The Family Dinner Table: What Can WKU Do to Give Itself a Shot at Alabama?
FB: WKU opens the season against Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Can WKU hang with the Tide?
If you’re a sports fan, hopefully you have someone you can talk about your favorite team with. Well, for father-son duo David and Matt McCay, they are each other’s backboard to see if any of their ideas are of any account.
Heated battles may happen around the dinner table at your home, so in honor of those tense moments when you nearly roll into a fight about long snapper depth, we salute you with this series from the McCay’s. Hopefully they won’t roll into a public argument, but hey things happen.
Before and after each game, Matt and David will put their own spins on their thoughts on the matchup. In a preview article, they’ll talk about what they see, whatever that may be, whether it’s about the food at the stadium, fan experience, roster depth, or big picture football thoughts. One will go and then the other.
In honor of the Monday morning quarterbacks, the heated debates, the differing opinions, and the people screaming from the upper deck, this one’s for you.
“I brought you into this world, and I’ll take you out!” -David McCay
To Do or Not To Do The Entire Depth Charts
After looking at several articles about Alabama starters and depth charts after camp completed this week, I thought I would list them all here in this article. I figured out I would never get that completed for both teams. Plus, Matt reminded me there is a deadline to get this out. Also, Alabama nor Western has released an official depth chart at the time of this article, so I will list players for The Crimson Tide and WKU who better be impact players. There will be a later article that will contain the depth charts for both teams before game time.
Alabama‘a Key Players on Offense
Jalen Milroe (#4) returns as the starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide. Preseason named as a Heisman Candidate and looking to improve on his 2023 statistics, Jalen completed 65.8% of his passes for 2,834 Yards, 23 Touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Good news for Western…Milroe was sacked 44 times in 2023 and Alabama quarterbacks overall were sacked 49 times.
Justice Haynes (#22), Jam Miller (#26), and Richard Young (#9) are reported to be a three headed Cerberus at running back this year. Without big name receivers, the running game at Alabama will be a big key. Without it, they will struggle this year.
Senior CJ Dippre #81 had 44 receptions and 526 yards and three TDs.
Josh Cuevas #80, a junior transfer from Washington, had 66 receptions for 898 yards and seven TDs.
Kobe Prentice #6 is a junior X-Receiver that has caught 49 passes for 651 yards and four TDs.
Germie Bernard #5 is a junior H-Receiver and transfer from the Washington Huskies. In his career he has caught 41 passes for 547 yards and four TDs.
Kendrick Law #1 is a junior Z-Receiver that has caught 23 passes for 238 yards and zero TDs.
Offensive Line - Kayden Proctor #74 or Elijah Pritchett #57, Tyler Booker #52, Parker Brailsford #72, Jaeden Roberts #77, and Wilkin Formby #75 should be the starters in some form on Saturday. Kayden Proctor left Alabama earlier this year to go home to Iowa and play for the Hawkeyes, but transferred back a few months later.
Alabama’s Key players on Defense
D-Line - Jah-Marien Latham #20, Tim Smith #50, Tim Keenan III #96, Quandarrius Robinson #34
Linebackers - Deontae Lawson #0 at Mike and Jihaad Campbell #11 at Stinger
Cornerbacks - Domani Jackson #1, DaShawn Jones #7, Zabien Brown #2
Safeties - DeVonta Smith #8 at Husky, Malachi Moore #13 at Free, and Keon Sabb #3 at Strong
My thoughts about the Alabama Roster
This team is very young on both sides of the field. On offense, they show 27 freshmen, 17 sophomores, 18 juniors, and 4 seniors. On Defense, they show 22 freshmen, 13 sophomores, 15 juniors, and 6 seniors. Meaning after the starters, you have a bunch of freshmen waiting their turns. All these players are highly recruited, quality players.
Western Kentucky Key Players on Offense
TJ Finley #2 is a 6’7” redshirt junior transfer from Texas State. For his career, TJ has completed 62.9% of his passes for 5,638 yards, 36 TDs and 18 INTs while at LSU, Auburn, and Texas State. TJ is the assumed starter, but the quarterback race has been very close.
Caden Veltkamp #10 is a 6’6” redshirt sophomore from South Warren High in Bowling Green, KY. For his career, Caden has completed 77.6% of his passes for 412 yards, Five TDs, and one INT. Veltcamp has acquitted himself well during camp this year. Experience is the only thing that will keep him from starting on Saturday.
Marshall Jackson #53 (Jr), Quantavious Leslie #78 (Sr), Evan Wibberley # 58 (So), Wesley Horton # 50 (Jr), Michael Ondelacy #74 (Sr) will probably be the starters on the offensive line on Saturday. Western coaches went to the portal to find quality linemen this season that will serve as backups.
Dalvin Smith #17 (Sr) is the starting X-receiver returning for his senior season. Dalvin hopes to add to his 100 receptions for 1,165 yards and 17 TDs.
Kisean Johnson #0 is a senior transfer Z-receiver from Alcorn State. Kisean caught 105 passes for 1,451 yards and 11 TDs. This is a nice experienced pickup to add to the receiving corps.
Michael Mathison #4 (Gr) as slot receiver has 150 receptions for 1,675 yards and eight TDs between Akron and WKU.
Easton Messer #8 (So) as slot receiver had a break out 2023 with 42 receptions for 484 yards and four TDs. When the first six receivers went down last year, Easton stepped up, giving WKU a reliable threat.
Running Backs - Elijah Young #3 (Sr), Jalen Hampton #30 (Tr Jr), and LT Sanders #7 (Jr) will be the top three running backs for the Hilltoppers in 2024. Elijah surely gets the start. Jalen rushed for almost 2,000 yards while at Elon.
Western Kentucky Key Players on Defense
Linebackers - Sebastian Benjamin #9 Jack, Devon Lynch #51 Middle, and Anthony Brackenridge #31 will be the likely starters in the middle of the defense on Saturday. This group must plug the holes and stop the running backs and cause disruption in the backfield occasionally in Tuscaloosa.
Upton Stout #21 (Jr) Nickel, Anthony Johnson, Jr #4 LCB, and Kent Robinson #11 RCB are the projected starters at the corners this Saturday. Robinson is a transfer from Texas A&M. They must cover the Alabama Receivers.
Demarko Williams #7 is a Junior transfer from Ole Miss who will likely start at Strong Safety.
Devonte’ Matthews #14 is a senior transfer from Nichols State who we think will be starting at free safety.
Deante McCray #8 DE, Jalil Rivera-Harvey #99 NT, and Hosea Wheeler #0 DT will likely be the starters on Saturday. This group must get pressure on the quarterbacks and contain the running backs.
My thoughts on the Western Kentucky Roster
After so many injuries in 2023, Western has worked very hard to bring in quality players from the portal and find good young talent, too. Western will have quality depth at every position. Western’s roster is dominated by upperclassmen, so experience will be less of an issue. I think this bodes well for the season. As long as WKU doesn’t have as many injuries this year, we will be a good team.
“You forced me into this world; I’ll force you out!” -Matt McCay
Dad’s breaking down the roster and all of that this week, so I’m going to look at the big picture. What five things can WKU do to make life difficult on Alabama? Or more like it, let’s be honest…I love the Tops, but it’s really what can Alabama screw up enough to give WKU a chance?
Keys to Victory
Jaylen Milroe Needs to Look Human
If WKU lets Jaylen Milroe go off for 400 total yards by himself, you can forget a WKU upset. If he’s at 500+, the Tops probably don’t stay within 30 and possibly lose by seven or eight touchdowns. Keep in mind that Milroe can pass and throw, so the Tops will either have to take risks, pin their ears back, and try to force big mistakes, or they’ll have to go with assignment football and have someone keeping an eye on Milroe at all times, taking a more conservative approach and just hoping the Tide mess up some. If Milroe is average, WKU could hang with the Tide on the scoreboard for sure.
TJ Finley Needs to be More than Advertised
I generally try to avoid talking about quarterbacks, because they’re so obviously important. Of course they’re important! So why talk about them over and over? But in this matchup, QB play could determine everything. Ok, TJ, you’ve won the starting job fair and square. Now all you’ve gotta do is get out there and beat Alabama, son. That’s all.
Listen, TJ Finley has been there done that in terms of being a high level college QB. He has beaten a Power Five school as a starting QB, so he has that confidence that he can play with the big boys. Finley needs to take that next step immediately and be a nationally elite quarterback in order to beat Alabama. There’s no way he throws under 300 yards and gives WKU a shot. He must be extraordinary. He’s a Power Five talent and a proven winner.
Turn the Pressure Up
I know I presented playing conservative as an option to slow down Jaylen Milroe, but I didn’t mean it. I look at Alabama’s pass protection from last year and salivate if I’m Tyson Summers. That is something I can work with! 49 sacks given up? That is a bona fide weakness, and I’m centering my game plan around blowing up the offensive line. Now, Alabama will undoubtedly be better than 49 sacks up front given they return three starters and a transfer from Washington. Nonetheless, regardless of the stats from last year, the only way WKU can make some hay defensively is some type of big play ability. I say go for it, and knowing Tyson Helton’s approach at Ohio State last year, he’s going to go for it. I guarantee you Tyson Summers dials up the pressure and throws all kinds of junk at Alabama to see if any of it sticks. WKU must get in the backfield and cause problems, or again, you can kiss any hope of drama goodbye. And it doesn’t even matter if they’re incredible this season. You still have to blow up the line of the scrimmage or it ain’t happening.
Don’t Crap the Bed
Usually when a Group of Five team folds under the pressure of a Power Five’s dominance, it’s not just because they got overpowered. It’s usually because someone screws up and they start to fall apart mentally. If you notice, it usually comes in waves. It’s usually not just a steady dominance. If they completely dominate you and they’re just better, fine. You weren’t going to win, anyway. But if you can hang in there and compete, who the heck knows what results from that effort?
You might just find yourselves in the game, and if you don’t completely crap the bed, you’ll have a shot unless they’re just plain better than you in all areas. But on certain nights, any team can hang with any team. And that’s what the Hilltoppers need to rely on. Hang in there and fight, and dadgumit, if you get slapped up side the head, so be it. But if you happen to be in it, don’t crap the bed. That’s with coaching and dumb decisions, that’s with players missing assignments, and that’s with allowing things to snowball as a team. The upset happens when everybody keeps their cool and acts like they belong in the ring and takes the opportunity when it presents itself.
Red Zone and Hidden Yardage
Want to pull off a monumental upset? The way you make sure you don’t is miss the layups and allow the opponent easy opportunities to take control. If you make life difficult, sometimes you’re rewarded. If Alabama is in the red zone, do they kick a field goal or score a touchdown? If WKU is down at their own 1, do they give up a blocked punt and a touchdown, or do they find a way to get a few first downs and gain back some field position with a booming punt? If there’s any surefire scoring opportunity that goes awry on either side of the ball, those can change everything in a close game. That’s the kind of moment Alabama has always been good at, and it’s the moment the little guy almost always loses.
Prediction
David
I am excited to see The Toppers play this year. If WKU can produce yards and scores this year, the Hilltoppers will be better than advertised. Western has a plethora of players with good career numbers and experience. Everyone must do their job, improve on their previous seasons, and take care of the business at hand. I feel that Alabama’s inexperience and lack of depth will cause them problems this year. Hopefully, WKU can exploit some of those weaknesses and keep the game close.
Surprisingly, Alabama is ranked preseason #5 with untested offensive talent and only freshman depth at skill positions (QB, RB, WR, TE). By this I mean, Alabama returns two quarterbacks, two running backs, two wide receivers (Plus a transfer), one tight end, and some linemen. The rest are freshmen. The returning players other than the starting quarterback and Heisman candidate Jalen Milroe and some linemen, saw limited action in 2023. Do they have talent? Certainly. Fantastic, highly recruited, ranked, young but mostly unproven talent. Alabama’s defense has a little more proven depth and some returning players, but still not what like it has been in the past several years. Overall, Alabama is a very young but very talented team.
Western Kentucky lost several players in the portal this year, but also found equal or better talent to bring into camp. Western pulled talent from power conferences and best players from some lower conferences as well. Overall, I believe WKU’s talent is better than last year at most positions. The big question will be, will these players mix well and play as a team? If they do, the sky is the limit.
WKU will need to play out of their minds to win this game. Everyone will need to play their best. Coaches have preached, “being the best teammate”, “being the best individual”, “knowing your job”, “playing together as family”, “Why not WKU!” There may never be a better opportunity for Western to pull a HUGE upset and get a nice multi million dollar paycheck.
Alabama has a new head coach. They lost several starters to the portal and NFL Draft. After the starters, they are super young. So there is the chance of a let down game this season. Nonetheless, Alabama should win this game handily. Alabama has the greater talent. They have the longer greater storied football history and a much larger pocketbook. Unfortunately, I do not see an upset happening. WKU 21 - Alabama 56.
Matt
Sometimes you feel like you’ve got a shot, and sometimes you don’t. This matchup just doesn’t feel like an opportunity to beat the big guy. And it’s not because it’s Alabama. It’s because Alabama just answers a lot of questions that WKU forces you to answer.
TJ Finley and Caden Veltkamp are competent options under center. Jalen Milroe is a Heisman candidate. Running back and receiver are most likely a clear advantage for Alabama. Alabama’s O-Line can’t be worse than 49 sacks, and WKU’s OL likely can’t replicate the incredible 13 sacks given up last season. Special teams for sure is questionable for WKU. WKU’s DL is a big mystery and so is Alabama’s. LB’s are both solid on both sides. The only area that could be argued is the better unit for WKU is the secondary. But every other position group (even not accounting for Alabama’s overall talent level) is either comparable to WKU or better.
Therefore unfortunately for the sake of honesty, I’m calling an Alabama blowout. It’s just what I see. I’ve got Alabama 45-Western Kentucky 10.
Finally, sports are back on The Hill, and Towel Rack is here to be your source for all things WKU. Tune in for more articles, live tweeting, reaction to big news, and the podcast. We truly appreciate our loyal audience! GO TOPS!
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