Eastern Washington Eagles
Big Sky
Eastern Washington had a lot of work to do by replacing quarterback Vernon Adams, who left prior to his senior season to play for Oregon. Despite the change under center, EWU still played well early in the year. They lost at Oregon and at Northern Iowa to begin the season, but both were pretty close games against very tough competition. After that, EWU strung together six straight wins and looked like an obvious playoff team. However, following losses to Northern Arizona and Montana, it took a win over Portland State on the last day of the season for EWU to make the playoffs.
2015 Record: 6-5, 5-3
Coach: Beau Baldwin
Big Wins: 9/19 Montana State (55-50), 10/31 Weber State (14-13)
Bad Losses: 11/7 Northern Iowa (30-52), 11/14 at Montana (16-57)
Strengths:
Despite losing Adams, the Eagles did not stop throwing the ball. Jordan West stepped into the starting role and has done a great job. On the year he has thrown for 3,002 yards and 30 touchdowns. He may not be Adams, but he knows how to throw the ball around. It helps that West has Cooper Kupp, one of the best receivers in the FCS, to work with. Kupp has caught 114 passes for 1,642 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. Kupp is always productive and always reliable, yet the opposition can still never find a way to stop him. Kendrick Bourne has emerged as the top secondary target, but there are other dangerous options too, most notably Terence Grady and Nic Sblendorio.
Weaknesses:
As quickly as this offense moves, the defense is going to give up points since they are on the field so much. But often the Eagles allow so many points that even this offense cannot keep up. The team ranks 12th in the Big Sky in rush defense, total defense and scoring defense. It is not uncommon for EWU to give up 50 or more points. They can win those types of games, but not against most playoff caliber opponents. The offense is going to score points and the defense is going to allow points, but what has held back EWU this season has been turnovers. The turnover margin is terrible this year and this has been a team that has been quite good in that department over the last few years. If Eastern Washington is going to make a playoff run, West must take care of the ball and the defense must make a big play or two as well.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Jabari Wilson, RB, 661 yards
Passing: Jordan West, QB, 3,002 yards
Receiving: Cooper Kupp, 1,642 yards
Tackles: Miquiyah Zamora, LB, 101
Sacks: Jay-Tee Tiuli, DL, 4.5
Interceptions: 7 tied at 1
2015 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 120.2 (99th in nation, 11th in conference)
Passing Offense: 367.1 (1, 1)
Total Offense: 487.3 (7, 3)
Scoring Offense: 35.0 (18, 5)
Rushing Defense: 258.8 (120, 12)
Pass Defense: 225.5 (76, 8)
Total Defense: 484.3 (117, 12)
Scoring Defense: 40.1 (115, 12)
Turnover Margin: -0.60 (97, 12)
Sacks: 2.20 (46, 4)
Sacks Allowed: 1.90 (55, 6)
Recent Playoff Appearances:
2014 Second Round Defeated Montana
2014 Quarterfinals Lost to Illinois State
2013 Second Round Defeated South Dakota State
2013 Quarterfinals Defeated Jacksonville State
2013 Semifinals Lost to Towson
2012 Second Round Defeated Wagner
2012 Quarterfinals Defeated Illinois State
2012 Semifinals Lost to Sam Houston State
2010 Second Round Defeated SE Missouri State
2010 Quarterfinals Defeated North Dakota State
2010 Semifinals Defeated Villanova
2010 Championship Defeated Delaware
2009 First Round Lost to Stephen F. Austin
2007 First Round Defeated McNeese State
2007 Quarterfinals Lost to Appalachian State
2005 First Round Lost to Northern Iowa
2004 First Round Defeated Southern Illinois
2004 Quarterfinals Lost to Sam Houston State
1997 First Round Defeated Northwestern State
1997 Quarterfinals Defeated Western Kentucky
1997 Semifinals Lost to Youngstown State
1992 First Round Lost to Northern Iowa
1985 First Round Defeated Idaho
1985 Semifinals Lost to Northern Iowa
1985 Semifinals Lost to Northern Iowa
*all team stats through 11/14
