In the spring and even in the Tulsa game we consistently tried to run the ball. In the Tulsa game Gilliam and Larison combined for 34 carries. In this game, Gilliam and Larison carried the ball 9 times. Why the change?
One contributing factor to us winning the fourth quarter in other games this season is that we wore the defense down. Teams do that mostly with running plays because they give the offensive line opportunities to knock people around. Not much of that tonight.
How much of this is due to not having Ford and Lamson is a question.
We were very reminiscent of many Davis teams over the years that have a lot of finesse plays and good skill players but get dominated in the trenches. There is no quick fix for that.

The total inability to run the ball is the problem. Teams need a basic set of plays that work and then they add deception on top of that. We’re a team without the meat and potatoes.

We lack simple bread and butter plays that can gain 3-4 yards. That makes every first down a struggle. I suppose some of that is two linemen out but the subs are veterans.

No running game so far,

De’vonFrazier two tackles already,

Anyone watch the battle of the piney woods a few weeks back? Great game.

I hate the break serve analogy. I don’t think we win a high scoring game.

Here is an interesting note following the resignation of their offensive coordinator.

[Shoemaker is the fourth EWU football coach to resign in 2021, following Brian Strandley (defensive line), Josh Fetter (linebackers) and Heath Pulver (special teams).

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/nov/10/on-the-heels-of-two-straight-losses-ian-shoemaker-

I don’t think that is a good trend.

yeah I did

On Martinez’s (edit) TD scamper, two rushers missed him and their momentum took them 5 yards behind him and then he took off; pass rush has to be more controlled. Rushers can’t be thinking sacks, think hurries and containment.
I don’t know why Frazier got more playing time. He’s had an interesting career so far. He was featured in an article spring of 2020 following his pick six in the end zone against Sac in 2019, a game he started as a linebacker. Then didn’t play at all in spring 2020.
https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2020/3/2/football-winter-ball-spotlight-da-von-frazier.aspx

I agree with DavisAggie that this team is better than in past games and I don’t think the same is true if Eastern Washington.
However I would be more confident if we had stopped NAU when they had their first string QB in.

Top 5 may be really stretching it, but the other teams have their own flaws.
Give the offense their due, they outperformed the defense in first half of NAU game. The TD drve that started with five minutes let in the half and then the field goal drive that started with 57 seconds on the clock were beautiful. I bet our short time drives stats are among the best.

Pat McCann called plays for Northern Iowa when they played UCD in 2018

I don’t know how our defense is categorized, the 3-4 4-3 distinction is blurred these days. We usually have three down linemen and a standup Rush (Eaton). I don’t know how often Eaton drops back in coverage but it is small. In the game notes the Rush position lists Eaton who is listed as a linebacker along with Peacock, who is listed as a defensive linemen. I wonder what “ room” the rush players meet in. I guess outside linebackers, coached by the DC but I don’t know.. We play five defensive backs a lot.So are we 3-4, 4-3, or 3-3-5?
Which is a long way of saying we usually rush at least four and blitz often.

MSU has a very impressive running back who gained 200+ yards; they certainly ground out the clock on their drives. two of those drives sputtered in the red zone when they abandoned the run and tried to throw it. First touchdown was 50+ yard run by QB, second touchdown was an amazingly athletic grab and run for 60+ yards by a wide receiver. Their final score they went 90+ yards on two plays, one a pass and one a 47 yard run. Only one score came on a play on EWU side of the field and that was from the 47. Very weird.

The thing that puts us ahead of Sac is we started the season with an FBS win. That put us ahead of them in the polls and we stayed there. Should have dropped more losing to Idaho State, that the weirdest part of our high ranking.
At this part of the season voters should notice that Sac is in the lead for the conference title and has arguably the best overall stats in the league.

As a fan, I hope we don’t end up playing a big sky team as the first game. It may be good for travel costs but one thing that makes playoffs interesting is playing teams from different regions.

You’re right about the weight, the roster lists him at the lower weight in 2018. I’m not knowledgeable about what Tehran’s injuries were. I just remember that on the playoff game at Eastern in 2018, he was injured near the sidelines or out of bounds on a wide run. Camera angle was not good, so not sure of what happened. He definitely came back in 2019 but only for a few games. If he hadn’t retired he could have been junior this year due to playing only 4 games in 2019.

Eastern didn’t look good against MSU. MSU had lots of failures in the red zone and squandered opportunities, and still won. The MSU defense dominated in the second half.
Barriere seemed reluctant to run until the fourth quarter. EWU didn’t look like the well oiled machine they were on offense against Western Illinois which was the last game I watched of them. My optimism for beating them has increased.
Montana State has some very talented players, but they aren’t a great offense. They didn’t have impressive drives, they didn’t do well in the red zone, but they have guys who can make big plays.

Three years ago. That was where Tehran Thomas got hurt near the goal line. I guess that injury led to the end of his career, eventually. He wasn’t as good coming back playing at a lighter weight.

That probably equates to between a.field goal and a touchdown spread. Should be competitive.
More than that forecast, the history of the series is what worries me. But there has to be a first time for everything.