Whether or not he meant it to come across this way, defensive coordinator Mike Tressel gave Wisconsin football's offense a subtle back-handed compliment speaking to the media at the end of spring practice.

“It’s really nice to have some quarterbacks that can make some plays," he said , speaking about the growth he's seen from his defense. "Some plays are gonna be made; can you maintain that trust and belief?"

Tressel of course wasn't trying to directly insult the Badgers' quarterback rooms of years past; he was making a larger point about the growth of his defense. But in doing so, he quietly addressed the elephant in the room: Wisconsin's quarterbacks haven't been good enough in the Fickell era.

Wisconsin Badgers defensive Coordinator Mike Tressel. | Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Still, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Head coach Luke Fickell and company have amassed arguably their deepest quarterback room yet in Madison.…