the Dukes defense will be better than this year's offense?

reading the DNR this morning, our defense is stacked. Defensive line and the secondary should be outstanding. I am not even worried about the LB's.

The way we were playing defense at the end of last year under Trott was fantastic. How good is the D going to be with another year of experience and with the talent we have coming back?

How many more days until ECU?

it's very possible this entire team is better than last year.

and that's a frightening thought for FCS and ECU.

(08-09-2017 08:44 AM)PGJMU2 Wrote:  the Dukes defense will be better than this year's offense?

reading the DNR this morning, our defense is stacked. Defensive line and the secondary should be outstanding. I am not even worried about the LB's.

The way we were playing defense at the end of last year under Trott was fantastic. How good is the D going to be with another year of experience and with the talent we have coming back?

How many more days until ECU?

They certainly look to the stronger unit this year. You could argue they were better than the offense for the Semi's and Championship.

On the bright side, they could be not as dominant as last years offense, and still be the best defense in the nation this year.

I'm thinking at this point a top 5 defense who "if" things fell right could be the best in the nation.

Will the strength of the defense change the playcalling - kind of like happened in the NC?

The defense did loose their key player in my opinion last year, but on paper this year's defense has more talent and experience.

Consider this...I know once the season starts, the scout teams step in more for a week-to-week preparation, but for now, one of the best defenses our offense will face all season is in practice everyday...and, vice versa.

(08-09-2017 09:58 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  Consider this...I know once the season starts, the scout teams step in more for a week-to-week preparation, but for now, one of the best defenses our offense will face all season is in practice everyday...and, vice versa.

And how much did that help the defense in Withers two years?

(08-09-2017 10:09 AM)Dukester Wrote:  And how much did that help the defense in Withers two years?

STOP STOP STOP! THE ANTI-WITHERS SMACK TALK POSTERS WILL BEAT YOU!

Keep your head down.

(08-09-2017 10:21 AM)Potomac Wrote:  

(08-09-2017 10:09 AM)Dukester Wrote:  And how much did that help the defense in Withers two years?

STOP STOP STOP! THE ANTI-WITHERS SMACK TALK POSTERS WILL BEAT YOU!

Keep your head down.

That was not a negative on Withers, just used his name for a timeframe.

Ok - let me update my comment - even with a Defensive head coach, how much did that help the defense in Withers two years?

Better?

If a capable 3rd DT emerges from the youngsters and the same for the safeties, this could be as deep and talented a JMU defense as I can remember.

DE, LB and CB are loaded. Gonna be fun to watch. Our players should be fresh and strong late in the games with situational rotation.

(08-09-2017 10:32 AM)olddawg Wrote:  If a capable 3rd DT emerges from the youngsters and the same for the safeties, this could be as deep and talented a JMU defense as I can remember.

DE, LB and CB are loaded. Gonna be fun to watch. Our players should be fresh and strong late in the games with situational rotation.

I'm sure BDK will come up with some facts disproving this, but I think the best defense off the top of my head was 2004.

I really feel like this team may be the best one we've ever had. That being said, I'm trying to temper my expectations.
This feels like 2008 to me. Anything can happen. If we stay healthy and this team follows our coaches, we can repeat for sure.
I definitely think our defense is going to be miles ahead of where we were last year. But better than our offense? Only time will tell.
But that being said, if our defense is just as strong as our offense... we're going to be a very, very tough team to beat.

I have not seen much discussion of John Daka. We may be so deep at DL that he is buried.

That kid was 1st team all Metro in DC. it shows how good our line is.

(08-09-2017 08:50 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  it's very possible this entire team is better than last year.

and that's a frightening thought for FCS and ECU.

YO how awesome will it be as a fanbase

(08-09-2017 10:24 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(08-09-2017 10:21 AM)Potomac Wrote:  

(08-09-2017 10:09 AM)Dukester Wrote:  And how much did that help the defense in Withers two years?

STOP STOP STOP! THE ANTI-WITHERS SMACK TALK POSTERS WILL BEAT YOU!

Keep your head down.

That was not a negative on Withers, just used his name for a timeframe.

Ok - let me update my comment - even with a Defensive head coach, how much did that help the defense in Withers two years?

Better?

Well certainly it was a negative on EW, everyone now knows the man is not a defensive coach no matter what he likes to tout. He thinks it makes him look cool and tough to preach that he has a defensive mind. I don't give a crap that anyone doesn't like me cutting on him, the man has no more an idea about coaching defense than I have.

(08-09-2017 11:18 AM)PGJMU2 Wrote:  I have seen much discussion of John Daka. We may be so deep at DL that he is buried.

That kid was 1st team all Metro in DC. it shows how good our line is.

I wondered about that too. He did come in extremely underweight, even for FCS ball. Something like 210lbs last year.

I see he has beefed up to 219. Congrats, you are now ready to transition from strong safety to linebacker.

(08-09-2017 10:44 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(08-09-2017 10:32 AM)olddawg Wrote:  If a capable 3rd DT emerges from the youngsters and the same for the safeties, this could be as deep and talented a JMU defense as I can remember.

DE, LB and CB are loaded. Gonna be fun to watch. Our players should be fresh and strong late in the games with situational rotation.

I'm sure BDK will come up with some facts disproving this, but I think the best defense off the top of my head was 2004.

The defense that jumps out at me as being the toughest, was the year we beat Tech (2010). Gave up 162 points all season. 14.7 pts per game. Just had no offensive support and our D got worn down every 4th quarter by being on the field so long. Was a wasted season for an exceptional unit.

(08-09-2017 11:18 AM)PGJMU2 Wrote:  I have seen much discussion of John Daka. We may be so deep at DL that he is buried.

That kid was 1st team all Metro in DC. it shows how good our line is.

He may have been a Parade All-American and you don't hear much about him. He's still young, though.

one of the power rankings of some kinda has our O as #1 in FCS... D as #15 in FCS

Massey thinks we're #1 O and #6 D in the preseason.

Massey roots!

(08-09-2017 12:49 PM)jmu-fan-1981 Wrote:  Massey roots!

They think #4 is YSU... sooo.....

YSU just lost their two AA starting DEs. That alone doesn't make them top 4 Defense.