EAGWATCHER

[LDopaPDX]

... can we get an injury report ??? I'm very curious to know if some regulars are coming back to help shore up this defense. Getting information on injuries seems like pulling teeth around here.

 

[clawman1]

... can we get an injury report ??? I'm very curious to know if some regulars are coming back to help shore up this defense. Getting information on injuries seems like pulling teeth around here.

Secrecy is becoming the norm in college coaching. Don't know that we will see anything, not from negligence but by design.

 

[LDopaPDX]

... can we get an injury report ??? I'm very curious to know if some regulars are coming back to help shore up this defense. Getting information on injuries seems like pulling teeth around here.

Secrecy is becoming the norm in college coaching. Don't know that we will see anything, not from negligence but by design.

I understand that, and I'm certainly not trying to blame anyone for the lack of info. But I know Eagwatcher goes to some practices, and he can probably see who is getting time and who isn't. That much can be reported.

I feel like this upcoming game is an absolute must-win for EWU, so I'd like to know that some of these injured guys are getting back into the line-up. I know Edwards and Minnerly have injuries that will definitely keep them out this week, but I would suspect the others could and should be back.

 

[eagwatcher]

Jim here.

I mentioned injuries in this morning's story http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/oct/03/eagles-must-get-defensive/ and yesterday on Twitter, but this is a touchy subject for all coaches, especially with players whose status is "questionable." The answers to injury questions can be quite vague.

For example, when asked about the status of LB Zach Johnson (hamstring), Baldwin said Tuesday that "We're crossing our fingers that he can play this week or at Montana State." Or in the case of DE Paul Ena: "He's showing steady improvement." And so it goes, except for players who are clearly out.

Obviously, coaches are reluctant to give out details on injuries, especially with guys who are playing while a bit dinged up; they don't want to give out details that opposing coaches could exploit. Frankly I can't blame them, and I have to respect that, since I want to preserve my good relationship with Baldwin and his staff.

I know that's not a totally satisfactory answer, but it's the most honest one I can give you.

 

[LDopaPDX]

That's for sharing, I need you'd help us out...

I sort of read between the lines that none of those guys are playing this week. That's a bummer, because these toughness and injury issues just seem to be the thing that holds us back.

Usually when a guy is playing in 5 days, he'll be seeing time in practice even if it's in a no-contact role. If these guys aren't even practicing and working into the plays, then it's highly unlikely they're going to be playing on Saturday.

 

[93bird]

I know what you're saying Dopa, but the argument could be made that injuries have helped us too. Freshman Shaq Hill recovered the onside kick that led to our go ahead score. Hill was the third stringer on special teams. Then, Ashton Clark catches the winning TD. Is he in the game if Edwards isn't hurt? Does Vernon Adams take over if Demitrius Bronson isn't still injured? I happen to think the rash of injuries suffered last year has helped us to our 3-1 start, and I personally don't see any systemic problem with injuries or toughness. Take Minnerly, for example. He just stepped in front of a couple moving trains and paid the price. We've made it through the toughest stretch of the season. Assuming we don't have another rash of injuries like last year, a 9-2 finish with a loss at MSU is within reach. More importantly, we would have amazing depth and experience at A LOT of positions heading into a home playoff game and hopefully beyond. Nothing surprises me, but all things considered, we're in very good shape.

 

[LDopaPDX]

I know what you're saying Dopa, but the argument could be made that injuries have helped us too. Freshman Shaq Hill recovered the onside kick that led to our go ahead score. Hill was the third stringer on special teams. Then, Ashton Clark catches the winning TD. Is he in the game if Edwards isn't hurt? Does Vernon Adams take over if Demitrius Bronson isn't still injured? I happen to think the rash of injuries suffered last year has helped us to our 3-1 start, and I personally don't see any systemic problem with injuries or toughness. Take Minnerly, for example. He just stepped in front of a couple moving trains and paid the price. We've made it through the toughest stretch of the season. Assuming we don't have another rash of injuries like last year, a 9-2 finish with a loss at MSU is within reach. More importantly, we would have amazing depth and experience at A LOT of positions heading into a home playoff game and hopefully beyond. Nothing surprises me, but all things considered, we're in very good shape.

And that, my friends, is a glass that is half-full. :nod:

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I know what you're saying Dopa, but the argument could be made that injuries have helped us too. Freshman Shaq Hill recovered the onside kick that led to our go ahead score. Hill was the third stringer on special teams. Then, Ashton Clark catches the winning TD. Is he in the game if Edwards isn't hurt? Does Vernon Adams take over if Demitrius Bronson isn't still injured? I happen to think the rash of injuries suffered last year has helped us to our 3-1 start, and I personally don't see any systemic problem with injuries or toughness. Take Minnerly, for example. He just stepped in front of a couple moving trains and paid the price. We've made it through the toughest stretch of the season. Assuming we don't have another rash of injuries like last year, a 9-2 finish with a loss at MSU is within reach. More importantly, we would have amazing depth and experience at A LOT of positions heading into a home playoff game and hopefully beyond. Nothing surprises me, but all things considered, we're in very good shape.

Is Bronson still injured, or are they just taking it easy with him? He only got a few carries against UM, notably the last two plays of the opening drive, including the TD.

 

[clawman1]

We've made it through the toughest stretch of the season. .

We've just got started the toughest stretch of the season. ND is coming here thinking they need to win to save their season. winning will be no easy task. Next weekend in Bozeman will be a dog fight. I have seen them play and like others feel they are over rated, but on their turf is going to be a challenge.
The injured starters are starters for a reason. While I am with you in that young players have gained valuable experience, I would love to have Edwards, Minerly, Johnson, Mcarthy, and ?? on the field in this challenging part of our season.
At this point 9-2 is not good enough, I want to sweep the BSC, i believe we have the talent and coaching staff to "get er done"

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

We've made it through the toughest stretch of the season. .

We've just got started the toughest stretch of the season. ND is coming here thinking they need to win to save their season. winning will be no easy task. Next weekend in Bozeman will be a dog fight. I have seen them play and like others feel they are over rated, but on their turf is going to be a challenge.
The injured starters are starters for a reason. While I am with you in that young players have gained valuable experience, I would love to have Edwards, Minerly, Johnson, Mcarthy, and ?? on the field in this challenging part of our season.
At this point 9-2 is not good enough, I want to sweep the BSC, i believe we have the talent and coaching staff to "get er done"

Agreed. UND has been averaging 40 points a game... they have one of the best offenses in the nation, just not much of a defense. They're like us from last year, except more balanced between run and pass. MSU is overrated (not the second best team in the nation), but they are still at top 15, top 10 team, and we have to play them in Bozeman. There's a lot more parity in the BSC these days, so we can't really let our guard down against Sac, SUU, UCD, or PSU either, or we will get beat. 10-1 is certainly attainable, and would be HUGE in regards to making a deep run with homefield advantage up until the Chipper.

 

[LDopaPDX]

I agree, this is an absolute must-win.
If we lose and drop to 3-2, then were left with needing to beat Montana State or Cal Poly, and hold serve in all other games. The margin of error should we lose this weekend is remarkably thin,

I trust our coaches have an idea of who'll be ready to go and I'm sure we'll see some new plays and defensive schemes to make the best of the guys we have still playing. I just worry this game will hinge on who keep turnovers lower as each will likely destroy the defense matched aqginst them.

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

EWU is +1/gm, UND is +0/gm in turnover margin.

 

[marceagfan5]

I think we roll in this game...very confident coming into this one. UND is good, but they won't be able to stop us. Our Defense is a lot better than we looked the last 6 quarters and I think we will have a couple LB's back this week. Helps to have back to back weeks at home as well, that is a HUGE advantage that is sometimes overlooked. We haven't looked great and we are still 3-1, I think we start to click this week and run away with this one. Good teams win games they are suppose to at home, we are a good team and we will win this game. I think our "D" will surprise a lot of people on Saturday.

Wouldn't surprise me if either Cal Poly or MSU lose this week, maybe both. Weber is a lot better than people think and Davis has a great D, something MSU hasn't seen yet this year. Both of those teams need to be on upset alert.

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I think we roll in this game...very confident coming into this one. UND is good, but they won't be able to stop us. Our Defense is a lot better than we looked the last 6 quarters and I think we will have a couple LB's back this week. Helps to have back to back weeks at home as well, that is a HUGE advantage that is sometimes overlooked. We haven't looked great and we are still 3-1, I think we start to click this week and run away with this one. Good teams win games they are suppose to at home, we are a good team and we will win this game. I think our "D" will surprise a lot of people on Saturday.

Wouldn't surprise me if either Cal Poly or MSU lose this week, maybe both. Weber is a lot better than people think and Davis has a great D, something MSU hasn't seen yet this year. Both of those teams need to be on upset alert.

Weber is better than their 0-5 record, but they do not match up well with CP at all. Weber has been gashed by the run, allowing 220 ypg and 16 TDs through 5 games, while CP averages 326 ypg and has 13 TDs through 4 games. CP allows 20 ppg, WSU scores 16.6 ppg. CP scores 32 ppg, WSU allows 37. Mustangs by 2 TDs at least. If UCD is +2 in turnovers, I think they'll beat MSU, but I wouldn't count on it. It will be a much closer game than CP/Weber though.

 

[marceagfan5]

I think we roll in this game...very confident coming into this one. UND is good, but they won't be able to stop us. Our Defense is a lot better than we looked the last 6 quarters and I think we will have a couple LB's back this week. Helps to have back to back weeks at home as well, that is a HUGE advantage that is sometimes overlooked. We haven't looked great and we are still 3-1, I think we start to click this week and run away with this one. Good teams win games they are suppose to at home, we are a good team and we will win this game. I think our "D" will surprise a lot of people on Saturday.

Wouldn't surprise me if either Cal Poly or MSU lose this week, maybe both. Weber is a lot better than people think and Davis has a great D, something MSU hasn't seen yet this year. Both of those teams need to be on upset alert.

Weber is better than their 0-5 record, but they do not match up well with CP at all. Weber has been gashed by the run, allowing 220 ypg and 16 TDs through 5 games, while CP averages 326 ypg and has 13 TDs through 4 games. CP allows 20 ppg, WSU scores 16.6 ppg. CP scores 32 ppg, WSU allows 37. Mustangs by 2 TDs at least. If UCD is +2 in turnovers, I think they'll beat MSU, but I wouldn't count on it. It will be a much closer game than CP/Weber though.

Short week for Cal Poly (game is on Friday night) and both teams are on their 2nd of back to back games on the road. I think they will both win but I wouldn't be surprised if either one was upset. MSU did impress me more last week as SUU is a pretty good team.