Prediction Thread EWU 37 @ UC Davis 14 Sep 27th

[eaglesfootball]

43 - 17. Defense brings it together like we know they can.

wow, would love to see this. This is a hard game to make a prediction on especially early in the season where a lot of the stats are scewed because of dII and FBS games played. Davis is probably better than what most folks on here are giving them credit for I think.

 

[luckyintheorder]

 

[Rjones61]

Been out of the loop this week. Very busy. Here is my prediction:

UC Davis is a lot more balanced offensively than a lot of people think. In two of their last three games, they have had more passing yards than rushing yards. In the Stanford game, they had only six more yards rushing than passing (albeit, they were absolutely stuffed). Their quarterback clocks in with a passing efficiency of 122.6. Considering UC Davis has played two FBS opponents, a 122.6 efficiency is pretty respectable. The key to UC Davis having a chance in this game lies with their star runningback, Manzanares. He sat out the first two games with an injury and had only six carries in their third game. If Manzanares manages to get healthy for this game, and trust me, he will want to be healthy against EWU, then UC Davis will be far more potent with a legitimate run threat and the ability to get the ball in the air.

Personally, I think that we may see the defense improve, but not to the level which Dopa seeks. I don't think we will see that big of strides until game 7 or 8.

UC Davis will not have the defense to slow down our offense. Our defense although they will get beat often, will do enough to allow the offense to control the game. The score could get ludicrous, as EWU makes very fast touchdowns, but never pulls away enough to feel comfortable.

EWU 63 UC Davis 42

 

[tomq04]

Reading more about that star RB, Rjones may be right... 52-42 sounds reasonable unfortunately...

 

[Seattle Eagle]

Oh boy, when was the last time we scored 63 points in a game? Some of these predictions are ridiculous. Slightly off topic, but what are the viewing options for this game? Will it be shown on Big Sky TV?

 

[Rjones61]

Oh boy, when was the last time we scored 63 points in a game? Some of these predictions are ridiculous. Slightly off topic, but what are the viewing options for this game? Will it be shown on Big Sky TV?

We scored 52 twice in a row on less inferior opponents.

 

[marceagfan5]

Oh boy, when was the last time we scored 63 points in a game? Some of these predictions are ridiculous. Slightly off topic, but what are the viewing options for this game? Will it be shown on Big Sky TV?

We have easily played 3 of the best 4 D1 teams on our schedule and we scored 52, 52, and 56. Now we play lesser competition and we are going to score less? We won't score 50 a game, but we will average 40+ easily and put 60+ up on a couple teams this year, no doubt....

 

[Rjones61]

Oh boy, when was the last time we scored 63 points in a game? Some of these predictions are ridiculous. Slightly off topic, but what are the viewing options for this game? Will it be shown on Big Sky TV?

We have easily played 3 of the best 4 D1 teams on our schedule and we scored 52, 52, and 56. Now we play lesser competition and we are going to score less? We won't score 50 a game, but we will average 40+ easily and put 60+ up on a couple teams this year, no doubt....

:werd:

 

[LDopaPDX]

I think I may have severely overestimated our defensive talent this year. For some reason, I thought we were all beat up on D. However, we had 9 of 11 of our opening game starters play at Montana State, and it would have been 10 starters except Wadood has moved ahead of Hoffman.

I know Eastern uses a rotational D, but you don't need to rotate much if you make 3 and outs. Time for this crew to step up. UC Davis may have a stat here or there that looks nice, but the only team they've had any success against offensively was Fort Lewis. They put 350 or so on Colorado State, but the bulk of it was garbage time yards.

 

[ewueagle2010]

Here is the bottom line, I don't care if we have back ups playing at every position on defense, because they all should be capable of MAKING TACKLES!!! If you watch the games, I think our D is in position to make a play for loss or at least short gain. Guys are getting to the ball a majority of the time, they're just not bringing the ball carrier down! It's frustrating for fans, players, and coaches. Our guys on D have got to wrap up and make plays or it's going to be like this all year long...and may end up costing us another chance to win a National Championship.

I know our team is better than this, but it needs to start this week. It's amazing to think about, but if our D held the opponents to 30 points or less, nobody will beat us. Period. No arguing. Even on a bad day, our O scored 52 points last week, scored 41 against a team where most of the starters either didn't play or played 2-3 quarters, hung 52 on an undefeated PAC 12 school, and 56 on Sam Houston (don't care if they're bad or not).

And for those of you that think NDSU can hold EWU to less than 30 points, your wrong.

 

[HannahO]

Okay, I think we get it... There isn't a topic, a day, a blog that doesn't have a posting (or several) about how crappy the defense has been. Here's a proposal: unless you think that the players and coaches aren't trying to (a) make the plays and (b) take steps to get better, how about we give it a rest? I'm not saying the viewpoint isn't valid, I'm simply stating that sh&ting all over these guys every day isn't productive. The defense either gets better or not but how many times do we really need to castigate them like they want to fail? :twocents:

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

HannahO,
I agree with you entirely. That is one of the main reasons I haven't been posting much :shock: :shock: . If they are not happy with the defense, they don't have to watch or listen to the team. We are all grown ups, and could help the team by being more positive. I know the blog is someplace to vent your frustration, but there comes a time we need to sit back and attempt to be more positive. Our team a damn good, even if the defense is so bad, we still meet our objective, "WIN". What more can the team do? Regardless, I will continue to support the team, and be very positive about the team. Glad to see you are still following the team. Hope you and family are doing fine. Tell ex#18, I said hello, hope to see him back at one of the games or more. Take care. Vic Wallace

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

loloman,
Spoke to Todd yesterday, he had very good news about his shoulder. I am sure you are aware of the news. He is ready to get back and do some hitting. Team had an early departure this am, and a layover of 3hours in Vegas. Should be there now. The team will be returning on Sunday, so I had to put off the feed until Monday Oct 6th. By returning on Sunday, this Monday will be their lifting, watching films, and training, etc. See you at one of the games. Vic

 

[Obzerver]

45-31 EWU

 

[EWURanger]

Oh boy, when was the last time we scored 63 points in a game? Some of these predictions are ridiculous. Slightly off topic, but what are the viewing options for this game? Will it be shown on Big Sky TV?

Should be on BSTV, but you never know what you're going to get with that...especially when we're on the road.

 

[tomq04]

We'll keep up the 49 point minimum I suspect.

 

[EWURanger]

As I have mentioned in other threads, the D is what it is at this point. They're not magically going to get a lot better over night, but I do think they will improve as the season goes along. I don't really care how many yards they're giving up so long as they can get stops when it counts and create turnovers.

Against MSU, McDonald alone created 2 TO's and the D stuffed MSU two or three times on 4th down, which when you really look at it, was the difference in the game considering we had more penalties, a worse 3rd down %, and one more TO. If the D can continue to improve and peak around the time of the UM game going into the playoffs, we'll be just fine. There's no team in the FCS that we wouldn't be able to score 40+ points on.

 

[EWURanger]

I think I may have severely overestimated our defensive talent this year. For some reason, I thought we were all beat up on D. However, we had 9 of 11 of our opening game starters play at Montana State, and it would have been 10 starters except Wadood has moved ahead of Hoffman.

Well, here's a few considerations.

CB D'Londo Tucker - Lost during Spring Ball and won't play in 2014. Split time with Baines last year and was projected as a starter this year.

CB Diamonte Wiggins - Grades, was projected to see considerable PT this year.

CB Frank Cange - Was a starter against SHSU; lost for the season during that game.

CB Nzuzi Webter - Lost for the season against Washington. Was a starter due to Cange injury.

That's four guys that were either starters at one point, and/or supposed to get a lot of reps, just at CB. I'd personally like to see Keonte White on the field; seems like he could be a big, physical corner - but I suppose we don't see what the coaches do every day in practice.

The injuries to the D Line seem a little less, severe, but Evan Day was probably our top player coming into the season, and he hasn't played at all. Jordan Pulu also figured to get considerable PT but has been injured as well.

Losing Pulu and Larry to graduation were also big losses.

 

[LDopaPDX]

I think I may have severely overestimated our defensive talent this year. For some reason, I thought we were all beat up on D. However, we had 9 of 11 of our opening game starters play at Montana State, and it would have been 10 starters except Wadood has moved ahead of Hoffman.

Well, here's a few considerations.

CB D'Londo Tucker - Lost during Spring Ball and won't play in 2014. Split time with Baines last year and was projected as a starter this year.

CB Diamonte Wiggins - Grades, was projected to see considerable PT this year.

CB Frank Cange - Was a starter against SHSU; lost for the season during that game.

CB Nzuzi Webter - Lost for the season against Washington. Was a starter due to Cange injury.

That's four guys that were either starters at one point, and/or supposed to get a lot of reps, just at CB. I'd personally like to see Keonte White on the field; seems like he could be a big, physical corner - but I suppose we don't see what the coaches do every day in practice.

The injuries to the D Line seem a little less, severe, but Evan Day was probably our top player coming into the season, and he hasn't played at all. Jordan Pulu also figured to get considerable PT but has been injured as well.

Losing Pulu and Larry to graduation were also big losses.

I believe Diamonte Wiggins was penciled as a safety, but I get your point. Still, we've got Wadood in and he might be the best corner in the Big Sky. Hoffman was a first game starter as well and looks like he has a lot of talent. We've also got McDonald, who along with Boyette, are probably the best safeties in the conference. After that, all of the front 7 is up and playing. Therefore, we're a little short on two DBs but the rest of the starting unit is intact. I didn't even realize this until I read the chatroll from Jim Allen yesterday.

Being down a couple of starters shouldn't be a complete disaster... although that typically is how it goes in the FCS with 63 schollies. A team can go from great to mediocre in a weekend if injuries pile up in the same position.

I still think this defense, on paper, is a lot better than what we're seeing. People can call that negativity or whatever else, but really I'm just seeing a unit that is not playing to the sum of their parts. There were a lot of situations last week where the scheme was right, but tacklers just got beat in open field or got outran. I don't know what to make of that.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Oh boy, when was the last time we scored 63 points in a game? Some of these predictions are ridiculous. Slightly off topic, but what are the viewing options for this game? Will it be shown on Big Sky TV?

I'm not bothering to look this up, but I think the last time Eastern went over 60 was against Rocky Mountain in 97. The last time it happened against an FCS team (out of conference at the time) was in 94 against Cal Poly.