Wisconsin

Wisconsin preseason camp: 5 observations from a 75-plus-play scrimmage

Published

2 hours ago

August 4, 2024

Wisconsin preseason camp: 5 observations from a 75-plus-play scrimmage

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — When Luke Fickell reflected on preparing Wisconsin’s football team for last season, one of his regrets was that he and the coaching staff didn’t do enough scrimmage and live tackling situations during practices. He set out to rectify that this preseason to better understand how players would react and who he could trust in Year 2. So when the Badgers donned full pads for the first time Saturday morning at UW-Platteville, the team spent more than an hour working through what Fickell said was a 75-plus-play scrimmage.

Here are five observations from an entertaining and informative session.

1. Five days into preseason practices, Tyler Van Dyke and Braedyn Locke are still competing for the starting quarterback job. Fickell said after practice that he would go through “at least the next few days” before making further evaluations but that he would like “to get something into play sooner rather than later” for offensive continuity. The goal Saturday was to ensure both players earned equal reps.

During the scrimmage sequence, Van Dyke handled six drives with the first- and second-team offenses and Locke handled five. Mabrey Mettauer earned three drives with the third-team offense. Van Dyke and Locke led two touchdown drives apiece, though all those series began at the defense’s 25-yard line.

Locke began the scrimmage with the first-team offense and went three-and-out, though he put a good ball on receiver Bryson Green that he dropped with cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean in coverage. Van Dyke’s first series with the second-team offense also ended in a three-and-out when redshirt freshman cornerback Jace Arnold delivered a nice tackle on tailback Cade Yacamelli on a swing pass.

Locke’s biggest mistake came after he helped lead the second-team offense down the field and into the red zone. With the offense at the 11-yard line, he targeted receiver Haakon Anderson in the front-right corner of the end zone but didn’t see redshirt freshman cornerback Amare Snowden standing in front of Anderson. Locke’s pass went right to Snowden for an interception.

Once the drives began at the 25-yard line, Locke had more success. He took a sack on first down when defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. tagged him after what appeared to be a poor read in the RPO game. But on third-and-18, Locke stepped up and completed a pass to receiver C.J. Williams for 15 yards, which set up a fourth-and-3 run that running back Tawee Walker converted. Walker finished the drive on the next play with an 8-yard touchdown run.

Locke’s final drive with the first-team offense also resulted in a touchdown. He completed a 22-yard pass to running back Jackson Acker down to the 3. Two plays later, he tossed a 3-yard touchdown to receiver Trech Kekahuna.

Van Dyke, like Locke, had moments he likely wanted back. On third-and-6 from the defense’s 10-yard line, he missed running back Darrion Dupree open in the left flat and instead threw incomplete over the middle to Vinny Anthony with safety Preston Zachman in coverage. Then, on fourth down, defensive lineman Elijah Hills batted down Van Dyke’s pass in the backfield for a turnover on downs.

But Van Dyke responded with a pair of touchdowns on his final two drives. He sold a play fake to Dupree well and completed a 14-yard pass to receiver Tyrell Henry. On third-and-goal from the 6, he found Henry again across the middle for a touchdown.

Wisconsin’s third-team offense also scored a touchdown. Freshman running back Gideon Ituka ran around the left side for a 23-yard gain, and Mettauer completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end Rob Booker II.

Fickell waved off penalties that officials called on the offense three times to help the unit gain momentum. Van Dyke completed a 13-yard pass on third down to Kekahuna at midfield, and Fickell waved off an illegal procedure penalty. That drive ended with kicker Nathanial Vakos making a 38-yard field goal.

2. Could Walker, an Oklahoma transfer, contend for the starting running back spot? Based on how he has performed thus far, it certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility. With projected starter Chez Mellusi held out of contact drills Saturday, Walker was the first running back up with the top group and looked like a man on a mission.

During one drive with Van Dyke at quarterback, Walker produced consecutive 9-yard runs, first pushing the pile forward up the middle and then rushing around the left side and knocking a couple of would-be tacklers backward. His best sequence came a series later with Locke at the helm of the first-team offense.

On a fourth-and-3 from the defense’s 18-yard line, Walker unloaded on a defender right at the first-down marker and kept going for a 10-yard run. Then, on first-and-goal from the 8, he slipped past diving safety Austin Brown, shed a tackle attempt from inside linebacker Tackett Curtis and dragged safety Hunter Wohler across the goal line for a touchdown.

Tawee “The Tank” Walker.@RMBwee pic.twitter.com/kZe7PdOkuO
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) August 3, 2024

Walker has consistently stood out since spring practices for his power and burst in a 5-foot-9, 218-pound package. But his talent was even more evident when defenders attempted to wrap him up. Mellusi, who has sustained injuries in each of the past three seasons, figures to form a one-two tandem in some capacity with Walker. But the Badgers landed a big addition in Walker, who has one year of eligibility remaining.

3. The other running back standout Saturday was a player who hasn’t garnered many headlines at the position this offseason: Acker. Without Mellusi, Acker earned first-team reps and took advantage of them. He showed great blocking ability by picking up outside linebacker Leon Lowery on a blitz. He later ran up the middle, gained 9 yards and subsequently lowered his pads to hit the hole for a short first down.

Acker helped lead the first-team offense to a touchdown during a three-play sequence with Van Dyke. Wisconsin began the series at the defense’s 25-yard line. Acker caught a pass over the middle for 9 yards, broke through multiple defenders on the ground for a 15-yard run down to the 1, then scored on a touchdown up the middle. Wisconsin was flagged for holding, but Fickell waved off the penalty. Acker later caught a 22-yard pass over the middle from Locke down to the 3-yard line on a third-and-10 from the defense’s 25.

Fickell said it remains to be seen what Acker’s role could be this season. He has the potential to serve in a de facto fullback role as the lead blocker for another tailback. He also has solid running and pass-catching abilities. But with as much talent as Wisconsin appears to possess at running back, particularly with Dupree and Dilin Jones, the staff has a lot to determine.

4. Running backs coach Devon Spalding has begun to give Dupree and Jones more looks with the second-team offense, ahead of Ituka, who has worked with the third-team offense. Dupree earned three consecutive carries during a sequence with the second-team unit and Locke at quarterback. He turned nothing into something on another series with Locke when he made a spin move at the line of scrimmage for 4 yards. Jones had a couple of good runs as well, including a 12-yarder around the left side.

5. Kicker Nathanial Vakos had an uneven day. During a pre-scrimmage session, he made 2 of 4 attempts, misfiring from 37 and 42 yards before drilling a 48-yarder. Portland State transfer Gianni Smith took the second reps and made 1 of 2 attempts. Vakos made a 38-yarder during the scrimmage, Smith connected from 28 yards and Gavin Lahm made one from 33 yards.

(Photo of Tawee Walker courtesy of Wisconsin Athletics)

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Wisconsin

Southeast Wisconsin weather: Very warm Sunday, then cooling off into Monday

Published

10 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Southeast Wisconsin weather: Very warm Sunday, then cooling off into Monday

Saturday evening will be beautiful across Southeast Wisconsin with temperatures in the 70s and mainly clear skies. Overnight clouds will increase, and lows will remain around 70 degrees.

Sunday will be a very warm day with highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s. Dew points remain elevated, in the mid to upper 60s. Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy through the day. A few spotty showers are possible early, with an isolated pop-up shower or thundershower possible in the afternoon. But overall, Sunday looks largely dry.

By late Sunday night into early Monday, storms will develop over Southeast Wisconsin. Waves of rain and storms are likely through Monday, Monday night, into Tuesday morning. Anywhere from 1-2″ of rain is likely for much of the area.

Once these showers and storms clear, cooler and drier air filters into Wisconsin. Cooler and comfortable conditions are expected for the remainder of the week.

TONIGHT: Increasing CloudsLow: 70
Wind: Var 5 mph

SUNDAY: Slight Chance AM Shower; Partly Sunny & Warm; Slight Chance PM Storms
High: 90
Wind: SW 5-10 mph

MONDAY: Rain/Storms Likely; Mostly Cloudy
High: 78

TUESDAY: Rain Early; Mostly Cloudy, Breezy
High: 71

WEDNESDAY: Partly Sunny; Cooler & less Humid
High: 77

THURSDAY: Mostly Cloudy
High: 76

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Wisconsin

Watch the Wisconsin Valley Fair Animal Auction here Saturday at 11 a.m.

Published

17 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Watch the Wisconsin Valley Fair Animal Auction here Saturday at 11 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) – The 156th Annual Wisconsin Valley Fair continues for the weekend, with the Market Animal Show and Sale beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 3, 2024.

Watch the livestream of the show Market Animal Show & Sale

NewsChannel 7 is a proud sponsor of this year’s Wisconsin Valley Fair!

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Wisconsin

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlights Great Lakes ports in Wisconsin trip

Published

1 day ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlights Great Lakes ports in Wisconsin trip

MANITOWOC – In the port cities that line Wisconsin’s eastern coast, access to Lake Michigan supports a broad swath of industries including cargo transportation, heavy machinery manufacturing, agricultural exports and the malt supply for some of Wisconsin’s iconic craft brewing operations.

In a recent visit to three of those ports, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was traveling in his official capacity, despite reports indicating he is likely in consideration as a potential running mate for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris is expected to meet this weekend with several candidates as she takes the helm of the Democratic presidential ticket, following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race late last month.

While Buttigieg — a former mayor of South Bend, Ind., and 2020 presidential candidate — adhered to the constraints of traveling as a representative of the federal government rather than a campaign, his message was clear: the investments he was highlighting exist in the context of an administration that enacted the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, $17 billion of which was directed to ports and waterways.

“The last administration (under Republican former President Donald Trump) talked a good game about infrastructure but failed to get a package through,” Buttigieg told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel during a Tuesday stop at Briess Malt & Ingredients Co. “This is different. This is a season of infrastructure, not just a so-called Infrastructure Week, which was getting to be a bit of a joke in Washington in the last administration. This is an infrastructure decade, and we’re in the middle of it.”

The $1.2 trillion package, which Biden signed into law in 2021, addresses nearly every facet of American infrastructure, including public transportation, roads, bridges, ports, railways, power grids, broadband internet, as well as water and sewage systems. It marked the largest investment in the country’s infrastructure in decades and, Buttigieg said, will make streets safer, improve the climate and save lives.

“Everything about this excites me. And it’s just so powerful to look at the difference between talking and doing,” he said.

Buttigieg had made his way down to Manitowoc from Menominee, Mich., and visited Milwaukee the following day.

The Menominee Harbor port received $21 million in federal funding in June to reconstruct deteriorating port infrastructure and boost rail capacity.

In Manitowoc, Buttigieg toured Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, which processes more than 100,000 tons of steel each year, enabling the production of a variety of components and machinery including large cranes used by the U.S. Navy, mining equipment and wind turbines.

He then visited Briess, a family-owned business of more than 100 years that produces malts, or malted barley, used by breweries including New Glarus, Central Waters, Great Dane and Milwaukee Brewing Company.

“Our real goal here is to look at another side of America’s supply chains. Container shipping at the coast is important, but that’s only part of the story. Another very important part of the story is our Great Lakes ports, and the economy that connects into them,” Buttigieg said.

In the Marinette, Wisconsin and Menominee, Michigan area, Buttigieg said, he saw how much the port has grown and noted the influence of the wind industry and pulp movement on the supply chain and the creation of good-paying jobs.

“Here (in Manitowoc), we saw these enormous, colossal cranes that are such an important part of America’s defense system, and the range of products from that, to the barley that we’re looking at as part of this malting process, that they’re all only possible because of goods movement,” he told the Journal Sentinel. “And that’s why we’re investing in the ports as well as the railroad improvements, the roads and bridges and highways and everything else. That’s part of the Biden-Harris infrastructure package.”

Asked what, as transportation secretary, he would like to see from Congress to further support infrastructure funding, Buttigieg noted the government is “smack in the middle of the life of this five year bill, (so) we’re already starting to talk about what will happen in 2026.”

“We need sustained support for meaningful infrastructure investments,” he said. “Some of these, including the port infrastructure development programs, are funded with year-to-year appropriations. So it’s not just the Biden-Harris infrastructure package; we need support every single year to keep these programs going, to make investments like the ones we’re making in Wisconsin.”

Buttigieg said it’s also important for lawmakers to stay engaged with the federal government to ensure local projects are receiving the support they need.

“This is something that we talk to (Wisconsin Democratic Sen.) Tammy Baldwin a lot about,” he said. “She was there for us when we were trying to get the (infrastructure) bill passed. She’s also very focused on things like ‘made in America’ and project delivery that are going to help make sure the projects are successful.”

As Harris and Trump face off for the presidency, Baldwin faces a challenge from Republican businessman Eric Hovde as she seeks a third Senate term.

In a call with reporters ahead of his Wisconsin visits, state Republican officials called Buttigieg’s events a “taxpayer-funded trip for the secretary to come out and audition for vice president.”

“What he’s not going to do is talk to voters, show up at a grocery store checkout counter and understand the frustration that people have with the Biden-Harris administration,” U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil said.

Asked about federal grants for infrastructure that Buttigieg is highlighting in Wisconsin, Steil said “logical investments in our state infrastructure is a positive thing.”

“(The) concern that all of us have with the Biden-Harris administration is the overall amount of reckless spending,” he said. “When you see the secretary come in, he’s going to cherry-pick key investments. What he’s not going to do is highlight the number of flawed investments that his administration is trying to shove through, in particular electric vehicle charging stations, the inability of the FAA to operate efficiently.”

Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming referred to Buttigieg’s visit as “the Democrat vice presidential Olympics” making an appearance in Wisconsin.

Asked what kind of role he’d like to hold in a potential Harris administration, Buttigieg said, “All I’ll say is I’m proud to be doing the work that I’m doing.”

Buttigieg said he’s honored the Biden-Harris administration trusted him with the opportunity “because there’s never been a more dynamic or exciting time to be the Secretary of Transportation.”

Hope Karnopp of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed.

Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com.

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