Despite the convincing loss, there were some good things yesterday.
1- the Defense lined up with 4 down lineman the majority of the snaps. Occassionally, they went with 5 players at the line of scrimmage with both ends standing. Withers backed down from his 3-4 alignment because it was horrible.
It felt like Villanova ran for a lot of yards yesterday, but it was actually a slightly below average performance on the ground for them. Also, it was the best JMU run defense performance in terms of yards allowed and yards per carry. Yes, we can call that improvement especially considering how potent Villanova is on the ground.
2- keying on John Robertson left options b, c, and d room to run; however, Robertson had his worst rushing game of his career. He has started 26 games now and the 19 rushing yards yesterday was his low point. Most understand that he is a stud and the best QB in the CAA. He is also the best runner in the league even when you include running backs. The Dukes wisely forced him into option handoffs and passes and Villanova was good enough to succeed without their best and most effective option.
3- the D-line finally got some sacks. All 3 were in the first half and were almost as big as getting the 3 turnovers in the first half. Robertson was lighting up the Dukes on constant play action to the tune of 15-16 yet the sacks served as negative plays that helped end drives. JMU getting zero sacks in the second half and zero turnovers allowed the Villanova offense to continue rolling downfield.
4- Vad Lee showed a willingness to run more. He overshot the optimal 50/50 mix on the read option and I think alot of that had to do with #32 and #28 being out at RB.
He still is hesitant and also scared to take a hit which is odd for a 225 lb athlete. The Dukes don't need Lee to run over defenders, but he can certainly take angles to break tackles vs falling down to the ground prior to contact. Vs 280 lb D-lineman I get it. vs 225 lb linebackers and 200 lb DB's there is no reason to completely avoid contact. The Dukes need him to run effectively to win even if that exposes him to getting dinged up.

Villanova is a better team. Their defense is good enough for the FCS and their offense is superb. They have the best QB in the CAA and should have a great shot to win the conference and the national title as long as Robertson is healthy.

A great write up, but no one is winning a national championship in FCS until NDSU goes down. I fully expect them to have a second consecutive undefeated season and win an FCS record fourth consecutive national title. They're a top 10 BCS team playing FCS football. It's not even fair for their opponents. Everyone is outmatched.

Agree with most of your post, except I have zero problems with Lee sliding to avoid contact (direct or angled). We have zero depth at QB and that makes me nervous every time he runs. I'm ok with it as long as he is smart about it and I think, for the most part yesterday, he was exactly that.

Now, if we had some strong-armed, red-headed tough guy with two years of experience holding the clipboard waiting for his chance as the #2 QB, then I would feel a little different.

(09-21-2014 11:39 AM)Oldduke Wrote:  Agree with most of your post, except I have zero problems with Lee sliding to avoid contact (direct or angled). We have zero depth at QB and that makes me nervous every time he runs. I'm ok with it as long as he is smart about it and I think, for the most part yesterday, he was exactly that.

Now, if we had some strong-armed, red-headed tough guy with two years of experience holding the clipboard waiting for his chance as the #2 QB, then I would feel a little different.

Is the red headed tough guy in reference to Aaron Corp...The Hootie Guy

No major injuries and our non-redheaded qb set the single game passing record.

It's always good to look at the good in after days like those so you don't just completely give up on the guys. They had it going there for awhile, just had some plays that swung momentum the other way and the wheels kind of came off. I still find it odd and depressing that that we have to go go into a game against a small private school with ****** facilities and no fan interest and just *hope* we have a chance to win the game.

Here's another positive... Vad broke the JMU record yesterday for most passing yards in a game.

First half Vad was the best he's looked all year. 2nd half Vad regressed back to "normal".

The offense got into a nice flow and Vad went through his progressions and hit multiple targets. I loved the use of Dean Cheatam on several passes, including one for a TD. Our FBS WR had some great catches for scores. The defense was better but we gave up too many explosive plays. Our special teams were not as tight and there were too many returns. We are very young in some key spots on defense (LB and CB) and on offense (RB). This team is working on playing all 4 quarters and that comes from being young.

Last year, we had more outstanding performers on defense. We are really missing Stanton and Snow greatly. We are also really missing Robertson in the middle. Steele being hurt didn't help but he fed off of being able to swarm with Robertson. You take those 4 key players away from Marlowe and Harold and we have big holes to fill. Mosley is better than he was last year and so is Reynolds but it's not enough.

The good is that we have some talent that needs game reps. The on the job training is painful but it will pay dividends this year and in future years. We will be in some shoot outs but we have more offensive talents than any other team we play the rest of the regular season. UR is the only team left on the schedule that has some dangerous weapons on offense and that's the only game that gives me serious pause.

I watched the unh-ur game today and Strauss looks like a very accurate passer. Ur will likely cruise against today's defense. Hopefully we'll improve by 11/15.

(09-21-2014 11:38 AM)Potomac Wrote:  A great write up, but no one is winning a national championship in FCS until NDSU goes down. I fully expect them to have a second consecutive undefeated season and win an FCS record fourth consecutive national title. They're a top 10 BCS team playing FCS football. It's not even fair for their opponents. Everyone is outmatched.

No they're not. They're good. They're not that good.

(09-21-2014 09:41 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 11:38 AM)Potomac Wrote:  A great write up, but no one is winning a national championship in FCS until NDSU goes down. I fully expect them to have a second consecutive undefeated season and win an FCS record fourth consecutive national title. They're a top 10 BCS team playing FCS football. It's not even fair for their opponents. Everyone is outmatched.

No they're not. They're good. They're not that good.

Okay, but I have no doubt that they'd beat the bottom half of the BCS teams. Even an overrated ranked team like Nebraska or virginia tech would lose to them.
Yes I know tech isn't ranked anymore.

(09-21-2014 10:03 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 09:41 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 11:38 AM)Potomac Wrote:  A great write up, but no one is winning a national championship in FCS until NDSU goes down. I fully expect them to have a second consecutive undefeated season and win an FCS record fourth consecutive national title. They're a top 10 BCS team playing FCS football. It's not even fair for their opponents. Everyone is outmatched.

No they're not. They're good. They're not that good.

Okay, but I have no doubt that they'd beat the bottom half of the BCS teams. Even an overrated ranked team like Nebraska or virginia tech would lose to them.
Yes I know tech isn't ranked anymore.

They are riding a wave, riding it well, but they will be caught by the pack. It always happens.

(09-21-2014 11:32 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Despite the convincing loss, there were some good things yesterday.
1- the Defense lined up with 4 down lineman the majority of the snaps. Occassionally, they went with 5 players at the line of scrimmage with both ends standing. Withers backed down from his 3-4 alignment because it was horrible.
It felt like Villanova ran for a lot of yards yesterday, but it was actually a slightly below average performance on the ground for them. Also, it was the best JMU run defense performance in terms of yards allowed and yards per carry. Yes, we can call that improvement especially considering how potent Villanova is on the ground.
2- keying on John Robertson left options b, c, and d room to run; however, Robertson had his worst rushing game of his career. He has started 26 games now and the 19 rushing yards yesterday was his low point. Most understand that he is a stud and the best QB in the CAA. He is also the best runner in the league even when you include running backs. The Dukes wisely forced him into option handoffs and passes and Villanova was good enough to succeed without their best and most effective option.
3- the D-line finally got some sacks. All 3 were in the first half and were almost as big as getting the 3 turnovers in the first half. Robertson was lighting up the Dukes on constant play action to the tune of 15-16 yet the sacks served as negative plays that helped end drives. JMU getting zero sacks in the second half and zero turnovers allowed the Villanova offense to continue rolling downfield.
4- Vad Lee showed a willingness to run more. He overshot the optimal 50/50 mix on the read option and I think alot of that had to do with #32 and #28 being out at RB.
He still is hesitant and also scared to take a hit which is odd for a 225 lb athlete. The Dukes don't need Lee to run over defenders, but he can certainly take angles to break tackles vs falling down to the ground prior to contact. Vs 280 lb D-lineman I get it. vs 225 lb linebackers and 200 lb DB's there is no reason to completely avoid contact. The Dukes need him to run effectively to win even if that exposes him to getting dinged up.

Villanova is a better team. Their defense is good enough for the FCS and their offense is superb. They have the best QB in the CAA and should have a great shot to win the conference and the national title as long as Robertson is healthy.

Great synopsis. I think the 'D' did exactly what you had to do -- key on Robertson and not let him beat you running the ball. Unfortunately doing so exposed the secondary more and let the RB have a decent game. I think that is exactly what JMU had to do with the defense in that game --- make Robertson beat you with his arm & he did.

Plain and simply Villanova is a better team right now & the better team almost always wins at home.

(09-21-2014 05:55 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  Here's another positive... Vad broke the JMU record yesterday for most passing yards in a game.

THIS ---- now this is one record that he owns that we don't have to hear about going forward.

I think the hand injury was one of the main reasons that Robertson didn't run more than he did -- he was protecting himself.

(09-22-2014 09:38 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 11:32 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Despite the convincing loss, there were some good things yesterday.
1- the Defense lined up with 4 down lineman the majority of the snaps. Occassionally, they went with 5 players at the line of scrimmage with both ends standing. Withers backed down from his 3-4 alignment because it was horrible.
It felt like Villanova ran for a lot of yards yesterday, but it was actually a slightly below average performance on the ground for them. Also, it was the best JMU run defense performance in terms of yards allowed and yards per carry. Yes, we can call that improvement especially considering how potent Villanova is on the ground.
2- keying on John Robertson left options b, c, and d room to run; however, Robertson had his worst rushing game of his career. He has started 26 games now and the 19 rushing yards yesterday was his low point. Most understand that he is a stud and the best QB in the CAA. He is also the best runner in the league even when you include running backs. The Dukes wisely forced him into option handoffs and passes and Villanova was good enough to succeed without their best and most effective option.
3- the D-line finally got some sacks. All 3 were in the first half and were almost as big as getting the 3 turnovers in the first half. Robertson was lighting up the Dukes on constant play action to the tune of 15-16 yet the sacks served as negative plays that helped end drives. JMU getting zero sacks in the second half and zero turnovers allowed the Villanova offense to continue rolling downfield.
4- Vad Lee showed a willingness to run more. He overshot the optimal 50/50 mix on the read option and I think alot of that had to do with #32 and #28 being out at RB.
He still is hesitant and also scared to take a hit which is odd for a 225 lb athlete. The Dukes don't need Lee to run over defenders, but he can certainly take angles to break tackles vs falling down to the ground prior to contact. Vs 280 lb D-lineman I get it. vs 225 lb linebackers and 200 lb DB's there is no reason to completely avoid contact. The Dukes need him to run effectively to win even if that exposes him to getting dinged up.

Villanova is a better team. Their defense is good enough for the FCS and their offense is superb. They have the best QB in the CAA and should have a great shot to win the conference and the national title as long as Robertson is healthy.

Great synopsis. I think the 'D' did exactly what you had to do -- key on Robertson and not let him beat you running the ball. Unfortunately doing so exposed the secondary more and let the RB have a decent game. I think that is exactly what JMU had to do with the defense in that game --- make Robertson beat you with his arm & he did.

Plain and simply Villanova is a better team right now & the better team almost always wins at home.

Very well said. Just not understanding all the gloom and doom.