Mike Tressel hopes Wisconsin's defensive versatility can confuse and confound foes

MADISON – Mike Tressel hopes Wisconsin’s defense can make life miserable for opponents this season.

“I hope that there is an awful lot to prepare for when it comes to our defense,” UW’s first-year defensive coordinator said. “What I found over the course of spring ball is that our guys could handle a lot schematically and continue to play fast.

“Being able to play confident and fast is priority one. But then if you can add on a few different packages and create some different looks for quarterbacks and coordinators in particular, obviously that is a huge bonus.

“And I was excited how our kids were able to handle that. Might be different packages than you’ve seen in the past, but we have guys that can handle that.”

Hunter Wohler, Kamo'i Latu and Travian Blaylock are mainstays in Mike Tressel's 2-3-6 scheme

One package appears particularly intriguing, a 2-3-6 with two linemen, three linebackers, three safeties and three cornerbacks. The name is the dollar package.

The safeties are junior Hunter Wohler, senior Kamo’i Latu and sixth-year senior Travian Blaylock.

“We know when all three of us are on the field it is going to be a good down,” Blaylock said. “Just with the physicality that we bring, the energy we bring, the communication. It is all clean.”

Wohler, Blaylock or Latu are capable of playing near the line of scrimmage or in the secondary. But under Tressel, the 6-foot-2, 211-pound Wohler plays several yards off the line of scrimmage, more like a linebacker than a safety.

His ability to blitz and get to the passer could be critical given that UW doesn’t appear to have a dominant rusher on the line or at outside linebacker.

“It puts me in position to make plays,” Wohler said. “I get to play in the run game. I get to play in the pass game. I get to do a little bit of everything. It is just helping me grow my overall football knowledge. I have to know run fits a lot more. I have to know blitz. I have to know where I’m dropping.

“I think it is a great position. I think it is going to be a lot of fun. I think it is going to put me in position to help the team as best I can.”

A graduate of Muskego High School, Wohler was used near the line of scrimmage and in the deep post last season. However, he was limited to just six games after suffering a broken leg in the opener.

“It’s tough,” he said. “Did I miss a lot of the year? Yes. Did it set back my development? Who knows? God always has a plan for everything. It was a little bit of a blessing in disguise not being able to play, just taking a step back and seeing everything from maybe an outsider’s point of view.

“And going into this year is another opportunity. I just have to be grateful that I can go out and play the game.”

Blaylock and Wohler both suffered significant injuries in 2022

The 5-11, 208-pound Blaylock is a mobile, hard-hitter like Wohler. And he is in a similar position heading into the 2023 season.

Blaylock missed all of last season after suffering a torn ACL during spring ball. The knee injury to his right knee was the latest setback for Blaylock, who was limited to a combined five games in 2018 and 2019 because of hamstring injuries but played in all seven games in 2020 and all 13 in 2021.

“You always think, especially after two, three, four major setbacks,” Blaylock said, “why is this happening? Am I not doing enough to keep my body healthy? At the end of the day, it’s all about resilience. I feel I have showed that in my time here. That is what I’m going to keep doing.

“I’m ready to go… Just counting the days at this point.”

Latu, 6-0 and 207, was a valuable contributor last season after transferring from Utah. He moved into the starting lineup after Wohler was injured and finished with 12 starts. A solid cover man and tenacious hitter, Latu intercepted two passes and recorded 55 tackles.

“It is fun having all three safeties on the field,” Wohler said. “It puts a lot of speed and a lot of pressure on the offense.”

Head coach Luke Fickell and his assistants have talked ad nauseum about fielding the most versatile players they can use.

Wohler, Blaylock and Latu can fill different roles, though Wohler is arguably the most versatile player of the trio.

“As a defense, it is just about putting the best players out there,” said Colin Hitschler, the co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach. “Trying to find roles for guys that can help you win.

“Game plans, it is all about position versatility and maximizing our ability to play the best players…We’ll find ways to get them on the field.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Versatility could be the Badgers' No. 1 asset on defense