40 �� VARSITY
D EC E M B E R 27, 2012
���They have good retention
and we find ways to build
the same things into more
complex looks,��� said coach
Faulkner of the UW tight ends.
���But it���s really kind of simple. That���s the beauty of it.������
DAVID STLUKA
ADAM TURNER
I
n what was the equivalent of a cluster alignment ��� a grouping of receivers in close
proximity to each other ��� Jacob Pedersen
was flanked on his left by Brian Wozniak
and on his right by Sam Arneson. Standing
side by side, this represented a rare moment for
Wisconsin���s tight ends: they were motionless.
When the Badgers have the ball under normal
game circumstances, you will find No. 48 (Pedersen), No. 49 (Arneson) and No. 85 (Wozniak) in coordinated movement prior to the snap. They may
be moving right to left. Or left to right. Or right to
left and back right or left to right and back left.
You get the picture ��� controlled chaos and/or
deception -- the game within the game.
UW offensive coordinator Matt Canada is using
the shifts, the trades, and the motions to change
the strength of the formation at what he hopes is
the expense of the defense getting lined up right.
There is a method ��� an impressive synchronization ��� to all of this pre-snap madness with the
tight ends.
Especially if it gets an opponent out of synch or
creates an advantageous matchup in coverage.
���You have to understand that, once the tight end
is set, the defense has to declare a strength,������ said
Wisconsin interim coach Barry Alvarez, who was
looking at all of this maneuvering through the eyes
of a former head coach and defensive coordinator.
���Most of the time when you shift your strength
one way, the secondary has to shift that way, otherwise you will have more guys on that side of the
field. When you shift back across the formation,
the secondary has to communicate that shift and
everybody has to change assignments.
���Sometimes, we���re changing strength three times
before the ball is snapped. Because of the way
Stanford plays defense, there won���t be as much adjusting as Nebraska. So it won���t be as much of a
problem. But if you don���t adjust properly, we can
out-leverage you. That���s what we���re trying to do.������
The UW tight ends have been coached by Eddie
Faulkner, a former Alvarez tailback. ���I���m spoiled
because I���ve got a bunch of smart guys,������ Faulkner
said. ���They have good retention and we find ways
to build the same things into more complex looks.
