WKU Football: The Topper Running Game Can’t Possibly Get Worse in 2018
It’s no secret the 2017 WKU running attack was absolutely the most horrendous display of effort since the guy I used to work with at Minit…
It’s no secret the 2017 WKU running attack was absolutely the most horrendous display of effort since the guy I used to work with at Minit Mart fell asleep in the dishwater. (ed. note — in the dishwater?)
That was historically bad. No matter how you slice it, it was a pure disaster. Last in the country by nearly eight yards per game, and more revealing, over 30 yards per game less than third-to-last.
A painful run down of 2017 rushing stats:
No runs of 20 yards or more the entire season (The only team to do achieve this horror in this decade)
No 100 yard rusher
No rusher of 400 yards on the season
48 sacks given up
24 fumbles (13 lost)
5.9 rushing first downs per game
29:23 average Time of Possession
Two yards per attempt.
Now, Why Dost We Sucketh?
First of all, EVERYTHING has to be an issue if you’re dead last by a mile. No excuses. Everybody and everything sucked about the running game in 2017.
Now, digging deeper, why was it so bad?
First of all, the Tops lost two bona fide NFL offensive linemen (Darrell Williams and Forrest Lamp) in addition to losing an excellent center in Max Halpin from what was considered a top ten line in the country in 2016. Dennis Edwards had to move positions to take Halpin’s spot at center.
Second, the Tops lost Ace Wales and Leon Allen to graduation and injury, two running backs with legendary individual seasons on their resumes.
Finally, the 2017 stable of running backs had talent, but break it down for yourself and tell me how one of them was ready to rush for 1,500 yards, or even 1,000.
D’Andre Ferby seemed most likely, but he was still coming off of injury.
Quinton Baker showed flashes as an all-around back, but didn’t show consistency.
Marquez Trigg is a big bruiser that usually falls forward, but is he capable of blowing through tackles and busting a big run?
Jakairi Moses is probably the most flashy running back since Ace Wales came in as a young pup and showed flashes, but as a true freshman, his body was not ready.
Not one of WKU’s all-time leading rushers has been great his true freshman, or even his freshman year.
Quinton Baker left the program, but the three guys with experience left seem to be gifted enough to be difference makers and just needed another year to develop. Somebody has to be ready to step up and think like the big dog. But regardless of who that person ends up being, bringing three guys back to a second year in a new offense should end up being a guaranteed improvement of some kind.
In addition to the sheer odds that it can’t be as bad as last year, a running quarterback is going to be under center. Drew Eckels seems to be the senior starter, but two of the three legitimate backup options are mobile quarterbacks. A mobile quarterback can be a nightmare to cover against the best of front sevens.
Mike Sanford has dug himself a huge hole in the running game. Let’s see if he can crawl right out of it.