd love to have our program in their shoes, but (rightfully so) they had national title or bust expectations and didn't live up to that. Maybe they won't underachieve next year when they reload.

Again, before every Badger fan goes wild, yes, we would love have half the wins you guys will have this year. That doesn't change the fact you didn't meet your own expectations...2012 will be a new season for all of us and I'm sure both teams are hoping for better results next year.

Go Gophers!!
 

BleedGopher said:
It was clear talking to my Badger buddies leading up to this game and many Badger fans before and at the game yesterday that they are all disappointed that they didn't live up to their own expectations this year. I'd love to have our program in their shoes, but (rightfully so) they had national title or bust expectations and didn't live up to that. Maybe they won't underachieve next year when they reload.

Again, before every Badger fan goes wild, yes, we would love have half the wins you guys will have this year. That doesn't change the fact you didn't meet your own expectations...2012 will be a new season for all of us and I'm sure both teams are hoping for better results next year.

Go Gophers!!
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I don't think any rational Badger fans expect us to be as good next year. Still very disappointed we lost the way we did at MSU and OSU, but we didn't deserve to win either of those games. We still have a great shot at the Rose Bowl, we control our own destiny in that regard, so the season isn't a loss, but we did fall short of our own expectations.

I don't have Rose Bowl expectations for next year, especially if Ball goes to the NFL, and I fully expect him to do just that. We will be a 7-10 win team next year IMO. However, our division will be down next year, which means we could still be the favorites to make the CCG, but we won't be nearly as good overall.

Now that I think about it, the Big Ten is going to be really bad next year. MSU loses Cousins, we lose Wilson and probably ball, OSU and PSU will still have below average offenses, and Nebraska and Michigan will still have Martinez and Robinson at QB, respectively. Can't see any of those teams being great.
 


With the rookie salary thing set up in the NFL now I think more juniors projected rounds 2-5 will go pro. Not nearly as much guaranteed money to gain by coming back and trying to get into the first round.
 

Our offense didn't move the ball very well, but that was due more to our own ineptness then Wisconsin's "talent" on defense. This is not a championship quality defense. But since there are better players waiting behind them, no need to worry I guess. I wonder why, if they are so good, they aren't playing now. If Wisconsin hadn't lucked into Wilson, they might have another loss or two.
 

Rickman55 said:
Our offense didn't move the ball very well, but that was due more to our own ineptness then Wisconsin's "talent" on defense. This is not a championship quality defense. But since there are better players waiting behind them, no need to worry I guess. I wonder why, if they are so good, they aren't playing now. If Wisconsin hadn't lucked into Wilson, they might have another loss or two.
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I think we would have the same record. We have not really beaten any good teams, except Nebraska, and they are not great. I think we would have won that game at home with a different QB. Plain and simple Wislon did not make enough plays against MSU and OSU and our D is not great.
 

Rickman55 Reply

"...Our offense didn't move the ball very well, but that was due more to our own ineptness then Wisconsin's "talent" on defense."

Very well? You didn't move it at all after posting three touchdowns, 415 total yards and 22 first downs at E. Lansing against MSU's so-called vaunted defense. On your own field you had 9 first downs and 156 total yards of offense. Your offense didn't score a single touchdown. Do you realize how truly pathetic that is?

Inept? Yeah. No doubt, but not all of that was self-destruction.

You were out-classed on both sides of the ball. We never broke a sweat.
 




bendbadgersteve said:
"...Our offense didn't move the ball very well, but that was due more to our own ineptness then Wisconsin's "talent" on defense."

Very well? You didn't move it at all after posting three touchdowns, 415 total yards and 22 first downs at E. Lansing against MSU's so-called vaunted defense. On your own field you had 9 first downs and 156 total yards of offense. Your offense didn't score a single touchdown. Do you realize how truly pathetic that is?

Inept? Yeah. No doubt, but not all of that was self-destruction.

You were out-classed on both sides of the ball. We never broke a sweat.
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Talk all you want now but I'll bet that your special teams cost you a game before the end of the season.
 

dpodoll68 said:
It doesn't really matter who the Badgers lose, because they always have someone just as good or better behind them. Just ask Ohio Valley Badger, he'll tell you.
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BadgerinOhioValley is over here talking about replacements mainly in response to the annual posts on this board about the demise of the Badgers. This thread is the start for next year "they got crap and won't be able to replace blah blah.

I responded to a post myself two years ago with the subject line: Badgers a program on the decline.

Don't know how good we'll be next year, but what I know is the Badgers have a lot of green talent, recruiting has been solid, BB is starting to attract higher rated players, and the staff continues to develop players. UW may dip next year but the program doesn't figure to fall off a cliff as the fan base here is hoping.

Right now we're more worried about trying to win a second B1G Ten Championship.
 

nsmike said:
Talk all you want now but I'll bet that your special teams cost you a game before the end of the season.
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Special teams already cost UW a pair of games. Seems to be an annual problem for Bielema-coached teams, with this year probably being the worst.
 



Badger 2010, I felt Wisconsin was the best team in the league this year, with the two Michigan teams close. Losing on two Hail Mary passes mus be bitter, but you can still win the division. Loved your win over Nebraska! We were a little flat yesterday after two big emotional games against Iowa and Michigan State. The Big Ten should wake up and put the Badgers in the West where they belong and shift the Michigan teams to the East, where they belong. Kill wants to do what Alvarez (who was interested in the Minnesota job before he went to Madison) has done. This year doesn't give us a clear indication of whether can he do it, but there are two games left. One of these years we will again be competitive with Wisconsin and some great games will result...
 

does it matter. butt belimic will just go out and recruit some more graduated player from another program to fill some hole. Call it what you want but the story on how there QB got to beckville is recruiting a kid that is on scholarship to another program.
 

dlw4gophers said:
does it matter. butt belimic will just go out and recruit some more graduated player from another program to fill some hole. Call it what you want but the story on how there QB got to beckville is recruiting a kid that is on scholarship to another program.
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Incorrect. Russell Wilson was granted release from NC State and then HE reached out to Wisconsin.
 

Great Plains Gopher said:
Badger 2010, I felt Wisconsin was the best team in the league this year, with the two Michigan teams close. Losing on two Hail Mary passes mus be bitter, but you can still win the division. Loved your win over Nebraska! We were a little flat yesterday after two big emotional games against Iowa and Michigan State. The Big Ten should wake up and put the Badgers in the West where they belong and shift the Michigan teams to the East, where they belong. Kill wants to do what Alvarez (who was interested in the Minnesota job before he went to Madison) has done. This year doesn't give us a clear indication of whether can he do it, but there are two games left. One of these years we will again be competitive with Wisconsin and some great games will result...
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I have no doubt that Kill is capable of turning the program around, but he needs help. As for us moving West, I would love that, but the Big Ten needs to have two of Nebraska, Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State in each division. Don't see any way of moving us over without Michigan coming east and causing an imbalance, which is unfortunate.
 

Didn't Konz dislocate his ankle yesterday? If he did, he won't go pro.

Some may argue with me and I haven't seen all the other top running back prospects eligible to declare for the draft, but I'm hard pressed to see any of them being better than Ball. He's a very good running back.

I don't think the Badger D is all that good. They clearly outplayed us yesterday, but they've been lit up a few times this season. Their LBs are solid, hard-hitting guys, but they aren't going to win many footraces.
 

Our problem yesterday on offense was that our interior line couldn't move their interior line. Add in, Gray and the receivers not clicking, and it became a long afternoon. Next year with maturity and an extra year in the weight room the OL situation will be different. Wisconsin will not have a dynamic QB so the offense will be much more predictable the defense about the same. We will be in the second year of Kill's program so execution will be better I like our chances.
 

dlw4gophers said:
does it matter. butt belimic will just go out and recruit some more graduated player from another program to fill some hole. Call it what you want but the story on how there QB got to beckville is recruiting a kid that is on scholarship to another program.
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It's great that the internet allows someone who knows absolutely nothing about a situation to make damning statements. I'm sure the NCAA is going to come down on Wisconsin when it finds out all the horribly illegal things Bielema did when recruiting Russell Wilson.
 

You Badger trolls are incredible. You are on here complaining about the lack of accuracy on a message board that you are trolling. It's like crashing a party and complaining about the spread.

As to the original post:
-They obviously lose Wilson and he is an amazing QB. He really has made WI's offense go from good to elite. I'm sure they will have a capable replacement because they are a good program, but I can't see him being anywhere near Wilson's level.
-Toon will be gone and Ball will likely be gone. I personally think they will miss Toon more than Ball. Ball is a great player but WI will never be short of talent at RB. Toon is a really good WR.

It depends if Konz is gone or not, but they do a really good job of developing OL. I think there will be a drop off, but i imagine they'll still have a talented/imposing OL.

On defense, they lose a couple good players. I am not that impressed with their defense to be honest. They did shut down our offense, but when we make mistakes...we aren't very good. NDSU really slowed down our offense when we made a lot mistakes.

All in all, i'd say they have about 8 win talent coming back. They will be good, but a noticeable step down from this year.
 

dpodoll68 said:
It doesn't really matter who the Badgers lose, because they always have someone just as good or better behind them. Just ask Ohio Valley Badger, he'll tell you.
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I really get under your skin, don't I dpoll? What you guys don't know about is being a program that reloads. Wisconsin has players they develop. Every team in college football graduates players. Those that develop players continue to be winners. Like Wisconsin. Each year, you guys count up who Wisconsin will lose. Can't replace Owen Daniels. Nobody to take Travis Beckum's production. Will miss Garrett Graham way too much! Lance Kendricks cannot be replaced. Oops....here is Jacob Pederson lining up for All Big Ten at Tight End.

You guys will save yourselves a lot of grief if you just come to grips with the far superiority of the UW program and just plan on them being a good team each season.

But I was impresses with the Gophers. Almost beat the spread. Things clearly heading in the right direction. Three weeks ago, that spread might have been in the 30s.
 

If I'm in my late 50s/early 60s and spend far too much time (any time at all, for that matter) trolling a rival fan board and acting like the accomplishments of the team I cheer for somehow make me a better person...well, just shoot me. I'm dead serious. If I have the time and/or desire to do that, I will be one pathetic individual. Life will no longer be worth living.
 

Let's see how well you reload. With Konz out, I'm betting that either PSU, or MSU, breaks your rental quarter back
 

dpodoll68 said:
If I'm in my late 50s/early 60s and spend far too much time (any time at all, for that matter) trolling a rival fan board and acting like the accomplishments of the team I cheer for somehow make me a better person...well, just shoot me. I'm dead serious. If I have the time and/or desire to do that, I will be one pathetic individual. Life will no longer be worth living.
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Dpoll...how about a deal? I'll shoot you under the circumstances you spelled above if you will shoot me if I ever whine about having the score run up on my team. Deal?
 

nsmike said:
Let's see how well you reload. With Konz out, I'm betting that either PSU, or MSU, breaks your rental quarter back
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Name the bet! Back your mouth up!

By the way....his name is Ryan Groy. He'd be Minnesota's best OL if he chose Minnesota. He's started one game already at guard and has had plenty of reps for two years now in meaningful games. We like Ryan a lot. Perhaps, with three starts to close out this season, we can place 6 lineman on All Big Ten for the second season! Our "reserve" (just for you dpoll) last season, Bill Nagy was HM All Big Ten.
 

We got Wilson twice early, aginst your starters, what's MSU going to do with Gholston back in the line up?
 

Badger_inohiovalley said:
Dpoll...how about a deal? I'll shoot you under the circumstances you spelled above if you will shoot me if I ever whine about having the score run up on my team. Deal?
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A. By the time I reach that age, you'll be long dead, so by all means, I give you permission to come back and shoot me from beyond the grave.

B. I've never once whined about having the score run up on my team, so I'm not sure what the hell you're talking about.

Badger_inohiovalley said:
Ryan Groy. He'd be Minnesota's best OL if he chose Minnesota.
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Yeah, ok. Whatever you say, guy.
 

nsmike said:
We got Wilson twice early, aginst your starters, what's MSU going to do with Gholston back in the line up?
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I was impressed with the two sacks. The Gophers defense gained a lot of momentum from those plays. They even managed to force an incomplete pass in the third quarter.
 

Dpoll....I am much younger than you guess. We are going to be pals for the next 40 or 50 years!

Why do you set yourself up for looking silly over Ryan Groy? This is Wisconsin. The OL is about 9 deep.
 

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