EWU quarterback Jordan West shows good poise, great numbers
Eastern Washington quarterback Jordan West is perfectly unsatisfied.
Three days after setting a school record for passing efficiency in a 55-50 win over Montana State, West was the first one to point out the flaws in his masterpiece:
A pair of stalled drives in the third quarter that helped MSU get back in the game; the fact that Nic Sblendorio’s 78-yard touchdown catch salvaged a blown play; and of course the popular player’s refrain that “it never looks that good on film.”
But in this case, it did. Coach Beau Baldwin said he was impressed with West’s poise – “a calmness in the pocket and subtle moves in the pocket” – that helped him deliver on 21 of 24 pass attempts for 410 yards and six touchdowns.
“He’s grown a lot from weeks one and two to this last game,” Baldwin said Tuesday as the Eagles prepared for Saturday’s Big Sky Conference opener Saturday night at Sacramento State. “He kept calm and kept his eyes downfield.”
The result was a performance that brought West his first major award as a college quarterback: the co-National Offensive Player of the Week honor from STATS. The junior from Maple Valley, Washington, also was the Offensive Player of the Week in the Big Sky after his efficiency rating of 313.5 broke a 23-year-old school record.
Not bad for a guy who was sent to the bench just 10 days ago in the Eagles’ 38-35 loss at Northern Iowa, even if the coaches just wanted another look at backup Reilly Hennessey.
Through three games, West is 68 for 87 (78.2 percent) for 1,052 yards, 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
With those numbers in mind, West allowed himself and the offense a small pat on the back.
“There’s always stuff to learn from week to week, but we looked good on film,” West said.
Wilson expected to play
Running back Jabari Wilson is expected to play Saturday after passing examinations following a concussion suffered against MSU. “Right now, everything says yes … but you have to be extremely smart and careful with that,” Baldwin said of Wilson, who ran for a career-high 188 yards and two touchdowns before leaving in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles are thin in the backfield, as veteran Jalen Moore (ankle) has missed two straight games and backup Sam McPherson is out with an ankle injury suffered Saturday.
If Wilson doesn’t play, the starting job is expected to go to true freshman Malcolm Williams Jr., who gained 55 yards on three carries last Saturday but fumbled in the fourth quarter to help MSU get back in the game.
No matter who’s playing, the offensive line is feeling more confident about its run-blocking after tough outings against Oregon and UNI.
“That was an emphasis last week, and we’re just going to take it from there,” left guard Aaron Neary said.
Roster status
Six starters and several other players missed the Montana State game, a week after four starters were missing from the Northern Iowa game. Those out against the Bobcats included starting right tackle Cassidy Curtis (foot), as well as his replacement, Jerrod Jones (knee/shin). The other five missing starters or co-starters were Moore, wide receiver Shaq Hill (knee), strong-side linebacker Jake Gall (hip pointer), defensive end Jonah Jordan (ankle) and rover Todd Raynes (hamstring). Hill, Curtis, Moore and Zach Bruce (shoulder) missed the Northern Iowa game, and Cooper Kupp (hip pointer) and Hennessey (ankle) also missed significant playing time in the second half with injuries. Bruce returned to play against Montana State, but then injured his knee. Entering the Sacramento State game, Jones is probable; Jordan, Gall, Raynes, Hill, Moore, McPherson, Wilson, Phelps and Hennessey are questionable; and Curtis and Blackburn are out.