Uninspired Football

[EdubU10]

Our best player yesterday was our punter and the sidelines that kept NDSU from gashing us even more in the run game.

I do think all of this starts with Baldwin leaving when he did. Think back to when he announced he was heading to Cal; that was at the end of the coaching carousel when most people we're locked up with their teams. EWU had to scramble just to find people for HC candidates. I get looking in house to the remaining bodies but I got the feeling it was the only option we had. Losing the Off. coordinator and promoting Brodie did not help at all and the proof is in the pudding with how bad the offense is right now.

This is going to be a long season. It's going to suck and it's going to feel like a huge step back after what Baldwin was able to do in 9 years. Will we get better, who knows? I'm more inclined to think the team is going to quit on this coaching staff. Were going to see more uninspired football, Gage will be benched at some point and it's going to be a team unrecognizable from what we saw under Baldwin.

One last thing, I am tired of hearing the defense has improved every offseason. No it hasn't! Until we get a coach that understands that giving the opposing teams WRs 8 yards of freedom isn't the best idea...

 

[LDopaPDX]

Our best player yesterday was our punter and the sidelines that kept NDSU from gashing us even more in the run game.

I do think all of this starts with Baldwin leaving when he did. Think back to when he announced he was heading to Cal; that was at the end of the coaching carousel when most people we're locked up with their teams. EWU had to scramble just to find people for HC candidates. I get looking in house to the remaining bodies but I got the feeling it was the only option we had. Losing the Off. coordinator and promoting Brodie did not help at all and the proof is in the pudding with how bad the offense is right now.

This is going to be a long season. It's going to suck and it's going to feel like a huge step back after what Baldwin was able to do in 9 years. Will we get better, who knows? I'm more inclined to think the team is going to quit on this coaching staff. Were going to see more uninspired football, Gage will be benched at some point and it's going to be a team unrecognizable from what we saw under Baldwin.

One last thing, I am tired of hearing the defense has improved every offseason. No it hasn't! Until we get a coach that understands that giving the opposing teams WRs 8 yards of freedom isn't the best idea...

I think this is overly pessimistic. The offense hasn't changed that much. I don't think you can underrate how much of a drop off we've seen at receiver. We all knew there'd be a drop off, but I don't think anyone thought the drop would be this big. Our guys don't get separation and don't catch contested balls. It's a real problem. In the first half against Texas Tech, Gage was throwing the ball well, our receivers just couldn't catch it. Things have continued on that trend. With Grady out, I think it's time for a total reshuffle at that position. Let's move those young guys in and see if it can change our dynamic.

As for as the defense goes, I'm just stunned how bad we've been. 48 points on average given up. No way to sugarcoat that. I watched these guys this Summer and thought we looked really solid. I have no idea where things have gone so wrong. Tackling is a major issue. While our skill players never seem to break tackles, our opposition seems to run right through our D.

We face a must win on Saturday. I'm hoping we respond. Sometimes it only takes one breakout performance to get things moving in the right direction.

 

[EdubU10]

Our best player yesterday was our punter and the sidelines that kept NDSU from gashing us even more in the run game.

I do think all of this starts with Baldwin leaving when he did. Think back to when he announced he was heading to Cal; that was at the end of the coaching carousel when most people we're locked up with their teams. EWU had to scramble just to find people for HC candidates. I get looking in house to the remaining bodies but I got the feeling it was the only option we had. Losing the Off. coordinator and promoting Brodie did not help at all and the proof is in the pudding with how bad the offense is right now.

This is going to be a long season. It's going to suck and it's going to feel like a huge step back after what Baldwin was able to do in 9 years. Will we get better, who knows? I'm more inclined to think the team is going to quit on this coaching staff. Were going to see more uninspired football, Gage will be benched at some point and it's going to be a team unrecognizable from what we saw under Baldwin.

One last thing, I am tired of hearing the defense has improved every offseason. No it hasn't! Until we get a coach that understands that giving the opposing teams WRs 8 yards of freedom isn't the best idea...

I think this is overly pessimistic. The offense hasn't changed that much. I don't think you can underrate how much of a drop off we've seen at receiver. We all knew there'd be a drop off, but I don't think anyone thought the drop would be this big. Our guys don't get separation and don't catch contested balls. It's a real problem. In the first half against Texas Tech, Gage was throwing the ball well, our receivers just couldn't catch it. Things have continued on that trend. With Grady out, I think it's time for a total reshuffle at that position. Let's move those young guys in and see if it can change our dynamic.

As for as the defense goes, I'm just stunned how bad we've been. 48 points on average given up. No way to sugarcoat that. I watched these guys this Summer and thought we looked really solid. I have no idea where things have gone so wrong. Tackling is a major issue. While our skill players never seem to break tackles, our opposition seems to run right through our D.

We face a must win on Saturday. I'm hoping we respond. Sometimes it only takes one breakout performance to get things moving in the right direction.

Yeah, it may be a bit pessimistic but I'm trying to be realistic and keep my expectations where they ought to be after seeing what this team has done thus far.

 

[ewueagle2010]

I didn't have high expectations yesterday, and knew if we played badly, it could get ugly. My hope was that we at least played better and showed signs of growth and continuity. That didn't happen. Offensively, we look bad. Gage looks like Jordan West of 2015, receivers look scared, and RBs can't get more than 2-3 yards a carry. The play calling looks completely awful!

I still have hopes for the D, because it seems like they've held their own in both games until just being worn down and demoralized from the offense not scoring points. There are areas in need of improvement, but I'm actually fairly confident moving forward with the D.

Overall, this is going to a year where just getting to 7-4 and making the playoffs will be a win. I think that's absolutely possible, and well know after next week if it's possible. We've been spoiled the past decade and we've taken on a lot of bad wagon fans that are now bailing. Good riddance! As for the rest of us, we'll be rewarded later on and it'll feel even better.

Go Eags!

 

[Palm Springs Eag]

On one hand, I think that the two teams we have played could both beat 99% of all FCS teams. On the other hand, we have lost and looked bad against two very different styes. Against Tech we got big played and couldn't keep up. Against NDSU we got ground down and couldn't respond. Can we win in a shootout? Can we punish ball control teams with stops and scores? I am just hoping for improvement in all three phases, and I'll be there until we're done playing. Go Eags!

 

[luckyintheorder]

In post game interview Best said..it's not about who we don't have but who we do have..as far as next week and beyond. That's what he's suppose to say and I'm sure he believes that. I on the other hand am just a fan with limited football knowledge. I don't see how next man up replaces a 6'5 WR who was a bright star and is now gone..or a bright star DB in Webster gone...did we have a 260 NT going up against those monsters on OLine ?..all that and more. Next man up can also go for replacing coaches...tough order to fill right there. With that said I believe we'll get that Fordham win and after watching UW/Montana game we can snatch a win in Missoula..get to 2-2. We have the players from great recruiting classes lurking around somewhere so that's a good thing. I hate this schedule more than the neighbors dog who shits in my yard everyday and I hate those bleachers as much as I do the neighbor who shits in my yard beside his dog.

Lots of talent on this team. Best's inexperience (never been a coordinator, let alone a HC) is showing in the eyes and performance of the players. Platitudes aren't the answer. Would simplify in the coming weeks and let player athleticism work in our favor. Backyard ball. Much like your "run GG run" meme. We may not win every game, but there would be some fun injected back into the season.

Losing Grady is huge unless Stiles, Simba or Splendorio step up and GG starts to drop the biscuit in the basket on the deep throws to open things up. Nzuzi was dynamic and hope he can recover soon. Actually believe in the defense, not sure why we don't have the best personnel on the field for the situation at least on third downs... The possession stats were scarier than the Stephen King IT movie out in theatres right now, and that is pretty scary. Praying for a coaching epiphany.

 

[luckyintheorder]

Just watched videos of 9/11. People jumping from towers, the planes hitting and hearing the reactions of that day... Very little else matters. Hug your children and tell them you love them.