Eastern Washington Eagles Scouting Report

[EverettGriz]

At least eagfan is smart enough to realize "we will find out all we need to on Saturday". That's when Griz play EWU......not either of those Saturdays they played WIU.

I think Saturday night's game is the only "relative" one this week. Have Griz ever won on the red field? Is that relative?

Griz haven’t won on the red turf, Eastern hasn’t lost at home since 2017, and EB3 has never lost a home game…people can compare the WIU game all they want, playing EWU on the red turf is a tough challenge.

Yep. To be honest, these are the things that keep me from thinking it will be a 21 point GRIZ win.

 

[goatcreekgriz]

I’m thinking margin of victory will be 1-2 scores (between 3 and 14 points) and, if either team racks up more than 40 points, EWU wins. If both end up under 40, Griz prevail. Just a wild-ass guess.

 

[uofmman1122]

I'm happy that everyone is really confident about this game, but I am very nervous.

Call me snakebit, or whatever, but I'm still worried we could come out flat, and it could turn into a 2019 Sac State type of game.

Hoping for an ass-whooping, but I think we're gonna need to play nearly perfect to head home with a win.

 

[nzone]

I’m hoping Germer had a “discussion “ with the offensive line. They need to show up in a big way in order for us to win. They did not play well on Saturday. That and some very untimely missed open field tackles by the secondary need to be dealt with. IMO they will be and Montana will win by 10. 31-21.

Go Griz!

 

[griz4life]

:thumb:

The Eags are asking fans to wear black to this nationally televised night game. F'n booger eaters.

It is the appropriate color for a funeral .....

 

[Copper Griz]

How good is EWU’s offense given the opponents they have played this year? Everybody is saying they have a very potent attack. Not so sure looking at the numbers. WIU was also after they played the Griz.

UNLV 110th for strength of schedule
0-4 record and ESPN power index ranking = 117 for FBS

Central Washington University
D2
Record of 2-2

Western Illinois University Massey rating = 22nd
Record 1-3

SUU
Massey Rating = 47th
Record 1-3


Griz Schedule was more difficult thus far based largely on U of W. Eastern has a great QB. Just not sure about that offensive prowess everyone keep chirping about. We will see.

 

[behappp]

I was there in 2016 when Gabe Gubrud destroyed us by throwing to Kendrick Bourne and Cooper Kupp for 264 yds and 3 TDs. Gubrud and Bourne were excellent FB players. As the rest of the world has seen, Kupp is all-world for FCS.
EB3 may very good but I'm not sure the Iggles are better on offense than the 2016 team.
I find it hard to believe that this D and ST isn't miles ahead of what we had in 2016 with Stitt and 1st year D coordinator Semore.
They won that game on the field of Blood 35-16.
I see a reversal of that score except that EWooo doesn't run the fly sweep. 35 - 19 Griz in what will forever be known in Roos Field lore as the Funeral Game. May be the last time they ever wear all black again.

 

[kemajic]

I was there in 2016 when Gabe Gubrud destroyed us by throwing to Kendrick Bourne and Cooper Kupp for 264 yds and 3 TDs. Gubrud and Bourne were excellent FB players. As the rest of the world has seen, Kupp is all-world for FCS.
EB3 may very good but I'm not sure the Iggles are better on offense than the 2016 team.
I find it hard to believe that this D and ST isn't miles ahead of what we had in 2016 with Stitt and 1st year D coordinator Semore.
They won that game on the field of Blood 35-16.
I see a reversal of that score except that EWooo doesn't run the fly sweep. 35 - 19 Griz in what will forever be known in Roos Field lore as the Funeral Game. May be the last time they ever wear all black again.

At least the players will be visible from the field for TV.

 

[kemajic]

Most will disagree, but I think the Griz will have to play better overall to beat EWU than they did to beat UDub.

I'm with most. The EWU defense is nowhere close to the Udub defense. We will move the ball consistently and score.

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

Most will disagree, but I think the Griz will have to play better overall to beat EWU than they did to beat UDub.

I'm with most. The EWU defense is nowhere close to the Udub defense. We will move the ball consistently and score.

Not if they play like last week.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Honestly, I am concerned for Barriere’s safety. EWU hasn’t seen anything like what they’ll face on Saturday.

As Duke from the Rocky Balboa movie said:
"So, what we'll be calling on is good ol' fashion blunt force trauma. Horsepower. Heavy-duty, cast-iron, piledriving punches that will have to hurt so much they'll rattle his ancestors. Every time you hit him with a shot, it's gotta feel like he tried kissing the express train. [cracks neck] Yeah! Let's start building some hurtin' bombs
Yeah Barriere is going to need more than an ice bath after the game!

I remember him running for his life in ‘19….about midway through the 3rd, he had the look of someone who just wanted to get back on the fucking bus and GTFO. His body language was hilarious….Game still had 20+ minutes to go and I knew they were beat.

 

[footballdood]

People are right to dump on EWU's defense but they're on the low side of points given up since 2016 at 31 points when looking at just the first four games. 2020 was 23 points this far in with 2018 at 29 points being the lowest. All other years averaged 39 points.

This year's strength of schedule in the first four games is a little easier than some others, where a P5 team was played 2016-2019 and NDSU in 2016/2017. Otherwise OOC was generally a GNAC D-II team and an FCS team.

Now if we want to talk points scored, this year EWU has averaged 53 while 2016 to 2019 was 42, again from the first four games.

I just don't know how much stock I can put into the EWU/WIU game though. Especially on defense. If the game were played 10 times, would EWU have really collapsed and allowed 56 points and that close of a game most times?

The only other games where EWU allowed >= 50 points at all since 2016 were against:
- 2018, Washington State (59)
- 2021, Western Illinois (56)
- 2017, Texas Tech (56)
- 2016, North Dakota State (50)

Which one of us is not like the other in the above list? EWU certainly isn't known for the defenses, but is this one really so bad that WIU dropping 56 represents the norm for EWU this year? Not saying EWU's defense is going to win them championships - I think we all know that's a big fat lie.

Back to the offense. Someone mentioned the team Kupp and Bourne... That team had some serious talent with three players making it to the NFL. I consider that the best team and best offense that EWU has ever had - which goes to show there's so much more than just numbers. That team averaged 43 points per game in 2016 throughout the first four games, with a season average of 41.

And that game against Youngstown State with the catch from behind the helmet in a game played in 4 degree weather.

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/12/17/13995634/ewu-youngstown-state-final-score-results-fcs-playoff-bracket-2016

The rematch against NDSU would have been an epic game.

 

[Ursa Major]

One glaring difference in this year’s Griz defense over the past few years is our defensive backfield, especially the corners. Although Eww-U has some great receivers, I believe that difference gives us an edge in this game.

 

[grizeyes]

This will be EWU's super bowl , live on nation wide tv. Played on their home turf where they don't lose. They'll be fired up and probably play better than they have all year. Our boys need to survive the early onslaught, reestablish the tone of the game (physical, hard hitting, smash mouth) by the end of the first quarter. EWU's offense will slowly begin to fade. Griz slowly pull away in the second half. Win by 10. (this is what I see looking through my maroon glasses)

Go Griz!

 

[Grizzlies1982]

Yes! Because it's a common opponent game! Do you think that's not relative?

At least eagfan is smart enough to realize "we will find out all we need to on Saturday". That's when Griz play EWU......not either of those Saturdays they played WIU.

I think Saturday night's game is the only "relative" one this week. Have Griz ever won on the red field? Is that relative?

Eastern definitely plays better at home. Also it is a fact the Grizzlies haven't won on the red field yet. However, I don't think the red field is relevant.

The last time we played was a Montana win in Missoula. Then between the Big Sky's goofy rotating schedule, and the 2020 off year for Covid, and there are very few players on either team that ever saw an Eagles-Grizzly game on the ugly red field. The Grizzly teams which lost in Cheney are long gone. This year's squad doesn't care about past losses. They're going over there to play a good team and come home with a win. I believe they will do it. Go Griz! :ugeek:

 

[fanofzoo]

I can't wait for all of America to see the Tampon Field.
If it wasn't for low class they wouldn't have any.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

I can't wait for all of America to see the Tampon Field.
If it wasn't for low class they wouldn't have any.

Don't forget that they hosted SHSU in the 2014 CFB Kickoff game (I forgot). Dozens tuned in then to see the Eag faithful wave their talons in the air like there were no repercussions. As an aside, I was happy to see that the main terminal at Spokane International Airport is still sporting the EWU display with a red rug in front of it. My oldest kid had an "accident" on it when she was two. She was embarrassed, but I was a proud parent.

 

[EverettGriz]

One glaring difference in this year’s Griz defense over the past few years is our defensive backfield, especially the corners. Although Eww-U has some great receivers, I believe that difference gives us an edge in this game.

Absolutely agree. We're as good in the back end as we've been since...2008 maybe?

 

[Da Boyz Mom]

The Griz were not intimidated by playing at Husky stadium in front of many thousands of fans, and they are certainly not going to be intimidated by the red turf and EWUs hundreds of fans. If they lose it will be because they got outplayed, period.

 

[Mousegriz]

The Griz were not intimidated by playing at Husky stadium in front of many thousands of fans, and they are certainly not going to be intimidated by the red turf and EWUs hundreds of fans. If they lose it will be because they got outplayed, period.

Bobby's not yet coached on the Red Turf......so the Griz have that going for them!