The first of many notes from Jesse Temple at Land of 10:
Offensive line shuffling won’t be settled until fall camp
Wisconsin’s coaching staff obviously has a plan in mind for where the Badgers will put Michael Deiter on the offensive line this fall. But it sure would have been fun to watch the shuffling unfold during spring practice.
Instead, Deiter is out this spring while recovering from a right leg injury. Jon Dietzen is out with left and right leg injuries.
Last season, Deiter started at left tackle, while Dietzen started at left guard.
Deiter could have declared a year early for the NFL draft but returned, in part, to move back inside and put those reps on tape for pro scouts. If Deiter moves to left guard, where does that leave Dietzen?
Badgers offensive line coach and offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph said this spring that Dietzen was among several players the coaches wanted to cross-train at multiple spots. But it’s hard to believe Dietzen would plug in at left tackle over someone like Cole Van Lanen, who has been a standout this spring.
Van Lanen and Jason Erdmann, who is playing left guard, have been the biggest beneficiaries of the absences of Deiter and Dietzen. Van Lanen and Erdmann have worked with the first-team offense all spring. Patrick Kasl is another option at tackle. Coaches also like center Kayden Lyles, who has played multiple spots on the line in practice.
Of course, Wisconsin returns center Tyler Biadasz, who earned freshman All-America honors last season.
Biadasz would seem to be a lock to start next season. Deiter, right guard Beau Benzschawel and right tackle David Edwards — each of whom earned All-America honors last season — are locks to start.
So, will Dietzen lose his starting job? Will Wisconsin keep Deiter at tackle?
Will Wisconsin have the best second-team offensive line in college football history?
The answers won’t be revealed for months.
