1st and Ten – You know it, I
know it, they know it – Suffice it to say, at some point in
the season the Eagles are going to face a third and long
situation. A sure passing situation if there ever was one. So,
you’re the opposing defensive coordinator and you’re faced with
the following question. No, not what play will they run, but
who’s getting the ball in the passing game? Easy answer. Mr.
Deslauriers, one of the best receivers in the nation. There
won’t be one person in the stadium who won’t know who’s getting
the ball. Eric Deslauriers has been one of the most productive
receivers over his career in all of college football. The 6’5”
receiver is a huge target who will have a, well, a target on his
back this year, not to mention a new number (#1). He finished
the season with 75 catches for just under 900 yards, which
helped make him one of the most decorated returning receivers in
the nation. But, therein lies some of the problem – teams found
that they could take him out of the game, and if there’s one
thing that can’t happen to new QB Tyler Jones, it’s for
Deslauriers to be taken away from him. Jeff Genyk’s
‘Northwestern spread’ offense finds ways to take advantage of
what the defense gives to it, but they’ve got to force the issue
to the mercurial Eagle wide out. Teams can often out think
themselves and use a key player as a decoy one too many times in
a game or a season, but the Eagle offense has to go #1 as much
as possible this season. Even if we all know what’s coming.
2nd and Seven – Tinkers to
Evers to Chance, they’re not – The reference to the three
former great Cubs was to keep all of you on your toes. No, just
kidding, it’s the reference to the threesome and the relation to
the Eagles trio at linebacker, perhaps the best linebacker unit
in this conference. Michael Richardson, Daniel Holtzclaw and
Darran Matthews combined for 257 tackles last season, with
Richardson leading with 102. Holtzclaw also finished the year
with five interceptions, which is phenomenal for a linebacker,
not to mention a freshman linebacker. But, for as good as this
unit will be this season, they gave up 210 yards rushing per
game. Not so good. Protecting this threesome so they can run
free to the ball will be a massive key for the Eagle defensive
line. If they do, the Eagle defense will be much, much better
against the run.
3rd and Three – What would
happen if…? – For as good a spread offense as the Eagles
have run in Jeff Genyk’s tenure at EMU, it’s hard not to
daydream as to how good they would’ve been with some semblance
of a running game. Think of the great offenses that Genyk
helped lead at Northwestern. In 2000, the Wildcats were nearly
unstoppable with Damien Anderson at running back. A few years
later, Jason Wright ran all over the Big Ten. Last year in
particular, the Eagle running game struggled in a major way,
essentially forcing the offense to be one-dimensional. As
simplistic as it sounds, when the running game can keep outside
linebackers honest, and in the game, as opposed to nickel and
dime defensive backs, the passing game is made that much
better. One step is all it takes to get a receiver an advantage
out in the flat, but when teams don’t respect, or don’t have to
respect, the running game, forget it – play six DBs and dare
them to run. It’s time for the Eagles to call everyone’s bluff
and hand it to, well, someone. Hopefully, a good someone.
4th and One – If Paybacks are
a b---, then what are comebacks? – Remember the scene in the
pool hall in the movie Bull Durham? Crash, as eloquently as
only Crash can do it, talks about what one more hit per week
would do. The proverbial “ground ball with eyes” theory. One
extra hit per week would up the batting average and turn a .250
hitter into a .300 star. Although that theory doesn’t hold as
much water in football, take this spin – what’s the difference
in 4 – 7 and 6 – 5? How about a botched extra point after one
huge comeback and not being able to stop another huge comeback
in the fourth quarter? That’s how close the Eagles were last
year. Tyler Jones’ performance against Miami led them to the
brink of being tied, but the Eagles mangled the snap, the hold
and the extra point kick to lose 24 - 23. Then, the Eagles
couldn’t hold off a 19 point fourth quarter against Ball State,
losing 26 - 25. A bowl game may not have been forthcoming, but
that’s how close the Eagles were to a winning season. And,
those don’t happen in Ypsilanti all the time. Can they get back
to that level? It may all come down to how Jones handles being
the full-time starter. Perhaps, it’ll just take a few more
“ground balls with eyes”.