Agree on specials- we all love O Kelly but he had a rough game. I really believe the wind was a bigger factor in the game than many are saying. Long throws, kicks, punts, all impacted against the wind.

I know there were many issues during the late 3Q meltdown, but I believe the kickoff return turnover was the nail in the coffin. That gave them an extremely short field, which turned into a TD, and all the momentum. It was just to much to overcome.

(05-09-2021 06:32 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Agree on specials- we all love O Kelly but he had a rough game. I really believe the wind was a bigger factor in the game than many are saying. Long throws, kicks, punts, all impacted against the wind.

It did seem that way, especially with that bizarre first punt. However, even with that punt, Harry averaged 45.6 yards per punt on five punts. If that first punt would have been a decent punt, he would probably have averaged over 50 yards per punt.

This is my first post here. I used to post occasionally on CAAZone as RavenTrumpet back in the day.

Looking at the youth, injuries and their play early in the season I would have been ecstatic knowing that we would have a 21 point halftime lead on the road in the semifinal after a short week. What Cignetti has done to improve the play of Ben last year and Cole this year has been amazing. Our defense with all of the youth and loss due to injuries has been amazing as well. Those are the positives of this crazy season.

Now I hope Cignetti and the coaching staff can learn and grow from the mistakes of this post season.

Like everyone else I'm stunned over that 5 minute span. I can understand losing a close game to West Virginia and Trey Lance single handedly beating us in the Title game last year, but yesterday's game has no explanation. It was so unfortunate that Cole got hurt but there was so much going on before that. Here are the questions/thoughts I have:

1. Why win the toss and receive? Both defenses looked stronger than the offenses on paper and that was the case in the first quarter. Deferring gives you the first possession of the 3rd quarter and the advantage of the wind the 4th quarter. I think JMU takes control of the game even earlier if we had won the field position battle early like Sam Houston did.

2. As mentioned several times on this board before the playoffs Special Teams has been much less aggressive under Cignetti/Cain. As shown in the playoffs it was the least prepared unit. I knew VMI was going to do an on-sides kick after that first TD yet we weren't prepared for it. There was the turnover on the punt against North Dakota, the turnover on the kickoff yesterday and giving up a punt return. We should have superior talent and speed on Special Teams and we should be making plays not giving plays up. With Cain being a Tight Ends / Special Teams Coordinator maybe we need to hire someone else to focus exclusively on Special Teams? Part of yesterday was due to the wind, but that still doesn't explain the other issues during the playoffs.

3. Both Cole and Gage don't know how to throw the ball away as repeated again and again on this forum. That took us out of field goal range where we have kicker that hasn't missed a kick all year. That has to be a priority for the staff to work on this upcoming season.

We are at the end of Season 2 with Cig and this staff. The first year was a pleasant surprise after how Ben had some really bad games the prior year under Houston. Yesterday's game was a microcosm of the past two seasons. Lower expectations after the first quarter start, then putting things together and high expectations then the let down at the end. Hopefully Cig will continue to get recruits like Wells and he and the staff learns from these two seasons. He has to be just as devastated as us right now. Hopefully in the next few years we will think of Cig as a Chris Klieman instead of a Lefty.

We could all see the numerous mistakes. Things that we saw that had not hurt us, hurt us at the worst time on Saturday.

Too painful a loss. Many areas to second guess.

On to year three - thankfully in a very short period of time. So disappointing. Year three will be an insightful year in the Cig era. Will JMU fall back to the rest of the CAA? What players will return in the fall? Heaven forbid the transfer portal hurts us with you know who.....

Our drive when we were up 27-17 had two plays that were there. On second and six, Cole threw a real good pass , maybe a little long, that could have/should have been a catch? That would have been be good for close to 30 yards. And the next play we threw underneath and it looked like a quick cut may have gotten a first down. Both plays were close, we just needed something to slow things down.

The ESPN tracker had us with high 90’s win probability until that time.
Hopefully next year we value our timeouts more.

Good year, a year I was not expecting to even happen. I enjoyed the playoff run.

(05-10-2021 07:19 AM)Dukester Wrote:  We could all see the numerous mistakes. Things that we saw that had not hurt us, hurt us at the worst time on Saturday.

Too painful a loss. Many areas to second guess.

On to year three - thankfully in a very short period of time. So disappointing. Year three will be an insightful year in the Cig era. Will JMU fall back to the rest of the CAA? What players will return in the fall? Heaven forbid the transfer portal hurts us with you know who.....

I am sure the Vultures will be swarming.

Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk

(05-08-2021 05:06 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(05-08-2021 04:49 PM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  

(05-08-2021 04:28 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(05-08-2021 04:26 PM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  

(05-08-2021 04:23 PM)fishingduke12 Wrote:  So the coach should be in charge of the upback mistiming his jump? got it

The ball wouldn’t have touched the ground if they were in the right position.

Signed, a JMU specialist

Congrats, doesn’t mean you’re not wrong. The kicker left a little off and it found the pocket. Other kicks were taken at 2, 1, 12, touchback and 26. Smart money has returners near 5 as it’s easier to see kick and come up on it that run backwards against coverage going full steam ahead on a live ball over your head.

You are aware of wind correct? All of those deep kicks were going the other way. Thanks for proving my point.

Yes, the same wind as the KR just moments before that they came up from the 5 to field it in stride at the 10. On this kickoff the deep men were at the 10 with the back line between the 23-27 with the ball hitting right where #89 started but was oblivious to it, paying no attention to the ball coming in. And Jawon was playing the bounce but VanHorse came flying in to try and play it but only deflected the ball away.

I finally found some time to watch replays. Let's start with the fact that the wind was blowing so hard that multiple balls fell off the tee and multiple kicks required a holder. Then the fact that you using sky kickoffs landing at the 1 and 2 going with the wind as validation that the deep guys should be at the 5 for kicks going the opposite direction is silly.

SHSU had 2 kickoffs the first half, both were going from right to left with the wind. The first one was two yards out the back of the endzone and the second was sky kicked to the 2.

In the third quarter, SHSU's first kick into the wind (the squib), we had deep guys inside the 10 (can't really tell exactly where from TV but they come onscreen at the 12 after a few bounces of the ball) and our second from back line was lined up between the 25 and 30. These were nearly the exact positions as when SHSU kicked off the first half with the wind. That is the first sign that our ST coach is not focused on getting our deep guys lined up appropriately as he has completely ignored the wind.

The next kick into the wind they tried to kick it deep. Our deep guys were around the 5 and catch it at the 12. Given the squib kick last time, I probably would have had them at the 15, but the 10 was a safe medium I guess, the 5 is inexcusable.

But anyways, thus far, on 4 kickoffs, they kicked it deep with wind, then they skyed with wind, then they squib into wind, and then "deep" into the wind. 4 kicks, 3 completely different strategies. There is absolutely no reason that at this point the ST coach wasn't prepared for everything and reminding all 11 guys on what to do in sky, squib and deep kicks. Given their deep kick into the wind landed at the 12, there is absolutely no reason your deep guys are standing inside the 15 from here on out.

Now the kick that you all want to blame on a mistimed jump. It landed right at the 25 yard line. It was within 5 yards of 2 of our guys in the second line. Our second line that has already had to field a squib against a team that has also already had a sky kick (aka should be fully prepared to see a ball get caught up in wind and drop on them). Our deep guys, who should have been up at the 15 as we know now that at worst, they might have to take 3 steps back (which is already a natural reaction for them given they stepped backwards on the kick they fielded at the 12). Given the ball bounced 3-4 yards in front of our deep guy, it would have been easily caught if a coach told the deep guys to stand outside the 10, but again, they were inside the 10. Our second line being unprepared and our deep guys being too deep for kicks going that direction is solely on the ST coach.

I'll admit my initial take was from viewing the play with a nice set of beer goggles, but it was completely validated when watching the replay. It is also pretty comical that I'm having to waste time to point out our ST coach's deficiencies after the team had a punt blocked, had a punt returned against them for a TD, allowed a turnover on a kickoff in the game.

The kick hit pretty much right were one of the guys was initially set, but he drifted and seemed oblivious to the ball. Cigs did say in the post game press conference that he lined somebody else up in that position but the guys took it upon themselves to flip flop. The replay wasn’t great, but it seemed VanHorse flew in from the side and deflected the ball while Jawon was coming up to make a play on it; I wonder if he would’ve been able to field it cleanly without VH flying 8n.

Haven't read one part of this thread since the disappointment and pain has not subsided yet. I'm glad I was on hour 4 of binge drinking when that meltdown happened, if I was conscious enough to process it, my head would've exploded.

See you all next season, losing sucks, but that's what happens when you have high expectations each year.

(05-09-2021 06:32 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Agree on specials- we all love O Kelly but he had a rough game. I really believe the wind was a bigger factor in the game than many are saying. Long throws, kicks, punts, all impacted against the wind.

Harry is good about kicking low kicks into the wind for distance. That one just went a little too low.

Always hate to see games such as this played in less than ideal conditions.

Brian

Sorry if this was previously posted or discussed. When was last time O'Kelly tucked it and ran for a fake punt? His style of running forward (Australian) often makes me think he's doing so again. We had decent success when he did so previously, and was hoping he would do so against SHSU.

Think it's just the fact that there is no longer the element of surprise, HCCG chooses not to, or other reason we don't see it used more?

(05-12-2021 02:00 PM)bobbyjmu Wrote:  Sorry if this was previously posted or discussed. When was last time O'Kelly tucked it and ran for a fake punt? His style of running forward (Australian) often makes me think he's doing so again. We had decent success when he did so previously, and was hoping he would do so against SHSU.

Think it's just the fact that there is no longer the element of surprise, HCCG chooses not to, or other reason we don't see it used more?

Not sure, tbh. More of the head scratching ST decisions.

(05-12-2021 02:06 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(05-12-2021 02:00 PM)bobbyjmu Wrote:  Sorry if this was previously posted or discussed. When was last time O'Kelly tucked it and ran for a fake punt? His style of running forward (Australian) often makes me think he's doing so again. We had decent success when he did so previously, and was hoping he would do so against SHSU.

Think it's just the fact that there is no longer the element of surprise, HCCG chooses not to, or other reason we don't see it used more?

Not sure, tbh. More of the head scratching ST decisions.

I've commented on this numerous times the last couple years. Harry was a weapon and put pressure on the return teams to defend the run. He always had the run option if available. It was really an option punt. For some reason a successful weapon was put under wraps......

Utilizing O'Kelley in fake punt mode has ceased to exist after his freshman year of 2017. With the success he had, figured we'd see it now and again...

(05-12-2021 02:18 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(05-12-2021 02:06 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(05-12-2021 02:00 PM)bobbyjmu Wrote:  Sorry if this was previously posted or discussed. When was last time O'Kelly tucked it and ran for a fake punt? His style of running forward (Australian) often makes me think he's doing so again. We had decent success when he did so previously, and was hoping he would do so against SHSU.

Think it's just the fact that there is no longer the element of surprise, HCCG chooses not to, or other reason we don't see it used more?

Not sure, tbh. More of the head scratching ST decisions.

I've commented on this numerous times the last couple years. Harry was a weapon and put pressure on the return teams to defend the run. He always had the run option if available. It was really an option punt. For some reason a successful weapon was put under wraps......

As much as Cig goes for it on 4th down, I've been shocked that we haven't seen it called more.

Also, have I missed it or does Harry not punt with the left foot anymore?

(05-12-2021 02:25 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(05-12-2021 02:18 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(05-12-2021 02:06 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(05-12-2021 02:00 PM)bobbyjmu Wrote:  Sorry if this was previously posted or discussed. When was last time O'Kelly tucked it and ran for a fake punt? His style of running forward (Australian) often makes me think he's doing so again. We had decent success when he did so previously, and was hoping he would do so against SHSU.

Think it's just the fact that there is no longer the element of surprise, HCCG chooses not to, or other reason we don't see it used more?

Not sure, tbh. More of the head scratching ST decisions.

I've commented on this numerous times the last couple years. Harry was a weapon and put pressure on the return teams to defend the run. He always had the run option if available. It was really an option punt. For some reason a successful weapon was put under wraps......

As much as Cig goes for it on 4th down, I've been shocked that we haven't seen it called more.

Also, have I missed it or does Harry not punt with the left foot anymore?

He boomed one about 50 yards in the air with his left foot at half time of the VMI game just messing around.