Somehow our secondary went from being the weak link of the 2015-2016 team to a shut down machine in 2016-2017. It is the biggest reason JMU hoisted the hardware.
Tripp Weaver, Bob Trott, I applaud you sirs.

In the age of back shoulder throws, it is so important for CB's to get their heads turned and find the ball at about 15 yds down field. Our CBs got good at this, and it made all the difference. They were able to cover both the back shoulder and the fly routes.

I can't understate the absolute turn around of this part of our D.

Jimmy Moreland became an absolute stud the 2nd half of the season, him and Reynolds could play man and shut everything down. I think this is why we dominated from Richmond on out..

If there was a most improved award, our secondary would get it without question.

I said this back after / during the NEW HAMPSHIRE GAME
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Post: #15RE: PROUD OF TEAM
Really proud of this team and equally excited for the rest of the season.
Coaching staff can fix the PLAY60 issue with the players and as I have said from the beginning hang on for the ride, its gonna be exciting!
do they have tough games ahead ? Of course. But nothing they cant overcome with the right mindset, DESIRE and willingness in this years Theme to "FIGHT for GLORY"!.
Coach and staff have done a Good Job and now its time tokeep tweaking the team week by week , game by game preparing for the excitement that lies ahead in November/December.
02-13-banana04-cheers"


Well THEY "Coaches/Staff/PLAYERS did exactly that. and Gave us a super season of excitement and ROOTIN that we all loved......THANK YOU !!! COACH, Coaches, Staff, Players, Support People etc and of course JMU NATION!
Will be a year I nor my daughter will ever forget!

Oliver, Tutt, Moreland, and Robinson - all sophomores

(01-13-2017 01:26 PM)RollDukes757 Wrote:  Oliver, Tutt, Moreland, and Robinson - all sophomores

Not to mention Brown AND Green back, plus Robert Carter turned into an absolute beast on specials this year and it will be exciting to see him in the rotation at some point. Barring offseason "JT's" we should only get better on D even while losing Steele and Reynolds and missing Hereford half the season because we'll be able to keep playing man and turning the rush loose like we did since RU game.

(01-12-2017 12:18 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  If there was a most improved award, our secondary would get it without question.

YES! The first few games I was thinking that it would be 2015 all over gain, big plays because the corners don't know where that ball is. HUGE improvement this year. This group combined could be the best secondary in FCS.

(01-13-2017 01:26 PM)RollDukes757 Wrote:  Oliver, Tutt, Moreland, and Robinson - all sophomores

Withers did something right?

(01-13-2017 04:08 PM)RamDawg Wrote:  

(01-12-2017 12:18 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  If there was a most improved award, our secondary would get it without question.

YES! The first few games I was thinking that it would be 2015 all over gain, big plays because the corners don't know where that ball is. HUGE improvement this year. This group combined could be the best secondary in FCS.

This just goes to show the difference good coaching can make.

I think one of the reasons for our success down the stretch was the regular season game with UNH. It was a great wake up call to the team that no lead is too large against quality competition. After that game, we didn't stop playing until there were zeros on the clock. You could even see it in the Championship game. With a 21 point lead, some teams would have lost focus and allowed YSU to get back in the game, but we didn't. I think that UNH game was a huge teaching moment for the coaching staff. It's even nicer to have teachable moments and still win a ball game. We had a killer instinct after that game.

(01-13-2017 04:12 PM)jmuroadwarrior Wrote:  

(01-13-2017 01:26 PM)RollDukes757 Wrote:  Oliver, Tutt, Moreland, and Robinson - all sophomores

Withers did something right?

Stop it! He did something right, alright. He went to Texas State. Sounds like a penitentiary.

Moreland was definitely a Mickey recruit. I though Tutt was as well. Withers really only had one full class of Freshman recruits as he basically stayed with most of the kids Mickey had already offered that first year. He brought in Vad and a couple other transfers but his first true class was his second year.

(01-13-2017 04:12 PM)jmuroadwarrior Wrote:  

(01-13-2017 01:26 PM)RollDukes757 Wrote:  Oliver, Tutt, Moreland, and Robinson - all sophomores

Withers did something right?

Yes - Recruiting and grade focus. He just could not coach them.

That was the frustration with last year - there is no way in the world with the talent level of our defense we should of been one of the worst in FCS.

Speaking of defensive coaching - I wonder where our DC from last year went? Is he the DC at Texas State? Nice guy, just in way over his head.

(01-16-2017 10:09 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Moreland was definitely a Mickey recruit. I though Tutt was as well. Withers really only had one full class of Freshman recruits as he basically stayed with most of the kids Mickey had already offered that first year. He brought in Vad and a couple other transfers but his first true class was his second year.

Tutt 2 start recruit from Centreville via a Withers. Jordan Brooks was a 3 start recruit from Centreville that year too. I went to watch the two in high school. Tutt stood out to me, but Brooks appeared pretty ordinary. Not sure Brooks played this year for whatever reason, but would of been a R-Fr

I thought Moreland was a Witther's recruit, but maybe not...