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(UWIRE) MADISON, Wis. -- Spring is in the air. The brutal Wisconsin winter has subsided, the ice on Lake Mendota has begun to melt, March Madness has come to an end, and outdoor football season is now underway.
Yup, I said football. That wasn't a typo.
America's pastime is now just over two weeks old as well, but here in Madison -- where we have no baseball team to get excited about -- it's the gridiron gang that dominates the spring, post-basketball season.
Saturday, the Badgers practiced on the Camp Randall field for the first time since the 2007 campaign. It was loud, and the players were excited to be back in their holy place; there was energy in the stadium despite the thousands of empty seats. And as I lay back on an empty bench behind me in the stands, sunglasses on in 60-plus degrees of pure paradise, my mind began to wander, and I began to ponder: What needs to happen for this football team to succeed next season?
Here's what I came up with (in no particular order):
EVRIDGE MUST MINIMIZE MISTAKES
It goes without saying that to win football games, all quarterbacks must take care of the ball and limit turnovers. But because the Wisconsin offense has a run-first mentality (and rightfully so), a lack of turnovers becomes even more crucial.
In back-to-back road losses against Illinois and Penn State last season, quarterback Tyler Donovan threw for a combined four interceptions (two and two). That was no coincidence. Turnovers, especially on the road in the Big Ten, will be lethal for this team because they don't have enough firepower on offense to overcome such blunders.
Evridge must take care of the football.
NEW KICKERS MUST STEP UP
The kicking game is often an overlooked aspect of football. But a good punter (like Ken DeBauche) and a clutch kicker (like Taylor Mehlhaff) are essential to success on the football field. Field position can provide a huge advantage throughout the course of a game; a poor punter puts a ton of pressure on a team's defense. Kickoffs -- Mehlhaff's specialty -- are also pivotal in the field position game, and obviously late-game field goals can make or break a season.
After the loss of both Mehlhaff and DeBauche, the sense of nostalgia can be subdued if the newcomers successfully fill their shoes. Either incoming freshman Bradley Nortman or Ken's little brother Brad should take over the punting duties. Freshman Phillip Welch, who is listed as a kicker, can also do some punting, which was evident Saturday when he booted a gorgeous 55-yarder. Welch is also the top candidate to succeed Mehlhaff with the kicking duties.
LINEBACKERS NEED TO IMPROVE
