It’s not 2005, and Head Coach David Elson doesn’t intend to treat this season as such despite a 15-game losing streak — the longest in the Football Bowl Subdivision.?

Midway through 2005, Elson took over play-calling duties from then-second-year defensive coordinator Mike Dietzel, who returned to the position this season. According to Elson, fans shouldn’t expect similar personnel switches this time around.

“I think the worst thing we could do after all these young guys have gotten experience doing something is go and change it on them,” Elson said. “They’re going to have a lot of good experience — good and bad, however you want to look at it — but it’s experience within this structure and this system, and the light will go on at some point.”

Western currently fields the worst defense in the FBS, allowing 509 yards per game, and things have consistently gotten worse. The Toppers gave up 646 yards last Saturday at Middle Tennessee State, the most since allowing 657 in their 63-7 loss at Tennessee in September.

But with a defense that started five underclassmen against Middle Tennessee, Dietzel said the Toppers aren’t adding any tweaks to the unit. Instead, they’re scaling back, trying to improve upon what the players have already been taught.

“We’ve got to get better at what we’re doing,” Dietzel said. “If anything, we maybe need to cut back and not do as much. We’ve tried to keep it simple, and we’ve just got to execute what we’re doing. The last thing you want to do is change, because then you’re starting all over.”

The offense, another unit touting a first-year leader, hasn’t been able to keep their defensive counterparts off the field. Redshirt freshman quarterback Kawaun Jakes’ successful start at Navy aside, Western’s offensive production has been sub-par, with the Toppers ranking 113th in the nation in total yards.

Offensive coordinator Walter Wells started the season calling the plays from ground level but said he moved to the box at Navy to get a better perspective on the offense. As a result of Jakes’ control of the offense, Wells said the squad has also been simplified to accommodate youth.

“With (senior quarterback) Brandon (Smith) getting hurt and Kawaun coming in, we scaled a lot of things back so he could develop himself,” Wells said. “We’re pretty much sticking with the game plan we came in with in the spring and summer camp.”

Elson said nobody — not even himself — has been doing their job this season. The seventh-year coach said that’s not an excuse but a fact.

“We’ve got three guys who are new coordinators,” Elson said. “All three are doing it for the first time in this scenario, in this role, and for whatever that’s worth, it can be a factor.

“No excuses, though. We’ve got to get it done.”