(11-11-2013 10:12 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  Our OL and Secondary are much bigger problems.

This.

(11-11-2013 10:12 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  Birdsong has basically started one years worth of games. Of course he's not going to be perfect. How many true sophomores are?

We have clowns ready to toss him aside for what? To play a walk-on freshman? To play Taylor Reynolds there? Birdsong isn't perfect but he's a damn good QB. Our OL and Secondary are much bigger problems.

Other than DoubleDDuke, has anyone else suggested tossing him aside? I mean seriously, we have no other options right now.

(11-11-2013 10:12 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  Birdsong has basically started one years worth of games. Of course he's not going to be perfect. How many true sophomores are?

We have clowns ready to toss him aside for what? To play a walk-on freshman? To play Taylor Reynolds there? Birdsong isn't perfect but he's a damn good QB. Our OL and Secondary are much bigger problems.

Lol , I don't think anyone is ready to toss him. But when you step on that field as starter, you game is up for critique. This is the same O-Line and secondary that has us at 6-4. Once your a starter you have to prove yourself , we are ready to bench everyone else that plays bad, but the QB is sacred.
Matt Lezotte was a better passer than MB in my opinion. Lezotte completed a ton of passes playing in a pro style offense. We also started a lot of freshman in 2001.
I wouldn't call him a Good QB just yet.

(11-12-2013 01:24 AM)Hotrod829 Wrote:  

(11-11-2013 10:12 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  Birdsong has basically started one years worth of games. Of course he's not going to be perfect. How many true sophomores are?

We have clowns ready to toss him aside for what? To play a walk-on freshman? To play Taylor Reynolds there? Birdsong isn't perfect but he's a damn good QB. Our OL and Secondary are much bigger problems.

Lol , I don't think anyone is ready to toss him. But when you step on that field as starter, you game is up for critique. This is the same O-Line and secondary that has us at 6-4. Once your a starter you have to prove yourself , we are ready to bench everyone else that plays bad, but the QB is sacred.
Matt Lezotte was a better passer than MB in my opinion. Lezotte completed a ton of passes playing in a pro style offense. We also started a lot of freshman in 2001.
I wouldn't call him a Good QB just yet.

Lezotte's stats:
2001: Rating: 99.2, Completion %: 53.3, Yards: 994, Per Game: 124.3, TD: 7

2002: Rating: 111.21, Completion %: 57.8, Yards: 1481, Per Game: 134.6, TD: 3

2003: Rating: 130.19, Completion %: 59.8, Yards: 1753, Per Game: 146.1, TD: 13

Birdsong's Stats (2 games remaining)
2013: Rating: 132.0, Completion %: 60.7, Yards: 2203, Per Game: 220.3, TD: 16

As a true sophmore Birdsong has Lezotte beat in every category through all the years Lezotte played. I don't think some on here are realizing just how good Birdsong is now and can be by his senior year!

(11-11-2013 09:54 PM)olddawg Wrote:  I'm still lukewarm on MB. Not sure how he's going to end up. He certainly hasn't made me forget Rascati or Cawley in terms of all the things that go into making a QB the field general. His tenure so far reminds me of the Matt LeZotte era. Solid skills but always running for his life.

I agree.

As for the UNH game, and the late INT that sealed JMU's loss, DQ was wide open (with a possibility for a score or at the very least a big gain) which would have turned the game around, but MB didn't see him. Not seeing the field and making the right read is possibly a problem of youth and poor line play, but MB must get better if JMU is to have any chance against Towson.

The OL play must get better too, although by this time of the season I'm afraid it is what it is, and it will likely also be that way next year.

Poor OL play may not only seal our playoff changes this year...we could still win out and squeak in, but if MM's tenure as HC ends this year or next, IMO it will because of our poor OL play.

I've always believed a football team's fate begins and ends with the ability of its OL to dominate the line of scrimmage. If your OL is dominant, you can control the game. Dominant OLs dictate time of possession (which helps keep your D fresh), and allows you to throw or run at will, wearing the other team down, just like we did against Montana in the NC game. Unfortunately, JMU hasn't had a line like that since 2004. Even the 2008 team's OL wasn't as good as the 2004 bunch, but they had a Sr. Rodney and Scotty to bail them out.

The best of the big, strong, talented OL players with good feet and the smarts to adjust their blocking patterns at the point of attack tend to go to BCS programs, and the rest of the D1 college football teams have to make up the difference with a "home grown" approach.

While JMU's OL players look smart in their uniforms, based on their game day performances, something is terribly wrong. Which leads me to question JMU's approach to how we recruit and develop OL players. In essence, this all boils down to a coaching problem...starting with recruitment, and then extending through their development.

(11-12-2013 07:24 AM)JMUPurple Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 01:24 AM)Hotrod829 Wrote:  

(11-11-2013 10:12 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  Birdsong has basically started one years worth of games. Of course he's not going to be perfect. How many true sophomores are?

We have clowns ready to toss him aside for what? To play a walk-on freshman? To play Taylor Reynolds there? Birdsong isn't perfect but he's a damn good QB. Our OL and Secondary are much bigger problems.

Lol , I don't think anyone is ready to toss him. But when you step on that field as starter, you game is up for critique. This is the same O-Line and secondary that has us at 6-4. Once your a starter you have to prove yourself , we are ready to bench everyone else that plays bad, but the QB is sacred.
Matt Lezotte was a better passer than MB in my opinion. Lezotte completed a ton of passes playing in a pro style offense. We also started a lot of freshman in 2001.
I wouldn't call him a Good QB just yet.

Lezotte's stats:
2001: Rating: 99.2, Completion %: 53.3, Yards: 994, Per Game: 124.3, TD: 7

2002: Rating: 111.21, Completion %: 57.8, Yards: 1481, Per Game: 134.6, TD: 3

2003: Rating: 130.19, Completion %: 59.8, Yards: 1753, Per Game: 146.1, TD: 13

Birdsong's Stats (2 games remaining)
2013: Rating: 132.0, Completion %: 60.7, Yards: 2203, Per Game: 220.3, TD: 16

As a true sophmore Birdsong has Lezotte beat in every category through all the years Lezotte played. I don't think some on here are realizing just how good Birdsong is now and can be by his senior year!

It's two completely different offenses. The spread offense inflates passing stats.

Curt Newsome will fix our offensive line play but it will take a little time. Having a dominating OL, when the physical attributes are present ( we have acceptable size and athleticism), is a factor of technique, cohesion and most importantly attitude. The mental aspect of playing hard on every down against all teams is critical. I expect most of our OL will acquire another 20 lbs or more during the off season, while this will help, the pride and commitment necessary to dominate is a coachable mental factor that I am confident will be addressed. Light a fire under the current OL and I suspect we could see a very different group for our next two games.

(11-11-2013 04:17 PM)Hotrod829 Wrote:  

(11-11-2013 04:04 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  Mountain meet Mole Hill. Birdsong just got torn apart for his performance against W&M two weeks ago. He rebounded with his best performance the following week against NOVA. He accepted responsibility for his poor performance and used it to get better. He'll learn how to be a little more tactful in the future, but this is no big deal except to some posters on here who live for the day's door opening to bash some aspect of our program.

Anything stated in the news regarding play on field is a big deal. Never throw teammates under bus , not a good sign for a QB. Maybe it's just because most people like birdsong lol

Perhaps, Birdsong should not have said what he did.....but I have absolutely no issue with anyone (fans/players/cheerleaders/band) calling out the play of the OLINE. That group to a man has been AWFUL all season with the supposed leader on the OLINE being the worst of the bunch. I don't see any issue with speaking the truth about this group at this point in the season. I don't think our OLINE could handle the Harrisonburg High School DLINE. And they do not have a strength, they cannot block running nor passing plays.

And why should Birdsong or the RBs be concerned about phantom blocks - that's all they have gotten thru 10 games.

(11-11-2013 07:38 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  He accounted for just about ALL of our total yardage. Suck is a strong word....he made some mistakes, but he played good enough for us to win.

Birdsong definitely has room for improvement, but he was the entire offense in that game. I definitely understand his frustration and maybe these guys need to be called out and held accountable by a team leader to motivate them - since it is clear to me that Mickey cannot motivate and keep this team focused.

I see a kid trying to be a team leader. Perhaps he mis-spoke and over-stepped but I would rather see this than nothing and coach-speak crap.

(11-12-2013 10:49 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(11-11-2013 07:38 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  He accounted for just about ALL of our total yardage. Suck is a strong word....he made some mistakes, but he played good enough for us to win.

Birdsong definitely has room for improvement, but he was the entire offense in that game. I definitely understand his frustration and maybe these guys need to be called out and held accountable by a team leader to motivate them - since it is clear to me that Mickey cannot motivate and keep this team focused.

I see a kid trying to be a team leader. Perhaps he mis-spoke and over-stepped but I would rather see this than nothing and coach-speak crap.

Yea, he rushed for 60 yds and passed for 214 yards. If you get nearly 300 yards out of your QB, you can't say he sucked.

(11-12-2013 10:27 AM)Hotrod829 Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 07:24 AM)JMUPurple Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 01:24 AM)Hotrod829 Wrote:  

(11-11-2013 10:12 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  Birdsong has basically started one years worth of games. Of course he's not going to be perfect. How many true sophomores are?

We have clowns ready to toss him aside for what? To play a walk-on freshman? To play Taylor Reynolds there? Birdsong isn't perfect but he's a damn good QB. Our OL and Secondary are much bigger problems.

Lol , I don't think anyone is ready to toss him. But when you step on that field as starter, you game is up for critique. This is the same O-Line and secondary that has us at 6-4. Once your a starter you have to prove yourself , we are ready to bench everyone else that plays bad, but the QB is sacred.
Matt Lezotte was a better passer than MB in my opinion. Lezotte completed a ton of passes playing in a pro style offense. We also started a lot of freshman in 2001.
I wouldn't call him a Good QB just yet.

Lezotte's stats:
2001: Rating: 99.2, Completion %: 53.3, Yards: 994, Per Game: 124.3, TD: 7

2002: Rating: 111.21, Completion %: 57.8, Yards: 1481, Per Game: 134.6, TD: 3

2003: Rating: 130.19, Completion %: 59.8, Yards: 1753, Per Game: 146.1, TD: 13

Birdsong's Stats (2 games remaining)
2013: Rating: 132.0, Completion %: 60.7, Yards: 2203, Per Game: 220.3, TD: 16

As a true sophmore Birdsong has Lezotte beat in every category through all the years Lezotte played. I don't think some on here are realizing just how good Birdsong is now and can be by his senior year!

It's two completely different offenses. The spread offense inflates passing stats.

So an offense that has led the conference in rushing most years and has been near the bottom of the conference in passing favors the passing game too much???

Good QBs put up good statistics. I am not sold on Birdsong and was not at JMU when LeZotte played but if you are going to make an argument for why one is better than the other, the "because I said so" argument is usually not the best.

(11-11-2013 10:12 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  Birdsong has basically started one years worth of games. Of course he's not going to be perfect. How many true sophomores are?

We have clowns ready to toss him aside for what? To play a walk-on freshman? To play Taylor Reynolds there? Birdsong isn't perfect but he's a damn good QB. Our OL and Secondary are much bigger problems.

Totally agree. OLINE and Secondary are the train wrecks on this team. Reynolds could not cover someone in a phone booth and clearly has no confidence playing CB. He should never be put in that position again. For everyone expecting the world from Birdsong after basically one year playing college QB - remember Reynolds has had about 1 year playing CB and he has not improved one percent - if anything he has gotten worse.

I hate to call out a player, but Reynolds is not suited for CB. His awareness is terrible....and in our D, our CBs are put on an island a lot.

If I were SBU, I would throw 25 yard jump balls at Reynolds all day. He hasn't made a play on one of those yet this year. Reynolds may be better suited to Safety where the game stays in front of him. He is beat the moment he turns his back to the QB. That dead ball play against Akron is a perfect example.

(11-12-2013 10:56 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  I hate to call out a player, but Reynolds is not suited for CB. His awareness is terrible....and in our D, our CBs are put on an island a lot.

If I were SBU, I would throw 25 yard jump balls at Reynolds all day. He hasn't made a play on one of those yet this year. Reynolds may be better suited to Safety where the game stays in front of him.

I completely agree and why I stated Reynolds should not be put in that position, ever again. It is clearly not a position he is suited for. It does not mean he is not a good guy, and cannot contribute to this team at another position - CB just clearly is not that position.

I agree - if I were an opposing coach I would instruct my QB to throw at #14 anytime he is on the field, regardless of the play called. That would trump any other game planning. I view it as a win for us whenever the other team does not put the ball in the air if #14 is on the field.

At the press conference on Monday, Mickey said they hadn't gotten the medical update yet on Kwe'shon Williams's concussion. Also said that Reynolds is out for this week w/ a concussion and that they will likely move a safety to CB (mentioned Marlowe) and possibly play Daniel Allen at safety if Williams can't go.

(11-12-2013 11:23 AM)olddawg Wrote:  At the press conference on Monday, Mickey said they hadn't gotten the medical update yet on Kwe'shon Williams's concussion. Also said that Reynolds is out for this week w/ a concussion and that they will likely move a safety to CB (mentioned Marlowe) and possibly play Daniel Allen at safety if Williams can't go.

I am up at trying anyone at CB at this point. Hell hold open tryouts this afternoon at BFS.

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article...acaef1f92e

It's been a ****** football year for me being a Dukes fan and a Buffalo Bills fan. At least Doug Marrone (Bills coach) takes responsibility for the Bills sucking. Man, I'd love to hear MM give a press conference like that.

(11-12-2013 11:04 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 10:56 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  I hate to call out a player, but Reynolds is not suited for CB. His awareness is terrible....and in our D, our CBs are put on an island a lot.

If I were SBU, I would throw 25 yard jump balls at Reynolds all day. He hasn't made a play on one of those yet this year. Reynolds may be better suited to Safety where the game stays in front of him.

I completely agree and why I stated Reynolds should not be put in that position, ever again. It is clearly not a position he is suited for. It does not mean he is not a good guy, and cannot contribute to this team at another position - CB just clearly is not that position.

I agree - if I were an opposing coach I would instruct my QB to throw at #14 anytime he is on the field, regardless of the play called. That would trump any other game planning. I view it as a win for us whenever the other team does not put the ball in the air if #14 is on the field.

I said this after the first game of the season. His winning rookie of the week was based solely on a pick 6. The rest of the game he struggled mightily.

(11-12-2013 10:53 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 10:27 AM)Hotrod829 Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 07:24 AM)JMUPurple Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 01:24 AM)Hotrod829 Wrote:  

(11-11-2013 10:12 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  Birdsong has basically started one years worth of games. Of course he's not going to be perfect. How many true sophomores are?

We have clowns ready to toss him aside for what? To play a walk-on freshman? To play Taylor Reynolds there? Birdsong isn't perfect but he's a damn good QB. Our OL and Secondary are much bigger problems.

Lol , I don't think anyone is ready to toss him. But when you step on that field as starter, you game is up for critique. This is the same O-Line and secondary that has us at 6-4. Once your a starter you have to prove yourself , we are ready to bench everyone else that plays bad, but the QB is sacred.
Matt Lezotte was a better passer than MB in my opinion. Lezotte completed a ton of passes playing in a pro style offense. We also started a lot of freshman in 2001.
I wouldn't call him a Good QB just yet.

Lezotte's stats:
2001: Rating: 99.2, Completion %: 53.3, Yards: 994, Per Game: 124.3, TD: 7

2002: Rating: 111.21, Completion %: 57.8, Yards: 1481, Per Game: 134.6, TD: 3

2003: Rating: 130.19, Completion %: 59.8, Yards: 1753, Per Game: 146.1, TD: 13

Birdsong's Stats (2 games remaining)
2013: Rating: 132.0, Completion %: 60.7, Yards: 2203, Per Game: 220.3, TD: 16

As a true sophmore Birdsong has Lezotte beat in every category through all the years Lezotte played. I don't think some on here are realizing just how good Birdsong is now and can be by his senior year!

It's two completely different offenses. The spread offense inflates passing stats.

So an offense that has led the conference in rushing most years and has been near the bottom of the conference in passing favors the passing game too much???

Good QBs put up good statistics. I am not sold on Birdsong and was not at JMU when LeZotte played but if you are going to make an argument for why one is better than the other, the "because I said so" argument is usually not the best.

Ha, when did I ever state " because I said so" . In the spread you don't have to be a " good" QB to put up statistics like MB. The spears cause match up problems with the defense. If you can make high percentage throws , you offense will look good. Spread tends to let your athletes do most of the work. I am just not impressed with MB football wise yet. My personal opinion , most of the statements I post are my personal opinion. The fact that I have watched countless hours of them both encourages my opinion.

Did anyone catch the snippet from Mickey's press conference. Mickey said Birdsong's shoulder popped out again during the game. Sounds like offseason surgery to me.

I still think he needs to run the ball more. Mickey can't afford to protect him and lose games now.