WISCONSIN BADGERS

UW notes: Jim Leonhard says youth is a factor in big plays allowed by the defense

Jeff Potrykus
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
BYU players celebrate a touchdown by quarterback Stacy Conner against Wisconsin on Saturday.

MADISON – Four days after Wisconsin’s 24-21 loss to BYU, defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard provided a mini-briefing on the state of his unit.

“Lot of things to clean up,” Leonhard said after practice Wednesday. “And that you expect with a young team. We’ve just got to continue to stress how to play these different situations and the focus and the attention to detail you have to have.

“That starts with me and works down to our players.”

UW (2-1) opens Big Ten play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Iowa (3-0).

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BADGERS PODCAST:Jeff Potrykus breaks down BYU loss, looks ahead to Iowa

The 24 points scored by BYU were the most allowed by UW in a regular-season non-conference game since the 2015 opener. Alabama defeated UW, 35-17, and went on to win the national title and finished 14-1.

UW enters the Big Ten opener third in the league in points allowed (13.7 per game), second in pass defense (145.0 yards per game), third in total defense (275.7 ypg), eighth in rushing defense (130.7 ypg), 10th in third-down defense (36.8% conversion rate) and last in sacks (three). 

Leonhard was asked if he understood why the defense was struggling in certain areas, in part because of having seven new starters. 

“That’s part of it,” Leonhard said. “Youth is never an excuse. We put players on the field because they give us the best chance to win. And we have to prepare them that way. 

“It is not pawning anything off on players. Sometimes you talk execution and execution starts with the coordinator. 

“I’m not saying: ‘We didn’t execute. This guy is wrong.’ It starts with me. We’ve got to prepare them better. We have to get guys to understand situations a little bit better to help themselves out.”

Tyler Johnson healing

With senior outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (ankle) likely out this week, redshirt junior Tyler Johnson appears ready to start against the Hawkeyes. 

Johnson suffered an injury to his left knee against New Mexico in Week 2 and was in for just two plays against BYU.

“It was in the middle of a long drive to give guys a break,” said Johnson, who wore a brace Wednesday. “I could have played more if I needed to but it was a matter of staying healthy for the long run.”

With Van Ginkel knocked out in the opening quarter against BYU and Johnson limited, UW relied on starter Zack Baun and reserves Christian Bell and Noah Burks. 

Baun recorded three tackles. Neither Bell nor Burks recorded a tackle.

“I think I’ll be ready to go and I’m preparing like I’m going to be the guy,” Johnson said.

Van Ginkel has recorded seven tackles, including a sack, in two-plus games. He has three quarterback hurries and has broken up one pass. 

“We know the type of playmaker he is,” Leonhard said. “Obviously, in a big game like this, we want to have him available.

“(But) we’ve got to get a lot of guys ready. This is going to be a physical game and we’ve got to play well on the edges.”