Read the full transcript of Thursday's chat in the extended post.

11:59 AM

Jim: OK, folks, it's been two weeks since we last chatted - let's do this!

12:00 PM

Jim: Who else is worried about this week's game against Montana State?

12:02 PM

GoldenEagle: I have not seen the Bobcats play. aside from a mobile QB, i don't know much about them.

12:03 PM

Jim: They looked quite impressive against Central Arkansas in a 44-33 win that wasn't nearly as close as the final score. The defense was solid, beefy but not that fast, but the offense was rolling behind new QB Dakota Prukop. The Eagle defense will have its hands full, I believe.

12:03 PM

ewufan: EWU has a far more impressive OOC schedule and results, despite Sam Houston losing to D-II

12:06 PM

GoldenEagle: Did Central Arkansas puch much pressure on Prukop. Has he shown the ability to beat people passing?

12:07 PM

Jim: Prukop didn't face that much pressure, and ran for 108 yards while throwing 19 for 27 for 289 yards.

12:08 PM

Jim: He struggled a bit in a loss at FBS school Arkansas State, going 14 for 26 with two picks plus four sacks. You have to pressure a young quarterback, much like MSU did with Adams two years ago in Bozeman.

12:10 PM

ewufan: Seems like the bye came at the perfect time this year, especially with the close loss to UW

12:10 PM

Jim: I think so. That was a tough one for the defense, which I think feels it has something to prove.

12:10 PM

GoldenEagle: Jim, How about an injury update. did the bye week help?

12:12 PM

Jim: Yes it did: WR/KR Shaq Hill (hamstring) will play, as will DE Samsom Ebukam (ankle), though DE John Goldwire is questionable and WR Cory Mitchell is out for another 4 weeks with a broken collarbone.

12:13 PM

ewufan: After the UW game there were something like 11 FBS QBs that had thrown for 7 TDs... and VA did it in just one game. Scary to think we could have another year with him

12:15 PM

Jim: He's a special player, and he's come a long way since the 2012 game in Bozeman, which he told me two days ago was his worst game as an Eagle.

12:17 PM

Jim: Fast forward to 2013, when he torched MSU with 18-for-20 passing for 347 yards and 4 TDS and ran for 82 more yards. An amazing performance, as I recall.

12:17 PM

GoldenEagle: That is great to get Hill and Ebukam back. Hopefully Mitchell will mend well. It seems we may have to get creative defensively if we want to apply more pressure on Prukop. Ebukam should help with that.

12:19 PM

Jim: Good point, Golden Eagle. Eastern sorely missed Ebukam on the edge vs. UW, and don't forget that DE Evan Day is still out for another month or so with an ACL and yet another DE, John Goldwire, is questionable with a concussion. Defensive end is the hot-button position right now on this team (and cornerback, of course)

12:20 PM

ewufan: Hopefully MSU doesn't have the size of offensive players that UW had. I recall seeing lots of EWU defenders getting blown up on their blocks...

12:22 PM

Jim: Yes, they were getting sealed off inside and out, depending on which direction the run was called. The UW O-line had size AND athleticism, something the Eagles probably won't face again to that degree.

12:22 PM

GoldenEagle: Tevin McDonald is all over the field. what about using him to spy Prukop?

12:23 PM

Jim: I like that idea, especially as Prukop is still untested as a passer. Just as some opposing defenses have tried to keep Adams from rolling out.

12:24 PM

Jim: From what I've read, Prukop is being compared with former Sam Houston State QB Brian Bell, who didn't have great moves, but had excellent straight-ahead speed, especially in designed keepers.

12:24 PM

GoldenEagle: Adams has shown this year that he roll out, then plant and throw dimes. Hopefully Prukop is not there yet.

12:25 PM

Jim: No, he's not.

12:25 PM

Jim: No, he's not

12:27 PM

Jim: Meanwhile, the Bobcats return a veteran defense, with 10 upperclassmen and seven seniors who still recall the embarrassment of last year's game.

12:28 PM

Jim: Eastern set a BSC record in that one, with 12.3 yards a play. I can't imagine a repeat of that, but the Eagles have the potential.

12:30 PM

GoldenEagle: I didn't realize they returned that many upper classman. That game was crazy. It seemed like last years game finished the Bobcats for the rest of the season.

12:30 PM

Jim: They lost their last three games, going from co-Big Sky leaders to missing the playoffs. And that after going 7-1 in league the previous three years!

12:31 PM

Jim: Make no mistake: it may be early, but this is a huge game for the Bobcats ...

12:31 PM

Jim: ... for Eastern too. Every game, even a nonconference game, will affect seeding and home berths in the playoffs.

12:31 PM

GoldenEagle: So how do you think MSU's D will attack our offense?

12:34 PM

Jim: That's a nightmare for them, as they aren't especially fast. They like to stop the inside stuff, but Eastern rarely takes that route anyway. Forte's speed and elusiveness will be worth a lot on Saturday. And don't forget that last year vs. MSU, Forte went off for 123 yards - he was a beast the rest of the season.

12:35 PM

Jim: Weird, I'm getting less concerned about this game with every word I write.

12:36 PM

Jim: But you've got to pressure Prukop into poor decision-making on passing downs. Easier said than done, of course.

12:36 PM

Jim: I've written this before, but EWU has struggled since last year's playoffs against mobile quarterbacks.

12:37 PM

GoldenEagle: I thought the Huskies made a mistake by not stunting more. They were even dropping a defensive end a lot. I don’t think MSU can stop the EAGS in a sit back and react defense. I suspect they will blitz a bunch.

12:38 PM

Jim: That surprised me too. When facing FCS teams, Pac-12 defensive coordinators figure they can play a base defense and get by. That seems a bit cocky to me.

12:38 PM

Jim: MSU certainly can't do that - I also expect a lot of pressure.

12:40 PM

Jim: Question: after MSU and before Montana, which game worries you the most?

12:42 PM

ewufan: Gonna go with MSU. I don't think Montana has impressive wins (and their loss to Wyoming looks bad IMO)

12:43 PM

Jim: Well, Wyoming got trounced by Oregon - hard to measure that one. I'll be checking scores from the Montana-NDSU game on Saturday, that's for sure.

12:45 PM

Jim: Is it just me, or does the Big Sky seem to drop off quite a bit after EWU-MSU-UM-NAU?

12:47 PM

Jim: And off the top of my head, I can't name an impressive OOC win by a Big Sky team. Anybody out there see that SHSU score from last week - ouch!

12:48 PM

Jim: On further thought, I've got to got with MSU beating Central Arkansas, a team that lost at Texas Tech by just seven points.

12:48 PM

GoldenEagle: Yes there does seem to be a drop off. But it is so early in the season and haven't yet had BSC teams play each other. The next couple weeks will tell us a lot about the BSC teams.

12:49 PM

Jim: There's a lot of football to be played, that's for sure.

12:49 PM

Guest693: Worried about the loss of Cory Mitchell. Is Shaq Hill ready to play?

12:49 PM

Jim: Yes, and yes.

12:50 PM

Jim: Mitchell is the number two returning WR from last year, so that is big. On the other hand, Kendrick Bourne has been outstanding so far this year.

12:52 PM

Jim: However, I just noticed that Hill is not on the depth chart at kick returner this week, only receiver. I think that speaks to the hamstring injury and Baldwin wanting to play it smart with that injury.

12:52 PM

Guest693: In my opinion Splendorio and Grady will help a lot this weekend.

12:52 PM

Jim: There's quality depth all over the place at WR.

12:52 PM

Guest693: Is Mario returning kickoffs?

12:53 PM

Jim: The depth chart at KR shows Brown, then Forte.

12:54 PM

GoldenEagle: Maybe coaches are waiting to see how Hill responds before having him return kicks.

12:55 PM

Jim: Certainly, kickoff returns will stress the hamstring more than running receiving routes.

12:55 PM

GoldenEagle: Jordan Tonani is healthy?

12:56 PM

Jim: Good to go, as he was against UW.

12:57 PM

Jim: FYI, I'll be in Bozeman. Follow me on Twitter at @srjimallen

12:57 PM

GoldenEagle: EAGS 49

12:57 PM

Jim: yes ...?

12:57 PM

GoldenEagle: Bobkitties 14

12:58 PM

Jim: Could be, though I think MSU scores more than that. My prediction ...

12:58 PM

Jim: Eastern 45, Montana State 27

12:59 PM

Jim: Thanks, everyone - we'll do it again next week!

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