Cardinals Go Ugly Early, Down WKU

A win is a win. Repeat that yourself. A win is a win. Pretty and large, ugly and small, unlike porn actors' builds, it doesn't matter. A win is a win. So what if Nate Davis threw for his lowest total yards since 2006? So what if the Cardinals passed for less yards than the Hilltoppers? So what if Ball State only outgained a team in its final transition year from I-AA to I-A by three yards? So what if 4 of Western's drives ended with: a fumble out of the end zone, a missed field goal, another fumble, and a failed fourth down conversion.

The bottom line when Saturday drew to a close and the clock read triple zeros is that the Cardinals walked out of Bowling Green, KY at 7-0 and with their first win as a ranked team. There is cause for concern in several areas, notably the rushing average for Western at 5.4, but again, a win is a win, and unlike Cardinals teams from the past, this team can lay a proverbial egg and still walk out with a victory. The really good teams find a way to win, even when things are not going according to plan. Some other things we noticed...

• The last two games have seen the Cardinals struggle out of the gate. Thankfully, Western and Toledo are not extremely talented football teams. If this little trend continues, the Cardinals might be in trouble against teams like NIU, Central Michigan, and Western Michigan.
• Slow start or not, MiQuale Lewis had another good day at the office, rushing for 112 yards on 18 carries with a TD. Congrats to MiQuale, who also picked up the OTP Liveblog Player of the Game... his second of the season. Thanks also to those who came out for the Liveblog. Good times had by all.
  MiQuale Lewis: OTP Liveblog Player of the Game


• I was fortunate to see a team who had a worse placekicker than Ian McGarvey. Tanner Siewart from Western just isn't very good. Hit the soccer fields, Coach, and try and pick up someone serviceable. Just the advice of someone who took Western to the Orange Bowl in year 2 of my NCAA 09 Dynasty.
• The defense turned in another great outing. Yardage-wise it wasn't dominant, but the Cards "Bend but don't Break" mentality was evident in their performance, and they forced three turnovers. This is what has always been lacking at BSU... a defense that has the capability of allowing the offense to have an off day. A good sign, for sure, that BSU doesn't simply have to outscore everyone.
• Western coach David Elson danced around the topic after the game, but it was evident he thought WKU should have beaten Ball State. In looking at the stat sheet, perhaps, but the fact remains that the better team won. Ugly, sure. But a win is a win.

All in all, the Cardinals get to the bye week and clock in at 7-0. What dawned on me this weekend, was the Cardinals have won more games this season so far, then all the wins combined my freshman through junior year. It's a great time to be a Cardinal, and whatever happens from this point forward the Cards have put together an unbelievable season.

Hoke-O-Meter:

(1-5 Bradys, 1 being happy enough to burst into song,
5 being filled with murderous rage)

3 Bradys

While a win is a win, two ugly wins going into a bye week before the real meat of the schedule should cause Brady to be a bit upset and ready to work them. Another offensive performance like the one against WKU or a half like the first at Toledo and this team could be in trouble. The Cardinals have a home game in two weeks versus Eastern Michigan. I would love to see the Cards come out fast and never let up.

Cardinal Liveblog: Western Kentucky

Happy Saturday all!

As we get settled in for what promises to be a great Saturday in the football world, it's time once again for a Cardinal Liveblog, tonight's edition for the Western Kentucky game. We should be rolling around 6:30 or so, so come on back and yak it up with Cardinal fans from around the globe.

Cardinal Preview: Western

As we did with Western Kentucky when they played UK, I will say this and this alone: Ball State is good, Western isn't. BSU has the advantage in every category, and in some (offensively for example) the difference is exceptionally large.

Our prediction...
Ball State 48
Western Kentucky 14

Incidentally, for those that don't know Western Kentucky's mascot, Big Red, and are too lazy to click the link above... allow me to introduce him:

He's not a player, he just crushes a lot

Bastard cousin of Grimace from McDonaldland fame? Perhaps. Fuzzy paternity tests are still pending.

So enjoy you some Grimace, you Cardinal loving bastards.

Wildcat WrapUp: MTSU

Alright, alright, alright. I blew it. On this very webpage last week I predicted an assbeating of epic proportions. A thrashing from pillar to post of the MTSU Blue Raiders by Kentucky, the likes of which would force all the MTSU fans to crawl back into the Tennessee holes from whence they came. I'll have my crow medium well with a side of cole slaw.

There really isn't much good to take away, aside from getting the 20-14 win, and though happy about that, here's what troubles me:

• The O-line looked awful. Miserable. Dreadful. Insert other negative adjective here. Simply unacceptable, and with play like that in SEC competition, we're going to get beat often and badly. It's got to improve.
• Injuries to key players like Randall Cobb, Micah Johnson, TC Drake, and Ricky Lumpkin. The whole purpose of playing payday games like this is to get the W, get out uninjured, and go on to the next week. Epic fail on the injury-free front, and a nearly epic fail on the W front.
  
• I realize we don't have sure-handed big play guys like Stevie Johnson, Keenan Burton, and Jacob Tamme anymore, but there were multiple drops by almost everyone. It's unacceptable as well, and again, if that continues during SEC play, we're screwed.
• Hey, Lonas Seiber, if you don't want to be a kicker, that's fine. Just turn in your pads and quit. But your effort on Saturday was a joke. With an offense that has the propensity to sputter at times, you've got to make field goals. Anything over 40, I'll somewhat forgive, but the short misses are ridiculous.
  I'd give you a different finger, Lonas

Of course, all this sounds very Chicken Little-ish, and I suppose to a certain extent, it shouldn't be. The second half was clearly dominated statistically by Kentucky. There were key injuries which resulted in depth issues, mismatches, and a lack of momentum and energy on the Kentucky sideline. I get it. But the blocked field goal and hail mary was reminiscent of the Kentucky teams I've been suffering through before the last several years.

Even with all that, which is troubling and hurts Kentucky, let's keep something in perspective... we were basically one yard away from being a joke on Sportscenter. Other than the win, which I'm thankful for, there is virtually nothing to be thankful for on this Monday morning as a UK fan. As bad as this team played, we deserved to lose. And any team worth a damn would have beaten us.

The injuries are troubling and could have serious ramifications, and to be frank, another mediocre performance against WKU in two weeks and I'll have some serious reservations about the potential of this team. Thank God for the bye week, folks. Rich Brooks said mid-week that this was a team that lacked focus and effort, and it certainly showed on Saturday. We play like that against any SEC team and we're getting pummeled.

Unscientific Preview: Kentucky vs. MTSU

vs

Normally, I would write up a pithy little post insulting Middle Tennessee's manhood, calling them a joke, and predicting a large UK win. Granted, I'm sure that will be included, but to the victor goes the spoils, and with MTSU's victory against Maryland, they get the actual team treatment here at OTP.

This Kentucky team is coming off a win over Norfolk State, another payday game for the Wildcats, who check in at 2-0. The defense, through two games, has yet to give up a touchdown, and has yielded only 3 points, a field goal that came after the offense turned the ball over deep in their own territory. It remains to be seen if the defensive prowess is because of the opponents played or if they really are that good, but MTSU won't provide enough talent or firepower to truly find out.

Offensively the Cats have struggled, and have created a de facto QB controversy amidst the fans, causing starter Mike Hartline to be on the receiving end of some boo's at Commonwealth Stadium last week as the fans voiced their support for Randall Cobb. The messageboards exploded, with fans saying they were booing the coaches, not the players, but no matter the reasons, it was a low-class thing to do for all involved. A new QB under center needs confidence and support, much like the new girlfriend with body issues. Support her and laud her and the benefits will come back to you tenfold.

Overall, on a look to Saturday, Kentucky lines up at home against a team that is reduced to just 74 scholarship players. They aren't deep, they're of average talent, and saying you're a favorite in the Sun Belt conference is sort of like winning a gold medal at the Special Olympics. Kentucky isn't Maryland, because, you know, Kentucky doesn't suck, and quite frankly, this one shouldn't even be a contest by halftime. But on to the cold hard facts...

Offense: MTSU is paced by QB Joe Craddock, who hung 256 yards and 2 TDs on the Terrapins last week. Phillip Tanner will get the carries out of the backfield, and their receiving corps is led by Malcolm Beyah, a 5-11 freshman who put up 94 yards on 4 catches with a TD against the Terps. The Blue Raiders focused their recruiting last year on recruiting speedy wide outs and they are quick, but we're talking Sun Belt speed not SEC speed.

For the Cats, this is another opportunity for Joker Phillips to get his offense going under Mike Hartline. Will Randall Cobb play? Sure. Will he be the starter? No. The bottom line on the Kentucky offense is that we all expected this to happen. We have a first-year starter, all the receivers graduated save for Dicky Lyons, and Rafael Little left as well. Cobb gives the offense a nice breath of fresh air and opens up some things in the playbook a la Tebow/Leak in years past at Florida.
Advantage: Even with the sputtering productivity, talent always wins out.

Defense: MTSU's defensive unit is severely undersized, though quick. But again, perspective. MTSU's speedy is not SEC speedy. Though the defense got a boost emotionally by beating Maryland and shutting down the Terps, Maryland's offense is worse than Kentucky's.

When MTSU has the ball, they'll be facing the best defense they'll face all year. Kentucky's defense has kept better offenses at bay the entire season, and are looking to make a statement that they are, indeed, for real. The front seven for UK is big AND quick, and the secondary is aware, talented, and athletic. When you combine good coverage with a front seven matched up against an inexperienced offensive line, MTSU QB Joe Craddock is in for a very, very, very long day.
Advantage: This one isn't close. A great defense meeting a mediocre offense.

Coaching: Rick Stockstill is in his third year at MTSU and shares a lot with Kentucky head man Rich Brooks. Both came into a program reeling with sanctions. Brooks with NCAA recruiting violations hanging over the program and Stockstill with sanctions because of academic progress before his arrival. Both men are turning the corner, and Stockstill will be successful in Murfreesboro eventually, but he is not there yet, and has yet to turn as much of the corner as Brooks has. Stockstill won't be at MTSU for long if he can continue to recruit, take advantage of a conference that he can compete in, and continue to beat teams from BCS conferences.

Brooks comes into this game fired up and feisty, as evidenced by his post-practice rant on Wednesday about a lack of effort, focus, and intensity. Some teams would overlook the Blue Raiders (paging Maryland... Maryland your upset is ready) but Papaw won't let that happen. Brooks thinks practices without intensity are bullshit.
Advantage:

Intangibles: MTSU does have confidence coming off an upset, and this is the last opportunity they'll have before conference play to make an announcement on a national level that they're for real. This is the biggest game of the year for them in terms of quality of opponent, and if Stockstill and company want to continue to build the program this will go a long way. The pressure is alleviated to a certain extent since no one (including me) is giving them much of a chance.

The Cats come in looking to make a statement as well. Brooks was a bit peeved that his team wasn't ranked this week. A stalwart defense and two wins without a ranking in the polls has left Brooks with a bit of a bitter taste. And no one, I repeat, no one, wants to run into an angry bitter old man. Trust me.
Advantage:

Random Page 1 Google Image Search for Blue Raiders:


Random Page 1 Google Image Search for Wildcats:


Advantage: Kentucky could play the girls in their photo against MTSU and still have a shot.

Overall: The bottom line in this game is that Kentucky is simply the better team on both sides of the ball. Most of MTSU's starters wouldn't start at Kentucky and nearly all the defensive starters for the Blue Raiders would struggle to make the two-deep in Lexington. This game is a great opportunity for the Cats to open up their playbook and let Hartline get some experience and confidence against a lesser opponent before opening up conference play in the next several weeks.

Prediction:
Kentucky: 44
MTSU: 6