Your Honest Opinion, Please

[GoldenEagle]

Interesting note, the best defensive player Graham may have ever coached was Taiwan Jones. Then our offensive coaches stole him and made him an RB. In truth, while it is probably more fun to be the running back, Taiwan should've been a CB the whole time--- he certainly would have developed into a better NFL player that way. In retrospect, it might have been better to have used him as a Charles Woodson-type guy who came in for a few offensive plays each game but was otherwise a defensive player.

This is a glaring example of taking a great D kid and having him moved... how many other times has it probably happened?

We all know the most talented athletes end up playing offense.

 

[luckyintheorder]

If our offense wasn't so prolific, do you think that Coach Graham would still be with us?

*Que backlash*

Maybe not. I thought the defense played damn well yesterday until the last quarter. Two of the scores we gave up in the first half were due to turnovers in bad field position. Plus, early on we weren't giving the D any rest.

He's dealt with some tough offenses this year. We've played some pretty poor defense at times, but we've had some real upswings, too. Plus, we nutted out some good performances with a decimated group of DBs.

His real tests will be upcoming when we find out if we've learned to stop run-heavy offenses.

According to the stat sheet the D effectively stopped PSU 11 times -- eleven...(two missed fg's in there) but still gave up over 600 yds of offense. Like Dopa, they did a great job in the first half when our offense had nothing going, then a tremendous 3rd quarter and a very awkward 4th quarter giving up play after play to the second string PSU QB with a 40% completion percentage. PSU seemed to have Joe Montana playing in the fourth. Having railed against Graham, I truly support the D's effort and persistence which may be one of his hallmarks (credit where credit's due). They don't give up, ever. Graham isn't a great game planner, but IMO has gotten better at second half adjustments and the D has shown better discipline against the run this season (after SHSU). When the other team changes modes mid-stream, there aren't many counter adjustments though.

Frankly, a few more risks need to be taken by Graham to stop teams from completing long 3rd downs i.e. Montana or PSU in the fourth quarter by leaving someone in man coverage and doubling their best receivers with safety help over the top (my apologies for X's and O's here) or bringing all out blitz to confound the opponent. Seems like an odd disconnect not recognizing who the go-to player is sometimes and EWU can get back on their heels occasionally. A little more aggression would snap them back to form. The players are ready and able to execute with a little more risk.

Synopsis: Graham stays.

Aside: Someone mentioned getting more DB types, I think there have been several recruits on the D side, specifically DB's that are no longer showing on the roster over the past 3-4 season's. Those with more knowledge here can chime in. Just a few I noticed. We know players move into other positions, but when you only have a 65 man roster....
2010 -- Trenton Pinson DB
2011 (not on roster) -- Isiah Davis DB, Anthony King WR, Tevin Williams DB
2012 -- Charles Redd DB, Jude Isbel DB,
2013 -- Keonte White

 

[EWURanger]

If our offense wasn't so prolific, do you think that Coach Graham would still be with us?

*Que backlash*

Maybe not. I thought the defense played damn well yesterday until the last quarter. Two of the scores we gave up in the first half were due to turnovers in bad field position. Plus, early on we weren't giving the D any rest.

He's dealt with some tough offenses this year. We've played some pretty poor defense at times, but we've had some real upswings, too. Plus, we nutted out some good performances with a decimated group of DBs.

His real tests will be upcoming when we find out if we've learned to stop run-heavy offenses.

According to the stat sheet the D effectively stopped PSU 11 times -- eleven...(two missed fg's in there) but still gave up over 600 yds of offense. Like Dopa, they did a great job in the first half when our offense had nothing going, then a tremendous 3rd quarter and a very awkward 4th quarter giving up play after play to the second string PSU QB with a 40% completion percentage. PSU seemed to have Joe Montana playing in the fourth. Having railed against Graham, I truly support the D's effort and persistence which may be one of his hallmarks (credit where credit's due). They don't give up, ever. Graham isn't a great game planner, but IMO has gotten better at second half adjustments and the D has shown better discipline against the run this season (after SHSU). When the other team changes modes mid-stream, there aren't many counter adjustments though.

Frankly, a few more risks need to be taken by Graham to stop teams from completing long 3rd downs i.e. Montana or PSU in the fourth quarter by leaving someone in man coverage and doubling their best receivers with safety help over the top (my apologies for X's and O's here) or bringing all out blitz to confound the opponent. Seems like an odd disconnect not recognizing who the go-to player is sometimes and EWU can get back on their heels occasionally. A little more aggression would snap them back to form. The players are ready and able to execute with a little more risk.

Synopsis: Graham stays.

Aside: Someone mentioned getting more DB types, I think there have been several recruits on the D side, specifically DB's that are no longer showing on the roster over the past 3-4 season's. Those with more knowledge here can chime in. Just a few I noticed. We know players move into other positions, but when you only have a 65 man roster....
2010 -- Trenton Pinson DB
2011 (not on roster) -- Isiah Davis DB, Anthony King WR, Tevin Williams DB
2012 -- Charles Redd DB, Jude Isbel DB
2013 -- Keonte White

2010 -- Trenton Pinson DB (Transferred)
2011 (not on roster) -- Isiah Davis DB, Anthony King WR, Tevin Williams DB (Not sure)
2012 -- Charles Redd DB, Jude Isbel DB (Isbel transferred)
2013 -- Keonte White (I think he may be a Prop, which is why he wouldn't be on the roster.)

We have a couple guys Redshirting this year that I think may be DB's:

Jake Hoffman - Will probably play corner.
Nic Sblendorio - Could play WR, but we are pretty stacked there. I think he'll play Safety.

 

[luckyintheorder]

If our offense wasn't so prolific, do you think that Coach Graham would still be with us?

*Que backlash*

Maybe not. I thought the defense played damn well yesterday until the last quarter. Two of the scores we gave up in the first half were due to turnovers in bad field position. Plus, early on we weren't giving the D any rest.

He's dealt with some tough offenses this year. We've played some pretty poor defense at times, but we've had some real upswings, too. Plus, we nutted out some good performances with a decimated group of DBs.

His real tests will be upcoming when we find out if we've learned to stop run-heavy offenses.

According to the stat sheet the D effectively stopped PSU 11 times -- eleven...(two missed fg's in there) but still gave up over 600 yds of offense. Like Dopa, they did a great job in the first half when our offense had nothing going, then a tremendous 3rd quarter and a very awkward 4th quarter giving up play after play to the second string PSU QB with a 40% completion percentage. PSU seemed to have Joe Montana playing in the fourth. Having railed against Graham, I truly support the D's effort and persistence which may be one of his hallmarks (credit where credit's due). They don't give up, ever. Graham isn't a great game planner, but IMO has gotten better at second half adjustments and the D has shown better discipline against the run this season (after SHSU). When the other team changes modes mid-stream, there aren't many counter adjustments though.

Frankly, a few more risks need to be taken by Graham to stop teams from completing long 3rd downs i.e. Montana or PSU in the fourth quarter by leaving someone in man coverage and doubling their best receivers with safety help over the top (my apologies for X's and O's here) or bringing all out blitz to confound the opponent. Seems like an odd disconnect not recognizing who the go-to player is sometimes and EWU can get back on their heels occasionally. A little more aggression would snap them back to form. The players are ready and able to execute with a little more risk.

Synopsis: Graham stays.

Aside: Someone mentioned getting more DB types, I think there have been several recruits on the D side, specifically DB's that are no longer showing on the roster over the past 3-4 season's. Those with more knowledge here can chime in. Just a few I noticed. We know players move into other positions, but when you only have a 65 man roster....
2010 -- Trenton Pinson DB
2011 (not on roster) -- Isiah Davis DB, Anthony King WR, Tevin Williams DB
2012 -- Charles Redd DB, Jude Isbel DB
2013 -- Keonte White

2010 -- Trenton Pinson DB (Transferred)
2011 (not on roster) -- Isiah Davis DB, Anthony King WR, Tevin Williams DB (Not sure)
2012 -- Charles Redd DB, Jude Isbel DB (Isbel transferred)
2013 -- Keonte White (I think he may be a Prop, which is why he wouldn't be on the roster.)

We have a couple guys Redshirting this year that I think may be DB's:

Jake Hoffman - Will probably play corner.
Nic Sblendorio - Could play WR, but we are pretty stacked there. I think he'll play Safety.

Thanks Ranger. Good info. Hoffman DB makes sense.

 

[Spoeagle]

Are we that 'stacked' at wide receiver for next year? We were using Forte at WR Saturday after Clark and Hill went out with cramps. Sblendorio was a very good receiver (he didn't commit to EW until late because he was waiting for a PAC12 offer) in an outstanding Skyline program. With Clark and Johnson graduating, I think Sblendorio will be seeing a lot of playing time at WR next year. Keonte White is a 48 and also a WR.(How important was the catch true frosh Kendrick Bourne made in the 'one minute' drill at the end of the PSU game?)

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Interesting note, the best defensive player Graham may have ever coached was Taiwan Jones. Then our offensive coaches stole him and made him an RB. In truth, while it is probably more fun to be the running back, Taiwan should've been a CB the whole time--- he certainly would have developed into a better NFL player that way. In retrospect, it might have been better to have used him as a Charles Woodson-type guy who came in for a few offensive plays each game but was otherwise a defensive player.

This is a glaring example of taking a great D kid and having him moved... how many other times has it probably happened?

On the flip side, the coaches turned a third string QB into an AA safety.

 

[EWUeag]

Interesting note, the best defensive player Graham may have ever coached was Taiwan Jones. Then our offensive coaches stole him and made him an RB. In truth, while it is probably more fun to be the running back, Taiwan should've been a CB the whole time--- he certainly would have developed into a better NFL player that way. In retrospect, it might have been better to have used him as a Charles Woodson-type guy who came in for a few offensive plays each game but was otherwise a defensive player.

This is a glaring example of taking a great D kid and having him moved... how many other times has it probably happened?

Didn't Roos play a year on the D-line before he became an OT?

 

[HannahO]

Watch, you all probably jinxed us by starting and pontificating on a "should Coach X stay or go" topic! I always hold my breath during the off season that we don't lose key members of the staff or, heaven forbid, Coach Baldwin! Take it back, take it all back! :shock:

 

[luckyintheorder]

Watch, you all probably jinxed us by starting and pontificating on a "should Coach X stay or go" topic! I always hold my breath during the off season that we don't lose key members of the staff or, heaven forbid, Coach Baldwin! Take it back, take it all back! :shock:

Sort of inevitable isn't it? Count our blessings today.

 

[eaglesfootball]

Watch, you all probably jinxed us by starting and pontificating on a "should Coach X stay or go" topic! I always hold my breath during the off season that we don't lose key members of the staff or, heaven forbid, Coach Baldwin! Take it back, take it all back! :shock:

Sort of inevitable isn't it? Count our blessings today.

not necessarily.

 

[EWURanger]

Another thing to consider is that our offense often scores so quickly that our defense is often on the field for quite a bit longer.

 

[luckyintheorder]

Watch, you all probably jinxed us by starting and pontificating on a "should Coach X stay or go" topic! I always hold my breath during the off season that we don't lose key members of the staff or, heaven forbid, Coach Baldwin! Take it back, take it all back! :shock:

Sort of inevitable isn't it? Count our blessings today.

not necessarily.

So, that's one vote for head in sand. Count me in as well. Two votes now.

 

[luckyintheorder]

Another thing to consider is that our offense often scores so quickly that our defense is often on the field for quite a bit longer.

So true. Another odd stat of the PSU game.... EWU had a longer time of possession over four quarters. I can't explain it.