MADISON, Wis. -- The lights dimmed in the corner room of Wisconsin's second-floor indoor practice facility, with 14 attentive football players across three rows of chairs staring at an overhead projection screen. They carried with them snacks, bottled water, pens and blank sheets of paper -- plus the hopes of an entire campus, abuzz with anticipation five days before the Badgers' biggest home game in years.
In this meeting room, members of Wisconsin's secondary convened for a pre-practice crash course on the complexities of Ohio State's passing offense. The undefeated, second-ranked Buckeyes possess a Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback J.T. Barrett and enough wide receiver skill to fill an all-conference team. The task of stopping all that talent will fall on these cornerbacks and safeties.
The task of preparing the group falls largely on the shoulders of Jim Leonhard, a three-time first-team all-Big Ten safety at Wisconsin who is in his first year as the Badgers' defensive backs coach (and his first year as a coach at any level) and has become among the most crucial reasons for the impressive start on the back end. No. 8 Wisconsin has allowed only three passing touchdowns this season, which is tied for the best mark in the Big Ten. Every defensive back starter has recorded at least one interception.
"I'll honestly say he's been the key to bringing us to where we are now," said Badgers cornerback Sojourn Shelton, the team's only returning starter in the secondary. "We know that we can be so much better. And we get that mentality from him. ... He's the piece that's jelled us all together, as far as being confident in each other."
Much of that confidence starts in this room, where no details are spared in preparation for each opponent. Leonhard allowed ESPN.com access this week to a 45-minute team meeting with his defensive backs as they game planned for Ohio State (8 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC). During that time, he cycled through his unit's defensive strategy by diagramming plays, issuing scouting reports on key offensive players and providing a lengthy video session breaking down the Buckeyes' route concepts.
He also managed to have a little fun.
Leonhard began the session by mentioning a quote written on the back whiteboard. It was the handiwork of Badgers cornerback Natrell Jamerson, who has been sidelined while recovering from a leg injury.
"I don't know if you know, but in the past, he used to teach a little Kung Fu, a little Brazilian jiu-jitsu," Leonhard said as laughter filled the room. "One of his students came up to him and said, 'You teach me fighting, but you talk about peace. How do you reconcile the two?' Master Trell replied, 'It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.'
"First of all, I don't like to talk about war and football. Two separate things. But I think the message is pretty good. And to me, it's about preparation. It's preparing in times of peace. It's preparing when things are easy. For football, you take it as whether it's walkthroughs, whether it's meeting rooms, individuals, stuff like that. Are you working to get through it, or are you working to actually get better?"
Leonhard stood in the front, wearing a red Wisconsin crewneck shirt and gray Badgers sweatpants. He informed his players that Ohio State's run and pass game are simple in concept but effective on the field. The Buckeyes rank third nationally in points per game (53.2). He encouraged players that if they lock in, they will have an opportunity to win.
What followed was a master's level class in football terminology, as he ran through various defensive calls: Oscar, Charlie, Woody, Max, Sparrow, Match, Edge. He drew four Ohio State route concepts on the whiteboard and explained when Wisconsin should be in Cover 4 or Cover 3 defense.
Leonhard focused on when his defensive backs should morph into a bandit, a hybrid linebacker/defensive back who moves out of his natural position to either blitz or fake blitz to confuse the offense. He discussed how defensive backs should react if a linebacker rushes the quarterback and when to line up as a quarterback spy.
"If they were to run option at you, you would throw the brakes on and make him take a little time, just buying time for the Mike [linebacker]," Leonhard said. "If you go smack the quarterback and have him pitch it, it's just a foot race between him and the backer. You still have the quarterback. Nothing's changed. We're just trying to buy one extra click for our linebacker to be able to push through."
An explanation of Ohio State running a "7" or corner route, which requires the receiver to drive and then stem, or fake inside before making a break, led to a discussion with Shelton and safety D'Cota Dixon on how best to align and combat. Leonhard is not afraid to turn to the input of the Badgers' veteran leaders for what they're most comfortable with on the field.
That Leonhard has been able to adapt so quickly as a coach is not a surprise. After the team meeting, he mentioned that he grew up in a family of coaches -- aunts, uncles, mom and dad -- who coached anything from basketball to baseball to volleyball. Coaching represents a natural next step in his career. He said he prided himself on being a mentor to younger players during the final years of his 10-year NFL career and described his brief tenure with the Badgers as "a pretty seamless transition."
He said college football offenses are generally less complex than those in the NFL and are therefore easier to prepare for. The biggest challenge, he noted, has been finding the best methods to connect with players.
"I try to be efficient and not overload guys," Leonhard said. "Some guys can't handle it. If you try to give too much, sometimes that gets you in trouble. That has been my struggle -- just trying to figure out what's enough and what's too much because ultimately, you just want guys to play fast and go compete. Just because you can see it doesn't mean they can. It's that fine line."
Players have taken to Leonhard's instructions because of his ability to easily communicate intricate bits of information. His on-field accomplishments also command instant respect.
"I love the way he coaches," Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said. "I think he gives them some things that are tangible that they can truly take. He's not trying to impress them with his knowledge. He's trying to figure out ways he can help them."
Following the initial X's and O's session, Leonhard moved on to Phase 2 of the team meeting: the scouting report. He began with Barrett, who has 15 touchdown passes and three interceptions. Barrett also ranks third on the team in rushing yards and has four touchdowns.
"He's an athletic guy," Leonhard told his players. "We've got to make him pay when he runs the ball. I don't see him making a whole lot of guys miss. I think he's faster than he is shifty. So safeties, [if] we get a chance, hit it, man."
Leonhard described Ohio State receiver Dontre Wilson and H-back Curtis Samuel as "big-time difference-makers" and compared them to Percy Harvin in their ability to line up at running back or receiver. Leonhard is particularly concerned about Samuel, who ranks in the top eight in the Big Ten in rushing and receiving yards.
"You watch him, the thing that he gets guys on is if he kind of goes lazy in a route, don't believe it," Leonhard said. "He'll stem you. He's going to break hard as hell. Everything he's going to do, he's going to be patient at the top of routes. But if he starts just kind of bending into something, he's going opposite. Don't fall for the trap."
Finally, Leonhard arrived at Ohio State's other major receiving weapon. Noah Brown leads the Buckeyes with five touchdown catches, including four against Oklahoma.
"I have yet to see a guy play good technique in press on him," Leonhard said. "He is very good. If he gets you a step behind, he is damn good at trapping the ball, going and attacking it, making plays over the top of corners. But I have yet to see a corner play it from a good position. So the way you play in press, he is not going to run past you. Same thing when you watch that on tape. He is never more than this far away from a guy. Haven't seen it yet. So you can challenge him."
Leonhard cued up his video cut-ups and spent the final 20 minutes holding a clicker and laser pointer to highlight Ohio State's route concepts. There were introductions to each set of plays labeled in red: Sail, Spot 7, Curls/Hitches, Post: Dino, Pin, X, Screens: Swing/Bubble, Rail and Digs/Speedo. Leonhard spent the team's bye week after a 14-7 loss to Michigan compiling clips he wanted to display. They came from games this season against Bowling Green, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Indiana, as well as last year's Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame.
He showed examples of receivers James Clark and Terry McLaurin being used in screen scenarios. He explained how receiver Parris Campbell is patient at the top of his routes. He used footage of Brown to reiterate his point and boost confidence in his defensive backs.
"Watch the deep curl," Leonhard said. "Watch 80 [Brown]. I don't know. I don't think he's threatening your speed, right? Trust who you are. Know who he is. I don't think he's going to run past you."
He pointed out a particular offensive alignment that featured Ohio State repeatedly running slant routes into the boundary side of the field. One receiver springs free for a touchdown. Finally, Leonhard showed Ohio State running a "speedo" route, in which only two receivers go out with an eight-man protection.
"This is when they're good," Leonhard said. "They get you here, they win consistently."
Leonhard flicked the lights on and reminded his players that they can watch all the routes on their team-issued iPads. He warned them about Ohio State's tempo before closing with a final message.
"You just have to communicate, which you've done a really good job of," he said. "Is that nearly as hard as Michigan last week? Michigan was something new every single snap. These guys are almost the complete opposite. You'll watch the game and be like, 'Damn, they did exactly what we saw.' We'll just have to see early recognizing the formations that they're going to be in, then we'll motion. ...
"We'll do a great job of it because we've done it all year long. The biggest thing is to be ready. Build up to this game. Coming out of a bye week, you've got to bring the energy from snap one. Freakin' night game at Camp Randall, that should be pretty easy. They'll be locked in. We'll be locked in. Let's go compete. Get after them, man."
The players stood to leave, ready for practice a floor below and more prepared than ever for the challenge of stopping Ohio State.