JARED ABBREDERIS
ROSE BOWL UPDATE: DECEMBER 28
WR Jared Abbrederis and OL Travis Frederick discuss Wisconsin's preparations for facing Oregon in the Rose Bowl following the team's practice at The Home Depot Center on Wednesday.
"When I made the switch to wide receiver and
I started running routes and tried catching pass- es, it was like, 'What the heck is going on? I can't catch a pass.' "I had to go back to the basics. Anyone can
catch the ball standing still, but when you're run- ning a route, and you've got a DB right next to you and you've got people and hands in front of your face … "Well, it's all about your eye-hand coordina- tion and your focus.'' It's also about your strength and quickness off the line of scrimmage; your release. The Kansas City Chiefs executed a nearly flaw-
less game plan against the Packers; a plan that featured heavy doses of sticky press-man cover- age on the line of scrimmage. That was due in large part to the injury to Jen-
nings, who has the ability to stretch a secondary. It worked, in part, because Jermichael Finley dropped passes while attacking the middle of the
34 » VARSITY DECEMBER 29, 2011
defense. It worked, too, because Nelson had an off
game. The Chiefs were able to jam Nelson. That prevented him from gaining separation which resulted in two pass interference penalties. Abbrederis fully anticipates that Oregon will challenge the Badgers with different coverages. "But we expect man,'' he said. "That's the fun
part about being a receiver. You get the one-on- ones – it's you and the cornerback and you have to do everything within your power to get open.'' Abbrederis was a high school wrestler and brings that mentally to his game. "You can never quit when it's you and the oth-
er guy on the mat,'' he said. "He might win one. I might win one. But you have to stay strong and show mental toughness (throughout four quar- ters).'' Toon and Abbrederis are the first set of UW receivers to have collected at least 50 receptions each in the same season. Both are over 800 re-
