By Alan Gerould, Senior Columnist, BroncoBlitz
Naples, FL — It continues to be a great time to be a Bronco! In the aftermath of back to back to back wins, Western Michigan University football goes into MAC play with a 3-1 record and on a three game winning streak. The Broncos open conference play against the 2-2 Buffalo Bulls. The Bulls are coming off a 35-34 win over Old Dominion and played number 16 ranked Coastal Carolina tough two weeks ago. This week we are pleased to welcome in Rachel Lenzi, who covers the Bulls for the Buffalo News. Rachel, you are now on the BroncoBlitz hot seat!
BroncoBlitz: New head coach Maurice Linguist will get his first taste of MACtion with a lineup that looks similar to the defending MAC East Champions of last year. What are the biggest changes between this year and last?
Rachel Lenzi: The most obvious change for UB is the personnel in the coaching staff. Linguist restocked the entire staff after he accepted the job as head coach in May, and there’s only one holdover from last year’s staff, tight ends coach Ron Whitcomb, who was an analyst for the Bulls in 2020. The playbook is different for the Bulls, and some of the on-field personnel is different, too, due to graduation, early departures to the NFL and transfers (at least 10 players transferred out of UB after the coaching change, including six who joined former Bulls coach Lance Leipold at Kansas). The Bulls’ offense is different – there’s more of a balance between the run and the pass this season. Whereas in the last two years, the Bulls were a run-heavy team that wielded running back Jaret Patterson, who was one of the program’s most prolific rushers and is now with Washington inthe NFL.
BroncoBlitz: Quarterback Kyle Vantrease returns to run what has been a high powered offense. At this point in the season what are the Bulls doing well offensively and where are there concerns?
Rachel Lenzi: Again, we’re seeing more of a balance of UB’s offense this season – 818 yards on the pass and 815 yards on the run in the first four games; four games into last season (which was shortened due to Covid-19), UB had 1,295 rushing yards and 753 passing yards. This season, there’s strong on-field chemistry between Vantrease and wide receiver Quian Williams, a transfer from Eastern Michigan who leads the MAC in receiving yards (346 on 24 catches), and Vantrease and Dominic Johnson, a quarterback-turned receiver. The biggest difference in the offense this year is that the Bulls are working by committee at running back, instead of having a bona fide No. 1 running back. Kevin Marks is UB’s leading rusher (254 yards), but one of three with at least 194 yards -- Dylan McDuffie has 224 yards and Ron Cook Jr. 194 -- and it looks like the Bulls will continue with that approach in its ground game. However, consistency is an issue for UB, when it comes to putting together and completing drives. This was obvious in the second half of games against Coastal Carolina and at Old Dominion.
BroncoBlitz: The Bulls defense has been hot and cold thus far this season. They shut down the Monarch’s offense in the first half last week, but struggled to keep ODU in check in the second half. Where do you think the Bulls defense is at entering the MAC season?
Rachel Lenzi: The defense still has work to do, to reach a point where it is consistent in cutting down the number of plays against and in maintaining discipline. Players have said communication has been an issue for the defense, and in particular against Old Dominion last week, when there were issues such as finishing (or not finishing) tackles and taking penalties that allowed Old Dominion to sustain its drives.
BroncoBlitz: Rarely do special teams play such a huge roll in a game, both good and bad, as the Bulls special teams units did in the 35-34 win at Old Dominion on Saturday. Please give us a primer on UB specials?
Rachel Lenzi: Special teams haven’t been there for the Bulls, not just this season but in the last three seasons. There’s been a problematic spot somewhere in special teams, whether it’s been on field goals (and missing field goals), coverage or punting. Against Old Dominion, punting was a major concern – the Monarchs blocked two punts by the Bulls in the first half.
BroncoBlitz: The schedule makers put a doozy on the schedule early when pitting these two conference powers together. The handicappers have the Broncos favored by 6.5 points. What do you think the keys to this game are and what is your prediction?
Rachel Lenzi: UB needs to create more scoring drives – and create more time of possession – in the second half. It also needs better ball security. Against Old Dominion, the Bulls had seven second-half drives but only one with more than three plays, and an early second-half fumble by Marks rattled the UB offense. UB’s defense needs to stay disciplined and shut down drives. The Bulls gave up 45 yards on four penalties in the second half at Old Dominion last weekend, including two separate penalties on the defense for face-mask infractions on one drive by Old Dominion in the third quarter. UB also needs to minimize Western Michigan’s passing game, and control momentum at the line, on both offense and defense. And I think this is going to be a high-scoring game. Prediction: Western Michigan 37, Buffalo 34
