(10-07-2019 08:39 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 11:09 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 11:02 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 10:38 AM)olddawg Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 08:08 AM)Dukester Wrote:  I think Saturday he had his best game at JMU.

I was a doubter too for two reasons:
1) inability to throw medium and long passes
2) Is a TO machine in critical situations

He's hit so many medium and long passes this year, I'm no longer concerned about that. As far as how he plays in high stress situations I will not be able to comment on until November.

Makes me wonder why Donnie shackled him so much last year.

I don't think Donnie shackled him as much as every time Ben threw down field his passes were way off target. It's the same thing I noticed in watching Ben at Pitt. The new coaches deserve credit for getting his downfield passing game turned around. I'm guessing it might have been something with his mechanics? While I still miss the uptempo, and think it would benefit us this year, I do see a pretty substantial improvement in Ben's play. Ben is surrounding by the best surrounding 10 players a JMU QB has ever had at JMU, and he's making the most of it.

i think this coaching staff fits Ben better.

ben is playing very well. But just like HCCC said before the season he would, he has gotten Ben in situations he can thrive. and what i mean by that is the running game has helped Ben immensely. Kudos to HCCC and his staff for finding the right scheme to get the most out of the QB, RB's and OL. Whatever they changed, it's worked.

LY, we couldn't get 1 yard on first down. That put us behind the 8 ball. and Ben does not thrive in those situations when put into them often in a game.

this year, we RARELY lose yardage on first down. the run game is a machine. it's put Ben in 2nd and 6, 3rd and 2....and he does MUCH better in those situations as the defense knows of his ability to scramble so they have a heck of a lot more to worry about with those down and distances than putting Ben in 2nd and 10 or 3rd and 10.
And we know Ben is accurate on short passes. So putting him in short down and distances allows him to throw those quick short passes on target and move the sticks.

Bryan fit better with HCMH.
Ben clearly fits better with HCCC.

neither is right or wrong. Just different.

Coaching is part of it but what about the work Ben put in during the off season, another season at JMU and the talent around him. More options and he’s a redshirt Senior. He’s gotten better. Sometimes it’s coaching and system but sometimes the kid just gets better.

I did notice our QB1 fall back into his old habit of throwing off his back foot this past game. He was being pressured and did not have time/room to step into the throw and it sailed high. That said, he has not done that very much this season- couldn’t hardly step into a throw it seemed last season.

(10-08-2019 11:27 AM)jmutoml757 Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 08:39 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 11:09 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 11:02 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 10:38 AM)olddawg Wrote:  Makes me wonder why Donnie shackled him so much last year.

I don't think Donnie shackled him as much as every time Ben threw down field his passes were way off target. It's the same thing I noticed in watching Ben at Pitt. The new coaches deserve credit for getting his downfield passing game turned around. I'm guessing it might have been something with his mechanics? While I still miss the uptempo, and think it would benefit us this year, I do see a pretty substantial improvement in Ben's play. Ben is surrounding by the best surrounding 10 players a JMU QB has ever had at JMU, and he's making the most of it.

i think this coaching staff fits Ben better.

ben is playing very well. But just like HCCC said before the season he would, he has gotten Ben in situations he can thrive. and what i mean by that is the running game has helped Ben immensely. Kudos to HCCC and his staff for finding the right scheme to get the most out of the QB, RB's and OL. Whatever they changed, it's worked.

LY, we couldn't get 1 yard on first down. That put us behind the 8 ball. and Ben does not thrive in those situations when put into them often in a game.

this year, we RARELY lose yardage on first down. the run game is a machine. it's put Ben in 2nd and 6, 3rd and 2....and he does MUCH better in those situations as the defense knows of his ability to scramble so they have a heck of a lot more to worry about with those down and distances than putting Ben in 2nd and 10 or 3rd and 10.
And we know Ben is accurate on short passes. So putting him in short down and distances allows him to throw those quick short passes on target and move the sticks.

Bryan fit better with HCMH.
Ben clearly fits better with HCCC.

neither is right or wrong. Just different.

Coaching is part of it but what about the work Ben put in during the off season, another season at JMU and the talent around him. More options and he’s a redshirt Senior. He’s gotten better. Sometimes it’s coaching and system but sometimes the kid just gets better.

I did notice our QB1 fall back into his old habit of throwing off his back foot this past game. He was being pressured and did not have time/room to step into the throw and it sailed high. That said, he has not done that very much this season- couldn’t hardly step into a throw it seemed last season.

Throws off the back foot may have happened once or twice, but Ben's footwork was on point on Saturday. Under pressure there will always be time when you throw without setting your feet, but last year he did it when no one was even pressuring him as you noted. If you watch this year even as he rolls out he is stopping, setting his feet and then making the throw.

Ben is playing lights out. He is our MVP so far. Keep it up, Ben. I am enjoying watching you perform.

(10-08-2019 08:14 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  

(10-06-2019 11:48 AM)94computerguy Wrote:  Next up, let's get better at throwing the ball away rather than taking a sack, but seriously, huge improvement in a tough game.

I must have watched a different game than you guys cause I have no issues with DiNucci's 2 sacks from saturday.

In my case, I was really nitpicking. I don't remember the play too well, but the pocket fell apart, he scrambled for a second and change, and went down. The 3 of us at my table said "well, last year he throws a pick there, so this is good. Hopefully he'll figure out how to throw it away later." So it's really nitpicking.

(10-08-2019 04:40 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  Ben is playing lights out. He is our MVP so far. Keep it up, Ben. I am enjoying watching you perform.

Agree, but show me in December.

I am with Gary. Ben is doing all anyone could ask of him. He is having an all conference season in a conference full of good QBs.

(10-09-2019 03:10 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(10-08-2019 04:40 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  Ben is playing lights out. He is our MVP so far. Keep it up, Ben. I am enjoying watching you perform.

Agree, but show me in December.

That's why he said the words "SO FAR".

There is no doubt he is the offensive MVP SO FAR. The second half Hamilton may have something to say about that. Or Stapleton. Or Percy. Doesn't mean Ben has to play poorly for another player to take it from him.
It doesn't discredit the work he's done up to this point.
Perhaps the 2018 version of DiNucci is right where it needs to be... in the past. Even DiNucci himself admits the mistakes in the past. He also says he feels more comfortable as the starting QB year 2 (go figure).
The guy's a competitor and I am very glad he plays for us. Every week he's proving the coaching staff right in saying he's our QB1 and our best chance to win.
He will probably make some mistakes, but the guy deserves for us to give him some slack.

From the Pro Football Network: https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-d...d-sliders/

(11-12-2019 10:32 AM)Dukes84 Wrote:  From the Pro Football Network: https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-d...d-sliders/

To be fair that article was over a month ago. I think he's only increased his stock since then.
Ben has been doing more than we could have hoped for. I don't know how any JMU fan could discredit what he's done so far. The staff got it 100% right in choosing him as the starter.
This past week against UNH was a big hurdle for him to cross and he crossed it about as well as I could have hoped.
I think it's fair to say the Ben of last year is dead. This year's Ben is the real deal and deserves the support from all of JMU nation.

Credit to Ben for working to make himself better--much better. I don't see why he's not a finalist for the Peyton Award.

Credit to Monty/HCCC for putting him in positions to succeed.

(11-12-2019 02:33 PM)JMU_71 Wrote:  Credit to Ben for working to make himself better--much better. I don't see why he's not a finalist for the Peyton Award.

Credit to Monty/HCCC for putting him in positions to succeed.

Credit to Ben and the coaches.

Clayton Ritter-ish turnaround. Hope it continues through the playoffs.

(11-12-2019 03:28 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(11-12-2019 02:33 PM)JMU_71 Wrote:  Credit to Ben for working to make himself better--much better. I don't see why he's not a finalist for the Peyton Award.

Credit to Monty/HCCC for putting him in positions to succeed.

Credit to Ben and the coaches.

Clayton Ritter-ish turnaround. Hope it continues through the playoffs.

I agree. The best thing to happen to Ben was the coaching change. I think he would have been better, but I think the coaching change was a shot in the arm that Ben needed.
Ben definitely put in the work in the offseason and it is paying off.

(11-12-2019 03:28 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(11-12-2019 02:33 PM)JMU_71 Wrote:  Credit to Ben for working to make himself better--much better. I don't see why he's not a finalist for the Peyton Award.

Credit to Monty/HCCC for putting him in positions to succeed.

Credit to Ben and the coaches.

Clayton Ritter-ish turnaround. Hope it continues through the playoffs.

I am not sure it is accurate to compare Ben to Clayton Ritter. Ritter was awful and could not even get on the court his Fr-So season before busting out his junior and senior seasons.

Ben is better this year no doubt.....but he was still the best QB on the team last year and QB1.

CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week
Ben DiNucci, Sr., QB, James Madison (Wexford, Pa./Pine-Richland)

DiNucci completed 19-of-24 passes for a season-high 293 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score as No. 2 James Madison defeated No. 23 New Hampshire, 54-16. The senior, who played just over three quarters, connected on a season-best 79.2% of his throws and tallied all three TD’s in the first half as the Dukes rallied from a 10-3 deficit. The performance came against a UNH team that ranked 7th in FCS in scoring defense (16.6 ppg).
https://caasports.com/news/2019/11/10/ca...ov-11.aspx

(11-12-2019 03:59 PM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(11-12-2019 03:28 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(11-12-2019 02:33 PM)JMU_71 Wrote:  Credit to Ben for working to make himself better--much better. I don't see why he's not a finalist for the Peyton Award.

Credit to Monty/HCCC for putting him in positions to succeed.

Credit to Ben and the coaches.

Clayton Ritter-ish turnaround. Hope it continues through the playoffs.

I am not sure it is accurate to compare Ben to Clayton Ritter. Ritter was awful and could not even get on the court his Fr-So season before busting out his junior and senior seasons.

Ben is better this year no doubt.....but he was still the best QB on the team last year and QB1.

It's been awhile, but I recalled him being a stud his senior year. Did not recall his Junior year being as strong. I recall thinking, where did this guy come from? He became a complete player and a leader. I don't think his Junior year was bad, kinda like Ben's had mixed results, but both of their Senior years were a big step forward.

(11-12-2019 05:07 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week
Ben DiNucci, Sr., QB, James Madison (Wexford, Pa./Pine-Richland)

DiNucci completed 19-of-24 passes for a season-high 293 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score as No. 2 James Madison defeated No. 23 New Hampshire, 54-16. The senior, who played just over three quarters, connected on a season-best 79.2% of his throws and tallied all three TD’s in the first half as the Dukes rallied from a 10-3 deficit. The performance came against a UNH team that ranked 7th in FCS in scoring defense (16.6 ppg).
https://caasports.com/news/2019/11/10/ca...ov-11.aspx

Don't they mean #10?

The Nooch is keeping Cignetti happy with far fewer turnovers so far this year and that is huge. His turnover rate is about half that of last year. His completion percentage is virtually the same and his running production is virtually the same as last year.

JMU won’t face another good defense until deep into the playoffs, but when they do the secret sauce is there ready to be used. His Scrambling from the pocket when receivers are covered is deadly and a difference maker when JMU will need it against better competition.

It is shaping up like his legacy will be cemented in the 2019 playoffs. Protect the ball and guide JMU to a title over dynasty ND State? Statues of the Nooch are sure to replace Duke Dog and James Madison on campus. Repeat a turnover mess from last year and become the goat for a loaded team. Not GOAT, but goat.
Hoping for the former.

(11-12-2019 10:32 AM)Dukes84 Wrote:  From the Pro Football Network: https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-d...d-sliders/

Excuse me while I feel validated.

(11-12-2019 09:06 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  The Nooch is keeping Cignetti happy with far fewer turnovers so far this year and that is huge. His turnover rate is about half that of last year. His completion percentage is virtually the same and his running production is virtually the same as last year.

JMU won’t face another good defense until deep into the playoffs, but when they do the secret sauce is there ready to be used. His Scrambling from the pocket when receivers are covered is deadly and a difference maker when JMU will need it against better competition.

It is shaping up like his legacy will be cemented in the 2019 playoffs. Protect the ball and guide JMU to a title over dynasty ND State? Statues of the Nooch are sure to replace Duke Dog and James Madison on campus. Repeat a turnover mess from last year and become the goat for a loaded team. Not GOAT, but goat.
Hoping for the former.

I don't think you are going to see games of multiple turnovers from Nooch, not because he is better, but because his offensive line is better.

(11-12-2019 09:06 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  The Nooch is keeping Cignetti happy with far fewer turnovers so far this year and that is huge. His turnover rate is about half that of last year. His completion percentage is virtually the same and his running production is virtually the same as last year.

JMU won’t face another good defense until deep into the playoffs, but when they do the secret sauce is there ready to be used. His Scrambling from the pocket when receivers are covered is deadly and a difference maker when JMU will need it against better competition.

It is shaping up like his legacy will be cemented in the 2019 playoffs. Protect the ball and guide JMU to a title over dynasty ND State? Statues of the Nooch are sure to replace Duke Dog and James Madison on campus. Repeat a turnover mess from last year and become the goat for a loaded team. Not GOAT, but goat.
Hoping for the former.

JMU has so many weapons and great balance on offense. Reminds me of a few years ago- last year not so much. With good protection and a good running game Dinucci and the JMU offense are very hard to stop.