Eastern Washington comes into Week 3 with a defense that should have no trouble getting respect, but the biggest question hanging over the Eagles is whether they have enough healthy playmakers around Nate Bell to make this one interesting for four quarters.
Bell has given Eastern a real lift at quarterback, piling up 781 yards and six touchdowns through three games. Dan Thompson of the Spokesman-Review said the biggest growth in Bell’s game has come when plays break down.
Last year, Thompson noted, Bell was far less accurate throwing outside the pocket and often looked ready to take off running instead. This season, Eastern has leaned into what Bell does best: escaping pressure, buying time and doing a better job working through his reads.
The problem is what Bell is working with. Thompson said Eastern’s receiving group has been hit hard by injuries, with five players out, including three of the top four targets the Eagles expected to rely on entering the season.
Wes Garrett has been asked to carry a lot of the load, while the backfield mix includes Malik Dotson as the power runner, Kevin Allen III as the change-of-pace option and Jaxon Bell, Nate Bell’s younger brother, as the “cannonball” piece. Thompson said Jaxon Bell isn’t big, but he is hard to tackle.
On defense, Eastern’s first-year coordinator Zach Bruce has brought a look that fits the personnel already in place. Thompson called Bruce a great hire and said the players love playing for him.
Bruce has spent a long time coaching safeties, and that position group shapes what Eastern wants to do. Expect a lot of Cover-4.
In the secondary, sophomore safety Bryce Smith and redshirt junior nickel Jaylon Jenkins have been disruptive with their ball skills, while cornerback Ambrose Marsh has shut down receivers so far. Up front, the Eagles are bringing back four senior starters, giving the front four a veteran feel.
Thompson also pointed to the broader picture for Aaron Best in year 10 as head coach. Best has had strong teams before, including a stretch of three playoff seasons in four years, but Eastern has not yet broken through the way it did under Beau Baldwin.
Thompson said those teams were powered by Eric Barriere at quarterback, along with talented receivers, veteran offensive linemen and a variety of running backs. He also said the COVID year and the extra eligibility it created disrupted recruiting, though the last couple of recruiting classes have been stronger.
Still, Thompson said the simplest answer is the one that matters most: win. Even a 7-5 finish this season, he said, would be viewed as a step back toward championship-level football.
The Eagles’ path in the Big Sky already feels tight after an opening-week loss to Northern Arizona. Thompson said that result could end up hurting Eastern down the line.
A home win over Northern Iowa was expected, and a road loss to South Dakota can be excused. But with Washington looming, the stretch that follows becomes huge, especially with four home games in six weeks.
Eastern gets both Montana and Montana State at home, and Thompson said the Eagles need to win at least one of those. A loss at UC Davis could be survivable, he said, but that still leaves Eastern staring at no better than a 6-3 Big Sky mark and, at best, a 7-5 overall record.
Even so, Thompson believes that kind of resume in a top FCS conference, paired with a difficult nonconference schedule, would keep the Eagles in the at-large conversation.
One of the quieter names to know is redshirt senior defensive tackle Isaiah Perez. Thompson called him an incredibly solid player and an anchor for the defense.
Perez had four kick blocks last season and remains a tough run stopper. Off the field, Thompson added, he is married with three daughters.
As for Saturday, Thompson thinks Eastern can make the Huskies work if the defense is flawless. The concern, though, is whether the Eagles have enough healthy, experienced receivers to give Bell options when he scrambles. His prediction: 35-10 Huskies.
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