Kramer Says Ewu Young But Talented Coach Admits His Team Looks Green On Paper
The grass at Woodward Stadium remains. That means Eastern Washington won’t be playing many football games on paper this season.
Head coach Mike Kramer is grateful.
“On paper, we’ve got nothing,” Kramer said Friday afternoon, after the Eagles’ first practice of the 1995 season. “You’re new on the defensive line, you’re young in the secondary, your quarterback has thrown only one pass against competition, your tailbacks have never really run for a lot of yardage, your offensive line has never pushed anybody off the ball. So on paper, man, it doesn’t look good.”
The coach made a compelling case for a horrendous season, shifting course when the optimism of another undefeated summer apparently intervened.
“But the reality of the situation is that our defensive line is young, but it’s very talented,” Kramer went on. “And our offensive line is fine and our running backs are solid; our secondary is green, untested, but more athletic.”
Friday’s practice was without pads, but not without moments of intensity. Junior wide receiver Jerrold Jackson welcomed freshman defensive back LeVar McClary with an aggressive tackle during a drill that wasn’t supposed to include tackling, taking exception when McClary had the nerve to run back an interception off a batted pass from quarterback Brian Sherick during drills.
“Nobody enjoys playing and practicing more than Jerrold,” Kramer said. “That’s the way you have to be at his size (5-8, 145).”
For the record, McClary intercepted the next pass, this one from reserve Harry Leons. Ran it back, too.
Leons, Josh Lies and Scott Bond - not necessarily in that order on the depth chart behind Sherick - took turns with Sherick at quarterback as EWU ran through simple passing drills. There were dropped balls, blown coverages and errant passes - what first practice would be complete without them? - but also reason for hope.
“I saw some good things,” defensive coordinator Jerry Graybeal said, turning his attention to the defensive secondary, where opposing offenses often focused last season. “Jimmy Lake showed me some things. And DePrice Kelly, good speed out of DePrice. Maurice Perigo is a very talented safety, but with our lack at corner, he’s dropped some weight to play there.
“It’s a good group of kids. They can all run (fast).”
Doug Dorton, the projected starter at free safety, missed practice without explanation, then showed up at Graybeal’s office 30 minutes after practice ended. Out of breath, the sophomore from Pasco apparently had some explaining to do.
EWU will practice twice daily for the next two weeks, with 3 p.m. scrimmages each of the next two Thursdays. The Eagles open the season on a Thursday - Sept. 7 at Southwest Texas.
The game will be played on grass.
, DataTimes