Defense Raises Questions Eastern Eagles Face New Season After Major Personnel Changes

The defense lost nine starting players, including its six most distinguished. The offense lost four starters, including two all-conference players. The coaching staff changed significantly.

Those associated with Eastern Washington University football hope the off-season turnover translates into something better than last season’s 4-7 showing. Most outside observers are unconvinced.

Skeptics point most often to the defense, which returns an accomplished linebacking unit, but has little experience in the backfield and must replace its front four.

“The hardest thing for us is the youth,” said defensive line coach Jesse Williams, brought in this summer from Portland State, where he coached one of the best defensive fronts in Division II. “Because of the youth, we have to teach schemes and what the offense is trying to do to us.

“Of course, the nice thing is that Sept. 7 isn’t tomorrow.”

Williams and defensive coordinator Jerry Graybeal won’t know what to expect until the Eagles line up against Southwest Texas State in the Sept. 7 season opener in San Marcos. “I’m the eternal optimist,” Graybeal said.

EWU’s linebackers Dion Alexander, Justin Guillory and Terry Cloer - provide reason for optimism. “Defensively, we’re as good at linebacker as we’ve ever been,” second-year head coach Mike Kramer gushed. “Justin Guillory, mark my words, is a budding superstar.”

Kramer had been critical of Alexander since the strong inside linebacker made all-conference in 1993. Terms like “overrated” and “underachieving” were the norm. No more.

“Dion Alexander is having the best camp, playing the best he has ever played, by far,” Kramer said Wednesday. “He has really turned the corner as far as understanding his role. He didn’t understand that the swagger didn’t equate to success; it had to follow success. He realizes that now.” Up front, ends Damion Caldwell and Steve Mattson join tackles Avont Grant and Chris Scott to replace one of the better defensive lines in Eagles history. Together, they have started a grand total of zero games on the line, although Mattson played tight end last season when all-conference pick Jesse Hardt was injured.

The defensive backfield remains a probable weakness, with Ryan Moore the only tested player.

Williams’ hiring allows Kramer to run the offense, replacing J.D. Sollars, who becomes assistant head coach. Kramer, who coached the D-line in his first year as head coach, becomes quarterbacks coach, replacing Jim McElwain, the new offensive coordinator at Montana State. It’s really that simple.

Simpler yet is Kramer’s vow to reestablish an old EWU tradition the running game. A wise idea, considering sophomore starting quarterback Brian Sherick has thrown one pass, an incompletion, in his college career.

Senior tailback David Lewis returns 20 pounds heavier and will be spelled by Rex Prescott, a proven performer, and upstart Joe Sewell.

As usual, the offensive line should be a strength. Coaches believe 6-foot-4, 285-pound tackle Tom Ackerman has NFL potential, and the team returns several other competent blockers. Hardt comes back as the best tight end in the conference, while Jerrold Jackson leads a thin group of receivers.

“Kramer likes to run the ball,” Sherick observed, “a lot of two-tight-end stuff.”

Kramer explains: “The predominance of eight-man defensive fronts by the teams on our schedule forces us to accept the fact that the only way to get enough people into the blocking scheme is to have an extra tight end.”

That means Hardt will be joined up front by tight end Tim Hunsaker, with Lewis the starter in EWU’s one-back set. “It’s essentially the same stuff Idaho has been doing,” said Kramer, a 1975 UI alum. “You can talk about their passing stats all you want, but they push you off the ball and run it.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color Photos Graphic: The Best of…The Big Sky

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Here is a brief summary of each Big Sky team, listed in predicted order of finish: Montana (11-3 and 5-2, tie for 2nd) Coach: Don Read Record: 141-125, 25 years Record at Montana: 72-34, 9 years Players to watch: QB Dave Dickenson (5-11, 175, Sr.), OL Mike Agee (6-4, 285, Jr.), FS Blaine McElmurry (6-1, 195, Jr.), DE Yo Manzanarez (6-3, 257, Sr.) WR Matt Wells (5-7, 165, Sr.). Key newcomers: DE Mike Lorentz (6-4, 260, Fr.), WR Joe Douglass (6-0, 180, Jr.). Quick kicks: Dickenson actually does a few of these. He averaged 33.5 yards on four punts last year, pinning opponents inside their 20-yard line each time. Outlook: Dickenson is 18-1 as a starter and makes Grizzlies a contender in Big Sky and nationally. He is that good. Read frets over having to play two big games early - Washington State on Sept. 9 and the showdown with Boise State on Sept. 23. “The challenge is to get it going early enough,” Read said.

Boise State (13-2 overall and 6-1 in Big Sky, 1st) Coach: Pokey Allen Record: 80-36-2 Record at BSU: 16-10, 2 years Players to watch: LB Brian Smith (5-10, 229, Sr.), QB Tony Hilde (6-0, 195, Jr.), WR Ryan Ikebe (5-10, 178, Jr.), CB Rashid Gayle (5-8, 180, Sr.), C Paul Coffman (6-1, 251, Sr.). Key newcomers: RB Tommy Edwards (5-11, 210, Jr.), TE Jim Brekke (6-4, 220, Fr.). Quick kicks: Punter Jeff Miles was an academic casualty, which probably leaves the job to Hilde. Coach Allen isn’t thrilled about the potential for injury, but Hilde could pick up an unexpected first down or two. Outlook: With 18 starters returning, BSU has impressive talent. Broncos’ biggest enemy may be the schedule, which calls for road games at Montana and Idaho. BSU may have better shot at winning national championship - because the Broncos usually land home playoff games - than Big Sky crown.

Idaho (9-3 and 5-2, tie for 2nd) Coach: Chris Tormey Record: First year Record at Idaho: First year Players to watch: RB Joel Thomas (5-6, 209, Jr.), WR Dwight McKinzie (5-11, 178, Sr.), DE Ryan Phillips (6-4, 253, Jr.), LB Jason Shelt (6-0, 230, Jr.), FS Montrell Williams (6-0, 191, Sr.). Key newcomers: DE Robert Mulder (6-2, 218, Jr.), WR Robert Scott (6-1, 201, Fr.). Quick kicks: Since 1982 in Division I-AA, Idaho’s record is 107-35, second only to Eastern Kentucky (113-33-2). Of West Coast schools (Washington, USC, Portland State, Washington State, etc.), Idaho’s record is No. 1, just in front of Washington’s 102-40-3. Outlook: The Vandals have the most favorable schedule among contenders. Montana (Oct. 21) and Boise State (Nov. 18) come to the Kibbie Dome. Defense could be outstanding if secondary molds with stellar front seven. Offensive line should pave way for running back Joel Thomas and provide protection for quarterback, whether it’s Brian Brennan or Eric Hisaw.

Northern Arizona (7-4 and 4-3, tie for 4th) Coach: Steve Axman Record: 26-29, 5 years Record at NAU: Same Players to watch: QB Jeff Lewis (6-3, 210, Sr.), CB Rayna Stewart (5-11, 195, Sr.), LB Stacey Ellis (5-11, 215, Sr.), WR Rod Marshall (5-10, 175, Sr.). Key newcomers: DE Nick Petrucci (6-3, 231, Fr.), DB Archie Amerson (5-9, 175, Jr.). Quick kicks: NAU’s publicity department is pushing Lewis for the Walter Payton Award with a poster campaign. Lewis is shown clad in tuxedo and ready to fire a pass into the Grand Canyon, under the slogan “NAU’s Grand Cannon.” Outlook: Coach Axman believes this is his most balanced team and the schedule is somewhat kind with most difficult Sky road game at Boise State on Oct. 7. As usual, Jacks are loaded with potential, but have to prove they belong among Sky elite.

Idaho State (6-5 and 4-3, tie for 4th) Coach: Brian McNeely Record: 11-22, 3 years Record at ISU: Same Players to watch: TB Alfredo Anderson (5-10, 175, Jr.), OL Steve Burch (6-5, 290, Jr.), FS Mark EchoHawk (5-10, 170, Jr.), DE Josh Hays (6-2, 235, So.), DE Ahmad Lewis (6-1, 240, So.), DT Alipate Taualupe (6-2, 280, Sr.), QB Rob Wetta (6-4, 200, So.). Key newcomers: OG Dayman Adams (6-1, 290, Jr.), OT Willie Farleigh (6-4, 300, Jr.), TE Ray Felts (6-5, 265, Jr.), DT Steve Hochman (6-2, 280, Jr.), LB Eric Johnson (6-4, 215, Jr.). Quick kicks: Sophomore Hays walked on last year and led the conference with 16.5 sacks. Outlook: One key is whether a truckload of JC transfers can adequately man the offensive and defensive lines. McNeely is gambling it can. If he’s right, the Bengals will finish better than fifth. If he’s wrong, QB Wetta will be a training-room regular.

Montana State (3-8 and 0-7, 8th) Coach: Cliff Hysell Record: 14-19, 3 years Record at MSU: Same Players to watch: DE Devlan Geddes (6-4, 240, Sr.), K Geoff Groshelle (6-1, 176, So.), DE Jason Hicks (6-1, 244, Sr.), WR Eric Hopkins (5-10, 197, Sr.), TE Chad Mayer (6-3, 241, Jr.), OL J.C. Murray (6-2, 271, Sr.), FB T.T. Ryan (5-9, 227, Sr.), OL Jason Westbrook (6-3, 267, Sr.). Key newcomers: TB Charles Ephriam (5-11, 185, Jr.), QB Jeff Tuss (6-3, 210, So.). Quick kicks: Longtime Eastern Washington assistant Jim McElwain replaces Dave Telford as Montana State’s offensive coordinator. Telford left in July to coach receivers at Fresno State, shortly after MSU lured QB Tuss away from the Bulldogs. Outlook: The Sporting News lists Hopkins as one of the three best receivers in Division I-AA. If Tuss is one of the three best QBs in the Big Sky, the Bobcats may be onto something. The schedule favors MSU early, but the Cats finish with Boise State and Montana.

Eastern Washington (4-7 and 2-5, tie for 6th) Coach: Mike Kramer Record: 4-7, 1 year Record at EWU: Same Players to watch: OT Tom Ackerman (6-4, 285, Sr.), LB Dion Alexander (6-2, 215, Sr.), LB Terry Cloer (6-1, 222, Sr.), FS Doug Dorton (6-2, 190, So.), LB Justin Guillory (6-1, 217, So.), TE Jesse Hardt (6-3, 235, Sr.), WR Jerrold Jackson (5-8, 145, Jr.), TB David Lewis (5-11, 201, Sr.). Key newcomers: WR Antwan Miller (6-1, 185, Jr.), OG T.J. Ackerman (6-6, 285, Fr.), DT Avont Grant (6-0, 243, Fr.), SS Roderick Givens (5-11, 175, Fr.), CB Jimmy Lake (5-11, 185, Fr.). Quick kicks: EWU must replace all four starters on the defensive line, so Steve Mattson moves from tight end, where he excelled opposite Hardt, to starting right defensive end. Outlook: The offense has a chance to be outstanding, especially if QB Brian Sherick proves to be the steadying influence Kramer has talked about. Hardt and Jackson are excellent targets, and beefed-up TB Lewis should find adequate room to run - if the defense can keep EWU from falling too far behind. LB Alexander and DB Ryan Moore are the only starters back from last season’s underachieving defense. Defense appears to be a liability again, as does the kicking game.

Weber State (5-6 and 2-5, tie for 6th) Coach: Dave Arslanian Record: 34-33, 6 years Record at Weber: Same Players to watch: SS Junior Baker (6-2, 180, So.), LB Jacob Belmont (6-2, 220, Sr.), WR Pokey Eckford (5-9, 175, Sr.), CB Ian Franklin (6-4, 195, Jr.), DE Jason Jensen (6-4, 260, Sr.), QB Bryan Martin (6-3, 205, Sr.), RB Von Robinson (5-11, 210, Sr.), OT Kyle Stephens (6-7, 275, Jr.), WR Norvel Young (5-11, 180, Jr.). Key newcomers: K Scott Shields (6-4, 205, Fr.), RB Clemente Sainten (5-10, 190, Jr.). Quick kicks: The Weber State secondary will be without starting CB Max Mitchell, who suffered a broken neck during spring drills. Outlook: RB Sainten comes over from Oregon State and replaces Larry Rogers, who will redshirt to get better acquainted with Weber’s classrooms. The secondary remains a concern - a familiar complaint in the Big Sky - and road games against Western and Central Michigan to open the season won’t help. - By Jim Meehan and Mike Sando/staff writers