Aranda knows Badgers

You know the drill, the one for a team scurrying to figure out what an opening opponent’s new coach or coordinator might be up to with his new team.

It generally involves calling in favors from friends in the profession, a mad-cap dash to find and study taped evidence of what the newcomer did at his previous stop. Then you try to Photoshop it in to blend with different players.

Wisconsin is no different as it tries to scheme for Saturday’s season opener against LSU’s new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda.

Oh, except for one thing — the Badgers’ brain trust only had to walk down the hall, or wherever their film archive is located, to find every game Aranda coached in the last three years.

It was considered a major coup when LSU head coach Les Miles hired Aranda, considered one the nation’s brightest young defensive minds, away from Wisconsin after last season.

It also assured what the top story line would be Saturday at Lambeau Field, with Aranda going against the program where he became a rising star in coaching.

It’s sort of a chicken-or-egg argument of which team benefits the most for this game.

Aranda, of course, theoretically knows not only the personnel and the strengths and weaknesses of Wisconsin’s offense, he should have most of the playbook memorized.

Wisconsin?

Aranda’s defensive calling card is attacking from all angles while confusing offenses by heavily disguising which angle is in play at the moment. The Badgers, if nothing else, should know most of his ploys and tricks.

Advantage who?

Aranda hasn’t been available for comment.

Both head coaches think it’s much ado about nothing.

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst, who’s heavily involved in the Badgers’ offense, told media in Madison that, “It’s going to be a big story line, but I don’t know if anyone’s got the upper hand.

“We’re going to be different than what we were last year and what LSU will do (on defense) will be different than what we did last year.

“In the end, it’s LSU and Wisconsin. Coaches will have a part in it, but the game will be played by the players between the lines.”

For that matter, it’s LSU that is kind of scrambling to figure out how Wisconsin’s defense will change under a new coordinator, Justin Wilcox, who came from Southern Cal.

Aranda probably can’t help much there.

“More of personnel,” Miles said when asked how Aranda’s inside knowledge affected the preparations. “Really, more the strengths than anything.

“He knows he left a very talented defense and he knows that on offense they have two very talented tailbacks that can run the football behind a big offensive line.

“He basically gave the thumbnail sketch. (He) really didn’t feel like it was all that professional to give too much. So he kind of gave me the overview and that’s all I asked for.”

If Aranda can do for LSU’s defense what he did with the Badgers, it probably won’t matter how much inside information he utilizes.

The Tigers’ traditionally stingy defense slipped badly last season — 41st nationally in points allowed (24.3 ppg) and 25th in yardage (347.2 ypg).

Under Aranda, Wisconsin led the nation in points allowed (13.7), was third in total yardage (268.5), No. 4 in rushing defense (95.4) and No. 7 in passing defense (173.2).

It was no fluke.

In his three years with the Badgers, over that span Wisconsin was first nationally in yards allowed, second in points allowed, third in passing yards and fourth in rushing yards.

His defenses had five shutouts in those three years (LSU had two) while 13 other times the Badgers held a team to one touchdown or less.

Miles has seen the handiwork since Aranda arrived in Baton Rouge.

“Real physical style, fast,” Miles described it. “Speed to the ball. Performed extremely well during scrimmages. It was extremely hard for us to move the football.

“It will be interesting,” Miles summed up. “I know (Aranda) cares very much for the place us used to work. To line up against them and the players coached … I know he respects Wisconsin extremely well.”

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