Quarterback: Coming off a career game as a quarterback, there are two ways the next week can go.

Either play can continue at a high clip, or a player can falter and return to Earth.

Eastern Michigan starting quarterback Kyle McMahon is hoping for the former to pass.

The junior played his best game Saturday at Arkansas, logging his first career three-touchdown performance.

Strong play was a change of pace for McMahon, who has struggled when he has seen the field this season.

McMahon didn’t play in the Eagles’ first three games, and has only completed 10 passes twice in the five games since. A season completion percentage of 55.2 percent is deceiving; this is largely a product of McMahon’s strong performance at Temple, where he completed 69.4 percent of his passes.

GRADE: D-

Running Backs: Junior tailback Dwayne Priest has gone over the 100-yards rushing mark only one time this season, against Northwestern’s 49th-ranked rushing defense.

This is not a good sign for Eastern Michigan, as Priest is their only go-to running back. He has 91 more carries than any other Eagles player.

The junior has amassed 486 rushing yards so far this season, placing him eighth in the MAC. He has done so on 122 carries, giving him a 3.98 yards-per-carry average.

Senior running back Terrence Blevins filled in when Priest missed the Kent State game, going for 22 yards on 11 carries.

With how much Eastern Michigan has been playing from behind this season, it is only natural that the Eagles’ rushing statistics be lower than average.

GRADE: D

Wide Receivers: Senior wide receiver Jacory Stone is one of three Eastern Michigan players with over 100 yards receiving on the year.

With 325 receiving yards on 29 catches, Stone has paced the Eagles’ receiving corps.

The second leading receiver for EMU is tight end Ben Thayer, who has 175 receiving yards, but leads the team in touchdown receptions with only two.

A lack of quarterback continuity has hurt the receiving numbers, as three Eagles quarterbacks have attempted over 40 passes.

GRADE: D+

Offensive Line: ‘DeMaster’ of Eastern Michigan’s offensive line is starting left tackle Dan DeMaster.

The guardian of the blind side is EMU’s only offensive lineman who weighs in at over 300 pounds. The left guard, Andrew Sorgatz, weighs only 256 pounds.

All this for a unit that is ranked No. 70 in the nation in sacks allowed, with 2.13 a game.

The Eagles’ offensive line has also struggled run blocking, paving the way for EMU’s No. 90 ranking in rushing offense.

GRADE: D+

» Next Sports Article: Defensive breakdown of Eastern Michigan