Here come big, bad Badgers

PULLMAN – Washington State’s defense has a big problem today.

Literally.

The Wisconsin Badgers, ranked seventh in the nation and coming off a 12-1 season, will throw an offensive line that averages 6-foot-6 1/2 and 314 pounds – WSU coach Bill Doba called them “road graders” – on the Camp Randall Field and see if they can run over the Cougars.

Oh, we almost forgot. Fullback Chris Pressley is 6-1, 259 pounds and tailback P.J. Hill, who ran for 1,569 yards as a freshman, is 5-11, 227.

“We have to play low and understand where they are going,” said WSU backup defensive end Mike Graise, who is 6-3 and 211 pounds, about the Badgers’ offensive line. “I wouldn’t be too surprised if they are coming at me.

“They’re some big boys, so I’m going to have to use my speed to get an edge on them.”

Graise will be out on the edges, where speed can be an ally. But starting defensive tackle A’i Ahmu has to put his 6-0, 292-pound frame up against Wisconsin’s offensive linemen in an area where there is nowhere to run.

“They’re pretty big and they get off their blocks pretty good,” the junior said of the Badgers. “This being my third year, I think I’ve played against a lot of lines just like this, lines that come off pretty hard and are big, but, really, size doesn’t matter to me.”

There’s a reason for that.

“I’m pretty low already,” Ahmu said. “I’ve got that good leverage. When I get underneath them, it’s a lot easier. And it’s a lot easier for me to get underneath them.”

Besides, Ahmu said, it’s not how big they are, it’s how hard they hit. And he expects the Badgers to do that.

“It’s another line I’m going to have to attack,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of 6-5, 6-6 350-pounders and I’m like, ‘Oh, they’re big,’ but when they come off (the ball), I don’t really feel it like I thought I would feel it. I don’t know if that’s just my head or what.

“What I’ve realized is you have to show me what you’ve got no matter what.”