How well Wisconsin Badgers linebackers contain Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe will be UW’s key to success

MADISON – Cinderella stories? Darryl Peterson is not interested right now.

After Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame last week, it has been suggested to Peterson, the Wisconsin outside linebacker, that perhaps the Badgers will be able to brew up their own upset Saturday against No. 4-ranked Alabama.

“That’s come up a little bit, people brought it up to me, even, like, family,” Peterson said this week after practice at the McClain Center. “But I don’t think this is the same kind of game. I don’t think this is going be that type of Cinderella-story kind of game. I feel like we’re real confident right now; we’ll be ready to Saturday.”

Peterson, like the rest of Wisconsin, believes that a victory is possible if the Badgers can contain Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe in the pocket or, if he does roll out, force him to throw rather than run. He’s a versatile quarterback who can run like the wind, but may be trying to sit in the pocket and throw a little more this year, and that’s what Wisconsin said it wants to focus on.

Wisconsin linebacker Darryl Peterson tackles Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson last season.

“We’re looking just contain the pocket, keep him in the pocket,” Peterson said. “Make him throw the ball.”

That could mean that Wisconsin’s linebackers will have a big role in the game. Peterson said that tracking Milroe’s gaze, his first steps and even those same cues from Alabama’s skill players and linemen will be something everyone from the Badgers defense will do.

“I’m more focused on just beating the tackles,” Peterson said. “And I know we got (defensive linemen) Curt Neal and Ben Barten, those guys inside, they’re gonna force him outside to myself and Jaheim (Thomas). We’re gonna be out there to get him down when he starts to run.”

To further the point, the Badgers coaching…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/well-wisconsin-badgers-linebackers-contain-180152631.html

Author : Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Publish date : 2024-09-12 18:01:52

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