| FTBL The latest preview; Western Kentucky

[imported_porkchop]

Hey gang, here is the latest preseason preview. For those of you that are new to the site and don't know, we post a preview of every BAMA opponent and add it to the front page. We will also add a link to the top of the football forum that will contain all of the previews if anyone is interested in referencing them. The writing staff puts a lot of time and effort into these and we hope you guys enjoy them.

Anyway, here you go.

Preseason Team Capsules; Western Kentucky University

By; It takes Eleven



Overview

After going 7-5 last year in a transition year from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) (formerly I-AA to I-A), the Hilltoppers enter their final year of transition before becoming a full-fledged FBS competitor and Sunbelt Conference member. WKU faces 10 FBS teams this season, including four teams (Bama, Kentucky, Indiana and VaTech) from BCS conferences. The 2007 season saw WKU take on 6 FBS teams, including a win over FBS opponent Middle Tennessee and four one-point losses to two other FBS level teams, Troy and North Texas, respectively. 2007 was WKU’s 12th consecutive winning season, all of which have come while head coach David Elson has been at Bowling Green (seven as an assistant, five as head coach).

The Toppers return 41 lettermen and 14 starters from last year’s squad, including its duo of quarterbacks.

History and Alabama Connections

With 59 winning seasons in its 89 years of competition, Western Kentucky has had success in the lower tiers of college football. A tough Division II competitor in the 70’s (falling in the ’73 and ’75 championship games), the Hilltoppers moved to I-AA and experienced success earlier this decade, making the playoffs five consecutive years (2000-2004) and winning the I-AA national championship in 2002. Although WKU is ineligible for bowl play (and the Sunbelt Conference title) this year, they boast an undefeated bowl record, edging Arkansas State in the 1952 Refrigerator Bowl and shutting out the Coast Guard Academy in the 1963 Tangerine Bowl. This is the initial meeting between Bama and Western. WKU is 0-6 against SEC teams, most recently falling 49-3 to Florida last season. In just one year of FBS competition, Western already shares one all-time record (most points in a quarter) with its 49-point first quarter explosion against West Virginia Tech in an 87-0 rout.

Former Alabama Wide Receiver T. J. Weist (1984-1987) is the Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator/WR Coach at Western, and is beginning his seventh year in Bowling Green. No players on Western’s roster are from Alabama. Western’s Defensive Backs Coach is Travaris Robinson, an ’07 graduate of the former Alabama Polytechnic Institute.

Offense

The Hilltoppers look to continue their string of impressive offensive performances under head coach David Elson. The 2007 squad averaged 33 points a game, scoring 50 or more on four occasions, including an 87-0 mauling of NAIA West Virginia Tech. Quick turnovers, defensive and special team scores contributed to an FBS record tying 49 first quarter points against the Golden Bears. Western had an impressive running attack last year, averaging 247 yards and 48 attempts per game (which would have been good for 8th nationally).

Seven starters, plus projected starting QB Sophomore K.J. Black, return for WKU. Last year’s starting QB, Senior David Wolke, did not participate in spring practice due to a weight room injury. Although Wolke (76 rushes for 359 yards, 77 for 124 passing for 922 yards) started 10 of 12 games last season, Black (104 rushes for 324 yards, 88 of 134 passes for 1,007 yards) saw action in all twelve games and their statistics are very similar. Interestingly, Wolke began his career at Notre Dame, spending two seasons at South Bend. Key offensive losses include WR Curtis Hamilton and three interior linemen. Although Black and Wolke are both capable runners, Sophomore QB Brandon Smith had an impressive Spring and possesses gamebreaking speed.

K.J. Black, the expected starter at QB, has played in front of large crowds.

Last year’s leading rusher, Tyrell Hayden (205 carries for 1,134 yards) begins his Junior year as the clear ground option. ‘07’s second leading receiver, Jake Gaebler (35 receptions, 426 yards, 3 TDs), will look to fill the void from Hamilton’s departure. Number three receiver, Quinterrance Cooper (22 receptions, 255 yards, 2 TDs), had a big Spring and also will play a big part in the passing game.

Quinterrance Cooper is a deep threat.

A key question for this year is how the offensive line performs. With the only returning starters being Pressley and Hughes at Center and Guard, respectively, the edges may be susceptible to penetration and blitzes. Of some comfort to Bowling Green boosters, though, is that all three projected new starters are rising seniors.

Defense

The 2007 defense was stingy, yielding 307 yards and 21 points per game (which would have been good for 12th and 21st nationally). They were also opportunistic, grabbing 20 INT and 9 fumble recoveries. Four of the nine fumble recoveries were returned for TDs.

WKU returns six defensive starters this year. Its two standout linebackers, Andre Lewis (103 tackles) and Dusty Bear (50 tackles, 4.5 sacks), are gone, but the other two starting linebackers, Blake Boyd and Alonzo Higgins, combined for 90 tackles last year and are positioned to make a greater contribution this season. DE Dan Cline (29 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks) will anchor the defensive line. Injuries in this unit are a lingering concern since Cline, Boyd and Higgins were all slowed by injuries last season. 2007’s second leading tackler, CB Marcus Minor, is a physical player who is strong on run support, tallying 61 tackles last year, including 6 TFL. On passing downs, look for backup strong safety Jihad Morris to appear in nickel and dime packages, waging war on opposing receivers. Surprisingly, Jihad has a nose for the pigskin, getting one pick last season.

Marcus Minor is a physical DB, good on run support.

Specialists

Western left spring practice still searching for a capable replacement for PK Chris James, who was 10 of 12 under 40 yards last year. Zac Minturn is the early favorite, but the competition will continue into the summer. Jeremy Moore will continue his punting duties this year after a good year, averaging 41.7 yards per punt. 13 of his 46 punts went inside the 20 and only one for a touchback.

WR Jake Gaebler looks to repeat as the primary punt returner after averaging an impressive 14.5 yards per return last season. WR Quinterrance Cooper will be the primary kick returner.

Jake Gaebler is a threat as a receiver or as a punt returner.


Outlook

The move to a full scale FBS schedule is a huge leap for the Hilltoppers. While WKU feasted on inferior competition last year, this year’s schedule affords little opportunity for that. Injuries in early games against BCS conference teams could make for a long year, but if they stay healthy, look for WKU to end the year with a respectable 6-6 record.

EARLY game prediction – Bama 41, Western Kentucky 7.

 

[Perdido Tide]

Interesting preview. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

A key question for this year is how the offensive line performs. With the only returning starters being Pressley and Hughes at Center and Guard

FWIW, I went to school with Lloyd Pressley, their center.

 

[252BAMA]

There were 8 seniors who had started as juniors in 2006 who were to redshirt in 2007. One or more of them decided to go ahead and play in 2007. Is there any way of finding out which of the 41 lettermen were in that group? Saying they have 14 starters returning from 2007 is not the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say.

 

[Guest]

...Good Day!

 

[252BAMA]

There were 8 seniors who had started as juniors in 2006 who were to redshirt in 2007. One or more of them decided to go ahead and play in 2007. Is there any way of finding out which of the 41 lettermen were in that group? Saying they have 14 starters returning from 2007 is not the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say.

Found the answer on their web site. Only two of the eight junior starters from 2006 who were asked to redshirt in 2007 opted to do so. Those were Greg Ryan-OL and Tanner Siewert-P/PK. Ryan started 10 of the 11 games at LG for WKU in 2006 and has started 21 games in his career. Therefore, a big part of the key question has been answered.

"A key question for this year is how the offensive line performs. With the only returning starters being Pressley and Hughes at Center and Guard, respectively, the edges may be susceptible to penetration and blitzes. Of some comfort to Bowling Green boosters, though, is that all three projected new starters are rising seniors."

That last line is a bit of an under statement.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

There were 8 seniors who had started as juniors in 2006 who were to redshirt in 2007. One or more of them decided to go ahead and play in 2007. Is there any way of finding out which of the 41 lettermen were in that group? Saying they have 14 starters returning from 2007 is not the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say.

Found the answer on their web site. Only two of the eight junior starters from 2006 who were asked to redshirt in 2007 opted to do so. Those were Greg Ryan-OL and Tanner Siewert-P/PK. Ryan started 10 of the 11 games at LG for WKU in 2006 and has started 21 games in his career. Therefore, a big part of the key question has been answered.

"A key question for this year is how the offensive line performs. With the only returning starters being Pressley and Hughes at Center and Guard, respectively, the edges may be susceptible to penetration and blitzes. Of some comfort to Bowling Green boosters, though, is that all three projected new starters are rising seniors."

That last line is a bit of an under statement.

Good comments, 252. Sorry I'm just getting to them.

When I was looking at the depth chart, I thought the three senior replacements were important enough to mention. I didn't realize one of the three (Ryan) had been an upperclass redshirt. I don't know the specifics on why he redshirted (crowded depth chart, needed add'l development), but for some reason as a true senior he wasn't in the mix. The other tackle (McConnell) was lost early last season to injury, so how he comes back is certainly a question mark. The RG (Chestnutt) has bounced around, spending two years at UTEP but not playing, and then one year JUCO.

In general (not specific to WKU), senior starters have been in the program and know their way around. There's a variety of reasons why they haven't been regular starters (talent ahead of them, injuries, need further development, work ethic), so I don't generalize. In Alabama's situation, I believe fans get more excited about the prospects of Freshmen and Sophomore starters than having an upperclassman finally break into the rotation when they couldn't in previous years on an OL that had issues.

RTR,

Tim

 

[252BAMA]

There were 8 seniors who had started as juniors in 2006 who were to redshirt in 2007. One or more of them decided to go ahead and play in 2007. Is there any way of finding out which of the 41 lettermen were in that group? Saying they have 14 starters returning from 2007 is not the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say.

Found the answer on their web site. Only two of the eight junior starters from 2006 who were asked to redshirt in 2007 opted to do so. Those were Greg Ryan-OL and Tanner Siewert-P/PK. Ryan started 10 of the 11 games at LG for WKU in 2006 and has started 21 games in his career. Therefore, a big part of the key question has been answered.

"A key question for this year is how the offensive line performs. With the only returning starters being Pressley and Hughes at Center and Guard, respectively, the edges may be susceptible to penetration and blitzes. Of some comfort to Bowling Green boosters, though, is that all three projected new starters are rising seniors."

That last line is a bit of an under statement.

Good comments, 252. Sorry I'm just getting to them.

When I was looking at the depth chart, I thought the three senior replacements were important enough to mention. I didn't realize one of the three (Ryan) had been an upperclass redshirt. I don't know the specifics on why he redshirted (crowded depth chart, needed add'l development), but for some reason as a true senior he wasn't in the mix. The other tackle (McConnell) was lost early last season to injury, so how he comes back is certainly a question mark. The RG (Chestnutt) has bounced around, spending two years at UTEP but not playing, and then one year JUCO.

In general (not specific to WKU), senior starters have been in the program and know their way around. There's a variety of reasons why they haven't been regular starters (talent ahead of them, injuries, need further development, work ethic), so I don't generalize. In Alabama's situation, I believe fans get more excited about the prospects of Freshmen and Sophomore starters than having an upperclassman finally break into the rotation when they couldn't in previous years on an OL that had issues.

RTR,

Tim

Because 2007 was a transition year, the WKU coach asked all 8 of the 2006 junior starters to redshirt in 2007. Initially all 8 agreed to do so. Six of them later opted to play in 2007.