WKU Football: Game Grades — Tops Much Improved From 2017

Western Kentucky football entered 2018 with 10,000 question marks. We’ve seen realistic predictions as high as eight wins, but as low as…

Western Kentucky football entered 2018 with 10,000 question marks. We’ve seen realistic predictions as high as eight wins, but as low as three.

The truth is no one knew if WKU would be decent or horrible.

After a 34–3 performance at #4 Wisconsin, Topper followers finally have some answers.

And you know what? Despite the scoreboard, not bad, fellas.

It looks like WKU has a good quarterback in Drew Eckels and a good backup in Davis Shanley, a good offensive line, hope in the running game, and a defense that impressed all night.

Let’s break it down.

Quarterback: B

Everybody’s favorite position, the quarterback position, showed signs of a legitimate heir to Brandon Doughty and Mike White. Drew Eckels and Davis Shanley showed some potential, especially in the running game. Eckels is not flashy, but from a decision making standpoint, I challenge one person to tell me he made one stupid decision all night.

Eckels and Shanley get as low as a B because of the statistics. They did rush for 67 yards on 12 carries (a HUGE positive and curveball from the past five years), but only threw for 181 yards and a 59% completion percentage.

In my opinion, Eckels has solidified himself as the starter for at least a few weeks. This was a nice performance with growth potential.

Running Back: D+

This would probably be lower, but record setting anemia the previous year makes it nearly acceptable. The stat line is hideous, with the five contributing running backs combining for 58 rushing yards and 13 receiving yards on a total of 22 touches.

To the positive, Eckels and Shanley were hurried or sacked a total of three times all game. Amazing performance against a top five team. Part of the credit has to go to the running backs for protecting the quarterback.

Overall, some new names emerged as possible options in the running game, and each back showed potential to gain yards. Frankly, it’s still looking bleak. WKU may need its quarterbacks to carry the running game.

Offensive Line: A

When I watched the game live, Western’s offensive line, especially considering their youth, was extremely impressive. After watching it back later, I’m even more impressed. WKU’s quarterback’s were sacked or hurried a total of three times. In addition, the running game mustered 125 yards, and by the end of the game, the offense had mustered over 300 yards against a defense ranked no less than third in the country in most categories in 2017.

Against a ranked opponent with some good defensive players and a few All-Americans, that is remarkable. If I’m a Western fan looking for hope, I’m jumping all over the improvement in the offensive line.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: D

Coach Sanford has talked about how strong and deep this group should be. The wide receiver match-up was something he felt optimistic about heading into the first game. For whatever reason, WKU’s receiving corps could not get it done against Wisconsin. Xavier Lane struggled in particular, dropping multiple passes beyond the sticks. All told, no Topper receiver or tight end had more than 48 yards (Sloan) or four receptions (Lane and Jackson). That just won’t get it done.

Overall Offensive Performance: C+

This was not an earth shattering performance, but ultimately, the Topper offense mustered over 300 yards against what should be a great defense. Even if Wisconsin comes back to Earth defensively, this was much more than most people would have thought coming into the game.

For perspective, the Hilltoppers only mustered 125 total rushing yards one time in 2017 (141 vs. La Tech). WKU busted a run of 15 yards or more in only four games.

Wisconsin surrendered 125 rushing yards or more only four times last season. In addition, WKU’s 181 passing yards only happened six times against a Badger defense that was third or better nationally in most categories in 2017. The Tops’ total offensive was only bested by four Wisconsin opponents last season, a team which ended up ranked well inside the Top 10.

Defensive Line: C+

I felt better about this one after the first time I watched, but when I really broke it down, the defensive line had significant help from blitzing linebackers and defensive backs. Of WKU’s three sacks, all came on blitzes. The defensive line never got home on their own.

However, they did produce, and they got some push and caused problems throughout the game. The Topper defense surrendered less than 500 yards against a good Power 5 offense, a sign of a pretty good performance. They did not get utterly manhandled. However, after really breaking down each play from the Wisconsin game, I have some significant concerns for the defensive line moving forward.

Linebackers: A+

WKU only fields two linebackers in its 4–2–5 defense. But the two that were in and their subs were present and impactful. Team captain Ben Holt and budding star Masai Whyte were incredible, combining for 17 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 2.5 tackles for loss. In addition to these two starters, Kentucky transfer Eli Brown and others sit in the wings to mop up when they step out of the game for a few plays.

Defensive Backs: A

The Topper secondary was a fairly known quantity heading into the 2018 season. Now, with a stellar performance against Wisconsin under their belt, this is all the more obvious. Thought to be the strength of the WKU defense, Devon Key, DeAndre Farris, Tacorian Darden, Drell Green and company held their own against Wisconsin. Wisconsin was left wide open on one play, which was an incompletion to A.J. Taylor. Other than that, even on long completions, WKU was present and even blanketing Wisconsin’s receivers and tight ends.

Seven of the top 11 Topper tacklers were defensive backs. Also, defensive backs forced and recovered the Badgers’ lone fumble. Ultimately, WKU found a way to hold Wisconsin well under 300 yards passing and only surrendered two touchdowns through the air.

Overall Defensive Performance: B+

WKU’s defense was expected to be good, but frankly, I’m not sure most expected each level of the defense to be good enough to impact an offense with a Heisman candidate on a top five Power 5 school. By no means did Wisconsin run wild against WKU. The tops held their own and defensive coordinator Clayton White’s aggressive game plan worked extremely well.

Mike Sanford Overall Grade: C+

We don’t have a good narrative on Sanford’s decisions. How different will he be this year? Will he be less aggressive on fourth down? Some of these questions won’t be answered for a few games. However, break it down for yourself. Where did he screw up? Or conversely, what was brilliant?

Frankly, there’s not much of either. We can point to the two trick plays, but frankly, under other circumstances, those plays could have worked. Perhaps the most egregious was the reverse pass in the red zone.

I have seen some crazy notions on social media about how terrible the playcalling was. For the life of me, I can’t really understand why there is such an outcry. Not at one point did I look at the screen and wonder why a decision was made. Sanford did make some crazy decisions last year, but through 60 minutes, no unmitigated boneheaded decisions have been made.

We can debate, but Sanford had his team ready to go against a quality opponent. They looked good, showed flashes of greatness, and kept hope alive before the floodgates opened at the end of the first half. His team came out in the second half and gained over 200 yards after halftime. Everything related to coaching was either debateable at worst or at best, unquestionably improved from 2017.

Overall performance: B

I won’t belabor the points of the rest of the article. Overall, what were the possibilities coming into Wisconsin? WKU could have come into Madison, gotten blown out by 50, never showed a prayer of hope, and left Western fans counting down the days to basketball season. Or on the other positive end, the Tops could have gone up to Wisconsin, made a real game of it, and shown an explosive offense with a great defense and had fans on the edge of their seats wondering what ring size they wear now.

WKU showed potential on offense and a pretty good defense with more potential against the lesser opponents WKU faces this season. Realistic observers saw potential for the Tops, regardless of their opinion on playcalling.

Of all the scenarios that could have realistically happened, the only better situation would have been the Chrome Domes finishing on one or two of the other three trips into the red zone. WKU made it inside Wisconsin’s 20 yard line four times, only to score three points.

Overall, Johnny Hilltopper has to be excited and interested to see his Toppers come out against Maine at home. We’ll see where it goes from here, but indications from one game of 12 have the Tops trending upward.