Towson (4-3/2-1) so far:
W @ The Citadel 28-21
W NCCU 42-3
W @ Maine 45-23
L VU 52-45 (OT)
L @ Florida 38-0
L Albany 38-21
W Bucknell 56-7
——————
10/26 @ JMU
11/2 UD
11/9 @ SBU
11/16 @ W&M
11/23 Elon
(Miss RU, UNH, URI)

After losing to JMU, TU will have to win their last 4 to make playoffs, which will be a very tall order for them IMHOP.

From the CAA’s ‘12 Teams In 12 Days’
Head Coach: Rob Ambrose (11th season at Towson – 59-59)
2018 Record : 7-5 overall, 5-3 in CAA Football
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4
Top Returning Player – Passing:  Tom Flacco (269-of-439, 3,251 yds., 28 TD's, 11 int.)
Top Returning Player – Rushing:  Tom Flacco (168 att., 742 yds., 4 TD's)
Top Returning Player – Receiving:  Shane Leatherbury (67 rec., 885 yds., 7 TD’s)
Top Returning Player – Tackles:  Robert Heyward (98 tackles, 10.5 TFL)
Top Returning Player – Sacks:  Bryce Carter (6.5 sacks)
Top Returning Player – Interceptions:  Keon Paye (2 interceptions)
https://caasports.com/news/2019/8/19/foo...eview.aspx

2018 All CAA lost:
-Matt Kauffman, OL (1st team)
-Diondre Wallace, LB (3rd team)

2018 All CAA returned:
-Tom Flacco, QB (1st team)
-*Shane Simpson, RB (1st team); KR (2nd team); PR (3rd team). Lost to season ending knee injury vs Maine.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/coll...story-link
-Shane Leatherbury, WR (1st team)
-Aaron Grzymkowski, OL (3rd team);

-Robert Heyward, LB (2nd team)

-Aidan O’Neill, PK (1st team)
-Yeedee Thaenrat, SPEC (3rd team).

Current stats leaders:
Passing:
-#14 rSr Tom Flacco (6’0”/205): 126 of 216, 58.3%, 1639 yds, 14 TDs, 3 INT, 234.1 ypg.

Without Simpson, Flacco is their leading rusher: 65 carries, 300 yds, 4.6 ypc, 42.9 ypg. Of course that accoubts for sack yards.

-#3 rSr WR Shane Leatherbury (5’11”/190) is by far their leading receiver.
33 receptions, 495 yds, 15.0 ypr, 8 TDs, 70.7 ypg.
-The next closest is #9 rSo Darian Street (6’2”/190): 20 receptions, 244 yds, 2 TDs.

Defensive Leaders
-#55 rSo LB Christian Dixon (6’0”/220): 48 tackles, 7 TFL, 3 sacks
-#50 rSr LB Robert Heward (6’0/235): 52 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 INT
-#12 rSr OLB Keon Payee (6’0/225): 21 tackles, 3 INT

-#35 Jr DB Coby Tippet (5’11/195): 44 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 INT
-#27 Jr S Steven Brown (5’11”/200): 52 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT.
https://static.caasports.com/custompages...m#team.ind

Game notes vs Bucknell lists their starting OL all at least 300, with an avg of 6’4”/319. Starting RT listed at 6’4”/360.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/t...knell_.pdf

TU uses a FB on offense, and plays a 3-4 defense.

CAA stats

SCORING OFFENSE
1. James Madison..40.4 ppg
3. Towson.............33.9 ppg

TOTAL OFFENS
1. James Madison..464.8 ypg
7. Towson.............397.6 ypg

RUSHING OFFENSE
1. James Madison..236.6 ypg
5. Towson.............153.9 ypg

PASS OFFENSE
4. Towson.............243.7 ypg
6. James Madison..228.1 ypg
————————————————
SCORING DEFENSE
2. James Madison..16.9 ppg
5. Towson.............26.0 ppg

TOTAL DEFENSE
1. James Madison..292.4 ypg
9. Towson............396.3 ypg

RUSHING DEFENSE
1. James Madison..68.2 ypg
6. Towson............157.6 ypg

PASS DEFENSE
5. James Madison..224.1 ypg
8. Towson.............238.7 ypg
https://static.caasports.com/custompages...nfldrs.htm

Last week vs hapless Bucknell:
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/coll...utType=amp

That was Bucknell, Flacco see's a much better seasoned D this week. Don't think his numbers are as good. Towson coach's would be nuts to let him run against us. They need him playing if they hope to do anything the rest of the regular and post season. Think you will see them attacking the secondary and I hope we pick him a few times. They have seen tons of game films by now, but so have we. HCCC will have them ready.

Stop the QB run and this becomes a blowout. Flacco is a good passer, but it is his added running ability that kills defenses as a true dual threat QB. It will be interesting to see what alignment Heatherman uses to take away his running. On the other side of the ball I don’t see Towson’s soft defense putting up much resistance. JMU runs for 300+ yards with lots of chunk plays.
Happy Homecoming in Harrisonburg.

JMU 41
Towson Tiggers 20

Take the over. JMU pulls away late 3rd going into the 4th

Total Offense
JMU – 12th, 464.8 ypg
TU – 55th, 397.6 ypg

Scoring Offense:
JMU – 7th, 40.4 ppg
TU – 26th, 33.9 ppg

Passing Offense:
TU – 43rd, 243.7 ypg 14 TDs 3 INTs
JMU – 56th, 228.1 ypg 16 TDs 3 INTs

Rushing Offense:
JMU – 14th, 236.6 ypg 23 TDs
TU – 59th, 153.9 ypg 15 TDs

Total Defense:
JMU – 7th, 292.4 ypg
TU – 64th, 396.3 ypg

Scoring Defense:
JMU – 9th, 16.9 ppg
TU – 48th, 26 ppg

Passing Defense:
JMU – 57th, 224.1 ypg 12 TDs
TU – 75th, 238.7 ypg 11 TDs

Rushing Defense:
JMU – 1st, 68.3 ypg 4 TDs
TU – 62nd, 157.6 ypg 11 TDs

Turnover Margin:
TU – 4th, +9 16 gained, 7 lost
JMU – 44th, +3 13 gained, 10 lost

Sacks:
JMU – 22 sacks, 14 sacks allowed
TU – 13 sacks, 17 sacks allowed

Passing Efficiency:
JMU – DiNucci 9th, 135-195 (69.2%) 13 TDs 3 INTs
TU – Flacco 40th, 126-216 (58.3%) 14 TDs 3 INTs

Notes:
JMU and Towson have comparable passing stats, both offensively and defensively. Towson has the edge in turnover margin season to date. We really need to be careful with ball security when they are +9 on the season in turnover margin. That’s a clear sign of a team that knows how to force turnovers defensively.

With that being said, everything else appears to be a significant statistical mismatch, especially rushing offense and defense and sacks/sacks allowed. Really the overall defensive performances by each squad appears to be a mismatch. Meanwhile, nothing about Towson’s season or offensive stats screams that they are as high powered of an offense that we need to be shaking in our boots. The Preseason CAA Offensive Player of the Year is only passing for 58% on the year. DiNucci is having a better season passing with fewer attempts.

Without Shane Simpson, Towson is likely to be more one dimensional as a pass first offense. Simply put, if we don’t turn the ball over and find a way to contain Flacco as much as possible, we will win this convincingly. Lets expose Towson for the paper tigers they are.

Not sure what to make of Towson. Looks like a good QB/offense combined with weak D.

Played a good Nova team to OT, then turned around and got demolished by top 10 FBS Florida.

If our D plays like last week, seems like we should win by a lot. But if they can thread the needle and/or their receivers burn our DB's it could be a battle.

How did TU lose to Albany? Note, I haven't looked up anything about that game, but they lost by 17? Yikes.

(10-21-2019 09:00 AM)South Main Wrote:  How did TU lose to Albany? Note, I haven't looked up anything about that game, but they lost by 17? Yikes.

I took a quick look. Albany scored 14 points off of turnovers and held Flacco to 187 yards through the air. They sacked him 4 times so the key I believe is to get Flacco on the ground early and often.

we are going to rush for over 300 yards against towson

(10-21-2019 09:55 AM)JMU85 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 09:00 AM)South Main Wrote:  How did TU lose to Albany? Note, I haven't looked up anything about that game, but they lost by 17? Yikes.

I took a quick look. Albany scored 14 points off of turnovers and held Flacco to 187 yards through the air. They sacked him 4 times so the key I believe is to get Flacco on the ground early and often.

Towson's line has not been that good and against Albany it was almost non-existent. Defense should have a field day.

(10-21-2019 10:18 AM)OBXDuke11 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 09:55 AM)JMU85 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 09:00 AM)South Main Wrote:  How did TU lose to Albany? Note, I haven't looked up anything about that game, but they lost by 17? Yikes.

I took a quick look. Albany scored 14 points off of turnovers and held Flacco to 187 yards through the air. They sacked him 4 times so the key I believe is to get Flacco on the ground early and often.

Towson's line has not been that good and against Albany it was almost non-existent. Defense should have a field day.

Apparently other than the Simpson injury, they have had some pretty significant injuries on the defensive side of the ball which I'm sure is taking its toll

(10-21-2019 10:34 AM)fishingduke12 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 10:18 AM)OBXDuke11 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 09:55 AM)JMU85 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 09:00 AM)South Main Wrote:  How did TU lose to Albany? Note, I haven't looked up anything about that game, but they lost by 17? Yikes.

I took a quick look. Albany scored 14 points off of turnovers and held Flacco to 187 yards through the air. They sacked him 4 times so the key I believe is to get Flacco on the ground early and often.

Towson's line has not been that good and against Albany it was almost non-existent. Defense should have a field day.

Apparently other than the Simpson injury, they have had some pretty significant injuries on the defensive side of the ball which I'm sure is taking its toll

According to a poster over on their board, they have six guys out with ACL injuries and half a dozen guys who are "iffy" for the game.

(10-21-2019 10:50 AM)Ashby Hall Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 10:34 AM)fishingduke12 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 10:18 AM)OBXDuke11 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 09:55 AM)JMU85 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 09:00 AM)South Main Wrote:  How did TU lose to Albany? Note, I haven't looked up anything about that game, but they lost by 17? Yikes.

I took a quick look. Albany scored 14 points off of turnovers and held Flacco to 187 yards through the air. They sacked him 4 times so the key I believe is to get Flacco on the ground early and often.

Towson's line has not been that good and against Albany it was almost non-existent. Defense should have a field day.

Apparently other than the Simpson injury, they have had some pretty significant injuries on the defensive side of the ball which I'm sure is taking its toll

According to a poster over on their board, they have six guys out with ACL injuries and half a dozen guys who are "iffy" for the game.

Prediction: they will have 22 guys that are “iffy” after the JMU game

Does Towson have a fan blog, or anything to read what they are thinking about this game? Hope it's OH S*^# we have to go to BFS and get our butts kicked.

(10-21-2019 04:05 PM)JMUsince89 Wrote:  Does Towson have a fan blog, or anything to read what they are thinking about this game? Hope it's OH S*^# we have to go to BFS and get our butts kicked.

Yeah, here you go.

http://www.towsonfans.com/index.php?/for...ball-talk/

Quote:JMU is head and shoulders ahead of us in everything regarding football. Do I wish that was the case? Hell no! I hate those dirty truck stop dogs. They are just bigger, faster, deeper, healthier and more talented right now. Towson playing it's best, like the second half of Maine, still would not be enough if JMU is on there B game. A win Saturday would be great, but it just won't happen.

(10-21-2019 05:42 PM)Ashby Hall Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 04:05 PM)JMUsince89 Wrote:  Does Towson have a fan blog, or anything to read what they are thinking about this game? Hope it's OH S*^# we have to go to BFS and get our butts kicked.

Yeah, here you go.

http://www.towsonfans.com/index.php?/for...ball-talk/

Quote:JMU is head and shoulders ahead of us in everything regarding football. Do I wish that was the case? Hell no! I hate those dirty truck stop dogs. They are just bigger, faster, deeper, healthier and more talented right now. Towson playing it's best, like the second half of Maine, still would not be enough if JMU is on there B game. A win Saturday would be great, but it just won't happen.

Wonder if DocFan59 is a JMU fan in cognito (5 total posts). Maybe started the post just to get them talking? lol

(10-21-2019 07:04 PM)formerjmusprinter84 Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 05:42 PM)Ashby Hall Wrote:  

(10-21-2019 04:05 PM)JMUsince89 Wrote:  Does Towson have a fan blog, or anything to read what they are thinking about this game? Hope it's OH S*^# we have to go to BFS and get our butts kicked.

Yeah, here you go.

http://www.towsonfans.com/index.php?/for...ball-talk/

Quote:JMU is head and shoulders ahead of us in everything regarding football. Do I wish that was the case? Hell no! I hate those dirty truck stop dogs. They are just bigger, faster, deeper, healthier and more talented right now. Towson playing it's best, like the second half of Maine, still would not be enough if JMU is on there B game. A win Saturday would be great, but it just won't happen.

Wonder if DocFan59 is a JMU fan in cognito (5 total posts). Maybe started the post just to get them talking? lol

After going back and re-reading the thread and his posts, (he even started the thread) I think you may be right.