(01-09-2018 04:52 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote: Can we also start one on the other OOC game? Seems all the pro-FCS folk would have a lot to share and want to discuss. Especially those who want to "schedule" the Dukes into the playoffs.
You want to start a thread now on Jmu @ Norfolk St?
(01-09-2018 04:52 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote: Can we also start one on the other OOC game? Seems all the pro-FCS folk would have a lot to share and want to discuss. Especially those who want to "schedule" the Dukes into the playoffs.
You want to start a thread now on Jmu @ Norfolk St?
Actually, I don't think anyone does. Even those who continuously promote playing cupcake games to get into the playoffs. We shouldn't be playing that game, at home or in Norfolk. Stupid contract, I could have accepted the game in Harrisonburg.
(01-09-2018 01:42 PM)Wear Purple Wrote: NC State has a new Defensive Coordinator. Ted Roof, who moves over to the Pack from a few years as DC in his 2nd stint at his (and my) alma mater, Georgia Tech. The writing was pretty much on the wall that if he didn't get a job elsewhere he was going to be fired by Paul Johnson, who runs through DC's like most of us on this board run through cases of beer.
Side note, Ted lived down the hall from me for 2 years. Very competitive guy. Once saw him record 21 tackles in a 6-6 tie (1985) at Neyland Stadium against the Vols. Head Coach Bill Curry in the postgame locker room singled him out and gave him the game ball for his efforts...he threw it back to Curry saying he didn't want it because the Jackets didn't win. True story. Roof has twin sons. One signed as a QB at EZU and was redshirted this past season. His other son signed with GT and played as a true frosh this past season, but is now transferring to Indiana since Dad is no longer there.
Roof runs a 4-3 defense and is very much a bend-but-don't-break approach. Very little man coverage. Almost always zone. His corners give a ton of cushion at the LOS...something that infuriated GT fans, btw. His defenses were never good rushing the passer at GT during either stint (late 90's under George O'Leary or last few with Paul Johnson). He has a lot of experience having been HC at Duke, DC at Auburn (national championship team in fact), and DC at Penn State among others.
More than you wanted to know, but what the heck it is now officially the offseason I suppose.
I'm not sure that Roof is the new DC. I think Huxtable is still the DC and they hired Roof as the tenth assistant with the idea that he would become the DC after this coming year if and when Huxtable retires. Any way, I thought getting Roof was solid on their part.
State is losing a lot on D, but they have a couple of D tackles that played a lot in the rotation that are back this year. They also have a r-Sr LB, Germaine Pratt, that played in a three man rotation at LB in a 4-2-5 D that is back. He's a converted safety, but has transformed into a LB without losing his speed. They also have Darren Roseboro coming back at DE. Many thought that he might go pro, but after seeing how Chubb helped his draft stock by coming back, Roseboro decided to return as well for his senior season. He's a beast! While I agree that the Pack's Defense will not be as good in their front 7 as they were this year, they are still going to be pretty freaking good.
With Finely at QB, Hines and Gallasby at RB, Louis, Harmon and Meyers at WR, the Pack's offense will potent. They only lose their RG on the O-line, but played without him in their bowl. The big loss is Jaylen Samuels and possible Will Richardson (at LT if he goes pro). With an easier schedule next year than this year's gauntlet, I wouldn't be surprised to see State win 10 and contend with Clemson for the ACC Atlantic.
We'll have our hands full for sure. I'm looking forward to Sept. 1. It can't get here quick enough!
This is not meant to be a negative just my viewpoint, but we will likely get pounded by NCSU. They are very good, fast and playing a bit more physically than some of their previous teams. This will be the first game of the season for us with a new qb visiting an ACC school, it likely won't end well for us. However, I hope I'm wrong and regardless I'll be there tailgating in my hometown and revving it up in the P&G.
(01-10-2018 08:43 AM)Dadgum Wrote: This is not meant to be a negative just my viewpoint, but we will likely get pounded by NCSU. They are very good, fast and playing a bit more physically than some of their previous teams. This will be the first game of the season for us with a new qb visiting an ACC school, it likely won't end well for us. However, I hope I'm wrong and regardless I'll be there tailgating in my hometown and revving it up in the P&G.
agree 100%
seems like we keep getting screwed with the 2-3 year out scheduling + ebb and flow of strong years for ACC teams. If we played UNCheat this year after losing Trub to the Bears I'd be willing to bet my next paycheck the outcome would have been different. Conversely, if we played NCSU in 2016, likely would have resulted in a W with 2 back to back 7-6 seasons (2015 and 2016)
all these "IF's"... IF grandma had balls, she'd be grandpa.
Haha, yeah, it sucks. I was talking about this with some NDSU fans who were bragging, rightly so, about their wins over Iowa/Minnesota, etc. JMU always seems to play our FBS opponent in week one, which sucks. In games where we play the FBS team later in the season, game 3/4, the results seem to be a bit better. Week One with a new QB, that's always tricky.
(01-11-2018 03:11 PM)Duke Dawg Wrote: i fully expect us to get pounded by NC State as well. And that is all fine and well. Too many new faces that for a first game of the season.
i'm more interested to see if we have a competent QB. Because if we do, we'll be dangerous again next year when it matters most.
What's your idea of us getting pounded? I'm thinking we lose this game by a couple of scores, but nothing like what Trubisky and UNC did to us a couple of years ago in the 2nd half.
Can't believe some of you are already throwing in the towel 8 months in advance when we have Houston, Trott, and Harry "The Weapon" O'Kelly returning. I see The Weapon rushing for 289 yards and scoring 6 TD's. Also, he will throw 3 TD's passes to...himself, of course.
If we give up 70 pts and lose, then we move The Weapon to defense moving forward (and fire both Trott and Houston after the game). Move The Weapon to Head Coach.
17 minutes of condensed footage of NC State vs Pitt last year. DiNucci played the 1st half plus most of the 3rd before being relieved (by this years starter). He came back in with two minutes left in the 4th.
(01-11-2018 03:28 PM)olddawg Wrote: 17 minutes of condensed footage of NC State vs Pitt last year. DiNucci played the 1st half plus most of the 3rd before being relieved (by this years starter). He came back in with two minutes left in the 4th.
Why do you guys think JMU won't have a chance against NC State? The elite of the FCS can compete all but the elite of FBS. I wouldn't put NC State into that category. They may be ranked, but they are far from elite. Any game can turn into a route if one team gets momentum, but I would expect a close game and wouldn't be surprised to see JMU win.
(01-12-2018 10:50 AM)DukesOnARoll Wrote: Why do you guys think JMU won't have a chance against NC State? The elite of the FCS can compete all but the elite of FBS. I wouldn't put NC State into that category. They may be ranked, but they are far from elite. Any game can turn into a route if one team gets momentum, but I would expect a close game and wouldn't be surprised to see JMU win.
For me, I think there are too many new pieces, especially at QB. We have several players coming back from injuries that may not have played a game in almost a year. Just not sure it's reasonable to think that it would all come together and be able to beat a team that some think may be ranked in week one.
I think we'll be very good next year, but I think it's going to take some time for the pieces to fall into place.
If we do win that game, I think we go undefeated again but this time with the title.
(This post was last modified: 01-12-2018 11:19 AM by JMad03.)
(01-12-2018 10:50 AM)DukesOnARoll Wrote: Why do you guys think JMU won't have a chance against NC State? The elite of the FCS can compete all but the elite of FBS. I wouldn't put NC State into that category. They may be ranked, but they are far from elite. Any game can turn into a route if one team gets momentum, but I would expect a close game and wouldn't be surprised to see JMU win.
I think we have a great chance. VT was ranked when we beat them - 21-16 baby!
(01-12-2018 10:50 AM)DukesOnARoll Wrote: Why do you guys think JMU won't have a chance against NC State? The elite of the FCS can compete all but the elite of FBS. I wouldn't put NC State into that category. They may be ranked, but they are far from elite. Any game can turn into a route if one team gets momentum, but I would expect a close game and wouldn't be surprised to see JMU win.
For me, I think there are too many new pieces, especially at QB. We have several players coming back from injuries that may not have played a game in almost a year. Just not sure it's reasonable to think that it would all come together and be able to beat a team that some think may be ranked in week one.
I think we'll be very good next year, but I think it's going to take some time for the pieces to fall into place.
If we do win that game, I think we go undefeated again but this time with the title.
This. We've got a shot, especially because with our corners we won't get outclassed on the outside like at UNC a couple years back, but I'll be surprised if we pull it off.
As for the season, I think the biggest thing getting the pieces together in time to not lose enough games to fall out of the top 8 come season's end. With a bye, Dukes will be ready to reclaim the trophy come December and January.
(01-12-2018 10:50 AM)DukesOnARoll Wrote: Why do you guys think JMU won't have a chance against NC State? The elite of the FCS can compete all but the elite of FBS. I wouldn't put NC State into that category. They may be ranked, but they are far from elite. Any game can turn into a route if one team gets momentum, but I would expect a close game and wouldn't be surprised to see JMU win.
I think we have a great chance. VT was ranked when we beat them - 21-16 baby!
That Tech team was definitely better than this NCST team and I'm pretty certain that this JMU team is better than the one that beat Tech. We'll be underdogs for sure but as they say, "that's why they play the games."
Our defense is still straight nasty. Should be a good game.
