This Saturday the Alabama Crimson Tide will play host to Big Ten foe, the Wisconsin Badgers. Last season, the Tide and the Badgers played in the first game of this home and home series. Alabama won that contest 42-10. This year, Badgers’ graduate senior cornerback Ricardo Hallman says things will be different.
“At the end of the day you take a look at what took place throughout (last year’s) game, and we got completely out-phiscalled,” Hallman says. “Coming into this game that’s the mindset we want to embrace- match the level of physicality that they’re going to show.”
The fifth-year senior then turned his sights to the new look Bama offense.
“Obviously they got a new offensive coordinator, he was with DeBoer at Washington,” Hallman continued. “We know they’re Alabama though, they run an arrogant offense. They line up and say ‘we’re better than you’, and we just have to accept that challenge and embrace it. So we’re excited.”
It felt like the Badger tried to sneak that little “arrogant” insult in there, but reporters caught it. When asked to elaborate on the adjective he had this to say.
“I mean there’s no tricks. There’s no eye-trickery. They just line up ‘we’re going to do what we do and expect to win,’” Hallman concluded. “We’ve got to accept that challenge… I think we are going to live up to that challenge as a defense, I think we’re going to live up to that challenge as a team. So I can’t wait to go out there.”
The Badgers’ will be making the trip all the way down to Tuscaloosa where a noon (or 11 AM) kickoff will set the stage for the out of conference battle.
Kalen DeBoer Reveals Biggest Concern Heading Into Saturday
Last season the Crimson Tide rushed for more than 180 yards on their trip to the Mid West. This time around, they will be facing a much improved run defense. Head coach Kalen DeBoer says this is his biggest concern ahead of tomorrow’s matchup.
“You know you’re going to get a physical team,” DeBoer said of Wisconsin. “A lot of pride in who they are and what their identity is, and that showed up in the first two games.”
“When it comes to run game, very rock solid. Keeping things under wraps, I think its 60 to 70 yards total in rushing over two games. They do what they do and they’re going to do it with great technique in all ways.”
Is Alabama’s Run Game Ready For The Challenge?
DeBoer also acknowledged running back Jam Miller’s health during the presser. He said that the ball carrier is recovering well, but that there is a massive emphasis being put on making sure he is fully healthy before his return. With a bye week on the horizon, it does not appear that the team is interested in rushing back the player who is “chomping at the bit” to get back in.
This leaves the Tide rolling with running backs Kevin Riley, AK Dear, and Richard Young. Riley leads the team with 16 carries for 100 yards. Dear has made the most of his five carries, totaling 76 yards after a massive 56 yard breakaway touchdown. Young has struggled, collecting just 45 yards on 15 attempts.
Either way, the Tide will look to establish the run, but seem happy to attack the Badgers through the air.
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