Biggest challenge for the Alabama offense against Western Kentucky
As Alabama prepares for its first game of the 2024 season, its opponent could cause some unique challenges for Jalen Milroe and the Alabama offense.
In 2023, Western Kentucky’s defense was a high-risk, high-reward unit that, frankly, wasn’t very good on paper. WKU ranked 123rd nationally in run defense, 111th in total defense, and ranked outside the top-75 in every major category for yards and points allowed.
Still, they managed to stay in games by causing enough havoc to rank 4th in the country in turnovers forced. The Hilltoppers forced 2.0 turnovers per game, ranking in the top-10 in both interceptions and fumbles recovered.
This stat is such an outlier when compared to Western Kentucky’s other defensive metrics, it’s like the only thing the unit did well was force takeaways.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe showed great improvement in terms of protecting the ball last season. Going all the way back to the Texas A&M game in 2022 and culminating in the home debacle against Texas last season, Milroe got off to a rocky beginning with five turnovers in his first three career starts. However, he has only registered five more turnovers in his 11 starts since.
As he adjusts to a whole new set of weapons, Western Kentucky will be a good first test for Milroe to continue proving that he can protect the football without being overly conservative.
Western Kentucky key defensive personnel
Western Kentucky’s most disruptive player from that 2023 defense is no longer in the program. Defensive back Kendrick Simpkins proved to be an absolute menace as a blitzer and caused a lot of issues for opposing offenses. The Montgomery native recorded team-highs of 10.0 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles before transferring to Baylor.
Still, WKU returns a lot of dangerous defenders, particularly in the secondary. Senior cornerback Anthony Johnson Jr. returns after leading the Hilltoppers with four interceptions last season. Johnson is a ballhawk who finished second in Conference USA in picks and also doubles as one of WKU’s leading returning tacklers.
Nickel corner Upton Stout is also a playmaker at just 5’9”, intercepting five passes and scoring three defensive touchdowns over the last two years for WKU.
In addition to the returnees, WKU will feature a pair of SEC transfers in the secondary in cornerback Kent Robinson (Texas A&M) and safety Demarko Williams (Ole Miss). Jai Eugene Jr. could also be in the secondary rotation for the Hilltoppers. Eugene’s father, Jai Sr., played defensive back for LSU from 2007-2010 and was involved in some classic battles against Alabama.
Leading tackler Kylan Guidry returns at linebacker after notching 54 stops a year ago, and edge Sebastian Benjamin was one of the Hilltoppers’ better pass rushers in 2023.
Veteran defensive linemen Hosea Wheeler, Deante McCray, and Jayden Loving all generated solid production last season, making at least 36 tackles apiece. While they have experience, this is an undersized defensive front that should be overmatched by Alabama’s offensive line and power running attack.
Western Kentucky’s only option to keep this game competitive for as long as possible is to take the same approach as last year and try to force some turnovers. They have some solid defensive backs and could throw the kitchen sink at Jalen Milroe and Alabama from a schematic standpoint.
The Crimson Tide offense just needs to remain disciplined, avoid mistakes, and execute its gameplan and it should have no issues with the Hilltoppers.