EWU vs. NAU Game Thread

[Obzerver]

4 for 10 fg's on the year

[EWURanger]

NAU stopped on 4th down again.

Need to burn some clock here.

[DukeJack]

Well that's it.

EWU wins 21-14

Good game

[EWURanger]

21-14 final. Well, never said it'd be pretty.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

BLM and our kicker tried to give away the game again. Luckily our D wouldn't let them.

A win's a win, I'll take it. Time for TJ to sit out some games and get healthy.

[NAU_Alum10]

First off I have to say Eastern has one hell of a Defense. Once our guys got in the red zone they tightened up and completely shut us down. BLM played what I thought was a great game, when we contained TJ (didn’t completely stop him by any means) BLM steeped up and torched us for some costly deep passes.

Now my complaints about our showing which was flat out pathetic and embarrassing on the Offensive side of the ball (EWU’s D had a lot to do with that). The eagles would of completely blew us out of the water if not for our Defense. The NAU O kept giving up the ball, Herrick played horrible with 3 ints and the offense actually looked better with Chasen Stangel in there. The running game was basically non-existent the first three quarters and again looked completely and utterly embarrassing. Again I give all the credit in the world to EWU, just wish our O would of at least gave us a chance to be in the game.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Herrick okay? He got rocked pretty hard right before the half?

[NAU_Alum10]

Herrick okay? He got rocked pretty hard right before the half?

I think he is ok, watched it on BigSkyTV and in the second half he had the head set on helping out the coaches. It looked like he might have had a concussion right after the play happened the way he was holding his head but as the game went on in the second half the camera kept focusing in on him and he had a large ice pack on the throwing elbow. Sadly him going out was one of the best things that happened to our offense he just looked like a sitting duck back there. Stangel mixed it up for us and gave us chances against that speed of your D.

[EWURanger]

Herrick okay? He got rocked pretty hard right before the half?

I think he is ok, watched it on BigSkyTV and in the second half he had the head set on helping out the coaches. It looked like he might have had a concussion right after the play happened the way he was holding his head but as the game went on in the second half the camera kept focusing in on him and he had a large ice pack on the throwing elbow. Sadly him going out was one of the best things that happened to our offense he just looked like a sitting duck back there. Stangel mixed it up for us and gave us chances against that speed of your D.

I agree with your assessment. I actually thought the backup QB was a lot more effective than Herrick. Not saying MH is a bad player, he just looked really off in this one.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Herrick okay? He got rocked pretty hard right before the half?

I think he is ok, watched it on BigSkyTV and in the second half he had the head set on helping out the coaches. It looked like he might have had a concussion right after the play happened the way he was holding his head but as the game went on in the second half the camera kept focusing in on him and he had a large ice pack on the throwing elbow. Sadly him going out was one of the best things that happened to our offense he just looked like a sitting duck back there. Stangel mixed it up for us and gave us chances against that speed of your D.

Good to hear he wasn't banged up too bad. I was impressed with your backup, he played pretty well. Good luck next week... take down MSU for us.

[NAU_Alum10]

Ya never thought I would be yelling “take out Herrick” but my tv screen herd plenty of it. Chasen Stangel is a very capable QB, he’s a transfer from Arizona State and was third on the depth chart over there behind Rudy Carpenter and Danny Sullivan. He adds a run dynamic to the QB position which Herrick does not. Stangel also has more of a rocket arm then Herrick. Mike is usually really accurate, although that didn’t pan out today. The future with regards to the QB position looks pretty good for us with Stangle.

[DukeJack]

Ya never thought I would be yelling “take out Herrick” but my tv screen herd plenty of it. Chasen Stangel is a very capable QB, he’s a transfer from Arizona State and was third on the depth chart over there behind Rudy Carpenter and Danny Sullivan. He adds a run dynamic to the QB position which Herrick does not. Stangel also has more of a rocket arm then Herrick. Mike is usually really accurate, although that didn’t pan out today. The future with regards to the QB position looks pretty good for us with Stangle.

Only downside is that it's Stangel's R-Jr year, meaning he'll only be a starter for a year. And there is a major difference in coming on in relief and looking good and then having the reins handed off full-time (see Drew Dudzik (JMU) - Montana '08 semis and now).

That said, the gameplay changed when he came in in the 3rd. Herrick was costing us the game, throwing almost every single down in the first, but that's what happens with a pro-style QB. At the college level, it's almost better to have that dual-threat QB - it's very easy to drop 7 or 8 guys in coverage and ignore the run when you know the QB is going to throw every fucking down.

[AZGrizFan]

So, is this the beginning of the yearly fall from grace for NAU?

[EWURanger]

Nah, I think they'll win a few more games this season. One thing's for sure, UM and MSU better not let their guards down when they play them.

[eagle1]

NAU will win a few more in the conference and I wouldn't be surprised if they upset MSU next weekend in Flagstaff. They are talented enought and play physical. I think that they are far more dangerous at home so I see them beating some teams at home. The defense is stout against the run but vulnerable agaist the pass just like us. Go Eagles!!!

[EWURanger]

NAU will win a few more in the conference and I wouldn't be surprised if they upset MSU next weekend in Flagstaff. They are talented enought and play physical. I think that they are far more dangerous at home so I see them beating some teams at home. The defense is stout against the run but vulnerable agaist the pass just like us. Go Eagles!!!

I like that match-up.........MSU @ NAU. Might be anyone's best shot at knocking MSU off this year.

[BigSkyFootball]

Okay, all of you bandwagoners want to throw Michael Herrick to the curb after a courageous performance by a QB with absolutely no running game to speak of (-4 yards rushing in the first half), an offensive line rebuilt due to injury, and receivers that do not and will not run their routes and when they do, they usually drop the ball or fall down. I agree, Herrick's two interceptions in the red zone hurt the Jacks' chances, but he threw for 188 yards in the first half (21for 33) before leaving the game with an injury. EWU's game plan on defense worked great because NAU had NO running game. Before you annoint Casey Stengel the heir apparent, remember, he failed to put the Jacks in the end zone twice late in the game. Give the Herrick kid his due; one bad game in three years and without the two picks in the red zone, it really wasn't that bad. Hopefully, he'll recover and show all you haters why he's one of the best QBs in the FCS.

[NAU_Alum10]

Okay, all of you bandwagoners want to throw Michael Herrick to the curb after a courageous performance by a QB with absolutely no running game to speak of (-4 yards rushing in the first half), an offensive line rebuilt due to injury, and receivers that do not and will not run their routes and when they do, they usually drop the ball or fall down. I agree, Herrick's two interceptions in the red zone hurt the Jacks' chances, but he threw for 188 yards in the first half (21for 33) before leaving the game with an injury. EWU's game plan on defense worked great because NAU had NO running game. Before you annoint Casey Stengel the heir apparent, remember, he failed to put the Jacks in the end zone twice late in the game. Give the Herrick kid his due; one bad game in three years and without the two picks in the red zone, it really wasn't that bad. Hopefully, he'll recover and show all you haters why he's one of the best QBs in the FCS.

Don’t really think anybody was throwing Herrick under the bus, just pointing out the fact that he was having a pretty bad day and you cant ignore the fact that yesterday during that game Stangle was more efficient. To be quite honest the whole Offense was flat out pitiful and no one on that side of the ball needs any coo dose. Glad theres a Montana fan on Herricks side but as a fan of NAU I believe I have the right to be critical of my guys. Im a follower of the Jacks till the end, but us die hard Jack fans are tired of excuses, (injuries, broken off routes, unsure hands) we wants wins no matter how we get them. You Montana fans are so spoiled; you just don’t understand how hungry the rest of us are.

The Defense played their hearts out yesterday, and they are the only ones that need a hand for their effort. If anybody got thrown under the bus it was them by their own offense.

[mtjack]

So, is this the beginning of the yearly fall from grace for NAU?

Just couldn't resist, could you. Predictable. Don't get your Lumberjack beef. Que sera sera. Be sure to let us all know when the Griz try playing an FBS opponent on the road each season and do what the rest of the conference does every year. Give the move up crowd an idea how it will be if their WAC wishes come true. Deal with 4 game road stretches at the end or beginning of seasons and see if Griz fans get their "normal", expected results or not.

Herrick had a rough game but did have 188 yards passing in one half alone before being injured. Lots of credit to EWU's defense. This NAU fan is far from ready to throw Herrick under the bus. Stangel is a very capable back up but he's not the QB that Herrick is right now. Tough 3 games looming but two of them are at home. Hope a few players heal up this week. Playing their first game at home in over a month can't hurt. MSU, UM and SSU are all capable but far from perfect teams. Season is far from over.