(10-23-2019 07:21 AM)doubleduke2016 Wrote:  I don't keep up with the dates and trends enough to know if this is trouble. I know we have 6-7 weeks till early signing day but I keep seeing the National FCS writers tweeting out all of these kids committing to other schools and I have not seen anything for us so far. Should this be concerning that a lot of top tier guys are publicizing their selections and we have not gotten one? Or maybe I have missed it but I didn't see much in the signings post either. I've seen a number of JMU prospects talk about enjoying tehir visit but I have not seen Brian or Sam talking about any of the kids that have make a public statement yet.

Curt mentioned that we were taking a pause but the system doesn't pause so that means a lot of potential guys are getting picked up and pressed hard from other places. I also wonder why the pause was needed did he feel like our recruiters were missing something? Were they not finding the talent they needed?

We have commitments from 8 players most of which had early FBS offers. I’m not sure how many schollies we have available this year so the staff may want to be selective especially if they need to seek out transfers for depth at some positions. We have a 3 star CB, 3 star OL, and a 2 star QB who is putting up crazy stats his senior year.

(10-22-2019 10:16 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  

(10-22-2019 09:58 AM)JMU08 Wrote:  I don't expect as many transfers under Cignetti. If the position really needs it and the transfer is a baller, like Polk, you'll see it, but we'll definitely take less than Houston did.

Uniforms are always going to be debated. I see good arguments on both sides, and a lack of evidence that one is definitively better than the other.

This theory will be tested in the coming off-season.
I feel it will be the opposite this year because the team has so many seniors.
I expect to see transfer action on
QB’s
DE’s
OL’s
WR’s
LB’s
Ranked in order of importance IMO based on # of returnees, starting talent remaining, and impact of position.
There is no down year allowed in FCS when you are spending more than 2X the average team.

The transfer portal probably has 2 spikes. After the last game and after Spring Ball.

Based on your post, you're mostly concerned about returning starters, but I think Cignetti cares more about how the entire roster looks. For instance, we'll have something like 12 returning non-starting players on the D-line and 11 on the O-line. That's a lot of players at your disposal next year. We'll also have 5 returning QBs on roster next year, 3 with college game experience(if you include DII games from the transfer QB). Since we haven't seen much of the backups, it's hard to say what's really a position of need, and I think using current starters is going to lead to a big discrepancy in actual needs. We'll see how it turns out.

I could see Cignetti taking more transfers next year than he'd like. I just believe that Cignetti prefers getting players with 4 years of eligibility and developing them. If he goes for a slow or quick transition away from transfers, it will probably be a fluid decision based on how the upcoming class is looking and how the current backups look.

Since I love the Uniforms CC has chosen to use, I am all for them being our standard.
The unis pop. Are clean and stand out.
I don't care for the matte finish gold helmet at all and I am not a fan of all one color unis, either. I like the contrast
of different colors.

(10-23-2019 07:58 AM)#YEEHAWDUKES Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 07:21 AM)doubleduke2016 Wrote:  I don't keep up with the dates and trends enough to know if this is trouble. I know we have 6-7 weeks till early signing day but I keep seeing the National FCS writers tweeting out all of these kids committing to other schools and I have not seen anything for us so far. Should this be concerning that a lot of top tier guys are publicizing their selections and we have not gotten one? Or maybe I have missed it but I didn't see much in the signings post either. I've seen a number of JMU prospects talk about enjoying tehir visit but I have not seen Brian or Sam talking about any of the kids that have make a public statement yet.

Curt mentioned that we were taking a pause but the system doesn't pause so that means a lot of potential guys are getting picked up and pressed hard from other places. I also wonder why the pause was needed did he feel like our recruiters were missing something? Were they not finding the talent they needed?

We have commitments from 8 players most of which had early FBS offers. I’m not sure how many schollies we have available this year so the staff may want to be selective especially if they need to seek out transfers for depth at some positions. We have a 3 star CB, 3 star OL, and a 2 star QB who is putting up crazy stats his senior year.

Hopefully those top recruits hold. Our success with DBs and OL making the NFL should help with the JMU vs lower FBS concern, they may prioritize playing time and exposure over the bigger programs. Might land more P5 transfers like Davis but I get the feeling if Cig is in the long haul with us he'll focus on building a strong recruiting system rather than relying on transfer potluck.

Finding over-looked QBs should be Cig's specialty and again, if he's committed to building over the long haul, I'm excited to see the talent he grooms over the coming years. But kids like that might have a hard time committing if we have a continual revolving door of upperclassman transfers coming in.

One great thing about JMU being such a special place is we rarely have top talent transfer out.

I thought today’s presser was really encouraging.
He said Tutt played real well and other DB’s should be back for UNH.
Said Ben is having a good year but he will get on him like he did Saturday a couple of times to keep pushing him to improve. He said it in a good way, by emphasizing how much is on a QB.
Running backs are looking good. Linebackers are playing well, Praised Word for having a good day and of course Holloway. (I really like watching Holloway play)
Focusing a lot on recruiting this week.
He just seems dialed in on every aspect of coaching.
I think he does a good job of praising the team while pushing them to keep improving. I do not think he will allow any complacency to set in. He is all business.

(10-28-2019 06:47 PM)Dukesfan1971 Wrote:  Linebackers are playing well, Praised Word for having a good day and of course Holloway. (I really like watching Holloway play)

A month ago I commented on how I expected more out of Daka and since then he’s been an absolute beast. Gotta admit I’m still expecting more out of Word and hope he starts dialing it up. He looked bad on a couple plays and ended up with only 3 total tackles. Then again it might be in part to Holloway not leaving any tackles for anybody else.

Having Robinson and Tutt (both looking healthy) definitely made a difference. Although we had Flacco on the run most of the time so it's a little early for me to feel like the coverage issues from earlier in the year are 'fixed'.

I saw MJ Hampton on the sideline in a boot. With Amos out the first half of the UNH game I guess we'll see more of Que Reid if Hampton can't go.

I also saw Carroll and Vanhorse were not in pads on Saturday.

I think in the post-game presser he said something to the effect that if there was a game this Saturday all three would likely be available.

After 9 games the injury situation is about as good as you can hope for in football. The Dukes haven’t had any season ending injuries to key players and the ones that have been dinged up will be good to play after the bye according to Cignetti.

Plus, JMU is in line to get another bye on Thanksgiving weekend as long as they don’t slip out of a seed. Only 3 games in the next 5 weeks is an ideal lead up to the playoffs.

Stapleton has been wearing a bulky knee brace. Dean wore a knee brace early in the year. Robinson has been in and out of the lineup with a knee injury.
It sounds like Atariwa got dinged up, but I haven’t heard if it is a short term or long term problem. Of all positions, JMU can’t take an injury on the already thin D-line. They are great, but have very little depth.

(10-28-2019 09:37 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  After 9 games the injury situation is about as good as you can hope for in football. The Dukes haven’t had any season ending injuries to key players and the ones that have been dinged up will be good to play after the bye according to Cignetti.

Plus, JMU is in line to get another bye on Thanksgiving weekend as long as they don’t slip out of a seed. Only 3 games in the next 5 weeks is an ideal lead up to the playoffs.

Stapleton has been wearing a bulky knee brace. Dean wore a knee brace early in the year. Robinson has been in and out of the lineup with a knee injury.
It sounds like Atariwa got dinged up, but I haven’t heard if it is a short term or long term problem. Of all positions, JMU can’t take an injury on the already thin D-line. They are great, but have very little depth.

You had to say it....

(10-22-2019 10:15 AM)Madison 91 Forever Wrote:  I watch all of the Monday Fan & Press talks, and also am impressed with Cignetti. He either knows a heck of a lot about football or at least does a great job talking as though he does. I can't imagine anybody better versed in the details than Curt is -- or so it seems every time I hear him speak. And that's not because he comes across as a big self-promoter, either; he just emanates football competence.

And as stated previously I am 100% with him on the brand vs. fashion show thing with regard to the uniforms. Yeah, I'm 50. Purple and gold, baby.

Oh, and also -- somebody here buy the man a new shirt, huh? He appears to wear the same one every week.

what's wrong with wearing the same shirt - he said he's not into fashion, I'm glad he is into football and winning - give the guy a break

Curt purpled out yesterday

No other fan base is as concerned about what the Football program wears than JMU fans!

(10-28-2019 09:37 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  After 9 games the injury situation is about as good as you can hope for in football. The Dukes haven’t had any season ending injuries to key players and the ones that have been dinged up will be good to play after the bye according to Cignetti.

Plus, JMU is in line to get another bye on Thanksgiving weekend as long as they don’t slip out of a seed. Only 3 games in the next 5 weeks is an ideal lead up to the playoffs.

Stapleton has been wearing a bulky knee brace. Dean wore a knee brace early in the year. Robinson has been in and out of the lineup with a knee injury.
It sounds like Atariwa got dinged up, but I haven’t heard if it is a short term or long term problem. Of all positions, JMU can’t take an injury on the already thin D-line. They are great, but have very little depth.

I'm surprised no one has heard of the season ending injury to Ralph, the real JMU bulldog. He tore his ACL and is having surgery today.
Serious.

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

(10-29-2019 08:10 AM)JMU83 Wrote:  

(10-28-2019 09:37 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  After 9 games the injury situation is about as good as you can hope for in football. The Dukes haven’t had any season ending injuries to key players and the ones that have been dinged up will be good to play after the bye according to Cignetti.

Plus, JMU is in line to get another bye on Thanksgiving weekend as long as they don’t slip out of a seed. Only 3 games in the next 5 weeks is an ideal lead up to the playoffs.

Stapleton has been wearing a bulky knee brace. Dean wore a knee brace early in the year. Robinson has been in and out of the lineup with a knee injury.
It sounds like Atariwa got dinged up, but I haven’t heard if it is a short term or long term problem. Of all positions, JMU can’t take an injury on the already thin D-line. They are great, but have very little depth.

I'm surprised no one has heard of the season ending injury to Ralph, the real JMU bulldog. He tore his ACL and is having surgery today.
Serious.

Do we have a good backup dog?

(10-29-2019 07:51 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  Curt purpled out yesterday

No other fan base is as concerned about what the Football program wears than JMU fans!

Oregon might have something to say about that.