EWU @ UW Discussion & Game Thread (9/3 4pm PST)

[Screamin_Eagle174]

FCS #1 Eastern Washington Eagles @ University of Washington Huskies

TV: Televised regionally by Root Sports
Radio Feed: http://www.espnnorthwest.com/patchin-wingmen/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Defending FCS Champs who are loaded against a young but improving mid-tier Pac-12 team who is breaking in a new QB, and could be without the services of star RB Chris Polk (minor knee surgery). This will be the first time UW faces plays "down" to an FCS team, with USC and Notre Dame being only two remaining BCS squads to hold out I believe. The key matchups will be UW's DL with stud DT Ta'amu against EWU's talented and experienced OL, EWU's Tall, Talented and Deep WR Corps against UW's secondary, who will likely be out with starting DB Quentin Richardson who suffered a high ankle sprain in camp a week or so ago. The last matchup that will be entertaining to watch and important to the outcome is EWU's DL against UW's RBs. Even without Polk, UW is loaded at the postion, and the Eagles will be without graduated DT Tyler Jolley, and UW Transfer DT Andru Pulu (didn't finish his first year at UW, which means he must sit out a year). We do return Buchanan candidate DT Renard Williams and a heap of fast DEs, but they will need to get pressure on Keith Price.

I expect a close game for 3 quarters, with UW likely pulling away in the end due to depth. I would be happy with a 34-24 game, especially if EWU managed the upset. GO EAGS!!!

[Wildcat Ryan]

Good luck Eagles, here's to all the Big Sky vs FBS this year.

[bonarae]

Both teams have a combined seven position player of the year candidates (are the injured players part of the seven candidates listed?) Should all play consistently, this ought to be close.

I'd say UW pulls it off in the end on last-second tactics. 28-24.

[EWURanger]

Both teams have a combined seven position player of the year candidates (are the injured players part of the seven candidates listed?) Should all play consistently, this ought to be close.

I'd say UW pulls it off in the end on last-second tactics. 28-24.

Are you referencing Polk? Last I heard he might play in the opener.

[EWURanger]

The line on this one is EWU + 18.

[AZGrizFan]

The line on this one is EWU + 18.

Which is why I'd be happy with any of the scores predicted so far. I've got this game as part of a 3-way parlay...

[JBB]

The line on this one is EWU + 18.

+18? EWU is not prepared to compete. Poor scheduling.

[JBB]

The line on this one is EWU + 18.

Which is why I'd be happy with any of the scores predicted so far. I've got this game as part of a 3-way parlay...

Good idea. Hide this ugly contest behind two others.

[JBB]

UW is looking at it like this:

The Eagles are a decent football team. They can beat you. They are small time college football and the fact they are FCS champions is one of the reasons FCS football gets no respect. A program that has virtually no fans or national audience, that plays in the obscurity of a small town in extreme rural Washington and has a very modest athletic budget is all running against the division in this one. EWU is taking the point for this humiliation. But they will get respect on the field, UW will take care of business and dismiss the Eagles probably in a rought, maybe in a decent game that doesnt get too out of hand. I sure dont want to hear any decent game for 3 qtrs then UW puts it away. How feeble is that for the Eagles? What are they, Lafayette or Robert Morris? I just hope it isnt too big an embarassment for the FCS. We will see.....

[EWURanger]

UW is looking at it like this:

The Eagles are a decent football team. They can beat you. They are small time college football and the fact they are FCS champions is one of the reasons FCS football gets no respect. A program that has virtually no fans or national audience, that plays in the obscurity of a small town in extreme rural Washington and has a very modest athletic budget is all running against the division in this one. EWU is taking the point for this humiliation. But they will get respect on the field, UW will take care of business and dismiss the Eagles probably in a rought, maybe in a decent game that doesnt get too out of hand. I sure dont want to hear any decent game for 3 qtrs then UW puts it away. How feeble is that for the Eagles? What are they, Lafayette or Robert Morris? I just hope it isnt too big an embarassment for the FCS. We will see.....

You're funny. "Extreme rural" Washington would be someplace like Walla Walla, or Pullman. Cheney is 12 miles from downtown Spokane. Spokane County, of which Cheney is a part of, is approaching a population of 500,000. The Spokane, Washington metro area has a population of 610,000. So, this "rural" area you are citing is almost equal in population to the entire state of North Dakota. (680,000ish) Fargo - enough said.

You can continue to make these weak jabs at the EWU program, but we shall see where both teams are at the end of the season.

And it's "rout", not "rought".

[eaglesfootball]

why does this guy try to hijack every thread?

[Grizo406]

The Eagles are a decent football team. They can beat you.

Yes, they are, and yes, they can!

Thanks for FINALLY seein' the light.

Apology accepted!



You're welcome!

[alvin kayak]

Don't worry JBB says it will be a ROUGHT. Thanks for coming.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Don't worry JBB says it will be a ROUGHT. Thanks for coming.

I think that's liable.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

UW is looking at it like this:

The Eagles are a decent football team. They can beat you. They are small time college football and the fact they are FCS champions is one of the reasons FCS football gets no respect. A program that has virtually no fans or national audience, that plays in the obscurity of a small town in extreme rural Washington and has a very modest athletic budget is all running against the division in this one. EWU is taking the point for this humiliation. But they will get respect on the field, UW will take care of business and dismiss the Eagles probably in a rought, maybe in a decent game that doesnt get too out of hand. I sure dont want to hear any decent game for 3 qtrs then UW puts it away. How feeble is that for the Eagles? What are they, Lafayette or Robert Morris? I just hope it isnt too big an embarassment for the FCS. We will see.....

This is a game of national prominence. A spotlight game, if you will. The best team in FCS vs. an average intra-state and inter-divisional rival. The Golden Eagle Committee has already declared this a win for the fierce predators that are the Eagles.






Oh, and JaBBer... you're the big embarrassment for the FCS. Work on it.

[kalm]

UW is looking at it like this:

The Eagles are a decent football team. They can beat you. They are small time college football and the fact they are FCS champions is one of the reasons FCS football gets no respect. A program that has virtually no fans or national audience, that plays in the obscurity of a small town in extreme rural Washington and has a very modest athletic budget is all running against the division in this one. EWU is taking the point for this humiliation. But they will get respect on the field, UW will take care of business and dismiss the Eagles probably in a rought, maybe in a decent game that doesnt get too out of hand. I sure dont want to hear any decent game for 3 qtrs then UW puts it away. How feeble is that for the Eagles? What are they, Lafayette or Robert Morris? I just hope it isnt too big an embarassment for the FCS. We will see.....

This is a game of national prominence. A spotlight game, if you will. The best team in FCS vs. an average intra-state and inter-divisional rival. The Golden Eagle Committee has already declared this a win for the fierce predators that are the Eagles.








Oh, and JaBBer... you're the big embarrassment for the FCS. Work on it.

You forgot that it's also game one of the Evergreen State non-border marker series between the big three. PAC 10 charter members beware.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

This is a game of national prominence. A spotlight game, if you will. The best team in FCS vs. an average intra-state and inter-divisional rival. The Golden Eagle Committee has already declared this a win for the fierce predators that are the Eagles.








Oh, and JaBBer... you're the big embarrassment for the FCS. Work on it.

You forgot that it's also game one of the Evergreen State non-border marker series between the big three. PAC 10 charter members beware.

The Prestigious Three.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

--- Count Montana coach Robin Pflugrad as one who thinks the Eagles can pull it off. Asked on the call if there were any Big Sky teams he thought had a chance to win against a Pac-12 team this weekend, he said: "Oh yeah, Eastern Washington. I have some Cougar in me (he was an assistant at WSU under Mike Price and Bill Doba), as you know, and I know the Husky coaches real well, and I think they'll have a great season in Seattle. However, coach Baldwin is a tremendous coach, and I think they have a tremendous staff at Eastern. They have experience, an experienced quarterback who's been in big venues, and I do not count them out of that game at all." He also said that the "I know the other team (UW) doesn't have a very experienced quarterback, and that can be a big deal in the opening game." (He also mentioned Montana State as having a chance against Utah.)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/h ... from=stnv2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Cap'n Cat]

Go Eagles!!!

[TheHerd]

I really think EWU will pull out a W in this one as long as they can take care of the ball and maybe get a TO of their own. The main thing is don't turn the ball over and EWU will have a good chance to get the win. If I was EWU's coach I would definitely try and limit how many times your QB throws the ball...he can be a little bit of a loose cannon at times it seems. EWU is gonna need a 55/45 or 60/40 run pass ratio to get a win. Good Luck Eagles!

[griz8791]

UW is looking at it like this:

The Eagles are a decent football team. They can beat you. They are small time college football and the fact they are FCS champions is one of the reasons FCS football gets no respect. A program that has virtually no fans or national audience, that plays in the obscurity of a small town in extreme rural Washington and has a very modest athletic budget is all running against the division in this one. EWU is taking the point for this humiliation. But they will get respect on the field, UW will take care of business and dismiss the Eagles probably in a rought, maybe in a decent game that doesnt get too out of hand. I sure dont want to hear any decent game for 3 qtrs then UW puts it away. How feeble is that for the Eagles? What are they, Lafayette or Robert Morris? I just hope it isnt too big an embarassment for the FCS. We will see.....

This is quite possibly your shittiest post ever.

[EWURanger]

http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/m-footb ... 11aab.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Really interesting read.

[EWURanger]

I really think EWU will pull out a W in this one as long as they can take care of the ball and maybe get a TO of their own. The main thing is don't turn the ball over and EWU will have a good chance to get the win. If I was EWU's coach I would definitely try and limit how many times your QB throws the ball...he can be a little bit of a loose cannon at times it seems. EWU is gonna need a 55/45 or 60/40 run pass ratio to get a win. Good Luck Eagles!

Agreed on the QB situation. Dude's brilliant when he plays within himself, but not so much when he forces things. In all fairness, I wouldn't use the NDSU game as a very good benchmark of his abilities, but I am assuming you've seen him in other games.

About limiting his throws.....not going to happen, I don't think. I expect EWU to lineup 3 and 4 wide and use the short passing game to try to work the ball down the field, mixed in with the occasional shot down-field, which we have shown we can get a few of. I don't expect us to have a lot of success running the ball on their defense, so I think the only way we are going to be able to move the ball on a consistent basis is by throwing it. Unfortunately, with as many times as I think we're going to end up throwing it, I wouldn't be too surprised to see us turn the ball over some.

And I think we're going to need a *FEW* TO's of our own.

I honestly don't know what to make of this game. We've had mixed results playing Pac-12 teams in the past...everything from nail-biters to getting completely pasted. Unfortunately, we have yet to beat one. Guess there's a first for everything, though.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I really think EWU will pull out a W in this one as long as they can take care of the ball and maybe get a TO of their own. The main thing is don't turn the ball over and EWU will have a good chance to get the win. If I was EWU's coach I would definitely try and limit how many times your QB throws the ball...he can be a little bit of a loose cannon at times it seems. EWU is gonna need a 55/45 or 60/40 run pass ratio to get a win. Good Luck Eagles!

Agreed on the QB situation. Dude's brilliant when he plays within himself, but not so much when he forces things. In all fairness, I wouldn't use the NDSU game as a very good benchmark of his abilities, but I am assuming you've seen him in other games.

About limiting his throws.....not going to happen, I don't think. I expect EWU to lineup 3 and 4 wide and use the short passing game to try to work the ball down the field, mixed in with the occasional shot down-field, which we have shown we can get a few of. I don't expect us to have a lot of success running the ball on their defense, so I think the only way we are going to be able to move the ball on a consistent basis is by throwing it. Unfortunately, with as many times as I think we're going to end up throwing it, I wouldn't be too surprised to see us turn the ball over some.

And I think we're going to need a *FEW* TO's of our own.

I honestly don't know what to make of this game. We've had mixed results playing Pac-12 teams in the past...everything from nail-biters to getting completely pasted. Unfortunately, we have yet to beat one. Guess there's a first for everything, though.

This.

I hope we come out firing like we were doing in the 4th quarter of the championship game. There was a stretch in there where we passed like 12 straight times. I really hope BLM is on his game early, and is smarter when facing pressure this year. Luckily we have a very experienced and talented OL.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I'm gonna be in the Seattle Times on Saturday, interviewed about the game this weekend. If we pull off the upset, I might be in the Times again Sunday... for being arrested for unlawful celebration.