Gary Anderson’s first training camp as the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers starts this afternoon in Madison.
AUDIO: Gary Anderson is ready to go :10
Anderson’s first order of business will be to find his starting quarterback.
Curt Phillips
Incumbents Joel Stave and Curt Phillips are battling with junior college transfer Tanner McEvoy for the job. Stave and Phillips participated in spring practice and should have a slight edge on McEvoy, who didn’t have the spring work with the rest of the team. But McEvoy is expected to make this a tough decision on the coach.
AUDIO: McEvoy on getting started :08
The Badgers have only one lock at wide receiver, senior wide receiver Jared Abbrederis. Jeff Duckworth and Jordan Fredrick both have experience, but playing time after Abbrederis appears to be up in the air.
There’s also uncertainty on the Badgers offensive line, especially in terms of depth. Senior Ryan Groy has a chance to play in the NFL. He moved from left guard to left tackle. Wisconsin has a red-shirt freshman (Dan Voltz) projected to start at center and often-injured junior Dallas Lewallen is the projected starter at left guard.
AUDIO: Gary Anderson on the Badgers offensive line :22
The secondary also has plenty of questions. Dezmen Southward is the only returning starter and there are plenty of questions with the rest of the group. Reggie Mitchell’s late departure (transfer) left the Badgers without a starter.
Defensively, the Badgers are making the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4. How fast the front 7 gets comfortable with coordinator Dave Aranda’s scheme will go a long way to determining what we see coming out of the gates. The Badgers have plenty of experience on this side of the ball, but the players will still have to master their new responsibilities.