While UW's front seven has been solid, coach Bret Bielema wants the secondary to start making some plays.

The standard has been set for the University of Wisconsin football team's defense.

Now, it's up to the secondary -- specifically, the cornerbacks -- to reach the level established by the front seven through the first seven games.

"The front seven has been amazing," junior cornerback Niles Brinkley said this week. "In order to have a great defense, in every level of your defense, you want to have amazing play.

"In order for us to be a great defense, the DBs have to step their game up and try to get on the level of the front seven."

UW defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks talked earlier in the week about scrapping the four-player rotation at cornerback and finding the best two or three players.

All head coach Bret Bielema said after practice on Thursday is he put pressure on the top four cornerbacks during the bye.

"Last week, we put the pressure on those four guys: 'It's a bye week for everybody else but we really need you this week, every play matters, everything counts,'" Bielema said.

"I like the way they responded. Bottom line, Saturday is going to show us the results."

The secondary will be challenged by Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott, who is second in the Big Ten Conference in passing, averaging 252.8 yards per game. He has a strong arm and gets rid of the ball quickly, making him difficult to sack. The Boilermakers have attempted the second-most passes in the conference (293), while allowing 11 sacks, the fourth-lowest.

Elliott's also a threat to run, which means defensive linemen staying in pass-rush lanes and keeping their hands in the air will be key.

"This week, PBUs (pass breakups) are like sacks for us," UW defensive end O'Brien Schofield said. "If we can knock that ball down, that's one (pass) that's down. He's pretty accurate. His receivers are really good at scramble routes. The biggest thing for us is up front, we have to be a force."

Schofield was encouraged by the way the cornerbacks have responded in practice.

"Those guys are really breaking on the ball and flying around," he said. "It's good to see them challenging every pass. That's something I haven't seen in a while from those guys."

Senior straight talk

After two straight losses, Schofield and tight end Mickey Turner, two of the four senior captains, asked Bielema last week if they could talk to the seniors.

"Biggest thing we wanted to relay is this is all we have right here, a 5-2 football team," Schofield said. "It's important for us to be leaders as a group of seniors and not accept the losing feeling and not allow guys on the team to accept that."

Among the things that can't be tolerated, Schofield said, are individual miscues like dropped interceptions.

"Take pride in your individual job and it will all come together as a team," Schofield said.

Extra points

Bielema said freshman Chris Borland would start at strong-side linebacker, but junior Blake Sorensen could also play at the spot vacated by the season-ending knee injury to leading tackler Mike Taylor. Sorensen could also see a lot of playing time at middle linebacker, since the Boilermakers throw a lot. Culmer St. Jean is the starting middle linebacker, but he's better against the run. ...

Bielema said David Gilreath will handle the first kickoff return and Isaac Anderson will get his first chance of the season on the second. Nick Toon could also get a chance to return kicks. ...

John Clay is scheduled to make a second straight start at tailback. Freshman Montee Ball will be the primary backup on first and second downs. Bielema said Zach Brown, who missed the last game with a concussion, might play on third downs.

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