MADISON, Wis. -- Chikwe Obasih was undoubtedly the breakout star of Wisconsin's 2014 spring practice session. In the span of those 15 practices, he went from a relative unknown to a starting defensive end and melded potential with production at a scary rate for a redshirt freshman.
But Obasih also can look back now with a measure of introspection and intelligence and see the flaws that helped lead to a moderately underwhelming rookie season. The verdict: his warp-speed rise up the depth chart came at a price.
"Last spring I was throwing away the technique just to make sure I could get to the play on time," Obasih said. "Just trying to make sure I could be consistent. I was doing it with awful technique, with bad footwork."
Obasih's athleticism and instincts helped him record 21 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks last season. He also ranked second on the team with four quarterback hurries. But the goal for 2015 has changed: play the right way. And make a more significant impact.
"This year, I want to step into a bigger role, have some more production, be able to be counted on for the team to make plays when we have to make plays and not just do my job," he said. "I want to do more than that sometimes. And our teammates are there to support us, so if I stay within myself and stay within my frame and do what's asked of me, stress my body a little more to do what I'm able to do for the team, I feel like we can do good things together."
Obasih, a 6-foot-2, 268-pounder from Brookfield, Wis., certainly showed some of his growth during the team's spring game this year. Once again, he demonstrated why he could be such a feared player on the defensive line, recording four tackles with a team-best 2.5 sacks for a loss of 27 yards. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one.
"Chikwe's got some ability," Badgers head coach Paul Chryst said afterward. "I liked what he did."
Last year, Obasih served as a vital piece to a re-tooled front seven that lost most of the team's leading tacklers. On the defensive line, departed players included Pat Muldoon, Ethan Hemer and Tyler Dippel. Obasih appeared in all 14 games and made seven starts. However, he also felt like he was playing catch-up the entire season because of his lack of experience and the important role he was playing so soon.
"We felt like we were rushed to get there and make sure everything was ready to fit the scheme since we had a lot of new guys coming into the front," Obasih said. "This spring we took a step back. Re-taught the techniques, re-taught exactly what we need to do and what we want to do to ensure that we have success this fall. Honestly I feel still uncomfortable. But that's a good thing."
Obasih, too, took a step back this spring. So far back that he spent time running with the second-teamers in the base defensive package. It was a curious decision given that Obasih appeared locked into a starting role.
But Obasih explained the move by giving credit to defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield, who helped him adjust to the methods of a largely new coaching staff. Though defensive coordinator Dave Aranda is in his third season with the team, he is the only returning assistant off last year's team. Breckterfield previously was a defensive line coach at Pitt with Chryst.
"I feel like that's something that I needed to have happen," Obasih said. "It was a reality check. He didn't do it because I was struggling, but he felt like I needed to be slowed down to get the technique. Because I felt like everyone else was getting exactly his message. But I was still stuck on the old coaching techniques. And so if it wasn't for that, spring would have turned out a lot differently."
Obasih is expected to occupy one of the starting defensive end spots this fall, though it remains to be seen which player will line up opposite him: Alec James, Jake Keefer or possibly Arthur Goldberg. His expectation level for himself is higher in his second season on the line. And now that he has the technique to back up his athleticism, those expectations appear warranted.
"I get on myself and get into a little rut," Obasih said. "But I have my teammates to get me out of it. As long as I keep on correcting myself and getting better, not dwelling too hard on the things I do mess up on, I feel like the sky's the limit for all the things we can do together as a team."
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