One thing I liked about the defense on Saturday was that from the opening kick through the third quarter four times the Ticks got close and had to settle for field goals while JMU was putting up TD's.
Seemed like a good trade!!

The D seemed to rise to the occasion down close and prevent any Richmond TD's (plus another missed field goal).

If you look at the time of possession the Ticks had a 10 minute advantage. There were three JMU scores that totaled about 6 plays and less than 4 minutes of field time by
the offense. Very efficient but it put the D back out on the field quickly. Wonder of that had any impact on the 4th quarter?

Fun game to watch but it did indeed get a bit tight towards the end. But a win is a win and the Dukes can certainly use the week off.

Anyone injured that we may be getting back for Bill and Gary? Not sure what the overall injured player status is at this point.

Brian

(10-14-2013 02:34 PM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  I really like the way this team is progressing. It seems that every week another Duke is named defensive, rookie or special teams player of the week.

Yet, if you just walked in from elsewhere and read here, we apparently suck. People scream for "explosive" and fast paced, then when we do that and score in less than a minute or two, we wonder why we didn't also dominate the TOP or why the D may have gotten gassed.

Ground and pound may not be sexy and "exciting" and I get that, but it also allows for dictating pace and limiting shootouts. Finding the right balance is the trick and that's, ahem, tricky. I think we're getting better at it, take the shots when they are there, control the ball when the game dictates that. Couple first downs on the run plays, or even staying in bounds 2-3 more times in that fourth and this isn't even close. Those are things learned from games like this.

I dont think we can ground and pound it right now... we regularly get stuffed on 3rd/4th and short.

The good was a win with a lot of exciting big plays. Also good is our QB. He is far from a finished product and I do not think he will ever have a calm in the pocket like a Tom Brady. The interception he threw on Third and long was predictable when you knew Richmond was blitzing and he became too anxious. Birdsong reminds me more of a Terry Bradshaw, lots of raw strength and talent who will learn when to run or pitch on the option, when to throw the ball away, when to run forward when needing to scramble instead of running wide. He is like a colt and he is still very young. The purple wave was good and a key to our victory.

The bad, folks with tons of rain gear who do not use rain gear and vacate the outdoors when sprinkles come.

No ugly to report. Big game in Williamsburg coming up next.

Go Dukes