Broncos' best attribute so far: The ability to 'Just finish'

Graham Couch | By Graham Couch | The Kalamazoo Gazette
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on September 29, 2008 at 2:03 AM, updated September 29, 2008 at 3:12 AM

KALAMAZOO -- Bill Cubit left the film room Sunday even more thrilled with his defense and disappointed by his offense after the Western Michigan University football team's 7-3 victory Saturday at Temple.

The Broncos' senior-laden 'D' played to the level of the reputation it seeks, with no room for a single blown assignment or lazy down.

"They had to focus and concentrate on every play. ... That's why I was so excited about it being a 7-3 game," WMU's coach said a day after his team improved to 4-1 and 2-0 in the Mid-American Conference.

Cubit liked just about everything he saw defensively -- naming starters at every position and key reserves, like sophomore safety Mario Armstrong.

Conversely, he didn't fancy much about the offense. Most of it -- the dropped passes and the sluggishness -- Cubit blamed on Temple's ferocious 'D' and a tired-looking Broncos team. He said he'll shorten practices, as he does at some point in every season.

What happened on the offensive line, however, he said was troubling.

"They out-physicaled us up front," Cubit said. "It's really the first time we've come out of a game feeling like we didn't control the line of scrimmage. Even Nebraska, we kind of thought was a wash. Temple's defensive-line (controlled the line). That's a concern."

There isn't much Cubit can do about that, hence the concern. The Broncos have who they have up front. It's not going to change in the next seven weeks.

However, WMU isn't gong to face many more defensive-lines like Temple's, if any.

Most importantly for this team, five weeks in, it hasn't failed on its preseason mantra: "Just finish."

The Broncos' four wins include three games they might have lost a year ago, with each side splitting the credit.

The defense didn't tackle well against Northern Illinois, a far better club than predicted, needing the Tim Hiller-led offense and Jamarko Simmons' clutch onside kick recovery to seal the deal.

Idaho was a joint effort in the second half and, this week, it was all defense -- at a level of execution not seen since 2006.

"A lot of stops, a lot of pressure," Cubit said of his defense. "(Temple) had a lot of opportunities with field position. The field position was ridiculously in their favor."

Elsworth questionable
Senior fullback Kirk Elsworth's status for Saturday against Ohio University is uncertain, Cubit said. Elsworth sprained his ankle during a violent tackle in the final minutes of WMU's win Saturday.