Moment of truth

[Griz til I die]

Alright Eagle Nation, don't hate me too bad after this week, but it's Eastern's week and heres what I think.After taking a week to think about what kind of a team Eastern will have, and the schedule they play this year, they're definitely going to be no slouch again this year. That being said though, I don't think they will be as good as they were last year. With a new coach, and not as good receivers to throw to, Gubrud will have to get comfortable with the new receivers. So based on their schedule, here's what I think:
@Texas Tech- L
VS. NDSU- L
@Fordham-W
@ Montana-L
VS. Sacramento State-W
@UC Davis-W
VS. Montana State- W
@ Southern Utah- W
VS. Weber State- W
@ North Dakota-W
VS. Portland State-W
I thought about giving Eastern a loss to UND, but then I realized that UND is overrated. So my prediction: 8-3. What do you guys think?

 

[Obzerver]

I hate you. Solid prediction on 8-3 which would get a playoff spot (shot at BSC championship if Cal Poly messes up). Like to see a win vs NDSU at home and Griz will be tough on the road after the road Fordham game. At ND will be a real tough game with importance for both teams that time of year. 7-4 or 9-2 is possible. Have a hard time envisioning this team this year with all the variables. Do know we have a great coaching staff in place and some mighty fine ballers that can't wait to get started with the mind set of winners.

 

[clawman1]

Alright Eagle Nation, don't hate me too bad after this week, but it's Eastern's week and heres what I think.After taking a week to think about what kind of a team Eastern will have, and the schedule they play this year, they're definitely going to be no slouch again this year. That being said though, I don't think they will be as good as they were last year. With a new coach, and not as good receivers to throw to, Gubrud will have to get comfortable with the new receivers. So based on their schedule, here's what I think:
@Texas Tech- L
VS. NDSU- L
@Fordham-W
@ Montana-L
VS. Sacramento State-W
@UC Davis-W
VS. Montana State- W
@ Southern Utah- W
VS. Weber State- W
@ North Dakota-W
VS. Portland State-W
I thought about giving Eastern a loss to UND, but then I realized that UND is overrated. So my prediction: 8-3. What do you guys think?

Offense-
While I can not say this years receivers are as good as last there are more of them that are playing at a very high level.
GG is another year bigger stronger faster and more football wise. The O-line has a lot of experience and very deep. We will have a much deeper running game.
Defense-
The D-line is really deep and very experienced and athletic a group as I've seen.
D backfield is filled with speed.
Linebackers very solid and experienced group.
I agree the new coaching staff may take a little while to jell but after meeting them at our recent fund raiser dinner they are well on the way to a cohesive unit.
Texas Tech is very beatable.
NDSU well they are the Bison and will be tough.
Fordham will be a tougher game given the travel.
Griz- My only concern is the tough start to the schedule and returning from long road trip to New York.
I don't think a 4-0 record at this point is impossible but 3-1 may be more realistic.
Next toughest task will be @ ND, may be our second loss of the season.
disclaimer- I am an admitted homer! :clap:

 

[Jibjab68]

Let the Griz think we are beatable. To me A loss to the Griz would be a big upset. The only advantage I see that the Griz have on us is at LB and home field advantage. Other than that I would give a huge edge at QB and OL to the Eags and the edge to the Eags at WR and RB as well. Defensively i think our secondary is going to be the strength of our team and our DL has to be one of the best in the Big Sky. The Griz do have a great LB corp but ours is right behind. Griz special teams SUCKKKKKKK! big advantage to the Eags. Coach Best has assembled a great staff and I do not expect a big drop off from coach B.

I see us getting beat at Texas Tech but in a competitive game. We will lose one more either against NDSU or UND to put our final record at 9-2 and at least a share of the Big Sky title. Eags expect to win championships. Griz used to expect it over a decade ago. FTG!!!

 

[Rontheoldwiseeagle]

I could take the time to explain all the reasons why we will be undefeated, but just know that when the playoffs start Sam Houston State and EWU will be undefeated and we will be seeded 1st and Sammie will be seeded 6th. As for NDSU, they have never won on the Inferno and they will not win this year.

 

[EWURanger]

8-3 sounds about right. There will be some dropoff in production on offense but we'll be more balanced. I think the defense continues to improve.

 

[clawman1]

I could take the time to explain all the reasons why we will be undefeated, but just know that when the playoffs start Sam Houston State and EWU will be undefeated and we will be seeded 1st and Sammie will be seeded 6th. As for NDSU, they have never won on the Inferno and they will not win this year.

James Madison is getting a lot of talent back. They play the power type of offense we struggle with. Speaking of the D-line Jay-Tee was an animal in the Red/White game. Reminds me of Renard Williams only with a great work ethic I understand.

 

[Rafter_Reese]

8-3 sounds about right. There will be some dropoff in production on offense but we'll be more balanced. I think the defense continues to improve.

8-3 does sound about right but 9-2 definitely not out of the picture. I remember this time last year someone predicted 11-0 and no one was buying it due to playing Washington St, North Dakota St. and Northern Iowa to start the season. We were a missed field goal away (at the end of the North Dakota St. game) from starting the season 3-0 and nearly running the table. That prediction at the time seemed unreasonable but it almost happened.

The Eags will be just as good this year (if not better) than they were last year in my opinion. I do bleed RED but I try to keep an honest perspective. I know Coop is gone but we will be a different kind of good. Gage isn't going to pass for 5,000 yards this year but he'll probably throw for over 4,000. Our O-line is going to be nasty this year and I think that's why we'll be just as good. The balance we play with on offense this next year is going to force defenses to play very discipline. Our WR corps aren't household names YET but they will be. Xavier James, Jayson Williams, Dre' Sonte Dorton, and I am very impressed with Talolo Limu Jones who is listed as a tight end but is constantly split out wide because of his receiving skills. The kid is a beast. These guys are good enough to start on every Big Sky team this year and they are our backups. The speed they bring has me really excited.

I'm even more excited about what I saw from our Defense at the Spring scrimmages. Our D is 100% LEGIT. If we can stop the run in December this year I think Eags bring home the Natty.

Texas Tech - W
NDST - W
Fordham - L
Montana - L
Sac - W
UC Davis - W
Montana St. - W
Southern Utah - W
Weber St. - W
North Dakota - W
Portland St. - W

go eags!

 

[dudeitsaid]

8-3 sounds about right. There will be some dropoff in production on offense but we'll be more balanced. I think the defense continues to improve.

8-3 does sound about right but 9-2 definitely not out of the picture. I remember this time last year someone predicted 11-0 and no one was buying it due to playing Washington St, North Dakota St. and Northern Iowa to start the season. We were a missed field goal away (at the end of the North Dakota St. game) from starting the season 3-0 and nearly running the table. That prediction at the time seemed unreasonable but it almost happened.

The Eags will be just as good this year (if not better) than they were last year in my opinion. I do bleed RED but I try to keep an honest perspective. I know Coop is gone but we will be a different kind of good. Gage isn't going to pass for 5,000 yards this year but he'll probably throw for over 4,000. Our O-line is going to be nasty this year and I think that's why we'll be just as good. The balance we play with on offense this next year is going to force defenses to play very discipline. Our WR corps aren't household names YET but they will be. Xavier James, Jayson Williams, Dre' Sonte Dorton, and I am very impressed with Talolo Limu Jones who is listed as a tight end but is constantly split out wide because of his receiving skills. The kid is a beast. These guys are good enough to start on every Big Sky team this year and they are our backups. The speed they bring has me really excited.

I'm even more excited about what I saw from our Defense at the Spring scrimmages. Our D is 100% LEGIT. If we can stop the run in December this year I think Eags bring home the Natty.

Texas Tech - W
NDST - W
Fordham - L
Montana - L
Sac - W
UC Davis - W
Montana St. - W
Southern Utah - W
Weber St. - W
North Dakota - W
Portland St. - W

go eags!

I don't know what the record will be. To me, the question marks are with the coaching staff. I don't know how the new approach will translate to the on field performance. I'm not wary at all, I personally think they will carry the torch forward just fine. But that's the only uncertainty I have with this team.

In regards to talent, people that think our offense is somehow dramatically weakened by the loss of one great player do not truly understand the depth of this team. And that is not to take anything away from Cooper Kupp, who I truly believe is the greatest player to ever don EWU football pads. But there is so much depth and talent on this team, it is crazy. In the past, I could pick out a few playmakers that the team could lean on. Now, there are more that can step up than I can count! And the recruiting keeps getting better. I hope the current coaches can keep that piece up as well.

When I look at the schedule, I doubt we will make it through another gauntlet unscathed. But I don't see a single game the Eagles can't win. Some are tougher than others, but I don't count Eastern out of a single one. And I agree, EWU, has the talent this year, and for the next few years to win the Natty. That's never a given, no matter how good the teams are. And there are probably another five or six teams that are incredibly stacked like we are (JMU, NDSU in particular), so when it gets to the quarters, there are no givens anyways. I'll go out on a limb and say EWU loses one game in the regular season, and then gets over the semifinal hump to get back to the chipper.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Everything will hinge on those first four games.... No margin for error. Absolutely must be 2-2 through four, but really 3-1 if we want to compete for a championship. The schedule, like it does every year, works against us. Montana could be garbage and still be 2-1 and totally healthy going into their game with us. We could be decent and walk into that game 0-3, beat up, and already looking forward to 2018.

 

[FormerEag]

I remember this time last year someone predicted 11-0 and no one was buying it due to playing Washington St, North Dakota St. and Northern Iowa to start the season. We were a missed field goal away (at the end of the North Dakota St. game) from starting the season 3-0 and nearly running the table. That prediction at the time seemed unreasonable but it almost happened.

That was me and I'll never let you guys forget it.

And guess what my prediction is this year?

That's right... 11-0

 

[FormerEag]

And I agree, losing to the grizz would be a MASSIVE upset.

 

[Obzerver]

Here's the guy who called 10-1 last year...what was his name(wasn't me)?

 

[HookedonGriz]

Let the Griz think we are beatable. To me A loss to the Griz would be a big upset. The only advantage I see that the Griz have on us is at LB and home field advantage. Other than that I would give a huge edge at QB and OL to the Eags and the edge to the Eags at WR and RB as well. Defensively i think our secondary is going to be the strength of our team and our DL has to be one of the best in the Big Sky. The Griz do have a great LB corp but ours is right behind. Griz special teams SUCKKKKKKK! big advantage to the Eags. Coach Best has assembled a great staff and I do not expect a big drop off from coach B.

I see us getting beat at Texas Tech but in a competitive game. We will lose one more either against NDSU or UND to put our final record at 9-2 and at least a share of the Big Sky title. Eags expect to win championships. Griz used to expect it over a decade ago. FTG!!!

I don't know how it will all shake out. But to say the EWU receiving corps are better than Griz is a heck of a stretch IMO. You lost 3 guys who were responsible for 72% of EWUs receiving yards. They were all over 1000 yards receiving. That's an incredible feat. I don't think you just automatically replace that. A lot of you say "we are only losing Cupp so it won't hurt that bad". Ummmm you lost 3 receivers who are all in NFL camps this year. 3 of them! No doubt you have some UNPROVEN talent in Williams and Xavier James but they haven't caught a pass, yet. So I'll reserve my judgement til then. So the only proven receiving offense you got coming back are Sblendorio and Stu Stiles (401 yards and 380 yards....14% of the receiving production.)



The Griz, on the exact flip end, have every single one of their proven receivers back who were responsible for 72% of receiving yards (over 2500 of the 3500 passing yards). So for those reasons alone I think it's a very bold claim to say the WR core at EWU is better. I'm sure they'll be good and we will see the next great EWU receiver emerge but that is too early of a claim.

 

[sammamisheag]

It's all about Strength of Schedule for playoff seeding.

Every year it seems like EWU has runs the gauntlet in Sept.

9-2 or 8-3 sounds about right. Should get the Eags a home playoff game or two

 

[Jibjab68]

Let the Griz think we are beatable. To me A loss to the Griz would be a big upset. The only advantage I see that the Griz have on us is at LB and home field advantage. Other than that I would give a huge edge at QB and OL to the Eags and the edge to the Eags at WR and RB as well. Defensively i think our secondary is going to be the strength of our team and our DL has to be one of the best in the Big Sky. The Griz do have a great LB corp but ours is right behind. Griz special teams SUCKKKKKKK! big advantage to the Eags. Coach Best has assembled a great staff and I do not expect a big drop off from coach B.

I see us getting beat at Texas Tech but in a competitive game. We will lose one more either against NDSU or UND to put our final record at 9-2 and at least a share of the Big Sky title. Eags expect to win championships. Griz used to expect it over a decade ago. FTG!!!

I don't know how it will all shake out. But to say the EWU receiving corps are better than Griz is a heck of a stretch IMO. You lost 3 guys who were responsible for 72% of EWUs receiving yards. They were all over 1000 yards receiving. That's an incredible feat. I don't think you just automatically replace that. A lot of you say "we are only losing Cupp so it won't hurt that bad". Ummmm you lost 3 receivers who are all in NFL camps this year. 3 of them! No doubt you have some UNPROVEN talent in Williams and Xavier James but they haven't caught a pass, yet. So I'll reserve my judgement til then. So the only proven receiving offense you got coming back are Sblendorio and Stu Stiles (401 yards and 380 yards....14% of the receiving production.)



The Griz, on the exact flip end, have every single one of their proven receivers back who were responsible for 72% of receiving yards (over 2500 of the 3500 passing yards). So for those reasons alone I think it's a very bold claim to say the WR core at EWU is better. I'm sure they'll be good and we will see the next great EWU receiver emerge but that is too early of a claim.

Well, in your logic you need to consider who is throwing the ball. Gubrud accounted for over95% of the passing yards while the eventual Griz QB accounted for less than 5%. Gubrud will put up over 4000 yrds. again this year to this receiving Corp.

You've also left out Terrance Grady who was slated to play A lot last year but red shirt because the WR position was so loaded. You also seem to forget about Nsimba Webster who was getting decent production before an injury took him out for most of the season. He reminds me a lot of shaq hill and did not disappoint in spring.

So yes, Nsimba, Splendo, Stiles and Grady as the main receivers with Williams, Dre Dorton, Eagle, Xavier James and 2 3 star recruits coming in as freshman make this WR corp better than the Fizzlies. Especially when you consider who is throwing the ball.

 

[clawman1]

2016- receivers made GG look good
2017- GG makes receivers look good

 

[Rafter_Reese]

Let the Griz think we are beatable. To me A loss to the Griz would be a big upset. The only advantage I see that the Griz have on us is at LB and home field advantage. Other than that I would give a huge edge at QB and OL to the Eags and the edge to the Eags at WR and RB as well. Defensively i think our secondary is going to be the strength of our team and our DL has to be one of the best in the Big Sky. The Griz do have a great LB corp but ours is right behind. Griz special teams SUCKKKKKKK! big advantage to the Eags. Coach Best has assembled a great staff and I do not expect a big drop off from coach B.

I see us getting beat at Texas Tech but in a competitive game. We will lose one more either against NDSU or UND to put our final record at 9-2 and at least a share of the Big Sky title. Eags expect to win championships. Griz used to expect it over a decade ago. FTG!!!

I don't know how it will all shake out. But to say the EWU receiving corps are better than Griz is a heck of a stretch IMO. You lost 3 guys who were responsible for 72% of EWUs receiving yards. They were all over 1000 yards receiving. That's an incredible feat. I don't think you just automatically replace that. A lot of you say "we are only losing Cupp so it won't hurt that bad". Ummmm you lost 3 receivers who are all in NFL camps this year. 3 of them! No doubt you have some UNPROVEN talent in Williams and Xavier James but they haven't caught a pass, yet. So I'll reserve my judgement til then. So the only proven receiving offense you got coming back are Sblendorio and Stu Stiles (401 yards and 380 yards....14% of the receiving production.)



The Griz, on the exact flip end, have every single one of their proven receivers back who were responsible for 72% of receiving yards (over 2500 of the 3500 passing yards). So for those reasons alone I think it's a very bold claim to say the WR core at EWU is better. I'm sure they'll be good and we will see the next great EWU receiver emerge but that is too early of a claim.

Well, in your logic you need to consider who is throwing the ball. Gubrud accounted for over95% of the passing yards while the eventual Griz QB accounted for less than 5%. Gubrud will put up over 4000 yrds. again this year to this receiving Corp.

You've also left out Terrance Grady who was slated to play A lot last year but red shirt because the WR position was so loaded. You also seem to forget about Nsimba Webster who was getting decent production before an injury took him out for most of the season. He reminds me a lot of shaq hill and did not disappoint in spring.

So yes, Nsimba, Splendo, Stiles and Grady as the main receivers with Williams, Dre Dorton, Eagle, Xavier James and 2 3 star recruits coming in as freshman make this WR corp better than the Fizzlies. Especially when you consider who is throwing the ball.

To be fair, the Griz do have some pretty solid receivers coming back next year. That being said, I will take our WR's all day long. And all night long for that matter. Terence Grady is ready to come in and destroy this year. I Watched him last spring (2016) and he was nearly unstoppable in the red zone. Baldwin was smart to redshirt him last year with our 3 stud seniors. Now he has 2 years to do his thing. The scary part about our already loaded WR group is that our incoming guys that will be true freshman next year might be some of the best we've ever had and that is saying A LOT. I'm seeing at least one of them getting some immediate PT next year. As we all know though, receivers are only as good as the guy throwing them the ball and I'll take our guy. I have no doubt the Griz will be ready to play when the Eags show up though. Eags have a target on their back.

go eags!

 

[HookedonGriz]

Let the Griz think we are beatable. To me A loss to the Griz would be a big upset. The only advantage I see that the Griz have on us is at LB and home field advantage. Other than that I would give a huge edge at QB and OL to the Eags and the edge to the Eags at WR and RB as well. Defensively i think our secondary is going to be the strength of our team and our DL has to be one of the best in the Big Sky. The Griz do have a great LB corp but ours is right behind. Griz special teams SUCKKKKKKK! big advantage to the Eags. Coach Best has assembled a great staff and I do not expect a big drop off from coach B.

I see us getting beat at Texas Tech but in a competitive game. We will lose one more either against NDSU or UND to put our final record at 9-2 and at least a share of the Big Sky title. Eags expect to win championships. Griz used to expect it over a decade ago. FTG!!!

I don't know how it will all shake out. But to say the EWU receiving corps are better than Griz is a heck of a stretch IMO. You lost 3 guys who were responsible for 72% of EWUs receiving yards. They were all over 1000 yards receiving. That's an incredible feat. I don't think you just automatically replace that. A lot of you say "we are only losing Cupp so it won't hurt that bad". Ummmm you lost 3 receivers who are all in NFL camps this year. 3 of them! No doubt you have some UNPROVEN talent in Williams and Xavier James but they haven't caught a pass, yet. So I'll reserve my judgement til then. So the only proven receiving offense you got coming back are Sblendorio and Stu Stiles (401 yards and 380 yards....14% of the receiving production.)



The Griz, on the exact flip end, have every single one of their proven receivers back who were responsible for 72% of receiving yards (over 2500 of the 3500 passing yards). So for those reasons alone I think it's a very bold claim to say the WR core at EWU is better. I'm sure they'll be good and we will see the next great EWU receiver emerge but that is too early of a claim.

Well, in your logic you need to consider who is throwing the ball. Gubrud accounted for over95% of the passing yards while the eventual Griz QB accounted for less than 5%. Gubrud will put up over 4000 yrds. again this year to this receiving Corp.

You've also left out Terrance Grady who was slated to play A lot last year but red shirt because the WR position was so loaded. You also seem to forget about Nsimba Webster who was getting decent production before an injury took him out for most of the season. He reminds me a lot of shaq hill and did not disappoint in spring.

So yes, Nsimba, Splendo, Stiles and Grady as the main receivers with Williams, Dre Dorton, Eagle, Xavier James and 2 3 star recruits coming in as freshman make this WR corp better than the Fizzlies. Especially when you consider who is throwing the ball.

Strange, never in my post or yours were we talking QBs. You said the WR core of EWU is better than the Griz. I said that's a stretch and laid out some good reasons why.

If you want to bring QBs into it, then there's no debate. Gubrud is arguably the best QB in all of FCS, while the Griz put out an unproven new starter (like the Eags do with most your receivers). As for Webster, he had 64 yards receiving in 8 games. Didn't exactly set the world on fire. That's my point, you want to put unproven against proven and all I'm saying is that's a stretch.

I know Griz Nation is much more excited about the passing abilities of our new QBs and the ability to spread it out, use all the field, and not just throw chicken shit dump downs to JLM (although those could go to the house at any given time, too). Word on the street is Brady was worried about hurting himself and his potential pro career so it was very very very easy to bubble screen it to JLM or anyone else in that slot. It got old for us in a hurry. I think we won't see that every other play with these other slingers. But it's unproven so I'll wait and see.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Let the Griz think we are beatable. To me A loss to the Griz would be a big upset. The only advantage I see that the Griz have on us is at LB and home field advantage. Other than that I would give a huge edge at QB and OL to the Eags and the edge to the Eags at WR and RB as well. Defensively i think our secondary is going to be the strength of our team and our DL has to be one of the best in the Big Sky. The Griz do have a great LB corp but ours is right behind. Griz special teams SUCKKKKKKK! big advantage to the Eags. Coach Best has assembled a great staff and I do not expect a big drop off from coach B.

I see us getting beat at Texas Tech but in a competitive game. We will lose one more either against NDSU or UND to put our final record at 9-2 and at least a share of the Big Sky title. Eags expect to win championships. Griz used to expect it over a decade ago. FTG!!!

I don't know how it will all shake out. But to say the EWU receiving corps are better than Griz is a heck of a stretch IMO. You lost 3 guys who were responsible for 72% of EWUs receiving yards. They were all over 1000 yards receiving. That's an incredible feat. I don't think you just automatically replace that. A lot of you say "we are only losing Cupp so it won't hurt that bad". Ummmm you lost 3 receivers who are all in NFL camps this year. 3 of them! No doubt you have some UNPROVEN talent in Williams and Xavier James but they haven't caught a pass, yet. So I'll reserve my judgement til then. So the only proven receiving offense you got coming back are Sblendorio and Stu Stiles (401 yards and 380 yards....14% of the receiving production.)



The Griz, on the exact flip end, have every single one of their proven receivers back who were responsible for 72% of receiving yards (over 2500 of the 3500 passing yards). So for those reasons alone I think it's a very bold claim to say the WR core at EWU is better. I'm sure they'll be good and we will see the next great EWU receiver emerge but that is too early of a claim.

Well, in your logic you need to consider who is throwing the ball. Gubrud accounted for over95% of the passing yards while the eventual Griz QB accounted for less than 5%. Gubrud will put up over 4000 yrds. again this year to this receiving Corp.

You've also left out Terrance Grady who was slated to play A lot last year but red shirt because the WR position was so loaded. You also seem to forget about Nsimba Webster who was getting decent production before an injury took him out for most of the season. He reminds me a lot of shaq hill and did not disappoint in spring.

So yes, Nsimba, Splendo, Stiles and Grady as the main receivers with Williams, Dre Dorton, Eagle, Xavier James and 2 3 star recruits coming in as freshman make this WR corp better than the Fizzlies. Especially when you consider who is throwing the ball.

Strange, never in my post or yours were we talking QBs. You said the WR core of EWU is better than the Griz. I said that's a stretch and laid out some good reasons why.

If you want to bring QBs into it, then there's no debate. Gubrud is arguably the best QB in all of FCS, while the Griz put out an unproven new starter (like the Eags do with most your receivers). As for Webster, he had 64 yards receiving in 8 games. Didn't exactly set the world on fire. That's my point, you want to put unproven against proven and all I'm saying is that's a stretch.

I know Griz Nation is much more excited about the passing abilities of our new QBs and the ability to spread it out, use all the field, and not just throw chicken shit dump downs to JLM (although those could go to the house at any given time, too). Word on the street is Brady was worried about hurting himself and his potential pro career so it was very very very easy to bubble screen it to JLM or anyone else in that slot. It got old for us in a hurry. I think we won't see that every other play with these other slingers. But it's unproven so I'll wait and see.

As an avid Eastern fan, I'll juts say this... I'm very comfortable with our receiving corps. It is possible we see a drop off this year as we lost three of the best ever in Cheney, but the guys coming in are damn talented on their own. We probably got the best receiving recruits ever in a single Big Sky recruiting class (and I'm a notorious pessimist and willing to say that). More than likely, most of those guys will redshirt, but Stiles, Splendorio, and Grady are a tough threesome on their own. Maybe this will be the year it all clicks for Webster as well. I feel every one of those guys is a better receiver than Louis-Magee, although admittedly that guy's athleticism does make him an explosive threat.

The big feather in the cap for Montana is an astronomically better schedule early in the year. We travel to Lubbock, come back to Cheney for the Bison, and then across the country to play Fordham. You guys get UW and the two dwarfs. If there are kinks in the system early in the year, the Griz have time work to through them. Eastern doesn't have that luxury. Our reserves will get very little PT in those three games, so if we have a few injuries, it is a potential nightmare.