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  October 17, 2018 11:16 AM EEST

  MADISON, Wis. http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Patrick-Peterson-Jersey/ ;. -- The lights dimmed in the corner room of Wisconsins second-floor indoor practice facility, with 14 attentive football players across three rows of chairs staring at an overhead projection screen. They carried with them snacks, bottled water, pens and blank sheets of paper -- plus the hopes of an entire campus, abuzz with anticipation five days before the Badgers biggest home game in years.In this meeting room, members of Wisconsins secondary convened for a pre-practice crash course on the complexities of Ohio States passing offense. The undefeated, second-ranked Buckeyes possess a Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback J.T. Barrett and enough wide receiver skill to fill an all-conference team. The task of stopping all that talent will fall on these cornerbacks and safeties.The task of preparing the group falls largely on the shoulders of Jim Leonhard, a three-time first-team all-Big Ten safety at Wisconsin who is in his first year as the Badgers defensive backs coach (and his first year as a coach at any level) and has become among the most crucial reasons for the impressive start on the back end. No. 8 Wisconsin has allowed only three passing touchdowns this season, which is tied for the best mark in the Big Ten. Every defensive back starter has recorded at least one interception.Ill honestly say hes been the key to bringing us to where we are now, said Badgers cornerback Sojourn Shelton, the teams only returning starter in the secondary. We know that we can be so much better. And we get that mentality from him. ... Hes the piece thats jelled us all together, as far as being confident in each other.Much of that confidence starts in this room, where no details are spared in preparation for each opponent. Leonhard allowed ESPN.com access this week to a 45-minute team meeting with his defensive backs as they game planned for Ohio State (8 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC). During that time, he cycled through his units defensive strategy by diagramming plays, issuing scouting reports on key offensive players and providing a lengthy video session breaking down the Buckeyes route concepts.He also managed to have a little fun.?Leonhard began the session by mentioning a quote written on the back whiteboard. It was the handiwork of Badgers cornerback Natrell Jamerson, who has been sidelined while recovering from a leg injury.I dont know if you know, but in the past, he used to teach a little Kung Fu, a little Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Leonhard said as laughter filled the room. One of his students came up to him and said, You teach me fighting, but you talk about peace. How do you reconcile the two? Master Trell replied, It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.First of all, I dont like to talk about war and football. Two separate things. But I think the message is pretty good. And to me, its about preparation. Its preparing in times of peace. Its preparing when things are easy. For football, you take it as whether its walkthroughs, whether its meeting rooms, individuals, stuff like that. Are you working to get through it, or are you working to actually get better?Leonhard stood in the front, wearing a red Wisconsin crewneck shirt and gray Badgers sweatpants. He informed his players that Ohio States run and pass game are simple in concept but effective on the field. The Buckeyes rank third nationally in points per game (53.2). He encouraged players that if they lock in, they will have an opportunity to win.What followed was a masters level class in football terminology, as he ran through various defensive calls: Oscar, Charlie, Woody, Max, Sparrow, Match, Edge. He drew four Ohio State route concepts on the whiteboard and explained when Wisconsin should be in Cover 4 or Cover 3 defense.Leonhard focused on when his defensive backs should morph into a bandit, a hybrid linebacker/defensive back who moves out of his natural position to either blitz or fake blitz to confuse the offense. He discussed how defensive backs should react if a linebacker rushes the quarterback and when to line up as a quarterback spy.If they were to run option at you, you would throw the brakes on and make him take a little time, just buying time for the Mike [linebacker], Leonhard said. If you go smack the quarterback and have him pitch it, its just a foot race between him and the backer. You still have the quarterback. Nothings changed. Were just trying to buy one extra click for our linebacker to be able to push through.An explanation of Ohio State running a 7 or corner route, which requires the receiver to drive and then stem, or fake inside before making a break, led to a discussion with Shelton and safety DCota Dixon on how best to align and combat. Leonhard is not afraid to turn to the input of the Badgers veteran leaders for what theyre most comfortable with on the field.That Leonhard has been able to adapt so quickly as a coach is not a surprise. After the team meeting, he mentioned that he grew up in a family of coaches -- aunts, uncles, mom and dad -- who coached anything from basketball to baseball to volleyball. Coaching represents a natural next step in his career. He said he prided himself on being a mentor to younger players during the final years of his 10-year NFL career and described his brief tenure with the Badgers as a pretty seamless transition.He said college football offenses are generally less complex than those in the NFL and are therefore easier to prepare for. The biggest challenge, he noted, has been finding the best methods to connect with players.I try to be efficient and not overload guys, Leonhard said. Some guys cant handle it. If you try to give too much, sometimes that gets you in trouble. That has been my struggle -- just trying to figure out whats enough and whats too much because ultimately, you just want guys to play fast and go compete. Just because you can see it doesnt mean they can. Its that fine line.Players have taken to Leonhards instructions because of his ability to easily communicate intricate bits of information. His on-field accomplishments also command instant respect.I love the way he coaches, Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said. I think he gives them some things that are tangible that they can truly take. Hes not trying to impress them with his knowledge. Hes trying to figure out ways he can help them.Following the initial Xs and Os session, Leonhard moved on to Phase 2 of the team meeting: the scouting report. He began with Barrett, who has 15 touchdown passes and three interceptions. Barrett also ranks third on the team in rushing yards and has four touchdowns.Hes an athletic guy, Leonhard told his players. Weve got to make him pay when he runs the ball. I dont see him making a whole lot of guys miss. I think hes faster than he is shifty. So safeties, [if] we get a chance, hit it, man.Leonhard described Ohio State receiver Dontre Wilson and H-back Curtis Samuel?as big-time difference-makers and compared them to Percy Harvin in their ability to line up at running back or receiver. Leonhard is particularly concerned about Samuel, who ranks in the top eight in the Big Ten in rushing and receiving yards.You watch him, the thing that he gets guys on is if he kind of goes lazy in a route, dont believe it, Leonhard said. Hell stem you. Hes going to break hard as hell. Everything hes going to do, hes going to be patient at the top of routes. But if he starts just kind of bending into something, hes going opposite. Dont fall for the trap.Finally, Leonhard arrived at Ohio States other major receiving weapon. Noah Brown leads the Buckeyes with five touchdown catches, including four against Oklahoma.I have yet to see a guy play good technique in press on him, Leonhard said. He is very good. If he gets you a step behind, he is damn good at trapping the ball, going and attacking it, making plays over the top of corners. But I have yet to see a corner play it from a good position. So the way you play in press, he is not going to run past you. Same thing when you watch that on tape. He is never more than this far away from a guy. Havent seen it yet. So you can challenge him.Leonhard cued up his video cut-ups and spent the final 20 minutes holding a clicker and laser pointer to highlight Ohio States route concepts. There were introductions to each set of plays labeled in red: Sail, Spot 7, Curls/Hitches, Post: Dino, Pin, X, Screens: Swing/Bubble, Rail and Digs/Speedo. Leonhard spent the teams bye week after a 14-7 loss to Michigan compiling clips he wanted to display. They came from games this season against Bowling Green, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Indiana, as well as last years Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame.He showed examples of receivers James Clark and Terry McLaurin being used in screen scenarios. He explained how receiver Parris Campbell is patient at the top of his routes. He used footage of Brown to reiterate his point and boost confidence in his defensive backs.Watch the deep curl, Leonhard said. Watch 80 [Brown]. I dont know. I dont think hes threatening your speed, right? Trust who you are. Know who he is. I dont think hes going to run past you.He pointed out a particular offensive alignment that featured Ohio State repeatedly running slant routes into the boundary side of the field. One receiver springs free for a touchdown. Finally, Leonhard showed Ohio State running a speedo route, in which only two receivers go out with an eight-man protection.This is when theyre good, Leonhard said. They get you here, they win consistently.Leonhard flicked the lights on and reminded his players that they can watch all the routes on their team-issued iPads. He warned them about Ohio States tempo before closing with a final message.You just have to communicate, which youve done a really good job of, he said. Is that nearly as hard as Michigan last week? Michigan was something new every single snap. These guys are almost the complete opposite. Youll watch the game and be like, Damn, they did exactly what we saw. Well just have to see early recognizing the formations that theyre going to be in, then well motion. ...Well do a great job of it because weve done it all year long. The biggest thing is to be ready. Build up to this game. Coming out of a bye week, youve got to bring the energy from snap one. Freakin night game at Camp Randall, that should be pretty easy. Theyll be locked in. Well be locked in. Lets go compete. Get after them, man.The players stood to leave, ready for practice a floor below and more prepared than ever for the challenge of stopping Ohio State.http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Deone-Bucannon-Jersey/ .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Jaron-Brown-Jersey/ . ; Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-John-Brown-Jersey/ ;. Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. SEATTLE -- As a younger player, Harold Baines and Edgar Martinez were among the hitters David Ortiz looked up to as examples. So its not lost on Ortiz that he has now passed both to become baseballs all-time leader in hits as a designated hitter. "Wonderful hitters and when I first came up watching those guys," Ortiz said. "Now for your name to get mentioned next to theirs, its a wonderful thing." Ortiz doubled in his first at-bat to pass Baines for the most hits as a DH and hit a two-run homer an inning later, leading the Boston Red Sox to an 11-4 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night. Ortiz entered the night tied with Baines with 1,688 hits as a DH, and was acknowledged by a standing ovation from the mix of Red Sox and Mariners fans when he doubled to left-centre field to lead off the second inning. An inning later, Ortiz collected his eighth hit of the series with a two-run homer off Seattle starter Aaron Harang (4-8), his 19th this season. "There is nothing that guy does that amazes me. He goes out there every day and is so consistent that you almost expect it. You kind of feel bad whenever he goes 0 for 4 and youre like, Come on man, are you kidding me?" Boston catcher Jared Saltalamacchia said. "But thats how good he is and how consistent hes been in his career." Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 18 games, currently the best in baseball, and the Red Sox knocked around Harang for seven runs and eight hits. Ortiz appeared touched by the ovation as he rumbled into second with the standup double. He tipped his helmet twice toward the standing fans and patting his chest as his milestone was shown on the video board. Ortiz already held the marks for the most runs scored, doubles, home runs, extra-base hits and RBIs by a designated hitter. "The fans, they looked forward to that. They look forward to watch guys breaking records and getting to a certain level," Ortiz said. "They really appreciated it." Ortiz scored in the second on Saltalamacchias sacrifice fly, then provided the big blow in the third with a two-out, two-run homer to right-centre field, his second straight game going deep. "Ive seen too much of him over the years," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. "He is about as professional a hitter as you can be. Still has the bat speed, still has the power, commands the strike zone as good as anybody in the game. http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Evan-Boehm-Jersey/. " Boston broke the game open in the sixth and knocked out Harang after singles by Jose Iglesias and Brock Holt to open the inning. Ellsbury and Shane Victorino both had RBI singles in the four-run inning that was helped along by a throwing error from Seattle shortstop Brad Miller. After Seattle held a 5-1 lead after two innings in Tuesdays game, the Red Sox have outscored the Mariners 21-7 in the following 16 innings. Ortizs milestone night overshadowed one of the best starts this season by Bostons Felix Doubront. With its bullpen taxed in the opening two games of the series, Doubront (6-3) provided the outing Boston needed to give its relievers a rest. Doubront took a shutout into the seventh and silenced a Seattle offence that scored 19 runs against Boston pitching in the first two games of the series. He allowed only a pair of early singles, and a double to Michael Saunders -- the first Seattle batter to reach second base -- in the fifth. Seattle finally got to Doubront in the seventh when Jason Bay led off with a double and scored on Henry Blancos two-out single. But that was the extent of Seattles offence against the lefty. Doubront won his second straight start after going more than a month without a victory. It was the third time this season Doubront has allowed one earned run or less, and just the second time hes finished seven innings. Doubront struck out six and walked two. "Well take a strong outing off a starting pitcher every night that we walk in here," Boston manager John Farrell said. "I think the biggest thing is he continued to put up zeroes after we scored runs and that kept the momentum on our side." Notes: Seattle SS Brendan Ryan led off the eighth with a solo homer off Bostons Brandon Workman, making his major league debut. Seattle scored three times in the inning. ... Ellsbury returned after missing the first two games of the series with a sore wrist. ... Seattle RHP Stephen Pryor (60-day DL, lat muscle), threw a 25-pitch simulated game on Wednesday and will do the same on Saturday. Wedge said OFs Michael Morse (quad) and Franklin Gutierrez (hamstring) are not yet ready to go out on rehab assignments. ... 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