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D'oh! After Andrew Rosin outlined his concerns regarding David Gilbert's comments on Taylor Martinez earlier today, Bret Bielema told reporters on Thursday night that the defensive end won't be starting against Nebraska.
Based on the tenor of Bielema's remarks, it seems as though Gilbert will be held out only briefly. Gilbert, a junior defensive end, told ESPN Wisconsin's Tom Lea that he isn't convinced with Martinez' progression as a quarterback this season. After completing only 56.3 percent of his passes last season, Martinez has boosted that number to 70.7 while adding nine touchdowns to only one interception.
"It still looks like he's skipping rocks out there to me," Gilbert said. "But that's not my concern. That's probably more a concern of the defensive backs. My concern is hitting him. I don't care what he throws like. I'm not trying to let him throw at all.
"He still can't throw. I'm just going to say it. He still can't throw. He's not going to beat us with his arm."
Bielema held his weekly Thursday night powwow with the media and had this to say regarding Gilbert's status:
Bret Bielema on David Gilbert's comments: 'He'll be skipping rocks on the sideline w/ me for the first play.' #Badgers #Huskers
— Tom Lea (@ESPNTomLea) September 27, 2012
Other notes from Bielema's presser:
- Defensive ends Brendan Kelly (hamstring) Pat Muldoon (broken hand) will be out, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Dave Heller. That means Tyler Dippel and Konrad Zagzebski will be the starting ends for Wisconsin.
- As expected, Montee Ball is cleared to play after sustaining a concussion (his second in two months) against UTEP last Saturday.