Remember, this is also Neal Brown's first game at WVU and the Mountaineers are implementing a new defense, the 3-3-5 is no more in Morgantown.

(04-20-2019 10:39 AM)Dukester Wrote:  We got the coach I thought was our best option.

That said, the coaching change has taken a bit of my excitement and my confidence in this game. I really am not sure what to expect this year. On paper we should be a top 5 team. Will Cig be a good big game coach? I don't know. I don't recall JMU under Houston ever outmatched from the start even against FBS teams.

I have a bit of a sit back and see what happens with this season. Once again, the big game coach factor is what I wonder most about.

Time will tell.....

For me it's the opposite. Houston was a great coach for us, but still only managed to beat a really bad FBS team. Not only that, but the offense got worse year over year under him. Really excited to see what Cignetti will be able to do for JMU.

(04-20-2019 05:47 PM)JMU08 Wrote:  

(04-20-2019 10:39 AM)Dukester Wrote:  We got the coach I thought was our best option.

That said, the coaching change has taken a bit of my excitement and my confidence in this game. I really am not sure what to expect this year. On paper we should be a top 5 team. Will Cig be a good big game coach? I don't know. I don't recall JMU under Houston ever outmatched from the start even against FBS teams.

I have a bit of a sit back and see what happens with this season. Once again, the big game coach factor is what I wonder most about.

Time will tell.....

For me it's the opposite. Houston was a great coach for us, but still only managed to beat a really bad FBS team. Not only that, but the offense got worse year over year under him. Really excited to see what Cignetti will be able to do for JMU.

I look for our offense to improve but the defense may take a small step backwards. We lost one of the greatest defensive minds in CFB and he's gonna be hard to replace.

(04-20-2019 09:42 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(04-20-2019 05:47 PM)JMU08 Wrote:  

(04-20-2019 10:39 AM)Dukester Wrote:  We got the coach I thought was our best option.

That said, the coaching change has taken a bit of my excitement and my confidence in this game. I really am not sure what to expect this year. On paper we should be a top 5 team. Will Cig be a good big game coach? I don't know. I don't recall JMU under Houston ever outmatched from the start even against FBS teams.

I have a bit of a sit back and see what happens with this season. Once again, the big game coach factor is what I wonder most about.

Time will tell.....

For me it's the opposite. Houston was a great coach for us, but still only managed to beat a really bad FBS team. Not only that, but the offense got worse year over year under him. Really excited to see what Cignetti will be able to do for JMU.

I look for our offense to improve but the defense may take a small step backwards. We lost one of the greatest defensive minds in CFB and he's gonna be hard to replace.

Yep, a couple Maine scores last year do scare me a little ... they gave up 27 to W&M (we held them scoreless), and 50 to EWU in the playoffs.

On the other hand, they did hold UNH to 7, who we gave 35 points (some due to turnovers).

Maine is known for good defense, just believe we've been spoiled on that side, and barely remember how bad it was under Withers. Hopefully our players make the difference and we won't drop off too much on D.

I am confident our running game and QB play will improve, and overall think it will be a better season than last. Just a tad scared of dropping a big game or two if the D slips.

That EWU score for Maine contained a **** ton of turnovers. Their offense did them no favors and left them hung out to dry.

(04-21-2019 05:47 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(04-20-2019 09:42 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(04-20-2019 05:47 PM)JMU08 Wrote:  

(04-20-2019 10:39 AM)Dukester Wrote:  We got the coach I thought was our best option.

That said, the coaching change has taken a bit of my excitement and my confidence in this game. I really am not sure what to expect this year. On paper we should be a top 5 team. Will Cig be a good big game coach? I don't know. I don't recall JMU under Houston ever outmatched from the start even against FBS teams.

I have a bit of a sit back and see what happens with this season. Once again, the big game coach factor is what I wonder most about.

Time will tell.....

For me it's the opposite. Houston was a great coach for us, but still only managed to beat a really bad FBS team. Not only that, but the offense got worse year over year under him. Really excited to see what Cignetti will be able to do for JMU.

I look for our offense to improve but the defense may take a small step backwards. We lost one of the greatest defensive minds in CFB and he's gonna be hard to replace.

Yep, a couple Maine scores last year do scare me a little ... they gave up 27 to W&M (we held them scoreless), and 50 to EWU in the playoffs.

On the other hand, they did hold UNH to 7, who we gave 35 points (some due to turnovers).

Maine is known for good defense, just believe we've been spoiled on that side, and barely remember how bad it was under Withers. Hopefully our players make the difference and we won't drop off too much on D.

I am confident our running game and QB play will improve, and overall think it will be a better season than last. Just a tad scared of dropping a big game or two if the D slips.

FWIW I know W&M got a defensive score vs Maine, and EWU practically had a defensive TD (INT to Maine 1 yd line).

Maine's run defense was outstanding. Their weakness was their secondary.

National Stats (of 124 teams)
Total defense: JMU #7/Maine #17
Scoring defense: JMU #6/Maine #30

Rushing defense: Maine #1/JMU #10
Passing defense JMU #22/Maine #89

The playoffs can skew the #s somewhat. Looking at CAA games only:
Total defense Maine #1/JMU #4
Scoring defense JMU #1/Maine #3

Rushing defense: Maine #1/JMU #4
Passing defense: Maine #3/JMU #7
https://static.caasports.com/custompages...nfonly.htm

Hetherman's 2 seasons coaching the Maine DL they were very good (2 lineman made 1srt team All CAA)
His 2 seasons as DC 2017-2018 Maine had a very good defense, and probably overachieved vis a vi personnel. He certainly didn't have the depth of talent to work with at Maine.

The only 2 mild concerns:
-Hetherman was on the ODUH defensive staff 2010-2013 when they had that great offense and god awful, charmin soft, swiss cheese defense (similar to JMU under Withers, but even worse).
-Maine has been stronger against the run than the pass. I'd hate to see something like 2013 (I don't think we would) where JMU was in the CAA #1 vs the run, #1 in sacks, and dead last in pass defense.

With essentially 11 starters back (Robinson replacing Moreland), there's no doubt, sans numerous injuries, if MH hadn't left, and had Trott back and the same defensive staff, would be the top defense in the CAA by far, rivaling the 2017 JMU defense. With Hetherman and a whole new defensive staff, keeping the same/similar 4-3 defense, I still expect JMU to have the #1 defense in the CAA, just not as quite as dominant if had Trott.

WR Marcus Simms, who usually catches between 600 to 700 reception yards per season apparently transferring away from WVU.

Confirmed. Marcus Simms, WVU's leading returning WR, is transferring.

(04-20-2019 10:39 AM)Dukester Wrote:  We got the coach I thought was our best option.

That said, the coaching change has taken a bit of my excitement and my confidence in this game. I really am not sure what to expect this year. On paper we should be a top 5 team. Will Cig be a good big game coach? I don't know. I don't recall JMU under Houston ever outmatched from the start even against FBS teams.

I have a bit of a sit back and see what happens with this season. Once again, the big game coach factor is what I wonder most about.

Time will tell.....

I actually feel the complete opposite. I really like our chances with Cignetti as our coach. I would say that the Elon/JMU game last year was a huge game for them. Most of us thought that Houston was out coached that game by Cignetti. I think Cignetti got the most out of the talent he had.
The WVU game is a big game without question, but I think WVU could come out tight. A loss to us would really hurt and they know it. I don't think they'll be overlooking us, but I do think the pressure of losing to us may get to them. There haven't been many times we've faced an FBS team when they were vulnerable like WVU will be.
Cignetti will definitely want to start his era at JMU with a win and he personally gave this program high expectations and needs to put his money where his mouth is.

I wouldn’t judge Cignetti on a P5 game... but fans still will.

(04-30-2019 03:52 PM)Potomac Wrote:  I wouldn’t judge Cignetti on a P5 game... but fans still will.

I will absolutely judge him. Especially when he wins!

We've had some pretty good seasons after losing to a P5 school. People will obviously be critical if we lose, but I do think it will depend on how we lose.
If we have turnovers galore from the QB position and get blown out I expect to hear a lot of negativity.

If the game is close (like last year) I think the negativity will be much less and hopefully more focus on what we did right.

If we win, Cignetti is the GOAT and might as well give us the National Championship after the game.

WVU has a new coaching staff, a new QB starter and a bunch more starters who have moved on from last year.

Hopefully, our defense can keep us in the game and take it to the 2nd half within striking distance. Get to the 4Q within a TD and the Mounties' collective sphincters will be tightening up.

(04-30-2019 04:59 PM)JMU08 Wrote:  

(04-30-2019 03:52 PM)Potomac Wrote:  I wouldn’t judge Cignetti on a P5 game... but fans still will.

I will absolutely judge him. Especially when he wins!

Our last 3 HC's have P5 wins .............? but on a real note , I'm looking at only the first quarter and if he has them ready. If he has them competitive for that first quarter that staff is good with me after that.

Houston beat ECU, not a P5.

Withers beat SMU, not a P5.

(04-30-2019 08:00 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Houston beat ECU, not a P5.

Group of 5, ok. But the way some of them teams playing in that conference they might as well be. It's a high quality FBS matchup , let's see how he prepares them.

(04-30-2019 08:00 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Houston beat ECU, not a P5.

Houston beat South Carolina while at VMI...while not a JMU win, I would count that win as part of Houston's pedigree.

(05-01-2019 07:52 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(04-30-2019 08:00 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Houston beat ECU, not a P5.

Houston beat South Carolina while at the Citadel...while not a JMU win, I would count that win as part of Houston's pedigree.

FIFY. The other Southern military school

(04-29-2019 05:46 PM)Jeremyboz Wrote:  Confirmed. Marcus Simms, WVU's leading returning WR, is transferring.

Their most productive receiver left on the roster has 28 catches/350yrds. We may be able to leave our corners out on islands and stack the box. It also helps that reports from WVU's spring game say the Oline performed poorly. Could be a very low scoring affair

This game is shaping up to be very interesting