Redbirds at EIU

fourthandshort

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I think we will know after the first drive what to expect. I have confidence in the defense but can our oline produce. Make blocks, change assignments at the line, not turn one mistake into multiple. If our oline struggles Saturday win or lose the season will never progress.
agree OL needs to show us somethiing in convincing fashion today. But not so sure about 1st drive or even 1st qtr .. EIU will come out with nothing to lose (players and coaches), so I'm not as concerned about the 1st quarter as I am the rest of way. We need to establish control of LOS and slowly put these guys away if we're going to start showing something this year to get excited about. It gets way harder after this week.
 
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Dmills

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I know we have mentioned the experience and youth of the offensive coaching staff. I also know at this point in Brock's tenure we want to be making the playoffs every year and competing for a championship. This is open to anyone but my question is, do you think the offensive coaching staff will learn and grow a lot this year and we will be in a great position for next year (with high expectations coming in such as preseason top 25 or top 5 in MVFC preseason poll), or do you think that we need to make some significant changes? I realize it is a more difficult question to answer as an outsider (regarding coach development), but wanted to hear others thoughts. I also realize that learning how to coach great football typically is going to take many years.
 

fourthandshort

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I know we have mentioned the experience and youth of the offensive coaching staff. I also know at this point in Brock's tenure we want to be making the playoffs every year and competing for a championship. This is open to anyone but my question is, do you think the offensive coaching staff will learn and grow a lot this year and we will be in a great position for next year (with high expectations coming in such as preseason top 25 or top 5 in MVFC preseason poll), or do you think that we need to make some significant changes? I realize it is a more difficult question to answer as an outsider (regarding coach development), but wanted to hear others thoughts. I also realize that learning how to coach great football typically is going to take many years.
The classic "it depends ..." Disclaimer, I dont know these guys at all. But historically, we've gotten more experienced guys on offensive side of ball, even if not the right guys .. but usually some decent experience coming in at coordinator levels. Given how young and unestablished we are on both sides of ball ... is why "it depends".

But Spack has done well thru thick and thin of losing coaches and underperforming coaches ... except for our passing game. But the combination of so many inexperienced/unproven coaches and players ... is not promising for 2021 season. Take a look at 2013 ... horrible start, solid finish with 5-6 record. Spacks worst year, followed by Spack's best year in 2014, and the best 2 years and decade in ISU football history.

We'll bounce back just not so sure how soon.
 

Total Red

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On the game winning drive late in the 4th Q, the Redbird offense had an OT and the starting C out with injury. The revamped offensive line gashed the weary EIU defense and RB Cole Mueller took off like a lightning bolt. Then Pha'leak Brown followed #46 for the final 3 yards and the win. It certainly wasn't the prettiest win, but it was a win.

Congratulations to Coach Spack, now the winningest Coach in Redbird Football history.
 

Dmills

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I was at the game on the visitor side, it was a little difficult to see from that angle with the stands so far away (with the track) and not being very tall. I did not notice many appearances from Lewan (not extremely surprising) or Hickcox, but it was hard to tell who was out on the line especially. I also see they did not record any tackles now that I look at the stats. Did anyone else notice anything regarding that?

Great performances from J. Jackson, Braydon Deming, Vandenburgh, and Reid defensively (aside from a few missed tackles).
 

MadBird

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I was at the game on the visitor side, it was a little difficult to see from that angle with the stands so far away (with the track) and not being very tall. I did not notice many appearances from Lewan (not extremely surprising) or Hickcox, but it was hard to tell who was out on the line especially. I also see they did not record any tackles now that I look at the stats. Did anyone else notice anything regarding that?

Great performances from J. Jackson, Braydon Deming, Vandenburgh, and Reid defensively (aside from a few missed tackles).
I only got to see the very end of the 3rd Q and the 4th Q, but saw Lewan quite a bit during that time. Didn't see Hickox. Zeke, your table is ready!!
 

TIMMY

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The offense looks best to me with good old-fashioned 21 personnel. Mueller, McCloyn, and Taula out there with the QB under center. The power stuff isn't going to work all the time, but pounding it and play-action will help a young QB and the Oline.
Eastern left a gap free when McCloyn lined up as a wing. Unfricken believable. Then we pull those guys and go 10 personnel. WHY? 🥥🥜🍩🌰🥥🥜🍩
We roll/bootleg to the left too much.
I'm really looking forward to seeing the "kid" after a full week with the 1's. He sets his feet and throws on balance.
I liked the way we closed out the game. We went after them and rushed 5 with quicker guys up front. Fun to watch.
 

Dmills

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So I missed how it happened - Jefferson started but was injured early on?
Yes he got injured in the first quarter. From what I have read, it sounds like he sprained his AC joint early on one of the first plays when he landed on his arm/shoulder. He stayed in, but came walking/jogging off the field in pain after a handoff. It did not look good at least at the time judging by the amount of pain he was in. He took his pads off and got his shoulder wrapped and put his pads on to try to throw again. His throws looked a little bit uncomfortable and not quite natural that he was making to a receiver on the sidelines (8-10 yards). He stayed ready to go on the sidelines right at the line of scrimmage for 1 or 2 series (I thought he was going to go back in as soon as coach called his number). Then something (coach or trainer I would assume) resulted in him taking off his pads again at some point in the second quarter. He was done for the night at this point and put a headset on and was actively coaching Waring and keeping good energy on the sidelines.
 
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Dmills

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Yes he got injured in the first quarter. I believe the score was 7-0. From what I have read, it sounds like he sprained his AC joint early on one of the first plays when he landed on his arm/shoulder. He stayed in, but came walking/jogging off the field in pain after a handoff. It did not look good at least at the time judging by the amount of pain he was in. He took his pads off and got his shoulder wrapped and put his pads on to try to throw again. His throws looked a little bit uncomfortable and not quite natural that he was making to a receiver on the sidelines (8-10 yards). He stayed ready to go on the sidelines right at the line of scrimmage for 1 or 2 series (I thought he was going to go back in as soon as coach called his number). Then something (coach or trainer I would assume) resulted in him taking off his pads again at some point in the second quarter. He was done for the night at this point and put a headset on and was actively coaching Waring and keeping good energy on the sidelines.

Spack mentions he believed that Jefferson injured himself on his first run. If that is correct, then Jefferson got hurt on a 3rd down rush for a loss of one, then he completed a pass on 4th down. The very next play when he handed it off to Mueller is when he came over to the sideline in pain and was done for the night.

Clarification: it was the first drive of the game and the score was 0-0. Waring came in to hand the ball off and we scored after 2 plays and 24 yards.
 

Virginia Redbird

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It was an unusual game but a win is a win. Waring played well overall I thought. He had the one big mistake that totally changed the game but a good performance for coming in cold after the injury to Jefferson. Good game for Mueller as well and better blocking by the O-line. The defense came up with the plays when they needed them. After the blocked field goal, they came up huge. I am not sure we learned much in the first three games. An easy win against Butler, a bad loss against what looks to be a good WMU team, and a hard-fought close win over a not-so-good and young Eastern Illinois team in a rivalry game. I am looking forward to seeing them start conference play.

BTW, was the EIU broadcast the worst just about ever? Terrible camera work and lots of missed plays. The announcers I thought did a good job but the students working the cameras need a lot of work. Those shots are so tight at the beginning of the play that you could not see the QB at times and at the snap of the ball they jarringly switch to an incredibly wide shot whereby the time you find the ball the play is over and the completion of the play is out of camera range anyway. Just a terribly done broadcast with the exception of the announcers. I felt that ESPN+ should refund my money for this one.
 

Redbirdfan76

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Hey Virginia, 100% agree with you on the "broadcast" !! The cameras were awful, and with no little scoreboard on the screen, you never knew how much time was left in the quarter. I muted the TV broadcast and listened to Dick Luedke's play by play.
 

Bird Friend

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It was an unusual game but a win is a win. Waring played well overall I thought. He had the one big mistake that totally changed the game but a good performance for coming in cold after the injury to Jefferson. Good game for Mueller as well and better blocking by the O-line. The defense came up with the plays when they needed them. After the blocked field goal, they came up huge. I am not sure we learned much in the first three games. An easy win against Butler, a bad loss against what looks to be a good WMU team, and a hard-fought close win over a not-so-good and young Eastern Illinois team in a rivalry game. I am looking forward to seeing them start conference play.

BTW, was the EIU broadcast the worst just about ever? Terrible camera work and lots of missed plays. The announcers I thought did a good job but the students working the cameras need a lot of work. Those shots are so tight at the beginning of the play that you could not see the QB at times and at the snap of the ball they jarringly switch to an incredibly wide shot whereby the time you find the ball the play is over and the completion of the play is out of camera range anyway. Just a terribly done broadcast with the exception of the announcers. I felt that ESPN+ should refund my money for this one.
Broadcast was bad (broadcasters, cameras, no scores or graphics). And the stat cast quit updating early in 3rd quarter.
 
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