Varsity - The Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics

Varsity - December 26, 2013

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W LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS // UWBADGERS.COM Guidance helps Gordon get through decision isconsin running backs coach Thomas Hammock just tried to be himself in any discussion of future options with Melvin Gordon. Candor has always been one of Hammock's strongest qualities. "The biggest thing I tried to do was just be honest with him and give him an honest assessment of what I thought," he said. "I think sometimes in this process people can have different motives." So Hammock looked Gordon in the eyes and said, "Listen, I'm talking to you as a man and this is what I think and you can take it from there. Whatever you decide, I support you 100 percent." Hammock also advised, "Make a decision and go full-speed ahead. Whether you leave or whether you come back, make it for the right reasons and make it for yourself." After contemplating entering the NFL draft, Gordon, a redshirt sophomore from Kenosha, has decided to return to Wisconsin. He did so before receiving his evaluation from the draft advisory board. He did so, Hammock believes, for the right reasons. "Melvin is just starting to mature into his own," he said. "Another year can help him develop as a person and player and get his mind mentally prepared as far as what is in store for him (in the NFL). "I just think he's going to get better as a football player, period. Here, he's learning the protections, he's learning the run-blocking schemes, and he's learning where 16 // VARSITY December 26, 2013 he fits in everything he does. And he's doing a great job of doing that." Gordon's circumstances were different than they were for Montee Ball, who opted to come back for his senior year; a move that ultimately paid off for Ball, a secondround pick of the Denver Broncos. "They were at different stages, different points of their careers," Hammock said. "Melvin is just starting and he's only getting better whereas Montee had put up the big junior season. "I'm sure Melvin reached out to him and asked him what he thought. Montee will shoot you straight and tell you how it is. With his experience this year (in the NFL), I'm sure Melvin took all of those things into consideration." The Badgers plan on learning more about Gordon by expanding his role as a running back. "The thing I'm anxious to do is make him a more complete player when he comes back next season," said UW offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig. That could mean a number of different things to Gordon's development, according to Ludwig who wants to "use him more detached, use him more as a wide receiver" along with "getting him the ball in different ways rather than just as a tailback and fly-sweeper." Ah, yes, the fly sweep, aka the jet sweep; aka Gordon's signature play. "I told him that I think his jet sweep days might be coming to a close," Hammock said. "Obviously we'll find someone else to fill that role and Melvin will be back there dotting the 'I' (in the I-formation)." In this context, Hammock was asked how freshman tailback Corey Clement responded to the news that Gordon was coming back. "Corey is happy," he said. "Look at the success we've had this year; we have two guys (James White and Gordon) with 2,800-plus yards (2,803 combined)." Gordon has 1,466 yards on 181 carries; White has 1,337 on 209; and Clement has 515 on 66. "It takes the pressure off and it makes them better," Hammock said of the tailback rotation. "To say you're going to get 35 carries a game, you might not make it through a season. But if you're getting 17 to 20 carries a game, you're fresh; you're healthy and you're feeling good." A win over South Carolina in the Capital One Bowl would make everyone feel really good. Especially in the wake of the home loss to Penn State. "We've got a bunch of different ways to use James and Melvin and Corey," Hammock said. "This is one of those games where you don't leave anything in the tank. Gordon created some positive momentum with his decision last week. The Badgers are obviously feeling good about reloading next season with Gordon, Clement and the incoming freshmen. "He's now the blue-chip recruit in the class," Ludwig said of Gordon. "I'm fired up for him, I'm fired up for us, and I'm fired up for Badger Nation."

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