WKU Football: Grading the Tops' 31-10 Victory Over MTSU

WKU finally had a nice, fairly comprehensive performance. How did the Tops fare by position and in the grand scheme of things?

Western Kentucky has finally offered up what should probably be considered a comprehensive performance. Was it perfect? In no way. However, until this most recent performance, WKU has not had a game that Topper fans could look at and say, “Okay, we can definitely work with that.”

Fortunately, Topper fans got to see a solid performance in all three phases for the first time all season. Before the season, WKU was supposed to be one of the serious contenders for the Group of Five spot in a New Years Six Bowl. That hope is now firmly dashed, but a Conference USA title is firmly within WKU’s sights.

For example, with the victory against MTSU, WKU places itself in fourth place after one game played. With a victory against Louisiana Tech Thursday night, WKU will find itself in third or higher.

More importantly, WKU’s victory gives the Tops and their fans something to really grasp onto. Against Western’s fiercest, oldest, most consistent rival, the Tops were up 20 at halftime, put forth a solid effort on special teams, passed for nearly 300 yards, ran for nearly 150, forced three turnovers, and kept an FBS offense under 400 yards of offense for the first time all season.

Grading the Keys to Victory

All Hands on Deck: B+

Although WKU did not get everyone back, it was nice to see those that did play play well. WKU’s defense showed up and controlled an MTSU offense that is capable. For example, MTSU was able to hang with (now ranked) Missouri, scoring four times against an SEC defense. In every way that wasn’t getting every injured player back and winning 60-0, the Tops showed us they’re prepared to make a run at Conference USA.

Play Well, Please!: A-

It still wasn’t perfect, but WKU clearly played its best overall game with the most consistency throughout the game without massive lapses. Sure, the offense didn’t score much after being up 23-3 at half, but they did move the football, they did produce what they needed to, and the defense was outstanding the entire game. It still could have been much better, though. We’ll give it an A-ish grade, but this was not perfection. There is still plenty to improve on. However, props to the Tops for showing us they can be a good football team that can win in multiple ways.

Don’t Get Caught in the Muckety Muck With the MUTS: A+

WKU was focused, and this was actually a huge factor in the game. Although WKU had nearly 30 more yards in penalties, for those that were there or that watched, didn’t it just seem like MTSU just screwed itself far more often? There were so many moments MTSU had a lack of discipline and WKU took advantage. There were times MTSU tried to start something (including at the end of the game), but WKU was focused (and classy) enough to get the job done and head home with a convincing W.

Win Special Teams: D

WKU’s special teams were, for the most part, perfect. The only miscue was a PAT that never happened. WKU’s long snapping woes did rear their ugly head. Tom Ellard, Cory Munson and Lucas Carneiro all did their parts. However, MTSU’s special teams were slightly better, so it’s kind of hypocritical to give a good grade for failing the goal. However, the main thing here was WKU neutralized MTSU’s potential threat, and the Tops did nothing to hand MTSU significant opportunity.

Be the Clearly Better Receiving Corps: B+

This wasn’t utter dominance, either. WKU scored two more touchdowns than MTSU through the air, but MTSU did produce some yards and four of their wide receivers contributed significantly on the day. WKU’s production was much more spread out, using the running backs and tight ends. Holden Willis was the best receiver for MTSU, especially in the second half, and he’s a tight end. Without his 70 yards, MTSU would not have produced 200 yards receiving yards. Fortunately, WKU was the more balanced team through the air, and the depth won the day.

Position Grades

Quarterback: B

Still not at his best, Austin Reed was still very good, and arguably had his best, most consistent game of the year Thursday. However, he was still somewhat inaccurate, as well as made some bad decisions that put the ball at risk, especially the ball that he threw for his lone interception. Without question, this was a step in the right direction, and obviously a quarterback throwing for 300 yards or so is a very good thing.

Running Back: B+

Obviously, L.T. Sanders (why doesn’t he play more?) busting a 56 yard run skews numbers when the Tops only produced 147 rushing yards. However, WKU’s running game was reliable, and the Tops could go to it (and did!) when they needed to. Sanders and Elijah Young have absolutely positioned themselves as bigger contributors in the past few games, producing the most out of the backfield in this one, as well.

Wide Receiver: B

With about 4/5 of the receiving yards, WKU’s receivers did their thing. They were also very deep, with no one receiver gaining more than 81 yards (Malachi Corley), yet several players were able to get in on the party.

Tight End: C

WKU’s tight ends are just not a huge part of the offense, especially since Offensive Coordinator Drew Hollingshead never recruited one until coming to WKU. River Helms caught two balls. He also had one off the hands that would’ve almost certainly resulted in a first down.

Offensive Line: A-

Do y’all realize this WKU offensive line is on pace to give up FIVE sacks in 12 games?!? That’s truly incredible. Still, WKU is clearly experimenting with its tackles. Mark Goode, Wes Dorsey, and #53 Marshall Jackson were rotating amongst each other. Clearly, they’re not sure what to do with their tackles.

Defensive Line: B-

Just because the numbers weren’t there (1 sack, 4 TFL as a team) doesn’t mean this unit didn’t do a good job. It starts up front, and WKU’s defense was its best all season, only giving up ten points.

Linebackers: A+

For the first time all season, WKU’s linebackers were elite. JaQues Evans had nine tackles. They have been asking him to move farther away from the line of scrimmage this season, and he’s done an admirable job in being in the right spot for the most part. Bryson Washington got his first start and forces two turnovers and records seven tackles. LB’s need to be productive in some way, and this time, they put up the numbers up.

Defensive Backs: A-

Takulve Williams had a monster game (12 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT). Upton Stout was incredible, dumping Blue Raiders left and right. Big picture, they were a part of the best performance all year, but the passing yardage was a little high for full marks.

Special Teams: C+

A huge ding for the botched PAT mars an otherwise solid outing for special teams. WKU’s long snapping has seriously been a concern all season, and that’s because the starting long snapper (Rex Robichaux) has been injured all season.

Coaching: A-

Head Coaching: B-

There were several moments in this game from a decision making perspective that I wasn’t a huge fan of. Several timeouts were wasted. Going for it on 4th-and-1 from near midfield was not my favorite move of all-time, either. Thankfully, it was successful. But big picture, Tyson Helton got his team to play its best game so far. The mark is so low simply because of the fact that if the game was closer, we would have looked at those timeouts and and some other questionable play calls and wondered why things happened.

Offensive Coaching: A-

This was definitely a much better called game. Unfortunately WKU didn’t produce many points in the second half, but they did possess the ball, they did run the football, and they did do something to move the ball all game. A solid performance gives Drew Hollingshead and crew high marks.

Defensive Coaching: A+

I don’t know if we fully appreciate Tyson Summers and the job he does. First of all, this was the best performance of the year, and he doesn’t have as many quality pieces as he was supposed to. Some players have not lived up to their prior production, and some have just been flat out injured. Several players will turn up injured from this game. His unit battled injuries all night, in addition to just not being that great so far as a unit. Somehow, this defense was able to shut down a competent, well-rounded FBS offense, force three turnovers, and keep them at 10 points.

Overall: B+

This was a performance we have wanted to see all year. It’s still not an elite offensive performance, although it was much better than anything so far without question. 31 is plenty, and there was no help via pick 6 or long return that assisted the offense in actually scoring the points.

Defensively, you have to love under 400 yards and 10 points forcing 3 turnovers.

Special Teams needs to continue to improve in the long snapping department, but the unit overall continues to prove itself solid.

I think this performance should fully confirm that it’s WKU and Liberty battling it out for CUSA glory. WKU’s other performances in combination with this performance still lacking in some areas just keep Western’s overall expectation level down. WKU could possibly climb back into poll position in public opinion, but it’s unlikely to be anything but dead even until WKU plays Liberty in Bowling Green in late October.

In CUSA as a whole, La Tech and Jacksonville State are both firmly in the race for a title appearance, standing at 2-0. Both feel like second tier contenders, but both have been fairly impressive in conference play in different ways.

WKU heads to Ruston, Louisiana this Thursday, hoping to dash some hopes and prove the Bulldogs a “pretender” and not a true contender.

La Tech is always a tougher road trip just because of the distance and I think the longer bus ride in from the airport (those trips wear on big bodies). It’s just tough to get way up, way hype for a team in Louisiana in some ways. It’s not as regionally relevant for many at WKU.

Regardless, all of that is tertiary to the title hunt. All of that pales compared to the need for victory.

Can the Tops get it done in Ruston on a Thursday night on national TV despite the mid season toll on the roster for both teams? That’s up to them.