Quick Look At Western Kentucky

September 12, 2013 · By · Filed Under Football 
First year defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer talks with the defense on the sidelines at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in the Jaguars season opener against Southern Utah.

First year defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer talks with the defense on the sidelines at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in the Jaguars season opener against Southern Utah.

The Jaguars continue to prepare for Western Kentucky as they hone their gameplan and continue to focus on execution.

WKU will bring is a solid running game but also a potent passing game in their multiple attack offense. In the backfield, they are led by Antonio Andrews, a 6′ 220-pound running back, that Coach Bobby Petrino likes to pound opponents with and rarely goes down on the first hit. They run inside, they run off tackle and they run outside. Petrino is known for his affinity for crossing routes and stretching the field deep.

Western Kentucky is averaging 27.5 points per game, 193.5 rushing yards per game and 246.5 yards passing per game for an offensive total of 440 yards per game. That is also against a pair of SEC teams in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Head coach Joey Jones and defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer are concerned about getting the defense lined up correctly and playing aggressively. When they bring pressure on the quarterback, they must get to the quarterback.

Defensively they have good size on both the line and linebackers, but they lost the entire defensive line from the 2012 team leaving them a bit inexperienced coming into this season. The linebackers Xavius Boyd and Andrew Jackson rank are probably the top linebacker duos in the conference.

WKU’s rushing defense has been pretty weak through the first two games, however they did face SEC talent in Kentucky and Tennessee and gave up big plays on the ground to both of them. Looks for the Jaguars to go deep and try to make more big plays and stretch the defense themselves. The Hilltopper secondary are all upperclassmen with plenty of experience.

Western Kentucky’s beatwriter picks the Hilltoppers to win 43-16. Last season the Jaguars played four SBC teams within 10 points last season when they went 2-11. In a number of games the Jaguars had a late rally that came up short. These Jaguars can play and I don’t see it going down like the WKU beatwriter thinks.

But to do so, we need the fans to help give the Jaguars an edge. See yesterday’s article where I challenges Jaguar Nation to make Ladd-Peebles Stadium one of the most feared places to play in the Sun Belt.

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