Lucas at Large: Dooley, Jacobs strengthen UW’s edge rush
September 16, 2017 | Football, Mike Lucas
Senior leaders drive Badgers’ attack at outside linebacker
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Besides Garret Dooley's expanded role as a full-time starting outside linebacker — he started twice last season for an injured Vince Biegel — the fifth-year senior has a different look.
When he rolls up his sleeves to go to work — figuratively, in concert with so many of the industrious, blue-collar players on the roster — you literally can't help but notice the ink on his left arm.
"It's definitely new," he confirmed of his tattoos. "I got most of it done in March and finished it up in May. My dad was a little shocked at first when I said was going full sleeve. But he got behind it."
Since the tats are more personal than cosmetic, Dooley has reproduced a version of his father's military dog tags from war service to go along with an Irish heritage symbol on his triceps.
The overriding image on his arm is an anchor flanked by his family's initials.
"That stands for strength and stability," he said. "That's us as a whole."
Time to take it on the road Wisconsin at BYU Saturday in Provo, Utah 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC #OnWisconsin || #Badgers
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) September 10, 2017
In a football sense, Dooley and Leon Jacobs are trying to bring the same qualities to the defense, especially since they have been entrusted with replacing Biegel and T.J. Watt as the edge rushers.
UW coach Paul Chryst was asked about Jacobs during his Monday press conference. And he could have easily been talking about Dooley when citing the "investment" that Jacobs has made.
"That's what is fun when you're around seniors, guys like Leon," Chryst said, "who maybe haven't had the opportunity that he has now where he's the clear-cut starter.
"I also like the fact that Leon thinks he should impact the game."
Dooley is on that same wavelength with Jacobs.
"We haven't really talked about our roles individually," said Dooley, who's from Rochester, Illinois. "But we're really good friends off the field; we hang out all the time.
"It's a lot of fun playing out there with Leon. I think we've both settled in as senior leaders at outside linebacker. We're just both excited to go out and play and make plays."
In Saturday's win over Florida Atlantic, Jacobs had six tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack while Dooley had four tackles, two TFLs and a sack. Jacobs also had two TFLs in the opener against Utah State.
"I have a different role, but I'm embracing it," said the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Jacobs, who was nicknamed "Leon the Phenom" by his Golden Valley High School teammates in Santa Clarita, California.
Transitioning from a prep running back to outside linebacker to inside linebacker to fullback to inside 'backer to outside 'backer, Jacobs has made adjustments in each of the past five years.
That includes to a season-ending injury in 2015 after four games. But he still insisted that the tweaks and position changes have been "nothing too dramatic."
That opinion is consistent with the way that Jacobs goes about his business. "Everybody has a different role every year," he said. "I've got to make plays every game."
The future looks good ?? In 2020 and 2021, we'll kick off with #B1G games ?? 2020 ?? http://go.wisc.edu/us7152 ?? 2021 ?? http://go.wisc.edu/fr959n
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) September 12, 2017
Seniority demands as much.
"I'm more in a leadership role than last year with Vince and T.J. being the two starters," said Dooley. "Some of the younger guys are looking up to me as well as some of the less experienced guys.
"I need to take that to heart and just go out there and lead."
Jacobs has appeared in a team-high 47 games. But he has started only six times. Dooley, who also has lined up on the D-line and inside linebacker, has played in 27 games with four starts.
By comparison, Biegel had 40 starts, and Watt had 14. Before departing to the NFL, they shared their knowledge and left an impression on Dooley and Jacobs in more ways than one.
"It was nothing that they said," Jacobs pointed out. "But it was the way they played."
Strong. Fast. Freakish. Varsity Magazine features the incredible benchmarks our #Badgers hit in the weight room. ?? http://go.wisc.edu/varsity-8-2
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) September 7, 2017
On Watt's gung-ho approach, he said, "He was my motivation. I want to play like that."
Biegel and Watt did say something to Dooley that has shaped his mindset.
"They told me, 'Just go out there and be yourself. Don't try to be anyone else because that's when you get into trouble,'" he said, summarizing their message. "Be yourself. Fly around. Have fun."
A missed tackle can take some of the fun out of the game, he conceded.
"Especially when you put yourself in that situation and you know that you've made the plays in the past and you've come up short," he said. "It's definitely frustrating."
But you need to flush that play, he stressed, and make the next one.
Faces change each season, but the standard stays the same Nobody preaches that and teaches that more than @CoachTibs with the linebackers
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) September 11, 2017
"I definitely think there's a lot of things that I need to improve on," said the 6-3, 245-pound Dooley. "The physicality part is still there with me. That's always something I like to take pride in.
"But I need to work on getting after the quarterback more."
Jacobs has also put an emphasis on improving his pass rush. When asked on how he feels that he has performed in the first two games, he said, "All right. But I think I can get better."
Expanding that thought to a big-picture critique, Jacobs said, "The defense needs to get way better. But I wouldn't say we're in trouble."
On the contrary, he believes the Badgers are in a normal growth spurt. Has an identity been established yet? "Not really," Jacobs said. "We still have a couple of more games to do that.
"This week will be a good test on the road for us and we'll see how we do."
Wisconsin will travel to Provo, Utah, to face BYU, which has struggled on offense (33 points in three games). Neither Utah State, nor Florida Atlantic scored in the second half against the Badgers.
"Obviously something we need to do is come out with more of an edge at the beginning of the game," Dooley said of the defensive unit. "We need to come out and show who we actually are."
Strength and stability comes to mind for Jacobs and Dooley.
