Eastern won’t hurry QB decision
What inquiring minds want to know, as the Eastern Washington University football team starts fall practice this week: Who will be the starting quarterback when the season opens Aug. 31 at Oregon State?
All things being equal, and they appear to be now, junior Chris Peerboom will start but split time with redshirt freshman Matt Nichols.
“What’s going to happen is you’re going to see a competition between Chris and Matt where in the non-league games, unless someone really does something heads and tails above the other in camp, they’ll both play in those first two games and we’ll get a feel from there,” Beau Baldwin, the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, said after practice Thursday.
The goal is for the top candidate to take charge in the third game against Central Washington and be established by the fourth game, the Big Sky Conference opener at Montana State on Sept 23.
And, no, Baldwin insisted, there is not, nor will be there, a quarterback controversy.
“The biggest reason I don’t think there will ever be a controversy is because the people that Chris and Matt are,” Baldwin said. “They’re team players. They’re competitors – don’t get me wrong – they both want it extremely bad. They want the ball in their hands. But they’re also very mature and team oriented.
“I think the only controversy will come from the outside.”
Baldwin said his plan was to give both quarterbacks equal snaps and equal time with the first team.
Quarterback roulette won’t affect the rest of the team, according to the captains, even though four of the five expected starters on the offensive line are from the same recruiting class as Peerboom.
“I want it to be whatever is best for the team,” junior right guard Matt Alfred said. “Right now, either one could end up with the starting spot. They both run the offense pretty well. Whoever ends up with the job, everybody is going to be confident with them. They both have a lot of talent. As far as a controversy – no.”
Regardless, he said, the pressure is on the line.
“When you look at this offense, offensive line is the most experienced crew on the field,” Alfred said. “We have to take it upon ourselves … we need to make them comfortable.”
“It means we have to step it up more,” said senior linebacker David Eneberg. “They’re going to split time and when you do that you’re not going to have as good of feel. … Defensively, we have to step it up and not let (a game get out of hand).”
Head coach Paul Wulff has no problem with a delayed decision.
“We don’t believe we’ll name a permanent starter before the first league game, but you never know what could happen,” he said. “I’m open-minded enough, we’ll make the decision when the time is right. They both look good.”
He had the same assessment of the whole team, which had its first complete squad practice in the morning after two days of splitting the first-year players from the veterans to give the rookies individualized attention.
“There’s only so much you can get out of these couple first days when they’re not in pads,” Wulff said. “They were pretty sharp, crisp and enthusiastic like they should be in the first practices. We definitely have good leadership, guys that know how to win and practice.”
He was also pleased with the newcomers.
“It’s early to tell, but so far they seem like a very athletic group, a lot of talent, maybe the best group as far as talent we’ve had. There is a good chance a few could end up on the field. We won’t find that out for the next two or three weeks, but there a few kids, based on our depth right now and their ability, they might have an opportunity.”
Notes
There is one practice today, at 9 a.m. … The first day in full pads is Saturday, with practice moved up to 7:30 a.m. so the coaches and players can attend a memorial service for former Cheney HS football coach Tom Oswald. … The first of every-other-day, two-a-day practices is Sunday.