WKU Football: The Toppers’ Secret Key To The Game Against Wisconsin

Matt McCay
Aug 31, 2018 · 2 min read

First of all, that was a really good interview from Fletcher and good material from Jake Kocorowski of Bucky’s 5th Quarter.

I just feel the need to respond to some of the things he said. This interview just changed my perspective on this game a little bit.

If you notice, Jake says,

“Right now the biggest question mark for Wisconsin is its defensive line, in my opinion. …The Badgers lost three key contributors… Then, two presumed starters…are injured.”

Wow! Let’s think about this: What is the major concern for WKU heading into the season? Easy. Offensive line and running backs. If Wisconsin is starting two redshirt freshman alongside a senior tackle, this may be something the Tops can exploit.

Am I saying the Tops will win? Yeah probably not, but honestly, in addition to some other injuries, on top of only returning four starters (albeit All-Americans), this to me becomes the most pivotal battle tonight at 8:00 on ESPN.

Can the offensive Tops hold their own against Wisconsin’s defensive line? WKU is extremely healthy, and Wisconsin is extremely banged up on defense.

I’m telling you, when you break down what may decide the game for yourself, look at blaring weaknesses and injuries. Barring massive game changing blunders, somewhere within those weaknesses lies the rub between winning and losing.

Why did EKU look so good against the Tops in 2017 despite being a terrible overall team from a lower division? Simple: Match-ups. Their defensive line had a couple of semi-pros on it, and the WKU line was as bad as it has been in years.

Why did WKU look like the old Brohm squad against Charlotte? Charlotte’s defensive line couldn’t exploit WKU’s main weakness.

Why will WKU’s offensive line look respectable tonight? Maybe because they’re much improved, or maybe because of the match-up. Maybe both. I’ll tell you this: Everything else on Western’s squad looks decent heading into this season. If the offensive line can be pretty good, the Tops could be back to their winning ways.

The Towel Rack

The Towel Rack is a place to hang your thoughts when it comes to Western Kentucky sports. Providing fans with a unique view on the Hilltoppers from news, rumors, opinions, previews, game coverage, recaps and more. Welcome to The Towel Rack.

Matt McCay

Written by

L&H agt @McCayInsurance. Married 2 Stephanie. Daddy to Riley and Hailey. Kids’ pastor @DestinyChurchKY. @WKUFootball '14. @WKU BA '14 MS '17. (270)996-7630 #WKU

The Towel Rack

The Towel Rack is a place to hang your thoughts when it comes to Western Kentucky sports. Providing fans with a unique view on the Hilltoppers from news, rumors, opinions, previews, game coverage, recaps and more. Welcome to The Towel Rack.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade