Lack of Height in the Secondary Not a Primary Concern for Badgers

The question to Wisconsin defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove was simple. Is he concerned how his young secondary will perform Friday against UCLA’s high-powered passing game?

Before he could respond, cornerback Jamar Fletcher jumped in.

“He’s not worried,” Fletcher said. “He’s not worried.”

Indeed, Cosgrove said he has confidence in his troops.

“I think they’ve proven themselves throughout the year,” he said Wednesday. “These guys have done an excellent job. It’s going to be a challenge, but I believe they’re up to it.”

The Badgers ranked first nationally in scoring defense, allowing opponents an average of 10.2 points a game, and were seventh in passing-efficiency defense at 97.7. Their opponents passed for 1,987 yards but threw for only five touchdowns.

The quarterback who tested them most was Purdue’s Drew Brees, who was 55 for 83 for 494 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-24 Wisconsin victory Oct. 10. The Badgers have said that of quarterbacks they have faced, Brees is the most similar to McNown.

“We definitely take pride in the secondary in not letting them throw into the end zone. That’s why we’re here,” Fletcher said. “Cade McNown is a great quarterback and it’s going to be a big challenge.

“We want to keep them from getting yards after the catch. That’s our big thing.”

Fletcher and the Badgers’ other cornerback, Mike Echols, are redshirt freshmen. They’re both 5-feet-10, seven inches shorter than Bruin receiver Brian Poli-Dixon and six inches shorter than Danny Farmer, but Fletcher doesn’t consider that a big disadvantage.

“Mike Echols has a 38-inch vertical jump and mine is 36 or 37 inches. Honestly, I don’t think that will be a big factor,” he said.

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The voice of experience in the secondary is fifth-year senior safety Leonard Taylor, who has 31 career starts, one fewer than the combined totals of Fletcher, Echols and sophomore free safety Jason Doering.

“Our idea is to stay calm and make it a four-quarter game,” Taylor said. “They’re going to run deep. We’ve got to come up with some plays and get some turnovers. Fletch is ready and so is Mike. . . .

“They’re both very talented and they make plays. I’m glad to be able to be out there with them. If they do get frustrated, as a senior I can say to them, ‘Calm down,’ and allow them to get ready for the next play.”

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Taylor said his Rose Bowl experience has been soured by ignorance about Wisconsin and rudeness on the part of Californians he has met.

He might have a point.

After players from both teams toured Universal Studios on Monday, the bus driver told his passengers, “I’d like to thank UCLA for being here and I’d like to thank the other team.” The same day, Toledo called Wisconsin defensive end Tom Burke--the NCAA leader in tackles for loss and sacks--”Tom Barnes” at a news conference.

Taylor also said he had to defend himself at a club when a patron tried to pick a fight with him. And when the Badgers attended a luncheon for both teams at Universal Studios, they had to wait 15 or 20 minutes for the Bruins to arrive--and watched hungrily while restaurant staffers served the Bruins first. “Those are the types of things that have been happening. I should have expected it,” Taylor said.

According to Taylor, it’s easy to tell who lives here and who’s visiting from America’s Dairyland because “the Wisconsin people have all got smiles on their faces and they’re friendly people.” He added, “I’ve had a good time in general, but there have been some unfriendly people and I just don’t like unfriendly people.”