Cheney, WA (SportsNetwork.com) – Some offenses will scale down their approach
when the backup quarterback replaces the starting quarterback because of
injury.
Eastern Washington coach Beau Baldwin doesn’t plan that approach with little-
used Jordan West, who is replacing the Big Sky Conference’s most dominant
player, Vernon Adams Jr., after the 2013 Walter Payton Award runner-up suffered
a broken right foot against Idaho State last Saturday. He is expected to be
sidelined for 3-6 weeks.
“I don’t like using the term ‘manage a game’ when it comes to the quarterback
position,” Baldwin said Wednesday. “I like to use the term ‘go out and be
great.'”
Adams has been great for three seasons. Now second-ranked Eastern Washington
(5-1) has gone to West, beginning with Saturday’s vist to Southern Utah, the
last Big Sky team to beat the Eagles two years ago.
West is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound redshirt sophomore out of Maple Valley,
Washington. He did not play in any games last season, but has appeared in three
this season, completing 7-of-11 pass attempts for 62 yards as well as one
touchdown in the opening win over Sam Houston State. He lost a fumble on
his only rushing attempt.
“Jordan has a little more I think athleticism than some guys his size,” Baldwin
said. “He’s a 6-4 guy but can get out and move. We even were joking that
straight-ahead speed he’s faster than Vernon. We’ve had arguments in our
quarterback room – Vernon doesn’t necessarily agree – but he’s got some
abilities outside of just being a 6-4, tall guy with a live arm.
“You’re out there to make plays within our offense. We’re going to stay
attacking, we’re going to keep that mentality. That’s not going to change no
matter who it is.”
Eastern Washington is part of a three-way share of first place at 2-0 in Big
Sky games. Southern Utah, an FCS playoff team last season, is 1-5 overall and
1-1 in the conference.
