The Eastern Washington Eagles displayed glimpses of their renowned offensive talent during their first live scrimmage of the season, showcasing the adaptability of their offensive system as numerous players adjusted to new starting positions.
Quarterback Jared Taylor led the first-team offense with impressive accuracy, connecting with receivers Jaxon Branch and Bode Gardner, both of whom exceeded 100 yards receiving and made several big plays of over 20 yards. Branch attributes the receiver group’s success to the wisdom shared by veterans Efton Chism and Nolan Ulm.
“Last year, I gained a lot from Efton and Nolan, who have been around for a while. Their insights on football IQ and technique really helped me improve. The chemistry with the quarterback develops through repetition, and eventually, it becomes second nature,” Branch explained.
The Eagles are tasked with replacing four seniors from the offensive line, as well as the starting quarterback, running back, and two of their top three receivers from last season.
Taylor unofficially passed for 217 yards on 8-of-10 attempts. Head coach Aaron Best acknowledged the excitement of witnessing young talents like Branch and Gardner make significant plays but also recognized the need for defensive improvement.
“On one hand, it’s thrilling to see young players like Jaxon Branch and Bode Gardner make explosive plays along with some young quarterbacks. However, we also need to address the defensive lapses that allowed those plays. We’ll review the techniques involved to understand what happened, but having a successful offense is crucial,” Best remarked.
Throughout the scrimmage, the offense scored seven touchdowns, while the defense managed to force one field goal attempt, secure an interception, and create several punts.
Leading tackler from last season, Derek Ganter Jr., recorded a sack and ended the scrimmage with an interception from Anthony Quinones. He expressed his excitement about returning to full-pad competition, emphasizing the focus on honing fundamentals.
“We haven’t put the pads on since our last game, so it feels great to get back to basics and refine our techniques. Once we nail those, we can advance to the playbook and learn how to execute effectively,” Ganter said.
The Eagles will conduct their next live scrimmage on April 11 to make necessary adjustments and continue integrating the playbook, with the annual red-and-white spring game scheduled for April 18 at Roos Field in Cheney.
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