All-Big Ten cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun says defensive backs coach Jay Sawvel's ratio of constructive criticism to compliment is about 20 to 1.
"That's for a fifth-year senior," Boddy-Calhoun said, "so you can only imagine the ratio for a young guy."
Sawvel coaches a senior-laden defensive backfield touted early as one of the best in the Big Ten, with Boddy-Calhoun and Eric Murray at the corners, and Antonio Johnson and Damarius Travis at safety.
"Coaching is like medicine," Sawvel said. "It doesn't always taste good, but it's meant to help you."
Coming off a second straight eight-win season, defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys wants to further eliminate his group's "crucial mistakes at crucial times.