We may need that next week. I hope he is healthy and able.

Hard to be too much better than 521 yds of offense! No doubt Birdsong is a bull when running and healthy. But, it is a long season and I would just as soon he stay contained and hand it off and pass. Slide like he did last night and survive to be our leader when playoffs begin.

We're gonna be good when we stop turning the ball over

(09-22-2013 07:52 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  We're gonna be better when we stop turning the ball over

FIFY

JMU is already "good"...eliminate turnovers and big plays, and we're looking at a strong playoff team.

(09-22-2013 09:35 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(09-22-2013 07:52 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  We're gonna be better when we stop turning the ball over

FIFY

JMU is already "good"...eliminate turnovers and big plays, and we're looking at a strong playoff team.

I agree. If we can put it all together we are a good team. I am hopeful that sage Harold is back sooner than later. We need him on the d line rotation

i still think Birdsong has great potential. he definitely needs to get back to his running ways.

but once again, i saw him make some throws that no JMU QB has been able to make for years. He threw a beautiful 20 yard sideline out pattern to Brown right in front of us in the 2nd half. Was perfectly thrown (with a tight spiral), right on time, right on the spot. Landers, Dudzik, Thorpe, maybe even Rascati, could not make that throw.

(09-22-2013 09:39 AM)jmusuperfan Wrote:  I agree. If we can put it all together we are a good team. I am hopeful that sage Harold is back sooner than later. We need him on the d line rotation

Postgame MM said Harold's x-rays were negative, and it appears to be a high ankle sprain. Could be 2-6 weeks (or longer).

Looking at the replays it appears that our own player rolled into the back legs/ankles of Harold.

It's good to hear that Sage's injury isn't more severe. When I saw him come back out on the sideline with crutches and a huge icepack on the knee I had a feeling he might be done for the year.

Unfortunately high ankle sprains oftentimes gravitate towards the longer end of the range of the recovery window.

Yeah that's good and bad. Good to hear that there's no structural damage or tears but high ankle sprains always seem to linger forever. I've never had one but just from following sports over the years, I'd expect more toward 6 than 2 weeks. Then again, I have no idea of the severity of it.

Ankle sprains suck. I had a third-degree sprain of my right ankle with three partially torn ligaments when I was 25, and have had hip and back issues ever since. I was on crutches for about a month and then took another two months in PT until the ankle was back to about 80-90%.

(09-22-2013 03:18 AM)bulldogg Wrote:  We may need that next week. I hope he is healthy and able.

Agreed, but can't risk giving Birdsong called running plays because that greatly increases his risk of injury, and if Birdsong goes down for any significant amount of time, the season is basically over.

(09-22-2013 09:49 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(09-22-2013 09:39 AM)jmusuperfan Wrote:  I agree. If we can put it all together we are a good team. I am hopeful that sage Harold is back sooner than later. We need him on the d line rotation

Postgame MM said Harold's x-rays were negative, and it appears to be a high ankle sprain. Could be 2-6 weeks (or longer).

Looking at the replays it appears that our own player rolled into the back legs/ankles of Harold.

Where have we heard that before regarding ankle sprains at JMU? Emmons a few years ago is one that come to mind. 2 to 6 weeks seems to have a way of turning into 2-6 months at JMU.

I feel like sometimes Birdsong throws passes in tight coverage when he could throw a short toss, it would help avoid INT's.

You can't play football scared of injuries, but you can't tempt fate either when there is no backup option at QB. I contend that Birdsong is a better runner than passer and Mickey will need to release the shackles if this team is going to win the important games. We'll see what happens against Delaware.
What is Mickey going to do when teams key on DQ?

On one of the interceptions he had a wide open middle but threw to the sideline. As he grows he will get better.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

(09-22-2013 12:37 PM)hburg Wrote:  On one of the interceptions he had a wide open middle but threw to the sideline. As he grows he will get better.

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Absolutely hburg. He has good vision and a strong arm, how likely will he get drafted by the pros? He's big too and can run.

(09-22-2013 12:33 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  You can't play football scared of injuries, but you can't tempt fate either when there is no backup option at QB. I contend that Birdsong is a better runner than passer and Mickey will need to release the shackles if this team is going to win the important games. We'll see what happens against Delaware.
What is Mickey going to do when teams key on DQ?

Exactly! No harm in conserving Birdsong's running ability against teams we can afford to do that with. However, our conference schedule ain't got not STFUs, CCSUs, or Charlottes in it. If we are going to win in conference we are going to need every tool in the toolbag. One of the better ones we have is Birdsong's running ability. Whether by design or not we need him to run. Our offense is 1000 times better when he has defenses frozen for fear of him tearing off 20 yards. I was glad to see him doing the Heineken Slide yesterday. He is not a fragile guy and his injury isn't that bad. Delaware is no slouch. It would be nice to believe that we can beat them without the dual threat of Birdsong. I don't think so. Link....

https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...2469_n.jpg

(09-22-2013 06:29 PM)bulldogg Wrote:  Exactly! No harm in conserving Birdsong's running ability against teams we can afford to do that with. However, our conference schedule ain't got not STFUs, CCSUs, or Charlottes in it.

I don't know about that...Albany is looking pretty weak, and SBU (without their stud RB) is also looking kinda puny right now.

(09-22-2013 06:33 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(09-22-2013 06:29 PM)bulldogg Wrote:  Exactly! No harm in conserving Birdsong's running ability against teams we can afford to do that with. However, our conference schedule ain't got not STFUs, CCSUs, or Charlottes in it.

I don't know about that...Albany is looking pretty weak, and SBU (without their stud RB) is also looking kinda puny right now.

Charlotte was probably the worst team the Dukes have faced this year...CCSU beat Albany and almost beat Lehigh. I think CCSU and probably St. Francis to an extent are better than many posters are giving them credit for.

I imagine Albany will be our only "easy" game left from here on out. Dukes need to win 5 conference games if they want to to make the playoffs...starting with one at Uduh this weekend would be fantastic.

That last 6 game stretch of vs Richmond, at W&M, Villanova, at New Hampshire, Stony Brook and at Towson is really going to test the Dukes resolve. If Mickey and co. win 4 of those games, I'll like our chances in the playoffs.