(11-14-2017 10:17 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 09:45 AM)Jay M. Youix Wrote:  

(11-12-2017 05:00 PM)Purple Wrote:  Some may consider this far-fetched, but does anyone think Coach Houston could be sandbagging to keep future teams from seeing what we can really do? If we played the whole game like that last drive yesterday, we would have won by 50. Instead, we just stepped it up when we needed it. Why? Just curious what others think of the possibility.

don't think coaches really think that way. we're not saving anything for the playoffs, I promise you. sure, we'll have a new wrinkle here and there (just like the Rashard Davis pass for a TD against UNH last year) but we are what we are. we can still win this way but there are going to be a lot of heart stopping moments. I promise you we're not holding a whole lot back.

Earlier this year, HCMH talked about how this team was progressing faster than last year (may have been referring to defense). Each year a team goes thru a process of learning and improving its execution. Play, break down film, fix mistakes, tweak things that don’t work, etc.

My thought is we may see new wrinkles added in the post season and a lot of things may start clicking on offense. That is more about the team improving each week and the coaches adding new aspects than it is holding back. Earlier in the year they more likely focus on getting fundamentals right, and then build on that later with added complexity and tweaks. So in this sense, I could see the playbook “opening up” or expanding in the post season. But it’s not holding back in the sense of a poker game.

i hear ya. what I meant was that a lot of our fans were expecting a similar turnaround as to what we saw on defense last year. I never expected that. the reason we had the big turnaround last year was because it was a new coaching staff and a new scheme. nothing's new this year. what we've seen is, I think, just kind of what we are. and that's fine, it very well could be enough to get another title (only emphasizing that so no one says i'm complaining. i'm just being realistic). If we're defining "clicking" like post-Villanova in 2016, I don't see that happening.

(11-14-2017 11:50 AM)Jay M. Youix Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 10:17 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 09:45 AM)Jay M. Youix Wrote:  

(11-12-2017 05:00 PM)Purple Wrote:  Some may consider this far-fetched, but does anyone think Coach Houston could be sandbagging to keep future teams from seeing what we can really do? If we played the whole game like that last drive yesterday, we would have won by 50. Instead, we just stepped it up when we needed it. Why? Just curious what others think of the possibility.

don't think coaches really think that way. we're not saving anything for the playoffs, I promise you. sure, we'll have a new wrinkle here and there (just like the Rashard Davis pass for a TD against UNH last year) but we are what we are. we can still win this way but there are going to be a lot of heart stopping moments. I promise you we're not holding a whole lot back.

Earlier this year, HCMH talked about how this team was progressing faster than last year (may have been referring to defense). Each year a team goes thru a process of learning and improving its execution. Play, break down film, fix mistakes, tweak things that don’t work, etc.

My thought is we may see new wrinkles added in the post season and a lot of things may start clicking on offense. That is more about the team improving each week and the coaches adding new aspects than it is holding back. Earlier in the year they more likely focus on getting fundamentals right, and then build on that later with added complexity and tweaks. So in this sense, I could see the playbook “opening up” or expanding in the post season. But it’s not holding back in the sense of a poker game.

i hear ya. what I meant was that a lot of our fans were expecting a similar turnaround as to what we saw on defense last year. I never expected that. the reason we had the big turnaround last year was because it was a new coaching staff and a new scheme. nothing's new this year. what we've seen is, I think, just kind of what we are. and that's fine, it very well could be enough to get another title (only emphasizing that so no one says i'm complaining. i'm just being realistic). If we're defining "clicking" like post-Villanova in 2016, I don't see that happening.

With each game and more reps, I think at least two things can improve on Offense:
1) the o-line learns how to work well together, and the RBs learn how to hit the holes at the right time.
2) the WRs and QB become more familiar with routes and timing. WRs can improve their skills and drop fewer passes.

I think the potential is there for the offense to really light things up if they perform like we saw at the end of the RU game. How we play at Elon should tell us a lot.

(11-12-2017 05:00 PM)Purple Wrote:  Some may consider this far-fetched, but does anyone think Coach Houston could be sandbagging to keep future teams from seeing what we can really do?

I'm a confident "no." Aside from trick plays, games are decided by which team wins the one-on-ones. So even if opponents were to see everything on tape, whether they could stop us depends on whether they have the personnel to compete.

(11-12-2017 05:00 PM)Purple Wrote:  If we played the whole game like that last drive yesterday, we would have won by 50. Instead, we just stepped it up when we needed it. Why? Just curious what others think of the possibility.

One big difference I noticed yesterday between the last drive and the rest of the game was that most of the game we were pounding it between the tackles, or trying to, without much success. The last drive was more off tackle and outside, where we gittin' 'er done.

I've heard this referred to as "famine, famine, feast." The recipe here is pound, wear 'em down, force 'em to commit, then throw in the wrinkle. In the end, the final drive's success came from the cumulative effect of us winning the one-on-ones.

(11-14-2017 10:25 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  I thought the 3-back set we saw at ECU was effective. For some odd reason, we sort of ditched it the next 8 games until its return against UR this past Saturday. Maybe it is called a diamond, but resembles more like an arrowhead in terms of look.


This formation has mostly seen us run out of it. It will be interesting to see if Kirkpatrick & Stiney expand on it to do some other things - wide option, screen pass, wheel routes, etc. Any of those RB's (Sharpe, Marshall, Woods + Percy) are difficult to account for and can take it the distance given a crease.

I like Stinespring as an assistant and recruiter, but would be concerned if his input on play calling is more prominent this year. He produced some rather impotent offenses at VT.

I don’t think there is any doubt that the blocking scheme we ran on the last drive was very different than what did on the prior drives.

It looked much more similar to the scheme we were running against ndsu last year when I watched the game last week.

After watching the last drive again, I observed several things. Earlier during the game Richmond was aggressively sending linebackers and safeties to stop the run, during the last drive they were hesitating due to the expectation of a pass play. Our o-line got a stronger push and put hands on the linebackers creating a crease for Trai. Kloosterman had some key blocks on the last drive. Net result, our o-line responded as a unit, bowed their necks and opened holes. Trai and Bryan ran with determination.

(11-14-2017 02:08 PM)AllForDukes Wrote:  After watching the last drive again, I observed several things. Earlier during the game Richmond was aggressively sending linebackers and safeties to stop the run, during the last drive they were hesitating due to the expectation of a pass play. Our o-line got a stronger push and put hands on the linebackers creating a crease for Trai. Kloosterman had some key blocks on the last drive. Net result, our o-line responded as a unit, bowed their necks and opened holes. Trai and Bryan ran with determination.

I think the defense did change slightly on the part of Richmond, but more importantly it appeared we were in a blocking scheme where we blocked to an area and the linemen were then getting up field which is a hallmark of a zone blocking scheme. Until that last drive it appeared we were in a man blocking scheme which is more susceptible to defensive movement and stunts.

(11-14-2017 09:59 AM)Jay M. Youix Wrote:  there are the only two I think that have a legit shot. I think we'll play SDSU in Harrisonburg and if we continue winning, NDSU in Frisco. so we're about to find out.

I'll admit it. SDSU scares me. Their passing attack (more often than not) looks like a hot knife through butter.

(11-15-2017 04:02 PM)bjk3047 Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 09:59 AM)Jay M. Youix Wrote:  there are the only two I think that have a legit shot. I think we'll play SDSU in Harrisonburg and if we continue winning, NDSU in Frisco. so we're about to find out.

I'll admit it. SDSU scares me. Their passing attack (more often than not) looks like a hot knife through butter.

UCA and JSU I would add to the list. Frankly any team that can score in bunches is a risk. We will struggle to score 28-35 a game.

(11-15-2017 04:16 PM)Knit35 Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 04:02 PM)bjk3047 Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 09:59 AM)Jay M. Youix Wrote:  there are the only two I think that have a legit shot. I think we'll play SDSU in Harrisonburg and if we continue winning, NDSU in Frisco. so we're about to find out.

I'll admit it. SDSU scares me. Their passing attack (more often than not) looks like a hot knife through butter.

UCA and JSU I would add to the list. Frankly any team that can score in bunches is a risk. We will struggle to score 28-35 a game.

JSU maybe, haven’t looked at them in detail. UCA? nah, anyone can score in bunches in the SLC, we hung 65 on Sammy last year. RU scored a bunch on them too, just didn’t have a defense early this year. UCA folds the first time they hit a CAA or MVFC team in the playoffs.

(11-15-2017 04:41 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 04:16 PM)Knit35 Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 04:02 PM)bjk3047 Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 09:59 AM)Jay M. Youix Wrote:  there are the only two I think that have a legit shot. I think we'll play SDSU in Harrisonburg and if we continue winning, NDSU in Frisco. so we're about to find out.

I'll admit it. SDSU scares me. Their passing attack (more often than not) looks like a hot knife through butter.

UCA and JSU I would add to the list. Frankly any team that can score in bunches is a risk. We will struggle to score 28-35 a game.

JSU maybe, haven’t looked at them in detail. UCA? nah, anyone can score in bunches in the SLC, we hung 65 on Sammy last year. RU scored a bunch on them too, just didn’t have a defense early this year. UCA folds the first time they hit a CAA or MVFC team in the playoffs.

Yeah, looking at the Total Defense stats, its:
1. JMU
2. NDSU
3. JSU
Have that All world All American at OLB (was the OVC defensive POTY last year) that is projected as a draft pick. Bunch of SEC transfers on defense. That got that Auburn transfer at RB Roc Thomas (5 star, was rated one of the top HS backs in the country a few years ago). Only saw them play once vs UTC. The one issue I saw was QB. Their Vad Lee like Eli Jenkins graduated last year, and the new starter sucked vs UTC.

JMU compared to JSU:

Pass O
JMU 45
JSU 102

Rush O
JSU 19
JMU 20

Score O
JMU 11
JSU 34

Total O
JMU 25
JSU 59

Pass D
JMU 1
JSU 19

Rush D
JSU 2
JMU 7

Score D
JMU 1
JSU 6

Total D
JMU 1
JSU 3

Comparable D but our massive advantage is in our passing game. JSU is exclusively rushing.

(11-15-2017 07:30 PM)Potomac Wrote:  JMU compared to JSU:

Pass O
JMU 45
JSU 102

Rush O
JSU 19
JMU 20

Score O
JMU 11
JSU 34

Total O
JMU 25
JSU 59

Pass D
JMU 1
JSU 19

Rush D
JSU 2
JMU 7

Score D
JMU 1
JSU 6

Total D
JMU 1
JSU 3

Comparable D but our massive advantage is in our passing game. JSU is exclusively rushing.

Yeah, JSU appears minus a decent QB/passing game from being a serious threat to JMU and/or to make Frisco..

(11-15-2017 08:16 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 07:30 PM)Potomac Wrote:  JMU compared to JSU:

Pass O
JMU 45
JSU 102

Rush O
JSU 19
JMU 20

Score O
JMU 11
JSU 34

Total O
JMU 25
JSU 59

Pass D
JMU 1
JSU 19

Rush D
JSU 2
JMU 7

Score D
JMU 1
JSU 6

Total D
JMU 1
JSU 3

Comparable D but our massive advantage is in our passing game. JSU is exclusively rushing.

Yeah, JSU appears minus a decent QB/passing game from being a serious threat to JMU and/or to make Frisco..

Part of the question is seeding too. If JMU/NDSU/SDSU all end up on one side, say the 1,4,5 seeds, then I could see a team like JSU, SB, SUU, or maybe even UD as a long shot making Frisco on the other side. I don’t think any of them would be much more than a speed bump for JMU/NDSU as 1/2 seeds on the path to Frisco though.

Bump for the JSU comments. Anyone watching them play against Tennessee State? They look terrible.

(11-16-2017 08:15 PM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  Bump for the JSU comments. Anyone watching them play against Tennessee State? They look terrible.

I'm hoping their game plan is to wear down the TSU D because their O-Line looks awful.

So this is what I do when i have insomnia. I did a slo-mo viewing of the last drive and put together my notes on what I saw happening, in my own Brian Fellows style of analysis.

I would love to know if anyone has any thoughts, especially those of you with playing experience. If I had to give a gold star to anyone on that drive it would be Sharp for some really nice vision and tackle-breaking. Like most things in football, it took a lot of players: Great work almost all drive long by the O-Line and Kloo, with nice plays interspersed by Schor, Marshall, and Stapleton.

Anyway, here are my notes in case anyone is interested:



1) 4:04. Receive ball on 2. Marshall returns the kickoff to the JMU 29 yard line.
2) 3:56. 1st and 10, ball on the right hash. 3 WR set (1 to the field side [left], 2 to the boundary [right]), Shotgun formation, Sharp to the right of Schor, TE (Kloosterman?) lines up to the left on the LOS. RU is in a 4-3, maybe 3-deep. No one pressing on LOS.
a) Kloo and LT double-team RE.
b) LT moves to 2nd level to engage OLB.
c) C moves to 2nd level to engage MLB
d) Slot receiver stays back (RPO for a bubble screen?)
e) Schor direct handoff to Sharp (Schor runs to the right, possibly freezing SS for a half second)
i) Kloo, LG, C all trying to angle blocks to the left (and do a great job of sealing off the hole.
ii) LT tries to engage MLB but does not appear to seal him off
iii) RG doing a nice job of sealing off DT from hole.
iv) RT appears to be shedding his block on LE and moving downfield.
v) Sharp nails the hole, accelerating into w/o pause
(1) LT has moved over to hit the MLB and appears to be destroying him
(2) RT appears to have missed his block as LE is closing on the play
(3) SS already seems to have a bad angle and is parallel to Sharp about 7 yards away
(a) ROLB dives for Sharp’s ankles about 7 yards from LOS
(i) ROLB gets Sharp down, but Sharp falls forward for about 4 more yards.
1. 1st and 10 on the 40 yard line.
3) 3:38. 1st and 10, ball on the right hash. 3 WR set (1 to the field side [left], 2 to the boundary [right]), but Kloo is set out a bit wide to the right (about 5 yards from RT). Shotgun formation. Sharp to the left of Schor. RU is in a 4-3 again, but with the LB’s shifted to the left. I believe that they are in 3 or 4 deep coverage.
a) Direct handoff from Schor to Sharp (Schor heads left, possibly causing RE to pause)
b) Kloo heads 5 yards downfield to engage OLB
c) C heads 5 yards downfield to engage MLB
d) LT seals off LE and LG seals off DT, but ROLB appears to be 3-4 yards deep ready to plug the hole.
i) Sharp appears like he wants to hit the hole between the LG and RG, but the DT blocked by the RG is in the backfield and he stutters to the left and finds room between LT and LG.
(1) LT disengages with RE and moves toward ROLB, who has not moved any closer to LOS
(2) C is engaging MLB and pushes him outside of the play
(a) A great cut by Sharp to the outside as ROLB has gotten himself disengaged and moves toward Sharp
(b) RE reaches out for Sharp but is a hand’s width too short
(i) RE gets Sharp’s ankles at about the JMU 45; Sharp falls backwards for about another yard.
4) 3:15. 2nd and 4, in center of field. 3 WR set (1 to the field side [left], 2 to the boundary [right]), Shotgun formation, Sharp to the right of Schor, TE lines up to the left on the LOS. RU appears to be in a nickel formation (although the player covering the slot receiver looks large and may be the LOLB). I believe they have changed their coverage because there appears to be a deep safety (but still no press coverage on LOS); however, at the snap 4 DBs appear to be maintaining deep coverage.
a) Another direct handoff from Schor to Sharp.
b) ROLB, MLB and SS (who is split out to the right) start attacking LOS immediately after the snap. SS is actually walking up pre-snap and is almost parallel with LBs at the snap.
c) JMU’s line appears to be pushing left and leaves the LB unblocked. Kloo and LT are double-teaming RE. C leaves to engage ROLB
i) Both DTs get a nice push into the backfield; although LG pushes the right DT out wide.
ii) Sharp tries to cut the play back to the right, but the LE has shed the block of RT and is waiting for him.
(1) Sharp busts the arm tackle of the RE and with Schor next to him as a blocker heads downfield to engage the SS and FS.
(a) Sharp cuts between them and gets another two yards after contact. He is down at the 50
5) 3:02. 1st and 10, toward the right hash. 2 WR, 2 TE set. Bunch to the boundary side [right] with 1 WR and 2 TE (one TE tight to LOS and the other lined up as an H-Back); other WR to the field side, Shotgun formation, Sharp to the right of Schor. RU in a 4.3. Still no press coverage but the safeties appear to be drawn in.
a) One note: A lot of time wasted on this snap. The ball is not actually snapped until around 2:37.
b) At the snap, the TE at LOS (not sure if its Kloo or Cheatham) heads downfield to engage LOLB.
c) RT pushes LE in and LG pushes left DT out, creating a big hole in the middle.
d) C and LG double-team right DT and seal off the hole in the middle.
e) MLB sees the hole and is advancing into it, but the TE in the H-Back position is moving to engage him.
i) Direct handoff to Sharp (Schor runs right, but the knees of the left DT and LE are buckling already, so I am not certain he has made a difference.
ii) TE engages LOLB
iii) SS and LCB are flat-footed
iv) ROLB tries to keep outside containment
(1) TE/H-Back gives MLB a knock, turning his shoulder
(2) Other TE has knocked LOLB to the ground
(3) SS moves to fill the hole, Sharp sees him and tries to cut right.
(a) SS hits Sharp at the 48, and Sharp falls forward to the 46
6) 2:37. 2nd and 7, toward the right hash. Sharp gets a breather – RB (Marshall, I think) split out to the right of Schor in the Shotgun. 2 WR, 2 TE set. Bunch to the field side [right] with 1 WR and 2 TE (one TE tight to LOS and the other lined up as an H-Back); other WR to the boundary side. RU in a 4.3 with the LBs shifted to the right. Still no press coverage and one deep safety.
a) No Sharp and it’s a pass play all the way – no RPO.
b) RB immediately breaks down field on a wheel route.
c) WR on the boundary side runs a flag route about 14 yards downfield and Schor ties to hit him
i) Diving catch on the sideline by Stapleton, did a nice job keeping his feet in bounds at about the 32
7) 1:58. 1st and 10, on the right hash. Sharp is back in split out to the right of Schor in the Shotgun. 3 WR set, with two on the boundary and one on the field side. TE is lined up on the left at LOS in a 3 point stance. RU in a 4.3 with the MLB shifted to the right. Still no press coverage, but safeties are a bit drawn in.
a) Tough to tell what is happening at the line with the camera angle, but I believe that C and RG are double-teaming the right DT and the TE is moving out to engage the ROLB.
b) MLB is attacking the LOS.
c) Direct hand off to Sharp, Schor runs right
d) Slot receiver stays back as if to fake a bubble screen
i) TE engages ROLB
ii) Left side of the line is getting pushed back
iii) Sharp does a hard cut to the left
(1) Sharp gets around LT/RE and TE is doing a good job of pushing the ROLB out of the play
(2) However, the SS has plugged the gap
(a) Not sure how the SS missed the tackle, but Sharp doesn’t even appeared to be bothered and shoots through the hole
(i) First contact made by LCB or FS at about the 22
1. Sharp pushes forward to about the 18 where he is brought down by RCB
8) 1:51. 1st and 10 on the left hash. Sharp is split out to the left of Schor in the Shotgun. 3 WR set, with two on the boundary (left) and one on the field side. TE is lined up on the right at LOS in a 3 point stance. RU in a 4.3 with the MLB shifted to the right. Still no press coverage, but safeties are a bit drawn in.
a) Another direct handoff to Sharp (appears to be an option, with Schor breaking left)
b) RE crashes down and appears to get around LT, but LT is heading downfield to engage LOLB
c) LG and C double-team left DT
d) TE advances up field to engage LOLB
i) Sharp is seeking a hole in the middle, stutter-steps and finds the hole to the left of LG (RE is way up field and seems to have bitten on the fake by Schor a bit).
(1) LT pushes LOLB out, LG doing a decent job of sealing DT, but DT grabs Sharp who does down at about the 15.
9) 1:24. 2nd and 7 on the left hash. RU TO. It is 13-13 at this point and JMU is in very easy FG range. I am not sure what to call this set, but it is a 3 back 2 WR Shotgun set. 1 WR on each side. 1 RB in in a Pistol formation, while the other two flank Schor. RU in a 4.3 with the SS up in LB position and FS deep. Still no press coverage.
a) At the snap, all 3 RU LBs and SS appear to be going downhill.
b) The two flanking RBs head downhill also, while Schor turns to his left to hand off to the Pistol RB (Marshall)
c) LG appears to be holding the left DT
d) Nope, the C just gave him a bump and moves to engage MLB
e) Flanking RB to the Left engages ROLB
f) Flanking RB to the Right appears to be caught in traffic, but helps get a push on the right DT
g) Marshall does a jump stop and shifts out to the left, but is hit at about the 16 by the RE
i) He breaks the tackle and gets down to the 12
10) 1:18. 3rd and 4 on the left hash. RU TO. Sharp is split out to the left of Schor in the Shotgun. 3 WR set, with two on the field (right) and one on the boundary side. TE is lined up on the right in H-Back position. RU in a 4.3 with the LBs shifted to the right. Still no press coverage. FS is shifted to the field side to help with 2 WRs.
a) Slot WR goes in motion to the boundary side, coming around behind Schor into almost a Pistol position as if it could be a jet sweep (think that WR may have been guarding against a fumble recovery).
i) At snap, H-Back pulls to the left
ii) Sharp dives towards RG
iii) RU LBs and SS are coming downhill
iv) C and RG double-team left DT.
v) Schor keeps the ball and goes left as if he is following Kloo
(1) Kloo fakes as if he is going to block the RE and instead engages ROLB
(2) RE follows Sharp
(3) Schor dives into the hole between ROLB and right DT.
(a) Right DT hits Schor at about the 10, Schor falls forwards to the 7 for the first down – huge play by Schor to power through that tackle and get the 1st down.
11) 0:50. 1st and 10 on the left hash. Sharp is split out to the left of Schor in the Shotgun. 2 WR set, with one on each side of the field. TEs are in 3 point stance on either side of the line. RU in a 4.3 with the safeties drawn up. LCB appears to be pressing.
a) RU LBs appear to be flatfooted at the snap
b) Tough to tell from camera angle, but looks like TE and LT are double-teaming RE, C and RG are double-teaming left DT and TE and RT are double-teaming LE.
c) Direct handoff to Sharp (appears to be an option with Schor reading the SS that is crashing around the left edge of the line.
i) Sharp runs towards RT, where FS appears to be free
(1) Sharp spies a gap – I think between RG and LT, where LT has managed to pull off of the LE and engage LOLB and squirts through for the TOUCHDOWN!!!!!

(11-18-2017 02:23 AM)Purple Pilgrim Wrote:  So this is what I do when i have insomnia. I did a slo-mo viewing of the last drive and put together my notes on what I saw happening, in my own Brian Fellows style of analysis.

I would love to know if anyone has any thoughts, especially those of you with playing experience. If I had to give a gold star to anyone on that drive it would be Sharp for some really nice vision and tackle-breaking. Like most things in football, it took a lot of players: Great work almost all drive long by the O-Line and Kloo, with nice plays interspersed by Schor, Marshall, and Stapleton.

Anyway, here are my notes in case anyone is interested:



1) 4:04. Receive ball on 2. Marshall returns the kickoff to the JMU 29 yard line.
2) 3:56. 1st and 10, ball on the right hash. 3 WR set (1 to the field side [left], 2 to the boundary [right]), Shotgun formation, Sharp to the right of Schor, TE (Kloosterman?) lines up to the left on the LOS. RU is in a 4-3, maybe 3-deep. No one pressing on LOS.
a) Kloo and LT double-team RE.
b) LT moves to 2nd level to engage OLB.
c) C moves to 2nd level to engage MLB
d) Slot receiver stays back (RPO for a bubble screen?)
e) Schor direct handoff to Sharp (Schor runs to the right, possibly freezing SS for a half second)
i) Kloo, LG, C all trying to angle blocks to the left (and do a great job of sealing off the hole.
ii) LT tries to engage MLB but does not appear to seal him off
iii) RG doing a nice job of sealing off DT from hole.
iv) RT appears to be shedding his block on LE and moving downfield.
v) Sharp nails the hole, accelerating into w/o pause
(1) LT has moved over to hit the MLB and appears to be destroying him
(2) RT appears to have missed his block as LE is closing on the play
(3) SS already seems to have a bad angle and is parallel to Sharp about 7 yards away
(a) ROLB dives for Sharp’s ankles about 7 yards from LOS
(i) ROLB gets Sharp down, but Sharp falls forward for about 4 more yards.
1. 1st and 10 on the 40 yard line.
3) 3:38. 1st and 10, ball on the right hash. 3 WR set (1 to the field side [left], 2 to the boundary [right]), but Kloo is set out a bit wide to the right (about 5 yards from RT). Shotgun formation. Sharp to the left of Schor. RU is in a 4-3 again, but with the LB’s shifted to the left. I believe that they are in 3 or 4 deep coverage.
a) Direct handoff from Schor to Sharp (Schor heads left, possibly causing RE to pause)
b) Kloo heads 5 yards downfield to engage OLB
c) C heads 5 yards downfield to engage MLB
d) LT seals off LE and LG seals off DT, but ROLB appears to be 3-4 yards deep ready to plug the hole.
i) Sharp appears like he wants to hit the hole between the LG and RG, but the DT blocked by the RG is in the backfield and he stutters to the left and finds room between LT and LG.
(1) LT disengages with RE and moves toward ROLB, who has not moved any closer to LOS
(2) C is engaging MLB and pushes him outside of the play
(a) A great cut by Sharp to the outside as ROLB has gotten himself disengaged and moves toward Sharp
(b) RE reaches out for Sharp but is a hand’s width too short
(i) RE gets Sharp’s ankles at about the JMU 45; Sharp falls backwards for about another yard.
4) 3:15. 2nd and 4, in center of field. 3 WR set (1 to the field side [left], 2 to the boundary [right]), Shotgun formation, Sharp to the right of Schor, TE lines up to the left on the LOS. RU appears to be in a nickel formation (although the player covering the slot receiver looks large and may be the LOLB). I believe they have changed their coverage because there appears to be a deep safety (but still no press coverage on LOS); however, at the snap 4 DBs appear to be maintaining deep coverage.
a) Another direct handoff from Schor to Sharp.
b) ROLB, MLB and SS (who is split out to the right) start attacking LOS immediately after the snap. SS is actually walking up pre-snap and is almost parallel with LBs at the snap.
c) JMU’s line appears to be pushing left and leaves the LB unblocked. Kloo and LT are double-teaming RE. C leaves to engage ROLB
i) Both DTs get a nice push into the backfield; although LG pushes the right DT out wide.
ii) Sharp tries to cut the play back to the right, but the LE has shed the block of RT and is waiting for him.
(1) Sharp busts the arm tackle of the RE and with Schor next to him as a blocker heads downfield to engage the SS and FS.
(a) Sharp cuts between them and gets another two yards after contact. He is down at the 50
5) 3:02. 1st and 10, toward the right hash. 2 WR, 2 TE set. Bunch to the boundary side [right] with 1 WR and 2 TE (one TE tight to LOS and the other lined up as an H-Back); other WR to the field side, Shotgun formation, Sharp to the right of Schor. RU in a 4.3. Still no press coverage but the safeties appear to be drawn in.
a) One note: A lot of time wasted on this snap. The ball is not actually snapped until around 2:37.
b) At the snap, the TE at LOS (not sure if its Kloo or Cheatham) heads downfield to engage LOLB.
c) RT pushes LE in and LG pushes left DT out, creating a big hole in the middle.
d) C and LG double-team right DT and seal off the hole in the middle.
e) MLB sees the hole and is advancing into it, but the TE in the H-Back position is moving to engage him.
i) Direct handoff to Sharp (Schor runs right, but the knees of the left DT and LE are buckling already, so I am not certain he has made a difference.
ii) TE engages LOLB
iii) SS and LCB are flat-footed
iv) ROLB tries to keep outside containment
(1) TE/H-Back gives MLB a knock, turning his shoulder
(2) Other TE has knocked LOLB to the ground
(3) SS moves to fill the hole, Sharp sees him and tries to cut right.
(a) SS hits Sharp at the 48, and Sharp falls forward to the 46
6) 2:37. 2nd and 7, toward the right hash. Sharp gets a breather – RB (Marshall, I think) split out to the right of Schor in the Shotgun. 2 WR, 2 TE set. Bunch to the field side [right] with 1 WR and 2 TE (one TE tight to LOS and the other lined up as an H-Back); other WR to the boundary side. RU in a 4.3 with the LBs shifted to the right. Still no press coverage and one deep safety.
a) No Sharp and it’s a pass play all the way – no RPO.
b) RB immediately breaks down field on a wheel route.
c) WR on the boundary side runs a flag route about 14 yards downfield and Schor ties to hit him
i) Diving catch on the sideline by Stapleton, did a nice job keeping his feet in bounds at about the 32
7) 1:58. 1st and 10, on the right hash. Sharp is back in split out to the right of Schor in the Shotgun. 3 WR set, with two on the boundary and one on the field side. TE is lined up on the left at LOS in a 3 point stance. RU in a 4.3 with the MLB shifted to the right. Still no press coverage, but safeties are a bit drawn in.
a) Tough to tell what is happening at the line with the camera angle, but I believe that C and RG are double-teaming the right DT and the TE is moving out to engage the ROLB.
b) MLB is attacking the LOS.
c) Direct hand off to Sharp, Schor runs right
d) Slot receiver stays back as if to fake a bubble screen
i) TE engages ROLB
ii) Left side of the line is getting pushed back
iii) Sharp does a hard cut to the left
(1) Sharp gets around LT/RE and TE is doing a good job of pushing the ROLB out of the play
(2) However, the SS has plugged the gap
(a) Not sure how the SS missed the tackle, but Sharp doesn’t even appeared to be bothered and shoots through the hole
(i) First contact made by LCB or FS at about the 22
1. Sharp pushes forward to about the 18 where he is brought down by RCB
8) 1:51. 1st and 10 on the left hash. Sharp is split out to the left of Schor in the Shotgun. 3 WR set, with two on the boundary (left) and one on the field side. TE is lined up on the right at LOS in a 3 point stance. RU in a 4.3 with the MLB shifted to the right. Still no press coverage, but safeties are a bit drawn in.
a) Another direct handoff to Sharp (appears to be an option, with Schor breaking left)
b) RE crashes down and appears to get around LT, but LT is heading downfield to engage LOLB
c) LG and C double-team left DT
d) TE advances up field to engage LOLB
i) Sharp is seeking a hole in the middle, stutter-steps and finds the hole to the left of LG (RE is way up field and seems to have bitten on the fake by Schor a bit).
(1) LT pushes LOLB out, LG doing a decent job of sealing DT, but DT grabs Sharp who does down at about the 15.
9) 1:24. 2nd and 7 on the left hash. RU TO. It is 13-13 at this point and JMU is in very easy FG range. I am not sure what to call this set, but it is a 3 back 2 WR Shotgun set. 1 WR on each side. 1 RB in in a Pistol formation, while the other two flank Schor. RU in a 4.3 with the SS up in LB position and FS deep. Still no press coverage.
a) At the snap, all 3 RU LBs and SS appear to be going downhill.
b) The two flanking RBs head downhill also, while Schor turns to his left to hand off to the Pistol RB (Marshall)
c) LG appears to be holding the left DT
d) Nope, the C just gave him a bump and moves to engage MLB
e) Flanking RB to the Left engages ROLB
f) Flanking RB to the Right appears to be caught in traffic, but helps get a push on the right DT
g) Marshall does a jump stop and shifts out to the left, but is hit at about the 16 by the RE
i) He breaks the tackle and gets down to the 12
10) 1:18. 3rd and 4 on the left hash. RU TO. Sharp is split out to the left of Schor in the Shotgun. 3 WR set, with two on the field (right) and one on the boundary side. TE is lined up on the right in H-Back position. RU in a 4.3 with the LBs shifted to the right. Still no press coverage. FS is shifted to the field side to help with 2 WRs.
a) Slot WR goes in motion to the boundary side, coming around behind Schor into almost a Pistol position as if it could be a jet sweep (think that WR may have been guarding against a fumble recovery).
i) At snap, H-Back pulls to the left
ii) Sharp dives towards RG
iii) RU LBs and SS are coming downhill
iv) C and RG double-team left DT.
v) Schor keeps the ball and goes left as if he is following Kloo
(1) Kloo fakes as if he is going to block the RE and instead engages ROLB
(2) RE follows Sharp
(3) Schor dives into the hole between ROLB and right DT.
(a) Right DT hits Schor at about the 10, Schor falls forwards to the 7 for the first down – huge play by Schor to power through that tackle and get the 1st down.
11) 0:50. 1st and 10 on the left hash. Sharp is split out to the left of Schor in the Shotgun. 2 WR set, with one on each side of the field. TEs are in 3 point stance on either side of the line. RU in a 4.3 with the safeties drawn up. LCB appears to be pressing.
a) RU LBs appear to be flatfooted at the snap
b) Tough to tell from camera angle, but looks like TE and LT are double-teaming RE, C and RG are double-teaming left DT and TE and RT are double-teaming LE.
c) Direct handoff to Sharp (appears to be an option with Schor reading the SS that is crashing around the left edge of the line.
i) Sharp runs towards RT, where FS appears to be free
(1) Sharp spies a gap – I think between RG and LT, where LT has managed to pull off of the LE and engage LOLB and squirts through for the TOUCHDOWN!!!!!

Very nice! JMU's version of "The Drive"