Hoping not to miss a beat in Adams' absence

In typical unassuming Vernon Adams fashion, when he stepped up to face multiple microphones last Saturday following Eastern Washington’s 56-53 football escape against Idaho State, Adams deflected praise to his teammates at becoming the Big Sky Conference’s all-time leader in touchdown passes.

All the time while rocking back and forth on a sore foot that he brushed off to having “rolled my ankle or something.”

The All-American, and frontrunner for the 2014 Walter Peyton Award, had just thrown four touchdowns — 99 in his three seasons here — and ran for two more on a right foot that was hardly just a rolled ankle.

A postgame examination revealed Adams broke his foot in two places, the second and third metatarsal bones that connect to respective toes, —two of about 30 bones in one’s foot — but major ones.

It is figured that the injury occurred sometime about the middle of the second quarter. But Adams hardly showed it other than a slight limp.

His coach, Beau Baldwin, addressed the situation from a number of perspectives at this past Monday’s EWU Coaches Show at Northern Quest Resort.

Adams continued to play after consulting with Eastern’s head trainer Brian Norton, knowing it would not likely exacerbate the injury. But they did not know the true extent of the injury at that time.

People are probably going to say he needed to come out of the game. However, Baldwin quickly countered that notion.

“I hate to say it but if you took every player out that says something’s bugging me, something’s hurting, you’re going to have about two players playing a college football game,” Baldwin said.

That’s just the reality. “Now if that’s a head injury or something of that regard, it’s a no-brainer, helmet’s gone, trainer takes the helmet and for good reason, we get it,” Baldwin said.

“I made the joke earlier, if that was the case, you would have seen Brandon Kaufman play about two or three games total,” Baldwin said. “You’re going through pain (to play).”

In 2010, Kaufman, another EWU All-American, separated his shoulder against Montana in the Roos Field opener, Sept. 18. He played 12 more games, caught 76 passed for 1,214 yards and 15 touchdowns in the run to the national title.

The extent of Kaufman’s injury was never revealed until he walked on stage in a championship celebration a few days after EWU’s 20-19 win over Delaware, his arm in a sling.

Limping, but still able to run for a number of critical first downs, Adams was an inspiration for his team, Baldwin said. “It inspired our staff to push more and work harder for him.”

Sitting in Baldwin’s office, his coach said Adams was at first naturally devastated. “I’m telling him we’re going to be great, you’re going to come back stronger,” Baldwin said.

In team meetings this past Sunday, the talk was how the Eagles move forward.

“We talked about going forward, just continue to pick each other up, and everyone’s going to elevate their game, Jordan West is going to go out, and (everyone’s going) to do their thing,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin reminded everyone that Adams is not the only one who’s down. Quincy Forte and Cory Mitchell are both sidelined.

West is excited to have the starting role, Baldwin said.

An advantage for West and his teammates was the timing of Adams’ injury, which believe it or not was fortunate, all things considered. Rather than having Adams go down suddenly in a game, or late in a week of practice, West will have a full week of reps.

With little time in public view, the perception of West might be that he’s a one-dimensional pocket-style passing quarterback.

“Vernon doesn’t agree with this but we’ve had jokes in the quarterback room that straight speed in the 40 (yard dash), Jordan will get you; he’ll deny that, but no, Jordan can run a little bit,” Baldwin said.

Adams will still likely travel with the team, but that’s only if it does not interfere with his rehab, Baldwin said.

“Obviously I want him there, there’s no doubt about it,” Baldwin said. “He’s a leader, a huge leader and I think he’ll do wonders for the team and definitely for Jordan specifically.”

As he has since he first earned the starting job in 2012, Adams will continue to play the leader’s role, only he’ll do that from the sidelines and on crutches.

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].