Advertisement
Thomas, who was coming off major knee surgery, and Kraig Urbik were the only returning starters. Urbik, who started every game at right tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2005, was promptly moved to right tackle.
''They were a good offensive line here the year before I got here,'' Palcic said. ''They lost some key people. We had to pretty much start from scratch. We had Joe Thomas, but there were a lot of holes in that offensive line, with not very much depth.''
Palcic has done a commendable job of patching things up, and for the most part the line has been solid in his two years. But it won't be until next season that Palcic will get what he wants: Depth and competition at every position.
''Next year, we'll be the strongest line in the three years I've been here,'' he said.
The Badgers have used their early Outback Bowl practices to make decisions about the line for the game against Tennessee and get a jump on spring practices.
''These bowl practices, certainly, they're a godsend,'' Palcic said.
Palcic's first big decision: UW will keep its line from the final two regular-season games intact for the bowl game, with Urbik at right tackle, the position he assumed when junior Eric Vanden Heuvel went down with an ankle injury.
Given the way the line played against Michigan and Minnesota, why mess with success? The Badgers rushed for 557 yards and allowed just one sack in those games.
''I thought Urbik had done a real nice job in pass protection,'' Palcic said. ''He's familiar with the position and since he did such a good job the last two games, I just didn't see a reason to change it.''
Palcic also likes the way redshirt freshman John Moffitt has played at left guard. Vanden Heuvel, who had started 23 straight games at right tackle before his injury against Ohio State, is now working as the backup to junior Andy Kemp at right guard and to Urbik at right tackle.
''We shuffled the deck to keep the competition at a high level,'' Palcic said. ''Everybody always knows they have an opportunity to play. I have no favorites.''
The early bowl practices also allowed Palcic to get some early answers at center. The only starter the Badgers will lose on the line is senior center Marcus Coleman. Two other seniors, Danny Kaye and Andrew Weininger, were backups at center.
Palcic looked at Moffitt and Urbik at center. Moffitt, who has the toughness Palcic wants at the position, has emerged as the leading contender to start next season. He will be challenged by redshirt freshman Brad Thorson, who needs to get stronger and can also play guard.
''John has good toughness and pretty good mobility,'' Palcic said. ''He has a lot to learn yet, but he enjoys the game, he takes coaching. I think he has a bright future.''
With freshman tackle Josh Oglesby, who is being redshirted, set to join the fray in the spring, the Badgers should have good competition at almost every position. Oglesby likely will back up Urbik at right tackle next year.
Palcic is reluctant to get too carried away about Oglesby, who came in as one of the most highly rated recruits in this year's class but is one year removed from a torn ACL that ended his senior year at St. Francis.
''There's no question, there's potential there,'' Palcic said. ''Sometimes, I get really concerned. In the recruiting process, these kids get so over-hyped, everyone expects them to be a four-year starter. If you're a three-year starter, that's pretty good, too.''
Vanden Heuvel, who has looked good at guard, could be the front-runner to start at right guard next season, with competition from redshirt freshman Bill Nagy. That would allow Kemp to move back to left guard, where he started 20 straight games before suffering a broken hand against Penn State, and battle it out with sophomore Jake Bscherer.
Bscherer is versatile enough to play guard or tackle. He lost out in preseason camp at left tackle to redshirt freshman Gabe Carimi, who has had a remarkable first season replacing Thomas.
Palcic emphasized ''nothing is etched in stone.'' But getting some answers in bowl practices will only speed things up in the spring.
''It was going to be important ... to find some answers to a very, very critical (center) position,'' Palcic said. ''I feel good about the progress that we made and where we are at.''
