The Eagles will fly only as high as their defense can take them
A GRIP ON SPORTS
Watching an FCS playoff game has a lot in common with watching a summer sports around these parts. It seems, recently, FCS games have turned into a cold-weather version of Arena football. Read on.
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• In the Arena league, everyone can score. That's a given. What wins games are – occasionally – stops and – more often – forced turnovers. The team with one or two more possessions usually wins. That seems to be the case these days in the FCS playoffs. Look at the scores of this weekend's quarterfinals: 35-30, 39-32, 34-31 and, out in Cheney yesterday, 59-46. Which brings up our point. The Eagles scored seven more points yesterday than anyone in the FCS except one, the team they were playing. There is not an offense in the classification that can touch Eastern's – except maybe the teams the Eagles have matched up with in their final playoff game the past four years. If Eastern Washington wants to win another national title – to go with the 2010 one – it has to improve on defense. We wrote that sentence before the season began. We write it again now. Here's a no-brainer: For Eastern's offense to be successful, it has to be on the field. And the EWU defense couldn't get off of the red turf yesterday. Twenty times Illinois State faced either a third or fourth down. Thirteen times it successfully moved the chains. It didn't matter if it was third-and-short or third-and-long, Eastern's defense couldn't get stops. It couldn't force turnovers. It couldn’t win. Which means Eastern's fans are faced with another offseason of what-ifs. And a realization the window on national titles may be closing. Do-everything quarterback Vernon Adams (pictured) has one more year. Head coach Beau Baldwin's name is going to be mentioned in just about every FBS coaching search west of the Mississippi. One of these days he's going to be lured away. Then everything changes.
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• WSU: The Cougars went on the road to a WCC school, Santa Clara, and lost, 76-67. Turnovers doomed WSU, as Jacob Thorpe explains in this blog post. ... Jacob also has a Q&A with coach Ernie Kent in today's paper. ... Oregon's Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy yesterday, seemingly making everyone except Duck haters happy. Even the voters seemed pleased. ... The team the Cougars play next, San Jose State, is struggling with dissension right now. ... Sometimes a team shoots the lights out. Sometimes they just go out on their own.
• Gonzaga: Watching the Zags' 87-74 win at UCLA last night, I was struck at how important Byron Wesley has already become for Mark Few's team. They have a bigger, stronger option in key offensive – and defensive – situations this season. The USC transfer scored a lot of big baskets in the second half last night and had one crucial block in transition that denied the Bruins an important chance to cut further into GU's lead. Of course, the biggest basket of the night for the Zags was delivered by Kevin Pangos, whose 3 as the shot-clock wound down not only put a dagger into UCLA's hopes but also the idea Pangos can only be clutch at McCarthey as well. Jim Meehan was in Pauley last night and has a game story and a blog post. He'll be back today with a day-after post as well. ... The Zags open WCC play at the end of the month against BYU in Utah. But, after last night's win over Weber State, the Cougars may be without their best player. ... St. Mary's played its first road game of the season last night. It went well – in a tough venue.
• EWU: The game story, delivered courtesy of Jim Allen, wasn't the only story in Cheney last night. John Blanchette's column covers the heart problem suffered late in the game by Jake Rodgers' father. ... Tyler Tjomsland was in Cheney and has this photo report.
• Idaho: The Vandals turned it over a season-high 18 times and lost 87-85 at South Dakota State.
• Whitworth: One more time. The Whit women remain undefeated.
• Chiefs: All it took for the Chiefs to end their losing streak was a Teddy Bear Toss game. Spokane gathered in the bears for charity and defeated Prince George 3-2 behind Liam Stewart's late goal. Chris Derrick has the story. ... Everett held on and defeated the Tri-City Americans, 4-2 last night. ... Portland traveled to Seattle and earned a 2-1 victory.
• Preps: The Inland Empire Classic wrestling tournament at Central Valley yesterday was won by Moses Lake. Mike Vlahovich has the story. ... We also have boys and girls basketball roundups to pass along.
• Seahawks: The 49ers have been struggling. There are questions surrounding the team. Injuries. Which makes them dangerous today in Seattle as a 10-point underdog. ... The Hawk defense isn't the most complicated in the league. It's just the best. ... These two teams have no secrets. ... What numbers are important today as you watch? Here's your answer. ... How and when should the Hawks speak out on off-the-field situations?
• Mariners: Will Edgar Martinez ever be awarded his rightful spot in the Hall of Fame? The chances are getting slimmer each year. Especially when voters feel it is OK to vote for guys who blatantly used performance-enhancing drugs to fuel their performances – and then complain there isn't enough room on the ballot. ... Newest Mariner Nelson Cruz is no overnight success. ... Where will Brad Miller be next season? More than likely starting at shortstop for Seattle.
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• Sunday mornings are, typically, quiet time in our house. No difference today. Except one of the dogs has been agitated by something. Maybe Santa Squirrel, who seems to be everywhere this time of year. Until later ...
