Western Kentucky vs. Alabama: Game Preview, Prediction and Players to Watch
Often when Alabama is facing an opponent that has a geographical direction in the school name, head coach Nick Saban has to talk up the opponent to get everyone on his team to take notice.
That’s not the case with Western Kentucky this week.
In his third year, head coach Jeff Brohm has made the Hilltoppers a topic of conversation.
Coming off what may have been the best season in program history, resulting in being ranked No. 24 in the final Associated Press Top 25, they received votes in both major preseason polls and then went out and crushed Rice in Week 1, 46-14.
Overall, Brohm's 21-7 as a head coach, 13-4 in conference play, and winning the Conference USA title last season took his team to its second-straight bowl appearance.
If that's not attention-getting enough, consider that Western Kentucky is 3-2 in its last five games against Southeastern Conference foes, including two wins against Kentucky, 32-31 in overtime in 2012 and 35-26 a year later, and one at Vanderbilt, 14-12 in 2015. Last year, Western Kentucky also lost at then-No. 5 LSU, 48-20.
“They have a lot of starters back on that team, like nine on offense,” Saban said.
“These guys play with a lot of toughness and energy. They've got a lot of confidence. They score a lot of points on offense. They've got one of the most prolific passing attacks that we're going to see and some very good players to implement. And they play really tough, physical defensive football. This is a good team.”
Date: Saturday, September 10
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Place: Bryant-Denny Stadium
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network, Hilltopper IMG Sports Network 103.5 FL/1450 AM, Sirius 113, XM 190
Spread: Alabama -24 according to Odds Shark
Western Kentucky Keys to Victory
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1. Give the quarterback time
The Hilltoppers feature an offensive line with all five returning starters, who have combined to make 131 total starts. The guy to watch will be senior left tackle Forrest Lamp, who didn’t give up a sack last season.
Nevertheless, Alabama’s pass-rushers will give WKU’s linemen problems. Expect Brohm’s staff to do everything it can to slow them down, with quick passes, draw plays and screen passes. Yet if the Hilltoppers can’t effectively attack downfield, it’ll be a long game for the visiting team.
2. Don’t get run over
For the second week, Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin will face a former USC colleague, as WKU defensive coordinator Nick Holt was on the same Trojans staff in 2003.
Holt has a number of returning players with experience, but just four starters back from last year. With Ole Miss up next on the schedule, and Alabama not wanting to give too much away, Kiffin will likely be pretty conservative with the play-calling unless forced to do otherwise. That likely means a good dose of running backs Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough.
3. Test the boundaries
Look for Western Kentucky to all but abandon the run early, except to try and keep the Crimson Tide honest, as it only had 3.2 yards per carry last week against Rice. The key, though, will be to get the Crimson Tide defense on its heels, which won’t be easy to do.
One possession in particular during last week’s game against Rice demonstrated WKU’s ability to do so. After quarterback Mike White connected with wide receiver Taywan Taylor on a 45-yard bomb, it executed a 35-yard flea-flicker to set up its first touchdown.
The really surprising part about it was that tight end Shaquille Johnson, a converted linebacker, made the reception, although the Hilltoppers have developed a reputation for getting their tight ends involved in the passing game.
Alabama Keys to Victory
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1. Don’t turn the ball over
Although Alabama crushed USC last week, 52-6, the Crimson Tide still had two turnovers, while only creating one. Granted, that one was an interception returned for a touchdown by cornerback Marlon Humphrey, but it’ll be a point of emphasis for the coaches.
“They throw the ball a lot, I think 80 percent, 500 yards, the numbers speak for themselves,” Humphrey said. “So we’ll definitely be tested once again with the pass defense."
“They do a lot of formations, a lot of things we are going to really watch a lot of extra film for. They’re not your typical Western Kentucky team.”
2. Control the line of scrimmage
Alabama knows it has a big test next week at Ole Miss, and will be looking for more consistency and steady play from the offensive line. Something to keep an eye out for is the right guard spot, as Alphonse Taylor was suspended for the season opener, but Saban hinted that a return to the starting lineup may not be imminent.
“He’s got to kind of earn his way back and that may take some time,” the coach said, adding that he’ll need to beat someone out during practices.
All four running backs got into the game last week, and will likely do so again as they all could use some more experience.
3. Show more patience and poise
With a lot of players making their first starts, and 12 freshmen playing for the Crimson Tide, USC did everything it could to get them out of their game.
“There was a lot of trash talking going on on the other side,” Saban said. “That's OK, that's their choice, they can do whatever they want.”
But what did bother the coach was when safety Ronnie Harrison started to get emotional and respond, and had to be separated from Eddie Jackson on the sideline after the senior told him to cut it out.
“I think the lesson to be learned is that when you have a teammate who is caring about you and trying to help you, the response should be 'Thank you,' not 'Screw you,'” Saban said.
Western Kentucky Players to Watch
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1. Quarterback Mike White
Some expected there to be a major drop-off from the group trying to replace three-year starter Brandon Doughty, but the transfer from South Florida was impressive in his debut and named CUSA’s offensive player of the week.
Not only did White pass for 517 yards last week against Rice, but he also completed better than 80 percent of his passes. It’s just the seventh time since 2000 that a quarterback has pulled off that statistical combination.
He went into Monday night’s game leading the nation in 25-plus yard plays with eight, and in yards per pass attempt at 16.7.
2. Wide receiver Taywan Taylor
Besides wearing No. 2 on offense, Taylor will stand out as WKU’s only starting wide receiver who is taller than 5’9". He’s 6’1”, the same height as backup Lucky Jackson.
Taylor already has the program records for career receiving yards and touchdowns, and he needs just 11 more receptions to set that mark as well. Last week, he had had five catches for 165 yards.
It’ll be interesting to see how much the Hilltoppers will move him around to try and get Taylor away from Humphrey, who, aided by Alabama’s pass rush, looked like a shutdown cornerback last week. USC’s prize wide receiver John “JuJu” Smith-Schuster only had one reception for 9 yards.
“I haven’t watched much film on him. I looked at his numbers, I think he had over 1,000 yards receiving last year, so I definitely know he’s going to be one of their top targets,” Humphrey said about Taylor. “In order to throw for 500 yards, you got to have pretty good wide receivers.”
3. Linebacker Keith Brown
WKU plays a 4-3 scheme, with Brown in the middle after transferring from Louisville along with quarterback Tyler Ferguson (who fans might also remember from Penn State), defensive end Nick Dawson-Brents and guard Joe Manley.
Although Omarius Bryant (6'3", 310 lbs.) has bulk, while defensive end Derik Overstreet weighs just 255, the linebackers key the unit.
Junior T.J. McCollum is the leading tackler, and had 12 last week despite not playing most of the second half. But Brown, who also wears No. 2, will need a big game if the WKU defense is going to slow down Alabama. In 40 games for Louisville, he was credited with 113 tackles, including six for a loss, in a part-time role.
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Alabama Players to Watch
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1. Running back Damien Harris
Although fellow sophomore Bo Scarbrough got the most attention over the spring and summer, Harris had 138 rushing yards on nine carries against USC. One of the areas that he showed improvement, besides his pass-blocking, was his jump-cut.
“It’s something I worked on in the offseason, trying to have better balance, better footwork, bursting out of my cuts,” he said. “Those are the things Coach [Burton] Burns emphasizes for us to get north and south as fast as possible. It’s something we work on day-in and day-out.”
Alabama will still sort of go with a running back-by-committee approach, but Harris is at the top of the depth chart until proven otherwise.
2. The quarterbacks
True freshman Jalen Hurts got the most attention after scoring four touchdowns against USC (two passing, two running), but don’t be surprised if he doesn’t start again. Alabama is planning to play two quarterbacks, redshirt freshman Blake Barnett being the other, although the order will depend a lot on what happens in practice this week.
“Jalen did a nice job in some of the things he did, turned the ball over a couple of times,” Saban said. “When Blake went back in the game, he actually played with a lot more confidence and a lot more poise. I think we need to continue to develop both of those players.”
One thing is clear, Saban is looking for a lot of improvement from both after getting their feet wet, but don’t expect him to say much about playing time between now and the Ole Miss game next week.
3. Defensive end Jonathan Allen
You can put any of Alabama’s pass-rushers in this spot, but after notching four tackles and two sacks against USC the senior was named the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Week. Allen also batted down two passes at the line of scrimmage.
It was the sixth multi-sack game of Allen’s career, with eight over his last seven games. He finished with 12 last season, and all came against Power 5 competition, with all but one against ranked opponents.
It’ll be interesting to see if WKU tries to double-team, especially considering Alabama’s other pass-rushers, including linebackers Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson.
What They’re Saying
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Brohm on facing Alabama: “We’re not blind, we see what everyone else sees. This is the very best team in the country. They’ve got tremendous talent, great size, great speed at every position. There are no weaknesses. They’re coached by the best coach in the country. He’s been there, he’s done that. But, you know, our guys will be excited for this opportunity.”
Brohm on Saban: “He’s built a dynasty there. His defenses are lights out. This year he has probably one of the better ones he’s had. They’re athletic. They can run. Really all he does is take away the easy completions and make you earn everything. You have to throw up field to beat them, and the problem with that is you have to protect a long time. Normally that’s a hard time against them.”
Wide receiver Kylen Towner on playing in his home state of Alabama: "I’m very excited for this game. I’ve been watching Alabama since I’ve been growing up and watching football. I have a bunch of family going, they’re actually bringing a bus. It’s going to be a great turnout for me.”
Safety Marcus Ward of having played SEC teams before: “It helps a lot. I think when you go into these types of games, the biggest thing is the atmosphere, and with guys who haven’t been in that position it can have an effect. … You kind of have to block it out. ”
Saban on how opponents study one another to take away strengths: “The best example I can give is one of my own. I was one of these outstanding high school baseball hitters. When I went to college, I thought I would be an outstanding college hitter. Because they never did a book when I was in high school, they never knew what pitches I couldn't hit. When they started doing the book in college and figured out that low outside slider, I'd hit a weak ground ball to second base. Then the next thing you know, if you don't want to hit that pitch, that's all you see. I'm talking about the kind you don't even want to run to first base on. You have to improve as a player and analyze and understand and know what your strengths are, what your weaknesses are, and work on overcoming those things individually and collectively as a team. That's something that we obviously need to do as a team right now.”
Alabama graduate transfer wide receiver Gehrig Dieter on his first game with the Crimson Tide: “That was definitely something I have never been a part of, playing in front of that many people, in a stadium like that. It was a great experience. It was a lot of fun. The energy that a crowd can bring to you in a game is something I definitely never experienced on that type of level, and it’s definitely something I will never forget.”
Harris: “We don’t want to take anybody lightly no matter who it is on the schedule. They are a great team, they came off a great season last year, and had a great win this past weekend, so we have to prepare for them like we would anybody else and have to be ready to play on Saturday.”
Western Kentucky's quotes are from Monday's press conference, which can be seen on the WKU website.
Prediction
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In 2012, Alabama hosted WKU in almost the exact same circumstances: coming off a national championship, in a home opener after playing a neutral-site game and ranked No. 1.
Alabama won 35-0. AJ McCarron threw four touchdown passes and the defense forced the same number of turnovers, but the running game never got going as Eddie Lacy had 36 yards on nine carries and T.J. Yeldon tallied 25 yards on six carries.
That’s despite being favored by 40 points.
This WKU team is much different, much better and likes to attack offensively with a high-octane passing attack that will be good preparation for facing Ole Miss.
Prediction: Alabama 34, Western Kentucky 10
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.
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