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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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EWU sports live chat (Nov. 19) replay

Jim: Let's talk Eastern Washington sports!

Guest427 (guest): So, we haven't looked too good the past few games. It almost seems as if the team packed it in and called it quits. The OL didn't look like they wanted to be out there last Saturday.

Jim: "Haven't looked too good"? That's an understatement.

Jim: These last two games have been the worst I've seen in my four years of covering the team.

Jim: Warmup question: How does Eastern turn this around against a very good PSU team?

KHatch_Brecek: How has the team been this week?

Jim: Hard to say ... frustrated for sure. I went to Cheney on Tuesday, but the windstorm forced them indoors. That can't help preparation.

KHatch_Brecek: I don't know if I have a good answer for this question, besides they need to come together, get fired up and play EWU football.

Guest427 (guest): I don't think they can.

Guest427 (guest): PSU is good and I'm afraid they will run up the score a bit

Jim: KHatch-Brecek, when you say play EWU football, what does that mean?  For me, it's a sophisticated passing game, the kind we saw in September but has gone away recently.

KHatch_Brecek: Play the game to the caliber we have played the last couple of years. I mean I'm not sure who that was out there the last 2 games. There wasn't any fire in any. That is out of character for us.

Guest8182 (guest): Is DeBord hurt?

Jim: No. Injuries are not a factor at this point, although I think they miss WR Shaq Hill as a deep threat.

Guest8182 (guest): Is Hennessey OK?

Jim: Hennessey was fine even after the Montana game,just had the wind knocked out of him. But he couldn't really go back in, so Baldwin had to stick with West (and Gubrud).

Guest8182 (guest): DeBord was owned last week. Very surprising how the O line played.

Jim: So was Curtis at the other end, IMO. O-line play has been lackluster, and these are seniors. I can't figure this out.

Guest427 (guest): I really don't think this is Jordan's fault. I'm not sure I would want to be playing QB this Saturday after watching the OL the past few weeks

KHatch_Brecek: I'm happy Hennessey is starting!

Jim: The right decision, I think. It's all on him.

Jim: And the blockers.

Guest8182 (guest): Enough negative from me. I know PSU offense has been very good this year has anyone found holes in their D

Jim: The PSU defense is solid (average in most categories), but VERY GOOD in pass defense. Opposing QBs have struggled (108 pass efficiency) and they don't give up many big plays in the run or pass game.

Jim: I recall that in previous meetings with EWU, they've sold out to stop the run. That led to some big plays for the Eagles.

Guest427 (guest): I'm a bit worried about next year, we could be 0-4 to start.

Jim: Looking ahead already? Are you giving up on Saturday?

Guest427 (guest): Sort of, I'm not sure how we can beat PSU....

Jim: Let's try to get this cup half-full.If Hennessey has a decent outing, the Eagles could stretch the field horizontally with his mobility. That should open some holes for the run game.

 KHatch_Brecek: I really hope you will all be in the stands on Saturday.

Guest427 (guest): Having played here and watched over many years I have never seen a EWU team give up like this

Jim: Interesting, Guest427. How can you tell? Body language?

Guest427 (guest): No, by the score. These are teams they would have won fairly easily at the beginning of the year

Jim: I thought NAU and UM were decent Big Sky teams. I was getting concerned even after Sac State and especially after the one-point win over Weber.

KHatch_Brecek: I do not think they have given up, at all.

Jim: IMO, what previous EWU teams had (and this team lacks) is the following: 1) experience WITH mobility at QB; 2) game-breakers at RB 3) physicality on the D-line (Ebukam notwithstanding).

Jim: There are more, but those are my top three.Desire is not one of them.

Guest427 (guest): This team has so much more potential than what they have shown the past few weeks

EWUFan (guest): How's the injury outlook for this week's game?

Jim: Great. The team is totally healthy apart from the few guys who were earlier lost for the season (Hill,McNannay).

Guest8182 (guest): KHB on of the players tweeted this week " we will now find out who the true fans are" I hope that we aren't fairweather, bandwagon jumping fans.There is not a program in the country that would not want to trade there last few years with ours.

Jim: Tickets are still available for this huge game, which has me wondering.

Guest8182 (guest): me too

KHatch_Brecek: 8192-- I saw it too. And he has a valid point.

Guest427 (guest): I have a feeling EWU will come out firing like they did against MSU...weather permitting

Jim: Good point. PSU is a GREAT bad-weather team.They run well.

Guest8182 (guest): Jim after we win on Saturday do you think we are in?

Jim: Yes, someone's glass is half-full!

Jim: I believe 7-4 will get them in, especially if NAU loses at SUU. The Lumberjacks have only 6 DI wins, which is a big factor. EWU really needs them to lose. Also, Montana must win at MSU to get to 7 wins - that's another one to watch for.

Guest8182 (guest): 4 teams out of the Sky?

Jim: Maybe. The only way it's 4 teams is if EWU, SUU and Montana win. PSU already has clinched. I think all four would get in and the Eagles would head to SUU or South Dakota State for a Thanksgiving weekend game.

Guest427 (guest): There are a lot of strong programs from a historical perspective who have worse records than EWU this year

KHatch_Brecek: I cannot believe what I am reading from some of the "fans". I get it, this is frustrating -- beyond frustrating personally, but we have to remember that these are 18-23 year old kids.

Jim: No, what did he say?

KHatch_Brecek: I see them coming out firing on all cylinders, and playing very well. There is soooo much to lose, especially for this group of seniors who has been very successful during their time at EWU.

Jim: Firing on all cylinders means running the ball and stopping the run. That has to happen.

Jim: Remember, PSU is 6 points away from being 10-0 this year. They are very solid, rarely turn over the ball and run the ball well.

KHatch_Brecek: I mean making plays on both sides of the ball, and also being fired up.

Jim: You'd expect that. Heck, it's Senior Day and certainly the last game on the red for a lot of players. The emotion should be through the roof, certainly for the seniors.

Guest427 (guest): If we don't let them get momentum, we will win. The first few series will determine this

Jim: Their QB, Alex Kuresa, is smart, elusive and seldom makes mistakes. Not a great passer, but good enough. And he runs soooo well.

Jim: Question: how does the defense finally make some stops on third down and get off the field? This has been a huge problem lately,

Guest427 (guest): This is where good coaching decisions come into play

Guest427 (guest): It does no good to sit back and let the play come to them

Jim:  This 4-2-5 scheme is supposed to let the players be more aggressive. I saw some of that in the NAU game; they had 13 tackles for loss, but then gave up big plays on third down. At Montana, they kept losing the battle on first down and seemed to face a lot of second-and-short and third-and-short.

Guest8182 (guest): 2 things 1. Some players have to step up and be leaders. 2. D Coaches have to manufacture aggressiveness with blitz etc

KHatch_Brecek: Agreed, Jim-- need them to be more aggressive, rather than letting the play come to them.

Jim: PSU's bread-and-butter play is for Kuresa to fake the handoff, then keep the ball and take it outside when the LB or DE crashes inside. He's crafty. I wonder if EWU will have a spy.

Guest427 (guest): I don't think that 4-2 plays to their favor.You need a strong front for it to work. I'd rather see 3 linebackers out there. They seem to be the strength of the defense

Jim: Interesting. One of the main reasons they switched defenses was the depth in the secondary and the lack of it at LB. Zamora and Gall are pretty good,Kacmarcik and Kupp are OK, but there's a lot of youth out there.

Jim: And let's face it, this defense is very young.

Guest8182 (guest): By the way Webster cannot return any more kicks this year. He may be great and dynamic but needs to work on ball protection over the summer.Missing Shaq

Guest427 (guest): I'll be willing to bet the LB's have the best game of the year this game

Jim: That's a subject we haven't covered - special teams. Worst I've seen in four years: no big blocks, two big returns given up at No. Colorado, muffs in the return game, etc. Even Kupp had a bad one vs. NAU

Guest427 (guest): Things haven't clicked this year unlike in years past....it happens

Guest8182 (guest): That why I'm here for you Jim,  haha. I believe Schmedding was special teams coach in the past and this year NO coach is listed?

Jim: The responsibilities were divided this year after Schmedding was promoted to DC. I'm not sure that worked so well. And yes, it's been a big dropoff on KO returns from Hill to Webster. I cringe when he comes out of the end zome.

KHatch_Brecek: Looking back, I'm not sure Coach Graham was "the problem" last year.

Jim: The rap on Graham was that his schemes were predictable. The cover 2 had gaps on the sidelines, and a solid running team could chip their way down the field.But that's exactly what's happening this year as well. The subs on the D-line are undersized, I think.

Guest8182 (guest): I cringe when he goes on the field on kicks. It has become a confidence thing

big-dale (guest): I need to say, I'm frustrated by EWU fans.We have an amazing coach and we've had an amazing run over the past five years... This is a hiccup. All will be fine again. Give Baldwin and the staff some support and stop with the panic.

Guest9177 (guest): Agree

KHatch_Brecek: Guest -- I don't think anyone is calling for anyone's head.

Jim: No new injuries from Montana, according to Baldwin. Some guys are banged-up, but that's all

EWUFan (guest): Still in contention for a Big Sky title and playoffs... Most fans would take that for a "down year."

Jim: Earlier this week, Baldwin talked about entitlement and fans "talking about Frisco tickets in August." I'll have more on that later in the week.

Guest8182 (guest): Ditto Guest. When we win Saturday, I hope there will be fans there to see it. Spokane is famous for "bandwagoning"

Jim: Yes, EWU can still get a piece of the title with a win and a loss by SUU to NAU. However, that might lessen their chances of making the playoffs, since NAU would be a lock at that point. Pick your poison.

Guest8182 (guest): I caught that also Jim. Looking forward to you article

Jim: I would've had that earlier in the week, but I went with a story on Hennessey being the starter:http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/nov/17/reilly-hennessey-gets-starting-nod-at-qb-for-easte/

https://d167qii8h0pw75.cloudfront.net/images/D/E/F/DEFAULTGRPI-resizecrop_90x68.jpg

Reilly Hennessey gets starting nod at QB for Eastern - Spokesman.com - Nov. 17, 2015

 

Jim: I also had this feature on the PSU coach, who played (sort of) at EWU: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/nov/17/portland-states-bruce-barnum-has-fond-memories-of-/

https://d167qii8h0pw75.cloudfront.net/images/D/E/F/DEFAULTGRPI-resizecrop_90x68.jpg

Portland State’s Bruce Barnum has fond memories of Eastern - Spokesman.com - Nov. 17, 2015

 

https://chatroll.com/t.gifJim: By the way, look for a story on Cooper Kupp (his past and his future) in Friday's S-R.

Jim: Enough self-promotion, back to chatting ...

Guest427 (guest): I think our players are better than the record (which isn't bad) would indicate. But something went wrong this year and I can't figure it out what it is.

Jim: If that's true, is it coaching?  Some people are blaming the coaches, especially on defense. Did Baldwin change defensive coordinators just for the sake of change, because the playoff loss to Illinois State left such a bad taste? I don't know.

Guest427 (guest): Could be...but they called it right the past few years.

Jim: EWU's defense hasn't been on championship caliber since 2010, I think that's obvious.

KHatch_Brecek: I'm excited for Hennessey to have a full shot at getting into a rhythm, and being a leader.

EWUFan (guest): We still had good fan support the year after the disastrous 2011 season. Weather seems to be the biggest deterrent.

Jim: I.m agreed that EWU's passing game is more "weather-sensitive" than other teams' offenses.

Guest427 (guest): I think the EWU offense goes off this week, 52-42

Jim: Our first prediction - let's see some more!

KHatch_Brecek: 52-21

Jim: in favor of .... ?

KHatch_Brecek: Jim-- what kind of a question is that?! Always for the Eags!!!

Jim: Silly me!

Guest8182 (guest): I don't think Beau listens to all of the chatter. Changing things up can be a good thing. I go back to team leadership. I think it is the players enjoying too much success and not be hungry, thinking it will always come the way it has in the past.

KHatch_Brecek: That's why Beau is one of the best,8182!!

Jim: Coaches pay no attention to social media - or the media itself, really. We're just here to inform and entertain the fans. Occasionally we succeed.

Guest427 (guest): I agree with 8182

Jim: That's right, at the time, Baldwin wanted to energize the defensive coaches.

KHatch_Brecek: And I agree with 8182, 100%. We lack team leadership this year!

Guest8182 (guest): 48-42 Shoot out with the Eags winning.

Guest8182 (guest): KHB I meant that as a compliment to Beau.

https://chatroll.com/t.gifKHatch_Brecek: 8182-- I knowhttps://chatroll.com/t.gif

Jim: Great chat - let's hope it's not the last one of the year!



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