Dre_7
01-02-2007, 07:01 PM
Defense delivers when it matters
JESSE OSBORNE 608-252-6176
[email protected]
Monday, January 1, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. - Nobody on the University of Wisconsin defense was fazed by the unfavorable field position, according to DeAndre Levy. In fact, the sophomore linebacker said, the Badgers were encouraged by it.
"I think myself, as well as a lot of other guys on the defense, look at it as an opportunity," Levy said. "We like to have the game in our hands, have it up to us, put the pressure on our shoulders so we can come out and respond."
And the Badgers, who were holding a 10-point lead at the time, did.
UW didn't surrender any points during Arkansas' first three possessions of the second half, a big reason why it claimed a 17-14 victory over the Razorbacks in Monday's Capital One Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium.
"We won the field-position battle in the third quarter," said Arkansas coach Houston Nutt, whose team started at its 47-yard line, the UW 33 and its own 37 to open the second half. "That is where we usually make points, and that is what is frustrating."
UW senior linebacker Mark Zalewski said the Badgers' goal was to force a three-and-out or a turnover on each of those possessions. The Badgers went 2-for-3.
Arkansas, which ran six plays before punting on its first second-half possession, lost yardage on consecutive running plays to start its second possession. A pass breakup by UW cornerback Allen Langford on third down forced a punt. And on the fifth play of the Razorbacks' third second-half possession, Levy stepped in front of Ben Cleveland to intercept a Mitch Mustain pass.
"Just determination and learning from our mistakes," Levy said of the stands. "That was the situation during the Michigan game (a 27-13 loss) and we weren't able to overcome it in the Michigan game. That's the point we wanted to make in this game, not letting it beat us a second time."
The Razorbacks did finally break through when Felix Jones scored on a 12-yard run in the first minute of the fourth quarter, capping their fourth drive of the half.
Arkansas, though, would get no more.
On the Razorbacks' possession following the touchdown, senior defensive back Zach Hampton, who was playing in place of an injured Roderick Rogers, stopped Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden for a 1-yard gain on a double reverse that had the potential to go longer, and Ben Strickland and Mike Newkirk combined to take down Jones on a screen pass on a third down later in the drive to force a punt.
With about 5 minutes to play, sophomore defensive tackle Jason Chapman effectively ended the Razorbacks' next drive, sacking Casey Dick for a 12-yard loss on a second-and-9 from the Arkansas 41. Hampton made it official on the Razorbacks' final possession of the game, batting down Dick's throw as time expired.
"It was just everybody stepping up and saying if they don't score, they don't win," Hampton said. "They got that one (touchdown) there, but we just put it on ourselves not to let them get in range to score. If that didn't happen, then they couldn't win the game."
JESSE OSBORNE 608-252-6176
[email protected]
Monday, January 1, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. - Nobody on the University of Wisconsin defense was fazed by the unfavorable field position, according to DeAndre Levy. In fact, the sophomore linebacker said, the Badgers were encouraged by it.
"I think myself, as well as a lot of other guys on the defense, look at it as an opportunity," Levy said. "We like to have the game in our hands, have it up to us, put the pressure on our shoulders so we can come out and respond."
And the Badgers, who were holding a 10-point lead at the time, did.
UW didn't surrender any points during Arkansas' first three possessions of the second half, a big reason why it claimed a 17-14 victory over the Razorbacks in Monday's Capital One Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium.
"We won the field-position battle in the third quarter," said Arkansas coach Houston Nutt, whose team started at its 47-yard line, the UW 33 and its own 37 to open the second half. "That is where we usually make points, and that is what is frustrating."
UW senior linebacker Mark Zalewski said the Badgers' goal was to force a three-and-out or a turnover on each of those possessions. The Badgers went 2-for-3.
Arkansas, which ran six plays before punting on its first second-half possession, lost yardage on consecutive running plays to start its second possession. A pass breakup by UW cornerback Allen Langford on third down forced a punt. And on the fifth play of the Razorbacks' third second-half possession, Levy stepped in front of Ben Cleveland to intercept a Mitch Mustain pass.
"Just determination and learning from our mistakes," Levy said of the stands. "That was the situation during the Michigan game (a 27-13 loss) and we weren't able to overcome it in the Michigan game. That's the point we wanted to make in this game, not letting it beat us a second time."
The Razorbacks did finally break through when Felix Jones scored on a 12-yard run in the first minute of the fourth quarter, capping their fourth drive of the half.
Arkansas, though, would get no more.
On the Razorbacks' possession following the touchdown, senior defensive back Zach Hampton, who was playing in place of an injured Roderick Rogers, stopped Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden for a 1-yard gain on a double reverse that had the potential to go longer, and Ben Strickland and Mike Newkirk combined to take down Jones on a screen pass on a third down later in the drive to force a punt.
With about 5 minutes to play, sophomore defensive tackle Jason Chapman effectively ended the Razorbacks' next drive, sacking Casey Dick for a 12-yard loss on a second-and-9 from the Arkansas 41. Hampton made it official on the Razorbacks' final possession of the game, batting down Dick's throw as time expired.
"It was just everybody stepping up and saying if they don't score, they don't win," Hampton said. "They got that one (touchdown) there, but we just put it on ourselves not to let them get in range to score. If that didn't happen, then they couldn't win the game."