Western Illinois entered the bye week off a comeback win against Tennessee State in Macomb. The team’s defense ranks third in the nation. (Photo by GoLeathernecks.com)
By Barry Bottino
Two years ago, the Western Illinois defense was a mess.
The Leathernecks gave up 43 points a game, nearly 3,000 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns on the ground. Head coach Joe Davis, then in his first season, was not willing to be patient.
“We made a coordinator shift, and I just felt like on that side of the ball, we needed a little bit more of an edge,” Davis said.
Enter former Valparaiso head coach Landon Cox, a seasoned defensive coordinator.
Last fall, under Cox, Western gave up more than 500 fewer rushing yards, 17 fewer touchdowns and more than 100 fewer points.
Fast forward to this fall and the Leathernecks enter their bye this week with the No. 3 total defense in the country at 257.3 yards a game.
“It’s been a huge emphasis for us as a program,” Davis said. “Coach Fox brought that edge to our defense. There’s confidence on that side of the ball.”
That confidence showed itself in a unique way last weekend against Tennessee State before the coin toss.
“Saturday was one of the first times I’ve had a defensive player come up to me and say, ‘Coach, put us out there first,’” Davis said. “Right now, we’re very stingy against the run, which is typically the mark of a great defense.”
At 102 yards allowed per game, WIU (3-3 overall, 1-0 Ohio Valley Conference) ranks ninth-best in the country.
Here are three pluses and three minuses thus far this season:
Plus column
Getting defensive: The defensive turnaround is striking for WIU, which is No. 25 nationally in points allowed per game. Against the run, Western is allowing just over 3 yards a game and eight rushing touchdowns in six games.
Mr. McGill: Transfer quarterback Kennedy McGill, one of the nation’s top Division II players last season, has been a strong running and passing threat. His 287.3 yards of total offense per game ranks 15th in the nation, according to NCAAsports.com.
Though he was not as versed in WIU’s offense when he arrived in January, Davis said “from an athletics and competitive standpoint, it was going to be really hard to keep him off the field. Good things happen when he’s in there and he’s got the football.”
A kicking spark: The Leathernecks lost a highly productive kicker in Antonio Chadha, who transferred to FBS Pittsburgh.
Enter Ronan Culkin, a junior who spent two years behind Chadha. Culkin has made 10 of 12 field goals and does not have a miss inside 40 yards this fall.
Just under half of his kickoffs have been touchbacks, which provides a field position advantage.
Minus column
Deep ball dilemma: Sixteen different players have caught a pass this season for Western. None of those players is averaging over 20 yards a catch.
“We’re missing the big downfield shot right now in our offense,” Davis said. “We have not been able to do that consitently.”
Davis explained the deep passing game responsibilities doesn’t just land on one position.
“To throw the ball down the field, you’ve got to protect, you have to have the ability to throw the ball in the right spot, and you have to have the ability to go up and make plays,” he said.
Corners in coverage: Against Illinois State earlier this season, Davis pointed out that WIU’s top three cornerbacks were all beaten on deep passes. Western DBs have been challenged regularly downfield.
Improving will require better leverage, technique and coverage.
“We’ve given up some throws down the field,” he said. “We need to try and prevent those explosive plays.”
Penalty problems: The Leathernecks ranks 102nd nationally, having committed 44 penalties for 423 yards in six games. Only 19 FCS teams have more penalties thus far.
For the season, WIU has allowed 13 first downs via penalty.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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