Steve Eipper leads reinvigorated offensive line in search of team success
One win seasons are typically unenergetic, anemic even.
It's the best way to describe the Central Michigan football team over the course of the 1-11 season in 2018. Efficiency and energy were major points that the Chippewas were missing, specifically on the offensive side of the ball.
CMU ranked last among Division I FBS teams in offensive efficiency by scoring just 15 points per game and averaging 254.7 yards each contest.
Senior offensive lineman Steve Eipper saw the struggle first-hand as the starting center for CMU, but he said the Chippewas own a new vibe this spring.
"We're going to be a much more efficient offense this year," Eipper said. "Last year, we kind of dropped off from the previous year. This year, I have a good feeling that we're going to bounce back."
Eipper played in 11 games last season and is now considered a leader on the offense. Although, his message to his teammates is that anyone who needs to lead, should.
Not just seniors.
"I think that everybody should be able to lead in their respective ways," Eipper said. "So if a redshirt freshman needs to lead a freshman, that's what he has to do because that freshman is going to look up to him."
Eipper said that the failure of 2018 was a major learning point for the Chippewas.
First-year coach Jim McElwain has brought a fresh mindset and an outpouring of energy, as well. Eipper said that a coaching change requires everyone on the team to be on board to find success.
"If everybody doesn't buy in then you can't go very far," Eipper said. "Everybody is buying in and it's been good to see the change from last season to just this spring."
One point of emphasis McElwain discussed regarding the new program is leadership. He, just like Eipper, recognized that leaders can be found anywhere in the program.
Because, at the end of the day, football is a team sport.
"I'm not one of those guys to circle guys out," McElwain said. "You can be a freshman; you can be a senior, you can be a starter; you can be a backup, it doesn't matter.
"We're looking for guys that push each other and ultimately affect each other in a positive way."
Further aspects of leadership that McElwain examines closely is based on position group. Mainly how each group pushes their teammates to be better both on and off the field.
So far, McElwain has liked the safeties because they ensure that the defense is always lined up correctly and everyone is where they need to be on that side of the ball.
As for the offense, the new coach has looked to Eipper's group, although it is currently depleted through injury.
"We're a little short on the offensive line right now," McElwain said. "Those guys have been taking a lot of reps and working their tails off."
As spring practice begins to wind down, Eipper is excited for the opportunity to showcase the improvements that the Chippewas have made since the closing of the fall season.
The fourth-year man up front is excited for the new set of opportunities in the spring and fall as a member of the Chippewas.
"This year we know we have a fresh slate," Eipper said. "We can come back with the new staff and a new offense so to say and just keep building every day to get better."
