EWU spring football: Eagles QBs focused on improving

Perhaps a little adversity is the best thing for Eastern Washington’s quarterbacks.

After going a combined 7 for 16 in last weekend’s scrimmage, they seemed to play with a bit more urgency in practice Tuesday afternoon at Roos Field.

If coach Beau Baldwin wanted to see a spirited competition among the quarterbacks, he’s getting it: Signals were barked out a bit louder and the steps were a bit quicker.

“There’s definitely a lot of work to do,” said redshirt junior Jordan West as the Eagles took the field on another blustery day in Cheney.

Last weekend, the offense struggled in the face of that same stiff wind, plus an aggressive Eagles defense that’s already overcome some adversity of its own: a new coordinator, new schemes and new terminology.

But while the defense was running downhill last weekend, the offense was tripping over its own feet: 123 yards in 40 plays, with several botched snaps.

“Early scrimmages seem to be that way,” said receiver Cooper Kupp, whose 41-yard catch was the offensive highlight. “If just one thing goes wrong, the whole play breaks down.”

Interestingly, the quarterbacks performed in reverse of their pecking order, with walk-on Gabe Gubrud going 4 for 7 for 42 yards, while West, the presumptive starter, was 1 for 6 for 41 yards and an interception.

“Me personally, I need to take what the D is giving me,” West said.

Meanwhile, Conner Richardson was 1 for 2 for 12 yards, while Reilly Hennessey completed his lone pass attempt, for a 4-yard gain.

“We’re just battling through adversity. I’m just trying to stay confident and have fun,” Richardson said.

Baldwin didn’t want to make too much of the offensive struggles – this is April, after all – but he didn’t minimize the problems either.

Regardless of who it is, “They need to recognize why they were 1 for 6 or why we’re having issues,” Baldwin said. “There’s always going to be a lot of work to do, whether you go 1 for 6 or 6 for 6.”

To illustrate his point, Baldwin recalled a recent practice that included two long touchdown passes.

“That doesn’t mean it was the right call,” Baldwin said.

All four will get a chance to make some better calls during the next scrimmage, an 80- play affair that Baldwin promises will be more “situational” than most.

Said Gubrud, “We have to work on execution and communication for all of the quarterbacks and make sure we’re on the same page.”

With three days of hindsight, Baldwin also took plenty of positives out of the first scrimmage, including the entire team’s “physicality and depth” through five practices.

Citing the team’s collective attitude, Baldwin said, “Sometimes I can’t tell if it’s the ones against the ones or the twos against the twos.”

Notes

The Eagles will practice again on Thursday at 4 p.m. Baldwin said Saturday’s scrimmage would start at about 2 p.m., the same time as the Red-White Spring game on April 25.