EWU gave up 400 yards rushing

[Rjones61]

I am especially proud of our win tonight. I've completely lost my voice from yelling so hard.

However, I am very concerned about our run defense. Our offense put 32 points on the board, which is pretty impressive to me. But is no one concerned about our defensive performance? We have two threads about Adams at quarterback, yet no one has mentioned our defense.

My question: can we really pull a BSC title with such a weak run defense? What corrections are we going to make to stop the rush? Go.

Also: good game Griz fans. You really hammered us and I'm still baffled at that win. Already looking forward to next year.

 

[Flyer]

The rushing defense got abused tonight. The injuries are starting to mount and it can be the difference going forward.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Terrible defense. No ability to tackle last night. What's weird is that even as the Griz gashed us, EWU didn't really try to stack the box. We played 4 guys wide to zone the trip receivers. Why? It's not like Montana was doing anything downfield. LB play and safety play was really shoddy.

 

[kalm]

Terrible defense. No ability to tackle last night. What's weird is that even as the Griz gashed us, EWU didn't really try to stack the box. We played 4 guys wide to zone the trip receivers. Why? It's not like Montana was doing anything downfield. LB play and safety play was really shoddy.

Johnson and McCarthy were both out and Minnerly was lost in the first half. We're getting very thin.

 

[vetteman]

Also missing LB JC Agen. Lets hope they get some of these young men back soon

 

[LDopaPDX]

Terrible defense. No ability to tackle last night. What's weird is that even as the Griz gashed us, EWU didn't really try to stack the box. We played 4 guys wide to zone the trip receivers. Why? It's not like Montana was doing anything downfield. LB play and safety play was really shoddy.

Johnson and McCarthy were both out and Minnerly was lost in the first half. We're getting very thin.

Has anyone heard when these guys are coming back? Johnson looked fine walking around, no casts or braces or limping or anything. He didn't look liek a guy that'll miss much time. Jeezus, Eastern needed someone with a little more tackling ability last night.... That was just painful to watch at times...

 

[eaglesfootball]

i was wondering where Cody was all game and then realized he didn't play at all. Anyone know what the deal is with him? Although I will say Washburn played pretty darn well at the MIKE linebacker spot.

i agree that our lb's didnt really seem to pursue as well as previous games. And. yeah tackling was pretty poor.

 

[MLEagle]

Not sure how many teams we have left on the schedule that run the option, but after they see the game film of how poorly we defensed it, it might become their new favorite play.

It was painful to watch our defense because 8 out of 10 plays were an option. I can't count how many times I saw an Eastern defender run right by the qb and make what would have been a great tackle for loss if the running back actually would have had the ball!! It was apparent that our guys were not prepared to play the assignment football necessary to defend the option. The other thing that was apparent is our defensive ends got owned by the Montana tackles; outside containment was very weak.

I also thought it interesting that we did not crowd the box at all either, because even when Montana threw the ball it seemed to almost always be a bubble screen or a pass in the flat; they were not looking at anything deep.

We got the win and I am thankful for that, but we have a long way to go in all phases of the game before we are a championship caliber club. I have confidence in this coaching staff that we will improve down the stretch, the question is how much we can improve. Remember that was a Montana team with a new coaching staff, new athletic administration, new qb, is now 2-3 and just got done taking a major deuce against NAU giving up a huge lead at home.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Montana ran one of two plays about 90% of their snaps. They did push the read option out of a few different formations, but the overwhelming majority of plays were read option right, read option left. The other play they ran a lot was the wide receiver screen into the trips formation. They showed a lot of trips.

That's why it was so odd to me EWU didn't push everyone up so we could just crowd the gaps. Hell, put the corners in man coverage, and if they get beat deep, they get beat deep. I'd be willing to make that bet anytime. But don't let a team just go head-up and run all over you. Sell out to stop the run. Passing is much more difficult because it requires a QB to stay out of trouble, deliver a good ball, and the receiver needs to catch it. There are a lot more variables when passing the football, so it makes sense to force the opponent to do it.

The Fighting Sioux run the read option too. They will do downfield a lot more, but still EWU needs to stop the run first and foremost. Our D is starting to look like last season when even teams who hadn't been running the football well all season just found ways to stuff us up front. We keep trying to put our LBs into situations where they need to make plays man-up on the ballcarriers, and they aren't gettign it done.

 

[kalm]

Montana ran one of two plays about 90% of their snaps. They did push the read option out of a few different formations, but the overwhelming majority of plays were read option right, read option left. The other play they ran a lot was the wide receiver screen into the trips formation. They showed a lot of trips.

That's why it was so odd to me EWU didn't push everyone up so we could just crowd the gaps. Hell, put the corners in man coverage, and if they get beat deep, they get beat deep. I'd be willing to make that bet anytime. But don't let a team just go head-up and run all over you. Sell out to stop the run. Passing is much more difficult because it requires a QB to stay out of trouble, deliver a good ball, and the receiver needs to catch it. There are a lot more variables when passing the football, so it makes sense to force the opponent to do it.

The Fighting Sioux run the read option too. They will do downfield a lot more, but still EWU needs to stop the run first and foremost. Our D is starting to look like last season when even teams who hadn't been running the football well all season just found ways to stuff us up front. We keep trying to put our LBs into situations where they need to make plays man-up on the ballcarriers, and they aren't gettign it done.

Agreed, and I'm telling you all right now to brace for a shoot-out every game. UND will run it, PSU will develop a version of it, PSU will definitely run it, and Poly...well, that's all they do without the threat of passing as much. I think the injuries at LB are taking their toll. Our ends may have got owned but there was very little 2nd level support as well. Would be nice to get healthy again.

 

[HannahO]

i was wondering where Cody was all game and then realized he didn't play at all. Anyone know what the deal is with him? Although I will say Washburn played pretty darn well at the MIKE linebacker spot.

i agree that our lb's didnt really seem to pursue as well as previous games. And. yeah tackling was pretty poor.

Washburn was replaced by Chase King at one point and I don't believe it was because of injury so apparently, despite making tackles, he may have not been reading his assignments well. McCarthy was injured in the Weber game, how long he'll be out is uncertain.

 

[ewunerd]

Not worried yet. Not a regular thing. What are the odds we had the same score and same number of total yards?

 

[marceagfan5]

We have struggled the last 2 years with the spread or read option and heavy running teams. We don't defend great against mobile QB's. Every team we lost to last year had a running style QB. We still face Cal Poly and PSU this year, they will run a lot. Depending on which QB starts for UND, we may see a heavy dose of the run as well.

I will say one thing. It feels a hell of a lot better to be 3-1 then 0-4 like we were last year. We have not played like the team we are capable of the last 2 games, but we came away with "W's" and right now, that is all that matters. I don't think our offense has even begun to click and I think we are going to absolutely light some teams up down the stretch. Our defense played great the first 2 games and not so well the last 2. I think they we will begin to see some improvement in our D, especially when we get some of our players back from injuries.

Can't wait for the game on Saturday, I think we will see a lot of points. Adams is only going to get better with more games played...

 

[clawman1]

We have struggled the last 2 years with the spread or read option and heavy running teams. We don't defend great against mobile QB's. Every team we lost to last year had a running style QB. We still face Cal Poly and PSU this year, they will run a lot. Depending on which QB starts for UND, we may see a heavy dose of the run as well.

I will say one thing. It feels a hell of a lot better to be 3-1 then 0-4 like we were last year. We have not played like the team we are capable of the last 2 games, but we came away with "W's" and right now, that is all that matters. I don't think our offense has even begun to click and I think we are going to absolutely light some teams up down the stretch. Our defense played great the first 2 games and not so well the last 2. I think they we will begin to see some improvement in our D, especially when we get some of our players back from injuries.

Can't wait for the game on Saturday, I think we will see a lot of points. Adams is only going to get better with more games played...

After listening to Baldwin at the coaches film breakdown last night, I came away with the impression players and coaches learned a lot from game film of the Montana game. I am confident they are seeing much more than us "experts" are and addressing those issues so we are a better team. I look for this team to do like Montana did last year which is get a LOT better as the year goes along.
I am wondering what are the chances Padron might start against ND given their weak defensive backfield and Dline. He should have a lot of time to get the ball down the field.
Speaking of Padron, coach was highly complimentary of Kyle for the way he has conducted himself and supporting Adams, good young man.

 

[HannahO]

We have struggled the last 2 years with the spread or read option and heavy running teams. We don't defend great against mobile QB's. Every team we lost to last year had a running style QB. We still face Cal Poly and PSU this year, they will run a lot. Depending on which QB starts for UND, we may see a heavy dose of the run as well.

I will say one thing. It feels a hell of a lot better to be 3-1 then 0-4 like we were last year. We have not played like the team we are capable of the last 2 games, but we came away with "W's" and right now, that is all that matters. I don't think our offense has even begun to click and I think we are going to absolutely light some teams up down the stretch. Our defense played great the first 2 games and not so well the last 2. I think they we will begin to see some improvement in our D, especially when we get some of our players back from injuries.

Can't wait for the game on Saturday, I think we will see a lot of points. Adams is only going to get better with more games played...

After listening to Baldwin at the coaches film breakdown last night, I came away with the impression players and coaches learned a lot from game film of the Montana game. I am confident they are seeing much more than us "experts" are and addressing those issues so we are a better team. I look for this team to do like Montana did last year which is get a LOT better as the year goes along.
I am wondering what are the chances Padron might start against ND given their weak defensive backfield and Dline. He should have a lot of time to get the ball down the field.
Speaking of Padron, coach was highly complimentary of Kyle for the way he has conducted himself and supporting Adams, good young man.

+1. :thumb:

 

[marceagfan5]

We have struggled the last 2 years with the spread or read option and heavy running teams. We don't defend great against mobile QB's. Every team we lost to last year had a running style QB. We still face Cal Poly and PSU this year, they will run a lot. Depending on which QB starts for UND, we may see a heavy dose of the run as well.

I will say one thing. It feels a hell of a lot better to be 3-1 then 0-4 like we were last year. We have not played like the team we are capable of the last 2 games, but we came away with "W's" and right now, that is all that matters. I don't think our offense has even begun to click and I think we are going to absolutely light some teams up down the stretch. Our defense played great the first 2 games and not so well the last 2. I think they we will begin to see some improvement in our D, especially when we get some of our players back from injuries.

Can't wait for the game on Saturday, I think we will see a lot of points. Adams is only going to get better with more games played...

After listening to Baldwin at the coaches film breakdown last night, I came away with the impression players and coaches learned a lot from game film of the Montana game. I am confident they are seeing much more than us "experts" are and addressing those issues so we are a better team. I look for this team to do like Montana did last year which is get a LOT better as the year goes along.
I am wondering what are the chances Padron might start against ND given their weak defensive backfield and Dline. He should have a lot of time to get the ball down the field.
Speaking of Padron, coach was highly complimentary of Kyle for the way he has conducted himself and supporting Adams, good young man.

Thanks Clawman.

I heard part of the show on the radio last night. Thought it was interesting about the kicking situation. Miller was our FG and EP kicker after Minnerly went out because our backup holder was use to holding for Miller and not Pavel. Probably why we didn't try to just run out the clock and kick a FG to end the game, although Miller is a good kicker in his own right...

 

[clawman1]

There were a lot of people in the room so it was hard to hear what Larry was saying. Did you catch that one kicker is left legged and the other rt leg, so holding is opposite. Good call on Baldwins part to watch that detail and not miss a kick.

 

[marceagfan5]

There were a lot of people in the room so it was hard to hear what Larry was saying. Did you catch that one kicker is left legged and the other rt leg, so holding is opposite. Good call on Baldwins part to watch that detail and not miss a kick.

That is exactly what I heard. Forgot who our backup holder is, but when Minnerly went out, Baldwin asked him what he'd prefer and he said he had been holding for miller who is left footed the entire time in practice, and trying to switch sides, mid game, would be difficult from a holding standpoint.

Also heard them talking about Shaq Hill and he had never even practiced on the recovery team and was thrown in there due to injuries and he comes up with the ball....good for him!

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

I dont think we'll see Padron start another game unless Adams fxcks up big time. Seeing that he just led EWU to a victory over the 2nd best conf team on the schedule, why reward him by starting a diff qb? Padron fxcked up by not destroying Idaho, then leading EWU to a loss against WSU. Maybe if Adams started that game, were lookin at 4-0 right now instead of 3-1. If Padron qb's the Montana game, maybe were lookin at 2-2 right now, instead of 3-1. Either way, no matter how you slice it, Adams is undefeated and therefor... the guy.

 

[clawman1]

There were a lot of people in the room so it was hard to hear what Larry was saying. Did you catch that one kicker is left legged and the other rt leg, so holding is opposite. Good call on Baldwins part to watch that detail and not miss a kick.

That is exactly what I heard. Forgot who our backup holder is, but when Minnerly went out, Baldwin asked him what he'd prefer and he said he had been holding for miller who is left footed the entire time in practice, and trying to switch sides, mid game, would be difficult from a holding standpoint.

Also heard them talking about Shaq Hill and he had never even practiced on the recovery team and was thrown in there due to injuries and he comes up with the ball....good for him!

Backup holder is Adams...makes for more suspense in the kicking game :clap: