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Fire Jeff Schmedding
- Thread starter Rjones61
- Start date
HeavyIsTheCrown
Active member
EaglesOwntheSky said:
Gage threw 3 interceptions and they were bad, especially that one he just threw up there for grabs, but the defense got 60 points hung up on them. Literally 58 points. That dime/7 DB look Schmedding gave WSU was awful.
I have been pretty harsh on the defensive coaches at EWU for years now, though I have softened a bit in my outspokenness. But it is disappointing, if you look at the talent Eastern has had on defense since 2010, how you do see the same mistakes year after year. Some of that definitely needs to fall on the coaches. I'm not saying EWU needs be an elite defense, but I do think they should be better than they are, middle of the road as far as FCS teams go anyway. I don't see anyone getting fired, if it hasn't happened by now it's not going to. They have reshuffled coaches around in the past but it really didn't make much of a difference. Without any new blood, I don't know what the answer is.
9MFEaglefan said:
I agree 100%. If the Gage doesn’t throw it to the Cougs 3 times, we don’t give up a 99 yard kickoff for a touchdown and we don’t fumble another kickoff we are right in this game.
Our defense made some stops, but got wore down for sure. I agree though, that we need to get more aggressive and try to put pressure on the opposing offense. We didn’t do that enough today. But, if I was going to blame anyone it would be Gage. In order for us to be in this game he needed to play well and he was not good st all tonight.
I think what most of you have failed to consider over the course of the last decade is that having an offense like ours is a double edged sword. There’s no doubt that Beau was a wizard of offensive scheme and execution; however, his/our offensive style is terrible for defensive stability. Okay, we just got a stop and forced a punt (this is just an example, not specifically referencing this game). We get the ball on our 20 and hold the ball for 25 seconds and score in 3 plays. Now we kickoff and the D is back on the field. The other team has a lot less offensive explosiveness but is actually balanced and can sustain a drive so they hold the ball for 6 minutes and 16 plays. They score one way or another and we get the ball back. We hold the ball for 30 seconds this time scoring after one first down. Rinse and repeat this and the D is playing 70-80% of the game. By passing on 80% of plays you lengthen the game by a high margin. Plays are often either very long or they result in an incompletion and stoppage of the clock. Being Beau’s D coordinator signs your death warrant, at least in terms of public perception, which thankfully is never and will never be taken into consideration when making hiring/firing decisions like this.
Aaron Best’s strategy of creating a more balanced offense will pay dividends in multiple areas, including the balance it will help provide to both sides of the ball. Being able to sustain longer drives on offense is a form of playing defense and in this sense Beau’s offense was terrible at defense. Beyond that we know how hard it is to rely on the passing game exclusively with Cheney’s weather. Raining? Buckle up for a rough game. Windy, snowing? Shit, we have no running game to fall back on so it’s going to be tough to watch. We’re in year two of walking a path to balance, and we’re actually looking pretty good. We just played what’s likely the best opponent we’ll face all year so forgive me if I’m not going to make some emotional reaction calling for another man’s job before gaining a bit of perspective on the matter. And don’t give me this ‘it’s always been an issue’ crap, I just addressed that in detail. I’m not trying to call anyone out, it’s just sad to see this kind of narrative.
That being said, there’s always room for improvement and we all know we have the tools to be good this year. If we underachieve this year than I’m more than willing to eat humble pie but I’m not going to sit here and condemn an entire season based on our one FBS game. Not to mention it was a week 3 game where both teams have had time to polish themselves. Having the first game be the FBS levels the playing field by a lot, and it would have been interesting to see the result of a week one matchup, but we’ll never know I guess.
Aaron Best’s strategy of creating a more balanced offense will pay dividends in multiple areas, including the balance it will help provide to both sides of the ball. Being able to sustain longer drives on offense is a form of playing defense and in this sense Beau’s offense was terrible at defense. Beyond that we know how hard it is to rely on the passing game exclusively with Cheney’s weather. Raining? Buckle up for a rough game. Windy, snowing? Shit, we have no running game to fall back on so it’s going to be tough to watch. We’re in year two of walking a path to balance, and we’re actually looking pretty good. We just played what’s likely the best opponent we’ll face all year so forgive me if I’m not going to make some emotional reaction calling for another man’s job before gaining a bit of perspective on the matter. And don’t give me this ‘it’s always been an issue’ crap, I just addressed that in detail. I’m not trying to call anyone out, it’s just sad to see this kind of narrative.
That being said, there’s always room for improvement and we all know we have the tools to be good this year. If we underachieve this year than I’m more than willing to eat humble pie but I’m not going to sit here and condemn an entire season based on our one FBS game. Not to mention it was a week 3 game where both teams have had time to polish themselves. Having the first game be the FBS levels the playing field by a lot, and it would have been interesting to see the result of a week one matchup, but we’ll never know I guess.
luckyintheorder
Active member
EaglesOwntheSky said:
Welcome EOTS! Man for man, Eags have good to great talent on D side of the ball as any FCS team. Could have run base man D most games and done better.. FYI, Graham sure as heck isn't the answer. Would look at programs that actually have GREAT defenses and find a guy with 3-5 years under that DC's tutelage, not an Eag guy, not a Spokane guy, a DEFENSE guy.
That said, Eags will still win 8 games or more this season and be in the hunt for a Natty as long as they put this in the rear view mirror and use as motivation to win the BSC. The offense and special teams and ref's stunk it up too
The sky isn't falling, it was just a very rainy day.
Yawn.
It was one bad game on both sides of the ball against a solid team with a really good offense and very quick but physical defense. There were several momentum or opportunity killing bad calls, we turned it over 4 times, gave up a kick return with a pair of blocks in the back that were missed.
If you had to bet before the game started on which was more likely to happen, would it be the defense giving up 52 points or Gage going 14-36 for 231 and 3 picks?
[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttjj7DYbm6w[/media]
It was one bad game on both sides of the ball against a solid team with a really good offense and very quick but physical defense. There were several momentum or opportunity killing bad calls, we turned it over 4 times, gave up a kick return with a pair of blocks in the back that were missed.
If you had to bet before the game started on which was more likely to happen, would it be the defense giving up 52 points or Gage going 14-36 for 231 and 3 picks?
[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttjj7DYbm6w[/media]
luckyintheorder
Active member
kalm said:
Picks didn't have much to do with 98 and 99 yards drives... Expected WSU to play very well, they had a lot more to lose than EWU. Doesn't excuse the inexcusable.
Obzerver
Active member
"If you had to bet before the game started on which was more likely to happen, would it be the defense giving up 52 points or Gage going 14-36 for 231 and 3 picks?" Kalm
1) I did bet and was hoping we wouldn't lose by more than 21pts. There went half my retirement savings.
2) I was overcome in that 5-6 minute stretch where I felt we were going to pull out a win with sort of tremendous push/breaks if only a few things went right. I farted and it was over.
3) Jody Sears kept popping into mind at the start of the game.
4) Pleased to see some nice runs/blocking.
5) Disturbed to see GG not get thru his 1st read many times while Minshew went thru his 8th and 9th reads. When GG had some time wr's had nice separation and nice catches.
6) They were good we didn't quit and refs waited till result was defined before we started getting calls.
1) I did bet and was hoping we wouldn't lose by more than 21pts. There went half my retirement savings.
2) I was overcome in that 5-6 minute stretch where I felt we were going to pull out a win with sort of tremendous push/breaks if only a few things went right. I farted and it was over.
3) Jody Sears kept popping into mind at the start of the game.
4) Pleased to see some nice runs/blocking.
5) Disturbed to see GG not get thru his 1st read many times while Minshew went thru his 8th and 9th reads. When GG had some time wr's had nice separation and nice catches.
6) They were good we didn't quit and refs waited till result was defined before we started getting calls.
ewueagle2010
Active member
Take away the 3 miserable picks, which one wasn’t even a pick, the fumble of the kickoff, and the KO return for TD where there were two blatant blocks in the back and we’re likely looking at a 10 point game.
The D was worn down by a deeper opponent, which in the end is what is supposed to happen against a PAC 12 team and the officiating was horrendous, literally one of the worst I’ve witnessed. Oh, and let’s not forget the trash class act of Leach throwing the ball several times on the last drive, including on 4th down for a garbage time TD.
Overall, I don’t understand the D scheme but I’m happy with our fight and our running game. This team is good enough to win out. I’m going to enjoy the ride, while some of you worry about a blowout loss to WSU.
The D was worn down by a deeper opponent, which in the end is what is supposed to happen against a PAC 12 team and the officiating was horrendous, literally one of the worst I’ve witnessed. Oh, and let’s not forget the trash class act of Leach throwing the ball several times on the last drive, including on 4th down for a garbage time TD.
Overall, I don’t understand the D scheme but I’m happy with our fight and our running game. This team is good enough to win out. I’m going to enjoy the ride, while some of you worry about a blowout loss to WSU.
luckyintheorder
Active member
The Eags didn't quit and ran the ball far better than I expected too. Love it. Cal Poly is going to get pummeled.kalm said:
JoinTheEAF
Active member
Disappointing to see this headline but admire the passion and expectations our fans have. When you take 63 scholarships on the road vs 85 you don't win every year. Most FCS programs never win their money games. Coach Best and his staff are the best in the Big Sky.
Coach wasn't happy on the post game show with Larry but he said the guys played hard and didn't quit. We had great representation in Pullman and despite the loss it was a fun road trip.
Go Eagles-let's sell this game out by mid week and start Big Sky play 1 and 0.
Coach wasn't happy on the post game show with Larry but he said the guys played hard and didn't quit. We had great representation in Pullman and despite the loss it was a fun road trip.
Go Eagles-let's sell this game out by mid week and start Big Sky play 1 and 0.
EaglesOwntheSky said:
None of those three interceptions was really caused by bad reads or throws. WSU has really strong DBs, and our receivers weren't getting any separation at all. Gage was forced to make throws into traffic, and any time you're required to do that, bad things can happen. The only big yardage passes we had were either great catches or blown coverages. By and large, our receivers looked very ordinary yesterday.
Given that we had some success running the ball, I was really surprised not to see more of it, especially in the 3rd quarter when we were still within shouting distance.
As for the title of the thread, I too will reserve judgment. That said, it is really disappointing to see Eastern die the death by a thousand cuts every year. What did WSU get, 35 first downs? I'd rather see us get more aggressive and give up a 75 yard TD once in a while instead of just letting the opposing offense walk down the field. They had two drives of >97 yards. Not good.
GoldenEagle
Active member
LDopaPDX said:
Agree with you LDopa. I just wish at the beginning of the game the EAGS would have tried man coverage and stunted to maybe keep their offense off balance. I think in a game like that there is nothing to lose.
HeavyIsTheCrown
Active member
LDopaPDX said:
You saw what happens when you sit in zone all day with no pass rush right? You HAVE TO mix it up, and you have to bring pressure. EWU acted like that was Mike Vick back there and if they’d blitz, he’d take off for 30 yards. Pressure forces QBs to make quick/poor decisions... just ask Gage Gubrud. Btw if there’s only one good man coverage guy, who’s fault is that? Who’s being held responsible?
Im not sure that i dont agree but:
We had a lot of success running the ball. Just watched the game again and why we went against setting up the pass with the running gaem i will never know. Both of our running backs were running hard and getting positive yards. This set up better passing lanes for all our receivers.
When we went away from zone, we had success. With a team like WSU, you have to overwhelm the offensive line sometimes and take your chances. When we did that we got pressure on the QB (Johnson coming unabated and forcing the QB out of the pocket).
Not sure what they were looking at success vs what was not working.
We had a lot of success running the ball. Just watched the game again and why we went against setting up the pass with the running gaem i will never know. Both of our running backs were running hard and getting positive yards. This set up better passing lanes for all our receivers.
When we went away from zone, we had success. With a team like WSU, you have to overwhelm the offensive line sometimes and take your chances. When we did that we got pressure on the QB (Johnson coming unabated and forcing the QB out of the pocket).
Not sure what they were looking at success vs what was not working.
