(06-20-2022 10:33 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote: I think a lot of this is going to depend on if your players can stay healthy and adapt to the speed and depth of FBS on a week to week basis.
I think your comment is a gross simplification, and frankly, a bit naive.
The “speed” of the game? You hear that from amateur analysts, but honestly, what does that mean? Foot speed? The speed of recognizing what your opponent is trying to accomplish on any given play? Seriously? “Speed” (from game to game) throughout the season won’t be an issue on any level for JMU. If you honestly believe the “speed” of G5 games will challenge JMU you haven’t been following the JMU football program over the last decade. Oh, and there’s a strong likelihood JMU will start a 5th year FBS transfer at QB who won’t be “surprised” by the mythical “speed” of the game. You can dismiss “speed” of the game as a bogus concern.
Regarding depth, JMU will have a full roster of scholarship players, so depth across the scholarship roster shouldn’t be anymore of an issue than it would be for any other G5 team. The total size of the roster will also boast the same number of walk-on/practice players available to other G5 level programs. “Depth” per se is not the issue. “Experience” of the 3rd or 4th level players on the roster would be an issue, but the same could be said for any team. Same for the balance of the roster across positions. So, a reasonable outlook on the prospects of success for JMU’s inaugural FBS season seems to boil down to staying healthy and avoiding major injuries to 1st or 2nd stringers.
Staying healthy, however, is an issue for every team, wouldn’t you agree? And staying healthy and avoiding a major injury to an important player is one that can’t be predicted. If anything, JMU’s decision to limit the 2022 season to just 11 games, 6 of them at home, with one of those being against an FCS opponent, would seem to mitigate risks to the team’s health. Simply put, JMU won’t be going immediately on the road for a “meat grinder” schedule against the SBC’s best teams. The latter half of the schedule will be the most challenging, but again, some of those games will be played at home.
JMU players won’t be anymore susceptible to injuries than any other SBC team, however, if you’re still thinking SBC play is going pose a greater risk to injury because of a schedule of weekly games where unexpectedly fast speed, bigger size, greater talent, or physical conditioning will come to bear I don’t know what to say other than let’s watch how the season develops. That’s why the games are played, and JMU football will be ready for the challenge.
As for JMU finishing a 6-5 or 7-4 season, either of those results could be considered a reasonably prediction, and I think most JMU fans (and outside observers) would agree a winning first season would be a success. Winning 6 games, or 7, won’t be “huge” IMO (as has been stated by some JMU faithful) as a winning season is expected and the standard that’s been established.
Go Dukes!