Joe Rudolph talks Wisconsin offense’s progress in camp – Bucky’s 5th Quarter

MADISONOn Saturday, Wisconsin offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Joe Rudolph met with reporters after the Badgers sixth practice of fall camp.

For nearly 10 minutes, he answered questions ranging from the combination of offensive linemen that could start for Wisconsin beginning on Sept. 1 against Utah State to the other skill positions including wide receiver and his starting quarterback.

On redshirt junior Michael Deiter transitioning to left tackle and where he is in terms of getting comfortable: I think hes making some great strides. I really do. Hes smart, there are some things thatll pop out. Itll be something he hasnt quite done yettheres this pressure against that run, that pass, but hes really making strides. I think he could be a difference-maker and make a bigger impact at that spot so we gotta see, we gotta see how it figures out, but right now hes doing a good job.

If he has to get a different combination on the offensive line, how far do they go into camp and how much time do they give themselves? As we work through, hell be getting reps at center, and hell be getting reps at left tackle. And really, I do feel like reps at left tackle, especially versus our defense with the variations, wont really bother him if he had to do both. But im trying to keep him as much as he can. I know hes got a solid base playing center but hell get more of those as the camp progresses.

On wide receivers and, outside of Jazz Peavy, having players that may be inexperienced: Ive liked it. Inexperienced, but guys that have played. Like A.J. [Taylor] played last year, and Quintez [Cephus] has played and George [Rushing] is a senior. Im excited about those guys, and I think its a little bit different approach when you have played.

Now, KP [redshirt freshman wide receiver Kendric Pryor] hasnt, but man, I see him growing from what he did in the spring, so I like what that group is doing and what theyre showing. I think I like that theyre playing fast. You can tell theres an understanding across the board, so hopefully that continues.

On Wisconsins tackles and if theres one who can play as a swing tackle: I kind of see how it goes. I think right now, someone who could be a swing could be David Edwards. I think then you have good communication left and right. You got [right guard] Beau [Benzschawel] on one side, you got him there, and then you would have David on the left. Same way if you have [redshirt junior guard] Micah [Kapoi] in there. You have communicationguys that have been through it and can talk.

On Tyler Biadasz and where hes at with communication: Hes owned it, and I dont think theres a guy in the room though that wouldnt say hes owned it by the way hes approached it and what hes done to this point. Hes got to keep fighting but hes doing a good job.

On the growth of Beau Benzschawel over the course of the offseason: Hes doing a good job. Hes trying to change some things up a little bit and play a little bit more aggressive, and hes getting there. Hes utilizing the technique. Hes playing smarter. You figure someone going into their junior year now showing that things on the field. I like the camp hes had so far. Hes still got to make some steps, but hes had a good camp.

On moving Benzschawel from tackle to guard as a redshirt freshman, and if it was a better fit for him long-term: I do think it was. It was a better fit for us at the time, and sometimes youre in a spot and youre trying to get it balanced and figured out, and sometimes it just starts playing mind games with you. So Jacob Maxwell did a great job on jumping in and filling that role, and we moved Beau over and he kind of found a home. You saw a different player, a different confidence, and Ive liked that about him. But the thing I love is hes taking steps, hes getting better. Sos Micah, sos Jon Dietzen. Were going to need all of those guys.

Any surprises in the first week, and what needs to still get done in the next two/three weeks? I dont know if anythings surprised me to this point. I would say what needs to get done would be just solidifying the depth. Kind of some of the things you were alluded to, who will be the back-up center? Whos going to win that job? How are we going to adjust if we need to? The third tackle, the third guard. We know we got three guards that have played extensively. I feel confident with those guys that well find two game in and game out thatll find fight to get it done. I think thats the fun part of camp, so we got that ahead.

On redshirt sophomore tight end Kyle Penniston and if he should be better this year than last year and in what ways: I hope so, because hes done a good job. Penny can play. My big thing for him is he doesnt have to surprise us anymore. I believe he can do it every play regardless of assignment. He doesnt have to worry about a pass or a run, I think hes a heck of a football player. His growth has to be from no more surprising us if we can just lean on him and count him to get it done every time. And he can do it, so Im excited for him.

On Penniston becoming a two-way tight end (both pass catcher and blocker): Hes got to be both. I think thats the best part of playing tight end. You got to be both. He has the potential to be there, and I believe hell be there by the end of camp. Hes still got to keep taking some steps.

Happy with the scholarship numbers on the offensive line? Lacking anywhere? I think we have a good group that were working with in the two-deep. Overall, youre always trying to balance things out but I think this group of guys in the two-deepthere are three redshirt freshmen in therebut I still think its the most solid two-deep that weve had, so I feel good about that.

On going up against the defense and how it improves the offense: I think our D does an amazing job coaching-wise, player-wise, the experience they have, the detail they bring to their play, I think it really makes you play with an awareness. You cant relax for one second, whether its seeing something before the snap, being able to adjust, make calls. They really help, I think, expand the knowledge base of your o-line, and thats a good thing for us. So its always a challenge. Its fun.

What have you liked about what Alex Hornibrook has done over the past couple of practices? I think for Alex, like, the install, what weve done is because we havent had a lot of padded practices weve really had a lot of volume in the install. And so as he is able to allow that to kind of settle in, I think its pretty great. I can imagine what is on him now compared to what weve tried to do in the past. And then I expect him just to keep playing faster and faster, but his confidence in the huddle, his understanding, his leadership, his command of things, I couldnt be more excited about what I see there.

Have you found your best five guys on the offensive line? I like this five. I think what we talked about is really working hard to try to find, try to make sure we have things in place for how we back those up. Guys have a chancelike theres a back-up center position that Id love someone to step in and just own. Id love to not have to move back Michael from left tackle back to center. Theres a chance like, theres a competition at guard. I have three guards with a lot of experience that are all playing and wanting to see that competition develop. I want to see one of the young tackles fight, to push, to create that competition. Right now, these five have been the best, and thats why its been represented that way, but youll see a little bit more rotation this week.

About David Moorman and Cole Van Lanens progression: I like it. I think theres threeI think theres [Patrick] Kasl, I think theres Moorman, and I think theres Van Lanen. Right now, Ive really been using more Moorman as kind of the swing [tackle] and the other two keeping them in place so they can keep developing.

I think Cole has taken a step fromI thought the spring game was his best practice of the spring. I think hes continued to take steps from there, barring I haven't seen todays practice, but what I saw I thought was better. Patrick, the same, hes getting back to his form. David is competing, so I think we got to find who that third guy is and feel confident with him, and I think it hasnt been answered quite yet.

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Joe Rudolph talks Wisconsin offense's progress in camp - Bucky's 5th Quarter