Wisconsin Badgers offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes talks running backs, left tackle and more

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6 days ago

MADISON – Excited is the key word for Jeff Grimes.
Since arriving at Wisconsin in December, the Badger football team's new offensive coordinator has been focused on installing his system, which could unlock a physical element to the game missing from the team's play the past couple of seasons. On the ladder of learning, Grimes puts his players on the cusp of grasping the offense and how to make it work to their advantage.
'I would say that's where most of our team is now, the next step is can I actually do these things well and then can I do them better than the people who are trying to keep us from doing these things,' he said. 'I'm really excited to see our guys take that next step. They've been really unbelievably willing to work and learn.'
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The Badgers have a few weeks to take those next steps.
Fall camp was set to open July 29 at UW-Platteville's Pioneer Stadium. The season opener vs. Miami (Ohio) is slated for Aug. 28.
Before leaving for camp Grimes spoke to reporters on the Badgers media day July 28 at the McClain Center practice facility.
Here is what we learned.
RB rotation ideally two backs plus an occasional third
Grimes loves the depth of the running backs room and the way that Dillin Jones, Darrion Dupree and Cade Yacamelli support each other despite a very competitive battle for playing time. Grimes, however, said that while the possibility of a three-back rotation isn't out of the question, a two-back rotation with third back getting 'a couple of plays' is ideal.
'But if we have three that are ready, then we'll play all of them,' Grimes said.
The immediate challenge with the three will be getting them all adequate work during camp so that a decision on the pecking order can be made. Jones got the most work with the No. 1 unit during spring ball, but Dupree and Jones missed time due to injury.
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Davis Heinzen will get every opportunity to win job at left tackle
The Badgers had two weeks of spring practices after left tackle Kevin Heyward went down with a left ACL injury to evaluate Leyton Nelson with the No. 1 unit. Reading between the lines the addition in April of Davis Heinzen, a three-year starter at Central Michigan at left tackle, showed the coaches had wanted more at the position.
'(Heinzen) certainly hasn't earned his stripes with the other guys in the offensive line room as well as some other people have, but we didn't bring him here to not play,' Grimes said. 'And so he's going to get a lot of opportunities to win that starting job.'
Lance Mason is a natural route runner
Even though UW was happy at tight end with the development of junior Tucker Ashcraft and the smooth transition Jackson Acker made to the position from running back, the room lacked an individual who could stretch the defense.
Enter Lance Mason, who caught 34 passes for 590 yards and six touchdowns last season at Missouri State.
Those stats speak to his potential as a receiver. Grimes put that potential into words.
'What stands out from him that I've seen thus far is the same thing that I saw when we made the decision to bring him here and that is he's a natural route runner, understands space, leverage, has the ability to get in and out of breaks,' Grimes said. 'I think that's his strong suit. Now how well he blocks, particularly in this league, will also be a determining factor in terms of how much he actually plays instead of somebody else.'
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes media day takeaways