Spokesman-Review unit previews

[eagwatcher]

We've just started an eight-part unit daily series for spring ball. The first one ran in print as well as online, but subsequent stories will run online only.

Here is part one: the running backs:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/apr/16/well-grounded/

And part two: the quarterbacks:
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/sportslink/2013/apr/17/no-qb-questions-eastern/

Here is part three: the wide receivers:
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/sportslink/2013/apr/18/ewu-receivers-gaining-stature/

Here is part four: offensive line
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/sportslink/2013/apr/19/ewu-offensive-line-commands-respect/

And part five: the defensive line
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/sportslink/2013/apr/20/ewu-defensive-line-steps/

Here's number six, the linebackers:
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/sportslink/2013/apr/21/hamlin-leads-rebuilding-ewu-linebackers/

Part seven, the secondary:
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/sportslink/2013/apr/22/ewu-secondary-deep-talented/

And finally, part eight, special teams:
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/sportslink/2013/apr/23/ewu-special-teams-seek-consistency/
- Jim

 

[ewunerd]

Awesome stuff! You'd have fooled me if the coverage just started since I've seen EWU stories for most of last week even. This is a god send for out of staters like me.

 

[CouvEagle]

Wondering if EWU will do any zone read. I know they haven't done it in the past, but Baldwin likes to adjust on the fly. The zone read is designed to get guys in space and the combo of Forte and Adams, it could be lethal.

 

[GoldenEagle]

Wondering if EWU will do any zone read. I know they haven't done it in the past, but Baldwin likes to adjust on the fly. The zone read is designed to get guys in space and the combo of Forte and Adams, it could be lethal.

I don’t think VA should be running the zone read. I think he will put more pressure on defenses when he is rolling out or scrambling, forcing the secondary to decide whether to come up or cover WRs and TEs. The zone read doesn’t always create more space and I think it would increase the likelihood of him getting injured or be continually knicked up.

 

[CouvEagle]

Respectfully disagree. The zone read is meant to get athletes in space by reading the defensive end. QB's either tuck the ball if the DE crashes towards the RB, or hand it off if the DE comes towards them. Look at Russell Wilson and Mariota of Oregon. When they tucked the ball on the crashing DE, they usually ran untouched for big time yardage. I'm not saying that it should be a big part of EWU's offense, but I think it should be at least brought up in play calling to keep defenses honest. Adams is not a pro style QB, that's a given, but that is a good thing nowadays. The zone read isn't set up to kill QB's, it's there to keep defenses (especially crashing DE's) at bay, and presents a whole bunch of issues if run correctly. They already run a spread, and the zone read could be a neat wrinkle with the athletes they have. I think EWU should at least consider it.

 

[sammamisheag]

I'll be shocked if BB doesn't add the Zone Read. VA is perfect for that. Teams won't be able to keep their safeties back and it will make reading defenses for VA and the new WRs easier. Teams will have to play more man which makes the pre and post-snap reads simpler. Look at how many teams in the BSC run it. UM, MSU, Cal Poly to name a few.

 

[CouvEagle]

Agreed Sammamish Eag. I also look at it this way: how many teams have straight pass rushing ends in the FCS? Jerry Ceja was one of them surely. Imagine if a team who had athletes like EWU does completely neutralized pass rushers like him. Not many teams in the FCS has the athletes EWU does, and the zone read is the rage these days. I mean, hell, if anything it keeps defensive ends honest. And not many FCS teams have the athletes EWU does in the backfield.

 

[CouvEagle]

Wondering if EWU will do any zone read. I know they haven't done it in the past, but Baldwin likes to adjust on the fly. The zone read is designed to get guys in space and the combo of Forte and Adams, it could be lethal.

I don’t think VA should be running the zone read. I think he will put more pressure on defenses when he is rolling out or scrambling, forcing the secondary to decide whether to come up or cover WRs and TEs. The zone read doesn’t always create more space and I think it would increase the likelihood of him getting injured or be continually knicked up.

Scrambling involves broken plays that don't go according to plan. I think drawn up runs for VA would be a lot better than broken plays in the pocket. And again, he's not a pocket passer.

 

[GoldenEagle]

CouvEagle and sammamisheag:

I wrote the paragraphs below in a previous post. I think the zone read has it's place in some offensive schemes. But I believe the type of offense below fits our personnel. I guess we will see come this fall.


This team has the experience and talent to have a balanced rushing and passing game. Keep Vernon Adams in the shotgun and develop the run scheme from the shotgun. Our offensive line is good and I believe can run block. I would love to see the line have the chance to drive off the ball and even run some traps. We definitely have the running back talent to successfully run the ball. Keep the defense guessing with play action. Less 4-wideout, open backfield spread and more running to set up both deep and short passes.

Use VA’s mobility with play action rollouts and bootlegs. We didn’t use the tight ends much in the passing game last season because we had so much talent at WR. But the tight ends made some clutch catches and are athletic. I think we should throw to the tight ends off play actions and quick throws in the seams. Also, drag the tight ends across the middle as VA bootlegs and pressures the LBs and DBs as he attacks the line of scrimmage. VA puts so much pressure on the defense when he is out in space because he throws great on the run and has those incredible moves and evasiveness. Pass to the tight ends to set up the deeper routes for the WRs.

Last season I think VA was put in too many risky situations by having to scramble and pick up 3rd and longs too many times. If we run the ball better and have a more effective short passing game, there will be fewer 3rd and longs. I would also have VA watch Russell Wilson video and take note of how Wilson scrambles, gets some yardage and knows when to hit the turf without getting pounded. VA will still have plenty of “highlight” scrambles.

 

[GoldenEagle]

Mods,
Do we need to move this offense discussion to a new thread? Kinda hijacked Jim Allen's SR posting.

 

[CouvEagle]

Respectfully disagree. Have you ever watched a zone read offense operate? It has all the benefits of play action and then some. I don't get why you say scramble. No one likes scrambling in an offense (see Jake Locker). Look no further than Oregon's offense. They run the ball first, which I think would work well I'm EWU's depth. Their zone read opens up their receivers and tight ends and when they catch passed, they are normally WIDE open. Mariota had a ridiculous completion percentage as a redshirt frosh. Ridiculous. There is really no offense set up for "scrambling" and rollouts are blah and you can't run them all the time obviously. If you have a shotgun offense with an athletic QB, the zone read is perfect. I see your point, but I see absolutely zero negative from a zone read offense with EWU. Let's face it, VA does not throw overhand and has a tough time in the pocket.

 

[clawman1]

By running some zone read our defense will learn to defend it and it is another complication opposing teams need to prepare for.

 

[CouvEagle]

Exactly. I mean it's a neat wrinkle at the least. We lost the big 3 receivers and the guys stepping up don't scream deep threats like BK. Ashton Clark, great receiver, is under 6 feet and doesn't exactly have blazing speed. Mitchell isn't the athlete that Edwards, Herd, or BK was either. That zone read opens up tons of options. I'll again bring up Oregon. None of their receivers are nfl worthy and usually not highly recruited, yet the offense is designed for them to block or run easy routes to get open in the run first offense. And let's face it, EWU is not known for melodic route running with their receivers. I love the new kids coming in however. I just think that Beau will change up the O a little bit out of necessity and think they should integrate the zone read. It just fits the personnel.

 

[clawman1]

CouvEagle;
Don't be too quick to minimize the receivers we have coming back and the rs receivers we have hitting the field this year. We may give up some height but gain LOTS of speed. If corners or safeties hesitate even for the blink of an eye a couple of our guys will run by and there will be no catching up.

 

[CouvEagle]

clawman:

you're absolutely right I may be undercutting the receivers a bit. But I just can't see Clark putting up the numbers he did without the big 3 there to help him out. Do you? I said I really like the young guys coming in. Huddleston, Kupp, Hill all could be dynamic, and have some size. Kendrick Bourne really really excites me too as a true frosh although he may redshirt. I just think Mitchell, Clark, and converted RB Daniel Johnson are not near the level of pass catchers we've had the past few years so I think some new wrinkles in the O can surely help. I hope I'm wrong with the returning WR's though.

 

[EWURanger]

Mods,
Do we need to move this offense discussion to a new thread? Kinda hijacked Jim Allen's SR posting.

I don't really see any need to. Good discussion going on here.

I agree with the above posts about the Zone-Read. We have the personnel to run it. While I think we'll always pretty much be a pass-first type offense, I think you have to adjust your offense to fit the personnel you have. So, although I don't think it's something we'd rely on heaily, I think it's something we could inject from time to time to keep defenses on their toes.

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

As long as it's used sparingly to keep defenses off balance, I'm all for the zone-read. It's when you use it full time that you get your QB hurt. Adams has the speed and athleticism, why not take advantage of it? It would be even more deadly for us because unlike the kid that UM threw in there last year, Adams has a good arm and is accurate. UM rushed for 400+ yards against us that game. Using the zone-read just 10-15% of the time would be huge in getting us close to 50/50 run/pass yardage.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Can anybody let me know if Anthony Larry is back in, or expected back in?

If so, you might start to get excited about our D. We'd have 4 excellent--- likely first-team All Big Sky players--- lining up on that side of the ball (Larry, A. Pulu, McDonald, and TJ Lee). If we could get competent LB play, we'd have a chance to be a lot better on D despite a lot of graduations.

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Can anybody let me know if Anthony Larry is back in, or expected back in?

If so, you might start to get excited about our D. We'd have 4 excellent--- likely first-team All Big Sky players--- lining up on that side of the ball (Larry, A. Pulu, McDonald, and TJ Lee). If we could get competent LB play, we'd have a chance to be a lot better on D despite a lot of graduations.

As far as I know, he's back.

EDIT:

* Despite losing three starting defensive linemen from its 2012 team, a total of nine letterwinners return to the tackle and end positions. The lone 2012 starter back is senior tackle Andru Pulu, but Anthony Larry returns for his senior season after starting eight games as a defensive end in 2011.

http://goeags.com/sports/m-footbl/2012-13/Releases/13fbMarch25SpringPractice.docx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[marceagfan5]

With Spring Practice in full spring, I can't wait for this season.

Defense - I think we will have a fantastic defense if we can get some great LB play. Our secondary may be the best in the FCS and our D-line looks to be filling in nicely. Hamlin will have another great year and we shouldn't sleep on McCarthy at LB, if we can get another 1 or 2 LB's to step up, our Defense will be rock solid, one of the best in the Big Sky, if not the best.

Offense - We lose our main receiving corp but in return we gain a TON of speed. Hill is lightning fast and should see a lot more time. Kupp looks to be a great receiver that redshirted and I think Mitchell and Clark bring a lot of experience and will make the most of their chances with increased time. We will definitely have some new looks and I would expect to see some zone read. With Brown back he gives us a little bit more of a shifty, quick back, where Bronson is a beast and Forte has speed, but is a beast as well. This may be one of the fastest offenses as far as team speed, we have ever had at EWU. For as much as we hear about the other QB's in the Big Sky, I would take VA over any of them, any day.