3B
TheMichiganDaily, www.michigandaily.com
Behind Enemy Lines: A conversation with
Jonah Malkin, a Wisconsin broadcaster
By ETHAN WOLFE
Daily Sports Writer
The No. 12 Michigan football
team has as much confidence as
it’s had in two seasons, riding
a five-game win streak into
Saturday.
No. 15 Wisconsin is a team
that’s looking to re-find that
confidence. After a devastating
home loss to BYU in Week Three,
the Badgers have responded
with a resounding road win at
Iowa and a runaway victory
over Nebraska.
Unlike
previous
Wisconsin
teams
with
powerhouse
defenses,
it’s
the
offense,
led by running
back
and
Heisman-
hopeful
Jonathan
Taylor, that is
carrying
the
strongest team
in the Big Ten West.
The Daily spoke to Jonah
Malkin, a radio broadcaster
for WSUM 91.7 FM Madison,
to
learn
about
Wisconsin’s
strengths and weaknesses, and
what to expect during Saturday’s
high-stakes game at Michigan
Stadium.
The Michigan Daily: What
has been the atmosphere around
the team since that loss to BYU?
Jonah Malkin: I’d say it’s
cautiously optimistic. The reason
is because after that BYU game,
Wisconsin did respond well on
the road at Iowa, had the bye
week and collected another win
a couple days ago at Nebraska.
I
say
cautiously
optimistic
because the secondary — the
defense is really banged up
going into this weekend against
Michigan.
While
there
is
certainly a lot of optimism and
confidence brewing in the locker
room, it’s cautious optimism
because
it’s
gonna
be
the
toughest atmosphere most likely
that they’ve played this year,
and they’re missing some key
cogs on the defensive side. The
confidence is still there, a lot of
young guys are looking forward
to the opportunity to step up.
TMD:
What’s
the
injury
report looking like? What impact
will it have on the game?
Malkin: They’re gonna be
missing a number of starters is
what it seems like. About four
of the starters are questionable.
The
defensive
end,
Isaiahh
Loudermilk,
isn’t
gonna
be
playing, which is a big loss
because Wisconsin doesn’t have
a great pass rush at all. He was
one of those guys in the front
three in the 3-4 defense that
could put pressure on opposing
quarterbacks. Most importantly,
though, in the secondary there’s
a lot of guys on the injury report.
Faion Hicks is questionable,
D’Cota Dixon is questionable.
They are both gonna play but
they’re not 100 percent. Caesar
Williams is probably not gonna
play,
he’s
questionable,
the
starting
cornerback.
Scott
Nelson is missing the first
half because he was called
for targeting at the end of the
game against Nebraska. Deron
Harrell, who is kind of a backup
cornerback even though he got
first-team snaps Saturday, is
also questionable with a head
injury.
I’m
concerned
about
the
secondary because, to me, the
passing game is gonna be the
difference in the game. It’s
gonna come out to the play of
Shea Patterson making long
plays.
The
secondary
is
so
beaten up and there’s a lot of
young, inexperienced players
and Wisconsin has already given
up a number of big plays over
the air so far this season. I have
a feeling that that’s gonna be a
difference in the game.
TMD: How do you assess
Wisconsin opening as eight-
point underdogs at Michigan?
Malkin: I understand why
they made that the line. I
personally think it’s gonna be
a closer contest, between three
and six (points). I project it’ll be
a low-scoring game, a 24-20 kind
of game. But then again, I can
understand why the line is what
it is. A touchdown is a pretty
fair assessment, especially on
the road, first night game of the
year. And the stakes couldn’t
be higher for both teams. For
both of these teams, this is the
difference between which team
still has a chance to make the
playoff and who doesn’t.
TMD: Last year, Wisconsin
finished third in total defense.
At the moment, it’s ranked 41st
in the country. Was a decline
expected? What do you attribute
that slide to?
Malkin: I don’t think anyone
was
expecting
the
defense
to be nearly as dominant and
elite as it was last year. It was
an
unreasonable
expectation
given how much turnover they
lost — pretty much their entire
front three and starters in the
secondary. I don’t think people
expected them to be 41st. There
was more optimism surrounding
the secondary in training camp
and all the coaches were raving
about the corners and safeties,
and not as much about the
defensive line. … They expected
the offense to be the aspect of
the team that will carry it, but
I definitely think they expected
the pass defense to be a little bit
better. The rush defense is still
respectable. … Overall, not an
elite defense, not even top-10,
but maybe a top-20 program was
expected.
TMD: Is there an offensive
weapon not named Jonathan
Taylor that you expect could
break out on Saturday?
Malkin:
Jonathan
Taylor
is what he is, and obviously
that’ll be crucial for Wisconsin
to win. But I actually think it’s
probably gonna be a big game
for Jake Ferguson, the starting
tight end. My guess is that he’ll
be the security blanket that Alex
Hornibrook is gonna rely on
for third down opportunities.
Michigan
is
(a
good)
pass
defense, they’ve held opponents
to the fewest passing yards per
game in the country, so you’re
not going to rip off too many big
plays off of them. Third down
conversion
defense,
they’re
good but not unbreakable. The
tight end play will be really big
and Jake Ferguson — he’s led
Wisconsin in receiving yards
two of their five games. He may
be targeted a lot more against
Michigan.
TMD: Who will have the
better
day
between
Alex
Hornibrook and Shea Patterson?
Malkin: That’s tough. I think
Shea Patterson is innately the
more talented quarterback. He’s
by far much more of a dual-
threat, can scramble, mobile guy.
Hornibrook’s not like that at all.
I think Patterson will register
more stats at the end of the day.
He’s got a more explosive arm
and can use his legs. I don’t think
his completion percentage will
be as good as Hornibrook, I think
he’s a more accurate thrower
on
average.
Not
necessarily
meaning that Hornibrook will
complete more big play throws,
but his percentage will be better.
It’s hard to measure who will
play better necessarily, but I do
think Hornibrook will step up
and play well on the road. He’s
done it before, he doesn’t get
fazed by pressure on the road.
… If Michigan is gonna win, it’s
gonna be on the play of their
defense and not necessarily on
Patterson making tremendous
throws.
TMD: Prediction?
Malkin: I think the score will
be 24-20 regardless of who wins.
I believe in Wisconsin. Should
they probably be favored? I don’t
know, but I can see them still
pulling out a win. It’ll be the
hardest game of the year.
Wisconsin
at Michigan
Matchup:
Wisconsin 4-1;
Michigan 5-1
When: Saturday
7:30 P.M.
Where:
Michigan
Stadium
TV/Radio: ABC
CAMERON HUNT/Daily
The Wolverines will face No. 15 Wisconsin on Saturday, a team featuring offensive threats like runing back Jonathan Taylor.