Luke Fickell Press Conference Recap Ahead of Week 7 vs. Iowa

MADISON, Wis. — After a disheartening 24-10 road loss against the No. 20 Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, a new week is here for the Wisconsin Badgers as they face the Iowa Hawkeyes. Ahead of Saturday’s matchup at Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin is in desperate need of a win as we approach the halfway point of the season.

The Badgers haven’t won since Sept. 6 against Middle Tennessee. Against Iowa, they’ll have a chance to get back to .500 for another edition of the Heartland Trophy series. Head coach Luke Fickell spoke to the media on Monday:

Expect Hunter Simmons to Start at QB

It feels like every week the fans are waiting for Billy Edwards Jr. to return, but there’s still no update on the quarterback’s progress. Edwards remains out with a knee injury after making a brief appearance in Week 5’s loss to Maryland.

However, if he is indeed sidelined for the fifth-straight game, Hunter Simmons is, in all likelihood, the man under center after making his starting debut for the Badgers on Saturday. The senior went 18-29 with 177 yards and an interception against Michigan.

“Hunter has done a good job. He will continue to get more opportunities. Danny [O’Neil] will have some opportunities as well, and we’ll have to see how that goes,” Fickell said.

“[Simmons] played with poise [against Michigan], he took care of the football for the most part. So I think we can definitely build on that and build with him in different ways.”

After starting three straight games, O’Neil will take a backseat on the depth chart. Things could change if Edwards returns, but fans have learned not to get their hopes up.

More Offensive Line Consistency Could Come This Week

Inconsistency has dominated the narrative surrounding Wisconsin’s offensive line. With Jake Renfro injured, the Badgers have been repeatedly moving players around. However, Fickell alluded to more consistency regarding that group. Against Michigan, the starters were Riley Mahlman, Joe Brunner, Davis Heinzen, Kerry Kodanko and Emerson Mandell.

“I would hope we can be very similar in that starting group,” Fickell said. “There is a growth, there are definitely some things that, you take a good hard look at the first drive, there’s always things you can do better. But that’s a better depiction of the things that we can do.

“I hope and I believe that that combination of those guys are getting a better feel together. Obviously, Davis doing a pretty good job, I’m not saying it was flawless by any means. But for a guy that’s played his first game ever at center in his fifth year of college football… there’s a lot of things that we can build off of.”

The Wolverines’ defense managed to get to Simmons for just one sack. Wisconsin’s run game wasn’t up to par (75 yards), but the line did enough to warrant more consistency on that front moving forward, especially with Renfro out.

New Opportunities Should Arise for Younger Players

‘Competitive spirit’ was a major theme of Fickell’s words, carried over from Saturday’s loss in Ann Arbor. The third-year Badger coach called out the team’s competitive nature after the defeat, and is further evaluating his option based on such leading up to Iowa.

Fickell alluded to staff going in different directions based on the loss to Michigan, with some opportunities on the horizon for younger players.

“We put some guys in some different spots and some different positions because they have the competitive spirit and competitive nature that give you the best chance to win on Saturday, that’s what we’ve got to be able to do, whether they’re young or old,” Fickell said.

“We didn’t get to see some of those guys [against Michigan]. I would say, ‘Man, I’d like to have seen a little bit more of Mason Posa or Cooper Catalano,’ or some of those guys, just to say, ‘Let’s really evaluate what your competitive spirit looks like in those kinds of situations.'”