Tough loss in what's been a tough season. Still proud of our guys for fighting back after starting 0-4. :clap: Injuries just killed us this year. Feel bad for the Seniors, but at the same time they did win a NC last season. That said, we still have 2 more games to win to keep the streak of winning seasons alive. With all the young talent we have waiting in the wings, we'll be back next year stronger than ever. :thumb:
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Welp.....
- Thread starter EWURanger
- Start date
Tragically disappointing effort from the defense (again). Two of the last 3 seasons have featured a defense that progressively gets worse from game to game... not sure what that's all about... but it isn't Eagle football. We can't stay physical with teams that want to try to pound on us; we miss tackles and don't step up on 3rd downs. You will always struggle to win with efforts like that.
Can't blame injuries, everybody has them. Last week it was 2nd and 3rd string QBs moving the ball at will, this week it was a beat up Portland State offense. They just wanted it more. Hopefully we do some soul searching and finish the season with a couple of wins.
Getting back to the top of the Big Sky will be critical next season. We can't afford to squander our national championship momentum with another season of missed playoffs.
Can't blame injuries, everybody has them. Last week it was 2nd and 3rd string QBs moving the ball at will, this week it was a beat up Portland State offense. They just wanted it more. Hopefully we do some soul searching and finish the season with a couple of wins.
Getting back to the top of the Big Sky will be critical next season. We can't afford to squander our national championship momentum with another season of missed playoffs.
LDopaPDX said:
Don't disagree. I do think the injuries we had to some very critical players (Johnson, Johnson, Kaufman, along with half the O-Line) did contribute to this season, though. And I'm not sure anyone has lost as many key players as we did this season.
On a brighter note, with not being playoff eligible this season we won't have to play catch-up in recruiting like we did last year.
And I agree......we need to win these last two games to carry some momentum into next season.....
eaglesfootball
Active member
just a poor performance on defense in this game no way around it. this was a team we absolutely mauled the past two seasons I just dont know how we get pushed all over the field all day long. also agree about next seasons outlook outlook should be a very talented team returning. still have 2 games to play lets come back next week and kick the ever living crap out of cal poly.
Blocked punt, pick six, bobbled kickoffs, 5 sacks, three turnovers, dropped passes, dropped int's, and no rushing D. This game was truly a team effort mixed in with a little bad luck and exemplified our season. The team that took the field at Husky Stadium was not the same as one that walked off at Pizza Hut Park. It was clearly talented but had to replace a few key players from the previous year. The one that played yesterday isn't even close to either.
I do wonder if there is a point at which it's ok to use injuries as an excuse.
Oh well, it will be fun watching a few of the kids chasing some records down the stretch and then it will be time to reload.
Thank you seniors! :notworthy: :clap:
I do wonder if there is a point at which it's ok to use injuries as an excuse.
Oh well, it will be fun watching a few of the kids chasing some records down the stretch and then it will be time to reload.
Thank you seniors! :notworthy: :clap:
flyingnail
Active member
There comes a time when you quit calling the injuries the reason for losing ! Yup, they have played a major role in this years outcome, however it's become apparent that there is more missing then just the injured players ! What happened to discilpine, motivation, fundamentals, PASSION ! As has been said all year, how did we forget to TACKLE, BLOCK, and show some inspiration on the sidelines ? I'm not gonna jump ship because of the way this season has progressed but somewhere along the line,in spring ball, summer workouts, fall practice, someting got lost ! complacency ? , desire ? discipline ? passion ? coaching??? Not to say the season was decided in the loss at the UW but I sure is looking like that was the turning point ! I was still hoping for a playoff run however and that just wasn't in the cards this year ! I dont think I have ever seen a team so uninspired for a game ! Coaching ? WHAT coaching ? Mitchell to Mitchell ? - 1yrd rushing, complete breakdown on special teams, finger pointing at each other ? No one to blame but themselves, maybe thats where the answer is, hidden way back in last springs practice where there seemed to be no wrong, no need for urgency, complancency ! I'll always be an Eagle Fan but boy was this a dissapointment ! The FANS ? yes they showed up this year but never have I seen such a pathetic lack of emotion for a football team ! Quiet ? I could hear PSU's coaches barking at their own players during the time it shouldv'e been crazy loud ! Maybe it takes time to appreciate what you have and the ability to recognize it but wait to long and all will be lost ! Enough!!! GOEAGS!
flyingnail said:
I will have to respectfully disagree to a certain extent. At this point we are a fairly inexperienced team with a small offensive line. I'm sure the coaching staff has and will continue to look back on some things they would have done differently and be better for it going forward. But they didn't forget how to coach or how to motivate in one year. No team in the country is deep enough to withstand the type of injuries and the loss of talent we have seen.
RockTheRed
Active member
flyingnail is spot on. Something was lost. And it may have been that it was lost a lot longer ago than just last spring. I think the seniors last year - Jolley, Sherritt, et al, were able to keep the team together. I've heard it several times this fall - that there is no cohesiveness amongst the team. That our "team" is not a "team". For some, the "issues" whatever they are, may have started early on in their time here. And for them, things that have happened since the Nat'l Championship may just have brought those back. For others, it may just be that they don't feel they're being heard, seen or coached. After all, we are short two coaches this fall. The only finger pointing that seems to be going on anymore - is here on the board. The coaches seem to have lost some passion. The players seem to have lost some passion. And none of them are pointing fingers - anymore - this season.
I've wondered after hearing that the team just isn't much of a team - if the injury bug has more to do with guys changing up how they're playing, working out, etc leading up to the season and each game. Guys playing for themselves instead of for the "team" and ultimate goal. And if that's the case, that begins with leadership. Be it coaches or team captains. But it has to start upwards and work down. And that just wasn't visible this year - or as visible as it has certainly been in past years.
I would think the concern is, if the passion is gone or there is regret for whatever reason: not leaving for other jobs, players not taking a stand and becoming leaders they should be or were supposed to be, coaches not "fixing" player issues that were so apparent to everyone in the stands this fall - letting pissy attitudes and finger pointing go on without discipline, etc - then that all needs to be figured out and sooner than later. Though with November 19th being the last game for some, some of that is automatically corrected.
I think next year is a better year. Zach Johnson is back from injury and get's another year knock on wood. Brandon Kauffman is back from injury. Vernon Adams seems to be on the right track. All is not lost. The kids that come to play do so because they love to play. Some are lost because they lose that love of the game and that's okay. The leadership just has to coach the "me" players to be "team" players and get everyone on the same page. All of the men on that field are athletic, talented players. Otherwise they wouldn't be out there. Tackles will be missed, blocking will not be perfect every time, interceptions are going to happen. That's true of this year and even last year. And next year and the next year.
Offensively, we're pretty dang transparent this year. Somewhat nauseating. Would love to see hints that we are going to attempt to run the ball more than 3 times a game. I would rather see strategy, rather than stats be a priority. But at this point in the season and playoff hopes dashed, the stats-game will continue.
The goal is to finish with a winning season and the team on the field can do that. As far as the fans go. I agree. Yesterday I was standing up amongst a half filled section in the 3rd quarter wondering where everyone was and why the ones sitting there, weren't standing? Sure the numbers were good, the tailgating atmopshere good - but being actual "fans" seemingly stopped once in the stadium. Pathetic.
I've wondered after hearing that the team just isn't much of a team - if the injury bug has more to do with guys changing up how they're playing, working out, etc leading up to the season and each game. Guys playing for themselves instead of for the "team" and ultimate goal. And if that's the case, that begins with leadership. Be it coaches or team captains. But it has to start upwards and work down. And that just wasn't visible this year - or as visible as it has certainly been in past years.
I would think the concern is, if the passion is gone or there is regret for whatever reason: not leaving for other jobs, players not taking a stand and becoming leaders they should be or were supposed to be, coaches not "fixing" player issues that were so apparent to everyone in the stands this fall - letting pissy attitudes and finger pointing go on without discipline, etc - then that all needs to be figured out and sooner than later. Though with November 19th being the last game for some, some of that is automatically corrected.
I think next year is a better year. Zach Johnson is back from injury and get's another year knock on wood. Brandon Kauffman is back from injury. Vernon Adams seems to be on the right track. All is not lost. The kids that come to play do so because they love to play. Some are lost because they lose that love of the game and that's okay. The leadership just has to coach the "me" players to be "team" players and get everyone on the same page. All of the men on that field are athletic, talented players. Otherwise they wouldn't be out there. Tackles will be missed, blocking will not be perfect every time, interceptions are going to happen. That's true of this year and even last year. And next year and the next year.
Offensively, we're pretty dang transparent this year. Somewhat nauseating. Would love to see hints that we are going to attempt to run the ball more than 3 times a game. I would rather see strategy, rather than stats be a priority. But at this point in the season and playoff hopes dashed, the stats-game will continue.
The goal is to finish with a winning season and the team on the field can do that. As far as the fans go. I agree. Yesterday I was standing up amongst a half filled section in the 3rd quarter wondering where everyone was and why the ones sitting there, weren't standing? Sure the numbers were good, the tailgating atmopshere good - but being actual "fans" seemingly stopped once in the stadium. Pathetic.
flyingnail
Active member
kalm said:
Kalm, that being said, where was the discipline yesterday ? Dropped kickoffs, pooch kicks dropped and not covered, long passes over and over and over, 5 penalties on the same player, no misdirection, not even any draws, seems to me someone was thinking about stats and not team, could be wrong on that but that team yesterday was uninspired and not focused ! Call it what you will but from where I sat it was embarrassing ! Still love buddy !
flyingnail said:
No, I saw it too. But many of those are the type of mistakes made by a now somewhat young inexperienced team that through attrition never really got the chance to play together as a full unit and gel. It's all very frustrating but in case you haven't noticed, I tend to look for the optimistic side of things. Just trying to talk some of you negative nancies back from the edge. :mrgreen:
flyingnail
Active member
kalm said:
Amen to that !!goeags!
The criticism is warranted in some cases, and in others it isn't. You have guys giving their 110% out there every game.....we still have 2 winnable games left that people have probably counted us out of already. With a winning season on the line, I am sure that this bye will do some good. But I'm not buying into the notion that the coaches somehow forgot how to coach between January 7th and September 7th, or that the players had a poor attitude or work ethic going into the season. Sure, some may have bought a little too much into their own hype.....maybe, but I'm just not sold on this notion that players or coaches somehow lacked the "drive" that they had last season. I think that's bullshit.
And what is this "stats" BS and lack of creativity in play-calling? Dude, with the exception of the UW game.....we have been TRYING to run the damn ball. We just haven't been able to do it! It's not hard to figure out that when you have an elite QB and elite receivers and a battered Offensive Line that has not been good in run-blocking that you are going to go with your strengths offensively - and that's to pass the ball as much as possible. No one likes it, but the games that have been won this season were won on the play of our QB and receivers and our defense being able to make a few stops here and there. Period! We are a team that has lived and died by the big play......but it's our best chance of winning games.
I think it boils down to the fact that we just weren't as good this year as we were last year. And that's ok. Doesn't mean the talent isn't there, because it is - but we didn't have the "team" that we did last year. Going into this season a lot of people (including myself) underplayed what we lost off of that Championship team - but guys like JC Sherritt, Tyler Jolly, Taiwan Jones, Jesse Hoffman, Dante Calcote, etc. were huge impact players from the 2010 team that played a massive part in where we got last season. Leaders. It doesn't mean that we wont have players on this very team that will emerge and become players like them, but as Kalm mentioned, we are at the moment a very young team for the most part.
As far as the off-season goes, our focus needs to be on the Offensive and defensive lines. We simply have to get bigger and stronger there. I understand we're a finesse team, and I'm ok with that....but you need to be able to run the ball. Like I already said, I think our defensive line will be bigger and better, but the same is true there. We need to get bigger and stronger so that we aren't pushed all over the field by a team like Portland State.
The Sky isn't falling........for people that have been fans of the program longer than a day, you may remember that we went 3-8 in 2006.....and the very next season went 8-3, destroyed the number 2 seed in the opening round of the playoffs, and then came close to beating App State in Boone. We are less than a year removed from having won a NC FFS. Have some faith.
And what is this "stats" BS and lack of creativity in play-calling? Dude, with the exception of the UW game.....we have been TRYING to run the damn ball. We just haven't been able to do it! It's not hard to figure out that when you have an elite QB and elite receivers and a battered Offensive Line that has not been good in run-blocking that you are going to go with your strengths offensively - and that's to pass the ball as much as possible. No one likes it, but the games that have been won this season were won on the play of our QB and receivers and our defense being able to make a few stops here and there. Period! We are a team that has lived and died by the big play......but it's our best chance of winning games.
I think it boils down to the fact that we just weren't as good this year as we were last year. And that's ok. Doesn't mean the talent isn't there, because it is - but we didn't have the "team" that we did last year. Going into this season a lot of people (including myself) underplayed what we lost off of that Championship team - but guys like JC Sherritt, Tyler Jolly, Taiwan Jones, Jesse Hoffman, Dante Calcote, etc. were huge impact players from the 2010 team that played a massive part in where we got last season. Leaders. It doesn't mean that we wont have players on this very team that will emerge and become players like them, but as Kalm mentioned, we are at the moment a very young team for the most part.
As far as the off-season goes, our focus needs to be on the Offensive and defensive lines. We simply have to get bigger and stronger there. I understand we're a finesse team, and I'm ok with that....but you need to be able to run the ball. Like I already said, I think our defensive line will be bigger and better, but the same is true there. We need to get bigger and stronger so that we aren't pushed all over the field by a team like Portland State.
The Sky isn't falling........for people that have been fans of the program longer than a day, you may remember that we went 3-8 in 2006.....and the very next season went 8-3, destroyed the number 2 seed in the opening round of the playoffs, and then came close to beating App State in Boone. We are less than a year removed from having won a NC FFS. Have some faith.
flyingnail
Active member
EWURanger said:
Ok Ranger !! easy boy, never said the effort wasn't there just said I dont think the urgency was !!! Think about it, No stsrters getting reps in the spring, ok look at the new guys given, but you still need continuuity !! Starters not getting the reps in the fall, fear of injuries ? No live tackle drills for lack of depth ? Coaches quitting a week before the season starts ! I love your defense of all sides but DUDE ! you can't overlook the obvious!!! Hanson leaving(fired) because his hearts not in it !! Come on ! there has been dissention in the ranks and I'm not blaming ANYONE least of all the players !! Confusion in play calling, coaches coaching outta position doing what they can ! The last 2 games ARE winable, it's character time !! You need to Chill OUT !! IMO !
GoEags
Member
LDopaPDX said:
Don't know that I would say the defense was outstanding, but to pin this loss on them is ludicrous. It was a complete team effort - no question. I for one thought that the Defense played ok - maybe even above average in the first half. They dealt with a blocked punt and PSU starts on the Eagle 10yd line and hold them to a FG. Later, PSU kicks off, we don't handle the short kick well and PSU gets the ball on our 22 and again, the defense holds them to a FG. Factor into that, BLM throws a pick six in when we are down 29-20 - that score, obviously, is not on the defense.
Looking at statistics - and no, i'm not that guy, but they do tell a story. A couple that stick out -
Total Rushing Yards PSU 338 EWU -1
Total Passing Yards PSU 161 EWU 440
Total Offensive Yards PSU 499 EWU 439
Completion % PSU 68% EWU 48%
Total Offense Plays PSU 79 EWU 60
Time of Possession PSU 37:08 EWU 22:52
I think this shows that the offense had a bad day rushing (obviously) mixed with BLM having a bad day with completing passes. Yes, he had 440 yds passing but 3 of those passes were 96, 59 and 49 yards, almost half of his yardage right there - and remember that he threw 42 times and only completed 20 of those- so just a rough day overall.
We all know that trying to defend a team that runs it well is very tiring. The defense was on the field almost twice as long as the PSU defense. What the defense didn't do is stop the run at the line - too many tackles in the secondary. They didn't create turnovers - Minnerly (who has quietly been one of the top two tacklers for the team in 3 of the last 4 weeks) and Lee almost came up with one in the endzone, just bad luck on that play. Can't knock them for playing hard.
Outside of the forced fumble in the first quarter, the special teams were not as special as we've seen this year.
So what I think I'm trying to say and maybe not doing it very well, is that it was a perfect storm for the team yesterday - it's tough to win with -1 yard rushing, our stud QB has a tough day completing passes and our defense is on the field for nearly 40 minutes of the game. Just plain tough. Credit goes to PSU also.
Our playoffs began the fifth game of the season and we made a great run - great come from behind win against Sac State and weathering the plethora of injuries. Thanks to the seniors!! Need to finish the year with two wins and get that winning season. Can't wait for more home games next year - the atmosphere at EWU is becoming better and better!!
I just don't like to blame injuries or youth because those are things every team has to deal with. Montana has been to the playoffs something like 17 of the last 18 seasons (don't know the actual stat, but it's something impressive like that), are you going to tell me they didn't get beat to hell a few of those years and still do what good teams are supposed to do?
I'd agree, the sense of urgency just never existed this year. Part of that is on our admin for allowing such a ferociously stupid schedule, but the team didn't do their part either. We gave F- efforts at both South Dakota and Montana in very winnable games when we were still healthy. Win those two, and we're still alive right now even after yesterday's fiasco.
Look at what Montana and Montana State did yesterday for an example of what our teams lacks... they went out and crushed Big Sky Conf opposition by 35 and 41 points, and were up 38-3 and 37-6 at halftime in those games and even mroe after 3 before moving the subs in. Eastern has taken the opposite approach, just trying to ease through games and win it in the last couple of drives. We kept rolling the dice with that strategy last season and it kept working, but this year we've crapped out over and over again. We need to find that "foot on the throat", "we're going to kick your ass" mentality again. We should be putting lesser opposition away at halftime and working through the subs early... and it really has only happened a couple of times in our last 25 or so games.
I'd agree, the sense of urgency just never existed this year. Part of that is on our admin for allowing such a ferociously stupid schedule, but the team didn't do their part either. We gave F- efforts at both South Dakota and Montana in very winnable games when we were still healthy. Win those two, and we're still alive right now even after yesterday's fiasco.
Look at what Montana and Montana State did yesterday for an example of what our teams lacks... they went out and crushed Big Sky Conf opposition by 35 and 41 points, and were up 38-3 and 37-6 at halftime in those games and even mroe after 3 before moving the subs in. Eastern has taken the opposite approach, just trying to ease through games and win it in the last couple of drives. We kept rolling the dice with that strategy last season and it kept working, but this year we've crapped out over and over again. We need to find that "foot on the throat", "we're going to kick your ass" mentality again. We should be putting lesser opposition away at halftime and working through the subs early... and it really has only happened a couple of times in our last 25 or so games.
flyingnail said:
Oh, I'm good. Just frustrated with this season, just like everyone else. I just disagree with some of the comments is all. We all have our take on what went wrong this season. It's probably a combination of a lot of different things. We knew the schedule was going to be an issue when it came out.....that said, we dont have the luxury of bringing in non or partial schollie teams in out west. Shit, even Montana can't do that.
And I'm not saying there aren't things to be critical of, I just prefer to look at the positives. I'm not into the chicken little stuff. The thing about being a successful program is that people start having lofty expectations. That's a good thing, but even the best programs can't always live up to said expectations every season. You are going to have "bad" seasons here and there, it happens. That's what my point was, even if I didn't articulate it very well. I think everyone knows what needs to happen and I think once the season is over and the dust settles some a lot of the issues that have arisen this year will get figured out.
flyingnail
Active member
EWURanger said:
DITTO !