I had some optimism that WKU could compete early in their season opener at Alabama. Even against the Crimson Tide, I figured WKU’s usually high-scoring offense would score some points against an Alabama program ushering in a new era.
I guess I forgot to add into the equation that even without Nick Saban, Alabama is still Alabama.
Here are my takeaways from Alabama’s 63-0 shellacking of WKU.
THE GOOD
The Defense settled in during the second half
It is entirely possible that Alabama taking their foot off the gas in the second half is the reason why WKU’s defense looked more comfortable in the last 30 minutes. However, for the sake of needing something for this section, I will choose to say the Hilltopper defense settled in.
The defense allowed only 21 points in the second half, compared to the 42 allowed in the first, and the big play touchdowns that Alabama capitalized on in the first 30 minutes ceased to exist in the third and fourth quarters.
THE BAD
Well pretty much everything. But more specifically:
TJ Finley
I don’t think being benched in the second quarter with a 35-0 deficit was the ideal start for TJ Finley heading into his first game as a Hilltopper. I had hoped that the former SEC quarterback would be composed in the hostile Bryant-Denny environment, but Finley never looked comfortable. While the first seemed to be a simple miscommunication between quarterback and receiver, Finley’s two picks early sealed his fate for the rest of the game.
If the separation between Finley and backup Caden Veltkamp is really as non-existent as Head Coach Tyson Helton made it out to be, Finley will have to find his stride early in WKU’s game against Eastern Kentucky next week.
The Big Plays
It was not all terrible for WKU’s defense against the Crimson Tide. The Hilltoppers forced a three-and-out and recovered a fumble early, and the early scores by Alabama’s offense were made a whole lot easier due to Finley’s pair of picks.
However, the big plays allowed by the Hilltopper defense are really what blew the game way out of reach. WKU allowed 84-yard, 39-yard, 85-yard and 55-yard touchdowns in the first half alone. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns on just seven completions.
It’s Alabama. It’s week one. A 63-0 blowout loss was nowhere near out of the question. But for a unit that struggled last season, it is a little disheartening to see the same trends show face yet again.
WHAT’S NEXT
If you’re a confident WKU fan leaving Tuscaloosa who is surprised by this outcome, you better be thankful sports betting is illegal in Alabama.
Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong.
However, it’s only week one. At the end of the day it’s a season opening loss at No. 5 Alabama. There’s a lot of season left to play.
WKU receiver Easton Messer said it better than I ever could in the post-game presser. To be able to flush this game out, the Hilltoppers need to “have a hard week of practice, realize we might not be everything we thought we were… and forget about it.”
Sports Editor Jake McMahon can be reached at [email protected]
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