MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin offensive line is in midst of a tough stretch, and according to Eric Mateos, that’s by design.
Mateos is in his first year mentoring one of the program’s most vaunted position groups after coming over from Arkansas. Wisconsin’s entered its second week of fall camp practices Tuesday after starting Aug. 6, and the past two sessions have seen Mateos display his displeasure with his unit. It could be vocally on the sideline during a break in the practice, or having certain linemen perform up-downs after individual position work.
“At this stage, practice (No. 5) is all about I’m trying to kill them,” Mateos said Tuesday. “I’m trying to break them. I’m trying to break them down like a wild bronco. And practice (No. 5), there’s a wall in the mind that they have to understand is built of softness, thoughts.
“We all have it, alright, and we’re attacking that. That’s the emphasis right now. We’re working on fundamentals. We’re working on the install, and all of that is really important. But practice (No. 5), probably till we get through practice (No. 8), we try to break them down and try to prune them. You gotta cut the flowers down a little bit if you want them to grow a little bit bigger and more beautiful, and that’s what I’m trying to do right now.”
Mateos has liked how his linemen have responded.
“Just the way they just looked at me just now at the end of practice, all eyes up. They’re dead. I got them,” Mateos said. “I’m talking to them. I’m trying to win the mental warfare on them all day long. I’m trying to win in the Inception — the movie “Inception” — I told them I’m two levels down in your dreams, and I’m just trying to teach them that.
“Because here’s the deal: on Sept. 6th, I’m not going to be out there. It’s going to be five guys versus the world. And when you’re in O-line, that’s how it is. Every time you’re on the field, home or away, because if you don’t perform well, the home fans hate you, too. So when you’re out there and your coach ain’t out there, it’s five guys versus the world. So we’re trying to get them comfortable with that that mentality.”
Watch and listen to Mateos’ full availability with reporters after Wisconsin’s practice Tuesday inside the Kellner Family Athletic Center.
Expect more fall camp interviews with Badgers from that day to drop on Badger Observer throughout August. We’ve already published videos of the following since last week:
Linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa
Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!
Among the topics discussed with Mateos include:
Offensive line depth with injuries to likely starters Kevin Heywood and Emerson Mandell
Right tackle Lucas Simmons-Johansson having “an unbelievable offseason” and playing strong
Leadership within the group of returners
Why he’s “really happy” with where the run game install is
Why he communicates the way he does
Which second-team players Mateos mentioned
What’s made Hardy Watts “the biggest surprise from spring to now”
The mechanics behind center Ryan Cory’s new snapping technique
PJ Wilkins being “just an angry man when he plays,” and where he needs to improve on
Why he took the Wisconsin offensive line coach job
