No Playoffs in 2019

[MLEagle]

This year was a tough one. I missed my guess big time because I honestly thought we had a great chance to get back to Frisco this year. Really, from start to finish, we just didn’t play very well. Having to replace both DC and OC had a much bigger impact than what I thought it would have.

I hope that we get back to Eagle football next year, but missing the playoffs 2 out of last 3 years is concerning for sure. I love Coach Best and think he is the right guy, but he might need to take a hard look at his staff this off season to determine if he has the right guys in the right places.

 

[LDopaPDX]

I agree. I think there's a lot to learn from this season, and it isn't just on the football team itself. No team who scheduled all their out of conference games against D1 opponents on the road made the playoffs. That is a weird stat, but it's important to note. Playing 7 road games is a level of difficulty that is self-imposed. The disaster at Jax State was compounded by playing a road game at Idaho. We should've won both- neither team was very good- but that destroyed confidence never got rebuilt. The strange thing was two 7 win teams actually got at-large bids, but both only had 4 losses. In other words, the committee preferred a light schedule and minimal numbers of losses.

As for the team, man, we just need to get better on defense. The last two games saw Eastern just get chewed up, even in wins. It was like our solid defensive year of 2018 never happened. We reverted right back to the same old give-up-first-down-after-first-down defense we'd seen so often before. Honestly, I watch the defense and can't even understand the formation they're in half the time.

 

[Eagledawg]

No big surprise. Watched the selection show and the said that the selection committee when looking at bubble teams, they put a high priority on what did against teams that were already selected,AKA "quality wins". The only decent win was against North Dakota, all the rest were against sub .500 teams except D-II Lindenwood and Eastern gave up 31 points to them. Good thing Eastern didn't play Weber, Montana State and Davis for that matter. After having a good defense last year we've gone back to a lousy defense, 104th in total defense and that was with a easy schedule. Even our marquee game against Jacksonville turned out to not really matter since Jacksonville finished 6-6 and if we had beaten them they would be 5-7, just another sub .500 team.

Everything begins on the line of scrimmage and on defense I just don't think we have the athletes that can do that. For the most part we are just undersize on the D-line.

Kudos to NDSU, I keep thinking they will have a drop off sooner or later and this year with a new QB and head coach but no slow down with those guys. On the selection show I thought I heard them say they have won 33 in a row. Did I hear that right? That's crazy!

 

[LDopaPDX]

Totally agree with the DL bit. I thought coming into the season the two guys who were irreplaceable were Ojoh and Moore, for different reasons. Ojoh brings that fire and tenacity, and Moore is the only legit DT we have. Between the two of them, we only got half a season. Ojoh's loss was mitigated to some degree by Sendelbach, who was our best defensive player this year in my opinion. But we struggled mightily on defense any time Moore wasn't on the field. Ledbetter is a good pass rushing DT, but he lacks the size to really lock down the middle. And the undersized guys on the ends put a lot of stress on the middle. Getting more size on the DL is absolutely paramount.

Add to that I never felt comfortable with our secondary. I didn't see one guy that I really felt was a great cover man, and our lack of tackling in the wide areas caused a lot of problems. Weed will certainly grow into the role of lock-down CB, but that still leaves four positions where we are vulnerable.

The scary thing is we're going to need to improve a bunch on defense next year just to be passable on D. I've never been a big fan of going the transfer route, but getting a ready-made DL or DB might be needed this year.

Semantics question... given Jusstis Warren only played about five plays this year as a senior transfer, might he be coming back next year? The guy came in with some fanfare, but we never saw him on the field. I'd assume he could petition for a sixth year and do graduate work, but I don't know how that works with transfers.

 

[Obzerver]

Yes we missed the playoffs and yes we should have made the playoffs with great players back and what I thought was an easy schedule. We had to be doing something right as we lead the entire nation (125 FCS teams ) in total offense. It wasn't from lack of effort no one will convince me otherwise. We weren't a very polished team by evidence of being #2 in league in penalty's many causing TD's to be called back (so many it blows my mind) and seemed there were periods lacking flow and inconsistency. I still think we're a very good team that underachieved where overachievement seems to be our usual forte. It's surreal the season is over and if the selection committee wanted to see exciting football and points scored we are the defention of that. Sure proud of these guys...these seniors will be successful in the next chapter of life.

 

[Obzerver]

Dopa..Semantics question... given Jusstis Warren only played about five plays this year as a senior transfer, might he be coming back next year? The guy came in with some fanfare, but we never saw him on the field. I'd assume he could petition for a sixth year and do graduate work, but I don't know how that works with transfers.

*Eastern's honored 19 seniors in its season-ending 53-46 home win over Portland State, including several who are candidates to receive sixth years and return in 2020. One senior redshirted (Tamarick Pierce) and one (Jusstis Warren) elected not to take part in the pre-game introductions because of his intention to apply for a sixth year.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Dopa..Semantics question... given Jusstis Warren only played about five plays this year as a senior transfer, might he be coming back next year? The guy came in with some fanfare, but we never saw him on the field. I'd assume he could petition for a sixth year and do graduate work, but I don't know how that works with transfers.

*Eastern's honored 19 seniors in its season-ending 53-46 home win over Portland State, including several who are candidates to receive sixth years and return in 2020. One senior redshirted (Tamarick Pierce) and one (Jusstis Warren) elected not to take part in the pre-game introductions because of his intention to apply for a sixth year.

Good info. I know he earned a degree at UW, so frankly I wouldn't pass up a chance to basically earn a free graduate degree. Honestly, on a personal level, that probably works out well for him. Glad for him to get another shot at it and likely be well positioned for life after football!

 

[luckyintheorder]

Dopa..Semantics question... given Jusstis Warren only played about five plays this year as a senior transfer, might he be coming back next year? The guy came in with some fanfare, but we never saw him on the field. I'd assume he could petition for a sixth year and do graduate work, but I don't know how that works with transfers.

*Eastern's honored 19 seniors in its season-ending 53-46 home win over Portland State, including several who are candidates to receive sixth years and return in 2020. One senior redshirted (Tamarick Pierce) and one (Jusstis Warren) elected not to take part in the pre-game introductions because of his intention to apply for a sixth year.

It's important with these medical redshirts that they actually WANT to keep going through the grind. 6 years is a long time at this level, especially after a significant injury. Some, like Sam McPherson, push harder and have the spectacular break out year. I hope those on the bubble, have good people to guide them in these choices and aren't staying to please teammates or fans. It is hard to say goodbye every year to so many talented and dedicated players, but that is college football.

The early commits look good, will see what the coaches can do between now and the early signing period without the playoff's to keep them busy.. :nod:

 

[EWURanger]

Custer is a big loss in the backfield, but if Pierce comes back next year that will be huge. When he’s healthy, he can be a game changing running back. Unfortunately he never really got there until the end of the season when we were basically just playing for pride.

Yeah, we need to improve on defense and if we can find a few transfers to make that happen I’m all for it. I do believe in the guys we have waiting in the wings but as we saw this year there’s a ton of youth in the secondary and we need big help on the defensive line.

Nobody’s mentioned the elephant in the room yet, and that’s the fact that we are replacing the entire offensive line. And that’s probably been the most consistent unit on the field this season.

 

[clawman1]

How many yards did punting (poor punting) cost us collectively? And thus the field position our competition gained was notable. Montana game along three possessions across the 50 resulted in 17 points.
I'd be watching the transfer portal for a punter!! Who "coaches" our punter? Or is it just self taught?
As far as travel costs, if the committee would have put us in the Bobcat bracket we could have bused there.
https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/fcs/2019

 

[Obzerver]

clawman..As far as travel costs, if the committee would have put us in the Bobcat bracket we could have bused there.
*Larry mentioned just that and said it would have helped if Montana had beat MSU and MSU not got that seed that would have been our best bet in the first game.

 

[flyingnail]

Concerning thought for me ? Saw nothing to make me think next year will be better, no O-line, no D-line, no special teams, and no "2"'s that were ready to move up. Sure hope Best has an answer to this because even he could be in the hot seat with another year like this. Just saying, and I love Best.

 

[JoinTheEAF]

Respectfully disagree, no hot seat for Coach Best. He's respected internally and externally and anyone who counts is loyal to Coach Best. He's winning games, graduating players and his EKG's represent EWU well. He will be our coach for many seasons to come. I don't think having a 6-2 Big Sky record means staff changes but we have a lot of young coaches new to Cheney. We have a great schedule next year, with excellent home games and some good road trips. Lost so many great players but we always seem to reload.

Go Eagles!

 

[ewueagle2010]

Respectfully disagree, no hot seat for Coach Best. He's respected internally and externally and anyone who counts is loyal to Coach Best. He's winning games, graduating players and his EKG's represent EWU well. He will be our coach for many seasons to come. I don't think having a 6-2 Big Sky record means staff changes but we have a lot of young coaches new to Cheney. We have a great schedule next year, with excellent home games and some good road trips. Lost so many great players but we always seem to reload.

Go Eagles!

100%.

Best is not on the hot seat and it would take a lot to get him there. Some coaches on staff, should be, but not Best. An extremely disappointing year, but we still finished with a winning record and tied for second in the Big Sky with Montana and Montana State. The fact is, as bad as this year was, if we hold the lead at JSU, we likely finish 9-3 and seeded, once again (we don’t lose to Idaho if we hold off JSU).

Going into 2020, we’ve won 14 straight home games and now have 13 consecutive winning seasons. I saw someone above mentioned missing the playoffs 2 of the last 3 years and how that is concerning. Well, we’d also missed the playoffs 2 of 3 years going into 2018 and then made a Natty run. The talent is absolutely there and although it sucks now, next years schedule has the potential to be absolutely fantastic! 6, HUGE home games!? We’ve been dreaming for a schedule like that for years.

We’ve got to get some things figured out in the offseason. Leadership was lacking this year and that must change, if we want to get back to Eagle football.

Go Eags!

 

[LDopaPDX]

One other thing that can't be downplayed, but Eastern seems to suffer from crises of injuries each and every year. I have no idea why... maybe a training issue? Players not doing enough in the offseason to build up? But whatever it is needs to be understood and corrected. I know every team can have a year go astray due to injuries, but it seems like condition critical by the third week every season with Eastern. With 65 schollies, a team simply can't have the number of guys missing action that we do on a regular basis. Idaho was the fourth game of the year, and about half of our two-deep on defense missed that game.

 

[CDAEAGLE]

Our defense finished 104th in the nation which is terrible. Healthy or unhealthy our defensive secondary lacked all year long. Our offense was great an seemed to show up every week and finish 1st in the nation. No sugar coating here! Our secondary cost us a playoff birth this season. I do think our secondary will play better next season and will give up fewer big plays. Go Eags 2020!!

 

[clawman1]

Our defense finished 104th in the nation which is terrible. Healthy or unhealthy our defensive secondary lacked all year long. Our offense was great an seemed to show up every week and finish 1st in the nation. No sugar coating here! Our secondary cost us a playoff birth this season. I do think our secondary will play better next season and will give up fewer big plays. Go Eags 2020!!

Feel better now?

 

[CDAEAGLE]

Our poor secondary play has been the elephant in the room all season. Okay! I am done with the shame and blame game. I am ready to make a nice donation to our football field renovation project!!