EWU football: Eagles revamp special teams
So, Eastern Washington football fans, which part of the team is facing the biggest changes this fall?
Is it the offense, which is breaking in a new quarterback? Or the defense, which has a new coordinator along with a new base formation?
It could be neither. Consider special teams, an overachieving group which is seeing major changes in personnel and coaching responsibilities during the past six months. The only constant is that coach Beau Baldwin continues to have a major role.
“All the coaches will be involved,” said Baldwin, who last winter promoted former special teams coach Jeff Schmedding to defensive coordinator before splitting his responsibilities. Running backs coach Kiel McDonald will handle kickoff returns, linebackers coach Josh Fetter will oversee kickoff coverage, cornerbacks coach Cherokee Valeria will be in charge of punt returns and Baldwin will supervise the punt coverage unit, which blocked six kicks last season.
For that, Baldwin credits Schmedding’s knack for “well-timed aggression,’ something he hopes will continne.
Other coaches will contribute as well. The idea, according to Baldwin, is to give each coach ownership of a group and “bring the entire staff a little closer.”
The players are changing, too. Incumbent placekicker Tyler McNannay, a senior from Colfax, was perfect on 11 field goal attempts last year, but he’s being pushed in camp by redshirt freshman Brandyn Bangsund.
“I definitely feel like I’ve improved from last year,” said McNannay, who blames his five missed extra points on consistency problems.
Speaking of consistency, the Eagles didn’t suffer a blocked punt in two years with departed Cory Alcantar at long snapper. Now the ball will be in the hands of Curtis Billen, a redshirt freshman from Everett.
“I just hope I can produce the results he did,” Billen said of Alcantar.
The other candidate at long snapper is Terry Jackson II, whose primary position is tight end.
The new face at punter is Washington State transfer Jordan Dascalo, a sophomore from Woodland Hills, California.
“He was just looking for a fresh start, so we gave him that opportunity,” Baldwin said. “It’s a win-win situation,” said Baldwin, who has the option to use McNannay at punter.
Even the holders will change following the departure of quarterback Conner Richardson; On Wednesday, backup QBs Reilly Hennessey and Gage Gubrud were holding for placekicks.
The only constant appears to be the returners. Shaq Hill is expected to field kicks and Cooper Kupp will return punts. Last season, Hill helped the Eagles rank 15th in FCS with a 22.8-yard average; Kupp averaged 16.2 yards per return, fourth best in FCS.
Notes: Baldwin said Thursday that the Eagles are still down several players from flu-like symptoms. With that in mind he said it was important to “be smart with the guys who are healthier” ahead of today’s double-session and Saturday’s scrimmage.