Experience shows for Eagles
Yes, the Eastern Washington football team has to break in a few key players, particularly at quarterback, but it was evident at the first practice of the spring Monday afternoon that in many ways the Eagles are picking up where they left off last fall.
“Obviously, the kids were very energetic,” head coach Paul Wulff said. “We have a lot of experienced players – there aren’t a lot of new things for them – so it really let us get in and out of our drills quickly. You can get onto the details a lot sooner. On offense we have a lot in for the first day of spring.”
Though the Eagles have openings at cornerback, wide receiver and linebacker in addition to quarterback, the emphasis is on both lines.
Brian Strandley, a player at Idaho from 1991-95, is now coaching defensive ends, taking Eti Ena’s spot. Though Garrett Quinn decided not to come back for his fifth season, redshirt sophomore tight end Shawn Powell and backup wide receiver Brett Bergstrom, who handles kickoffs, have been moved over.
The Eagles envision Bergstrom, who is at 230 pounds, as a speed rusher on passing downs.
“We sent a few athletic kids over there,” Wulff said. “We’re going to improve the defensive line; that is a big emphasis.”
There was a setback at tackle when Gene Piffero suffered a compound fracture to a finger on his left hand during one-on-one drills. He was expected to have surgery Monday night. The offensive line also took a hit when All-America right guard Matt Alfred injured a finger on the last play of the day and also faces surgery.
The veteran offensive line is being tweaked. Junior-to-be Rocky Hanni, an All-American guard as a freshman, is now the left tackle, an experiment that didn’t work last year.
“Rocky Hanni is an offensive tackle only,” Wulff said. “He’s too good. We need him to be a solid rock at tackle.
“I think (the offensive line) has a lot of potential. They have to continue to develop. That is an area we felt wasn’t good enough last year.”
Quarterbacks Chris Peerboom, Matt Nichols and Josh Powell got off to a solid start.
“We have to look at the film, but in drills all three threw the ball well,” Wulff said. “All their arms are pretty lively. The nuts and bolts of operating the offense is still to be seen in scrimmages.”
The first scrimmage is Friday afternoon about 4 on the practice fields.
Eagles nest
There were more faces – old and new – at the first workout. Mike Roberg, another ex-Vandal and former University High standout, is a graduate assistant helping with tight ends. He is Wulff’s brother-in-law. … A.J. Jimerson, a defensive back last year, is at running back, and running back Adam Macomber is now a cornerback. … Backup kicker Casey Willis is working with the safeties. … Newcomers include fullback Ryan Murphy out of Gonzaga Prep and offensive lineman Michael Land of Walla Walla. Both injured knees participating in the all-state game last summer and didn’t enroll until January. Murphy is participating but Land hasn’t been cleared. …There are two new players from Butte Junior College in California: receiver Shane Eller and cornerback Joe Alford.