MADISON – Wisconsin held its 15th practice of fall camp Aug. 23 on the grass practice field north of Camp Randall Stadium.
The Badgers scrimmaged for about two hours under a clear sky and in temperatures that were in the low to mid-60s for most of the session. The practice didn’t feature full tackling, but players were in full uniform and contact reached a thud level.
It was the team’s most physical practice of the week. In response to a run of minor injuries, Badgers coach Luke Fickell toned down that part of the team’s practices, either going for lightly padded or short practices the last three days.
“We had some really good things, and some things we’ve got to get a lot better, but I was kind of curious in the last couple days with us backing off just a hair bit on the physicality,” he said. “I was kind of concerned that maybe we wouldn’t have the leadership we needed to continue to do what we have to do here the last eight days or so before we really get into game week, but I’ve got to give them a hell of a lot of credit. The guys came out today, they competed, they led.”
This was the final practice open to the media. Here are the takeaways and highlights.
RB Darrion Dupree carries load for ground game
While it’s safe to say Abu Sama will be the Badgers No. 1 ball carrier, there is a good shot that junior Darrion Dupree will be No. 2 on the depth chart. In addition to being a little ahead of Nate Palmer and Bryan Jackson as a pass blocker and route runner, Dupree has also been available, stacking reps while other players missed time.
His longest run of the scrimmage was about 12 yards. He caught the ball out of the backfield with ease.
“I threw a lot on Darrion today to say, ‘Hey, can you consistently be the guy that we can look to and get the ball to, and not just bring you in and out, you know, be able to do all three phases, and I think he took some steps today,” Fickell said.
Defense wins the day
When the Badgers scrimmaged toward the end of spring practice, the day was highlighted by numerous big plays from the offense. That wasn’t the case this time.
Big plays were almost nonexistent. So were touchdowns.
Note that a number of key offensive players played little at if all. The list included Sama, Palmer and Jackson, receivers Eugene Hilton and Jaylon Domingeaux and offensive linemen Kevin Heywood and Emerson Mandell.
Solid afternoon for QBs Joseph, Hopkins, Adams
Badgers quarterbacks Colton Joseph, Ryan Hopkins and Deuce Adams ddn’t lead many touchdown drives, but they didn’t turn the ball over and with the exception of one pass from Joseph didn’t come close to having an interception.
That’s good news considering the run of turnovers from Badger signal callers during the previous few days.
The scrimmage offered no more clarity on who has the edge in the battle to be Joseph’s backup. Hopkins and Adams rotated series with the No. 2 offense.
Kicker Gavin Lahm gets plenty of chances, plus other tidbits
Thanks to the inability to finish drives, fifth-year senior kicker Gavin Lahm got plenty of work. He hit four of six attempts, all within 40 yards. His misses came in the 35-to-50-yard range, distances he has cleared easily in camp.
Cornerback Cai Bates broke up a couple of pass and delivered one of the hits of the day when he can up to break up a short throw to fullback Tyler Jansey.
Tyreese Fearbry had a productive day. He recorded a couple of tackles for a loss and was so disruptive on another play that he forced Joseph to turn away from his intended target and dump the ball off to Dupree.
No official stats were kept, but it’s a good bet that receiver Shamar Rigby was the leading receiver.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Darrion Dupree meets the challenge; takeaways from Wisconsin’s scrimmage
Reporting by Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
