Defensive Line

This week against NIU, Western Michigan will start two players at defensive end who have yet to make any noise this season.

Sophomore Weston Peiffer has made only two tackles this season, and senior Justin Braska has yet to make a play. This inexperience could cause further problems for a line that has anchored the nation’s 95th-ranked defense. The Broncos are allowing 390.25 yards of offense per contest.

Of those yards, 157 per game are gained on the ground.

The line will look to senior defensive tackle Cody Cielenski for pressure on the quarterback. Cielenski leads the team with three sacks for 29 yards.

“They’re an aggressive team,” NIU offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said. “You always want to make sure you have some things in there to keep them honest, keep them at home.”

GRADE: B-

Linebackers

For many teams, there is one standout on defense. A player who will make plays all over the field.

For Western Michigan, that player is Austin Pritchard. The senior linebacker leads the Broncos with 40 total tackles, and is tied for 21st in the nation. Pritchard has also forced two fumbles, recovered one fumbled ball and blocked a kick on special teams.

“You’re basically better off saying ‘hey, he’s going to line up somewhere, and it’s going to be fairly traditional,’” NIU offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said. “Now it may be him, but it’s still going to be a guy in a white jersey over there, and we need to make sure we get a body on him.”

Pritchard has a pair of young players helping him at linebacker in sophomore Mitch Zajac, who has 17 total tackles, and redshirt freshman Chris Prom. Prom measures in at 6 feet 4 inches and 226 pounds.

GRADE: B

Secondary

In four games, the Western Michigan secondary has produced two interceptions.

Cornerback Deshon Lawrence and free safety Jamail Berry have each picked off one pass for the Broncos. The unit has struggled with defending the pass in general, as WMU is ranked 85th in the nation, allowing 233.25 passing yards per game.

The defensive backs have shown proficiency in bringing down ball carriers, led by strong safety Mario Armstrong, who has 22 total tackles on the year.

The starters in the secondary have accounted for 22 percent of WMU’s total tackles so far this season.

GRADE: C+

Special Teams

Being a punter isn’t a position filled with glamour, but the Broncos know to appreciate theirs.
Ray Guy Award nominee Ben Armer has given Western Michigan solid field position throughout the 2009 season. The sophomore punter is averaging 37.9 yards per punt this year, and of his 18 total kicks, seven have pinned his opponents inside their own 20-yard line.

Sophomore kicker John Potter hasn’t been as reliable as the Broncos would like thus far. Potter is 2-for-4 kicking field goals this season and 13-for-20 for his career.

GRADE: B

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