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SPORTS
FIVE POINTS TO PONDER
- Can Marshall at least slow a Wisconsin running attack that stockpiled 404 yards last week against Akron?
- How will redshirt freshman quarterback Mark Cann react to 80,000-plus vocal, involved fans in attendance at Camp Randall Stadium?
- Can Marshall's defense get off the field after third down?
- Coming off three consecutive, losing seasons, is confidence an issue travelling to No. 11 Wisconsin?
- Can Marshall muster a running game to keep its defense off the Camp Randall Stadium field?
The Badgers, long defined by their overpowering offensive line and top tier tailbacks, bring more of the same today. Four of five linemen return to create gaps for 236-pound tailback P.J. Hill, who totaled 210 rushing yards last week against Akron.
Fellow power backs Zach Brown and John Clay combined for 146 yards on 17 handoffs, adding to the potential long day that awaits Marshall's front seven.
"We're going to do a lot of physical tackling drills probably this week," Thundering Herd sophomore cornerback D.J. Wingate said. "It's going to be very important that we shore up our tackling, because we do have a lot of big backs we're going to go against this week."
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound southpaw admitted to nerves in his Thundering Herd debut, but it was tough to ignore the poise No. 10 displayed with a former Marshall signal-caller who shared his number - NFL veteran Chad Pennington.
"It's a loud place, but that's why you sign up to play college ball," Cann said. "There will be some nerves, but you've got to overcome that and we will."
Illinois State converted seven of 20 third down conversions and opponents were successful on 78 of 164 opportunities last year. After watching Illinois State move the chains with repeated screen passes and bootleg passes last week, Marshall can expect much of the same against the conservative Badgers, who are breaking in a new quarterback.
"For the defense we call that money downs, and that's real important," sophomore defensive tackle Delvin Johnson said. "We need to get off the field and get the offense on the field.
"We plan to have third and 8, third and 10. If we get those, it's a win for us."
"Wisconsin, they're just like us," Thundering Herd strong side linebacker Corey Hart said. "They're regular people just like us. We just have to go in, play fundamental ball and we should come out on top."
Marshall's Mario Harvey, a weak side linebacker in name only at 6-foot and 244-pounds, agreed.
"They're going to be bigger and faster but I think we can match up to them because we have some bigger, faster players too," Harvey said. "They're probably going to underestimate us but we're going to show them a little something."
Wisconsin limited Akron to 70 rushing yards, marking the third time in four games that the Badgers have limited opponents to less than 100 ground yards in four games.
Thundering Herd true sophomore Darius Marshall rushed for 115 yards on 20 carries last week, topping 100 yards for the first time
"I thought Darius got better as the game went," Thundering Herd coach Mark Snyder said. "You know we didn't do a bunch of banging this camp, so this was his first time and he took some bangs.
"It showed that Darius has gotten stronger over the summer. And he'll continue to get stronger next year a little bit, but I think he got stronger as the game went.
"But just to see that leg drive you're used to seeing of all of our running backs here it was good to see, because when he does that with his new-found strength, confidence he has, he's going to break a lot more tackles."
-- Anthony Hanshew
