Q: The defense looks poised to be maybe the best in the conference this season, who are some keys players that need to get it done?
Noah: So Wisconsin Football lost LB Chris Orr a few snaps into the season and LB Jack Cichy during the Iowa game. Both are back and should be healthy to lead the Badger defense and help replace the production of Vince Biegel and TJ Watt who are in the NFL. The Wisconsin base 3-4 defense is built around keeping the LBs clean to make plays. LBs were top 3 in sacks from 2016 and LBs, S, and CBs were the top-12 tacklers on the 2016 Badgers.
Ryan Connelly and Garrett Dooley are also key LBs for Wisconsin and that unit should continue to be the defensive strength. The biggest question mark is in the secondary losing starting S Leo Musso and CB Sojourn Shelton. Penn St lit up that secondary in the Big Ten title game and can’t always rely on the front seven pass rush to mask any deficiencies there.