Fan Confidence Rating
[polldaddy poll=4027348]Saying this season has had peaks and valleys would be a gross understatement. JMU became only the second FCS team to beat a ranked FBS opponent by knocking off VA Tech, but the Dukes currently sit at 9th place in the CAA with a 1-4 conference record. They are 4-4 overall. There are 3 more games on the schedule, all against CAA foes. The Dukes could close on a hot streak and finish with a very respectable 7-4 record. Things could get worse and they could lose out and finish 4-7. They could finish somewhere in between. One thing is certain, this is not where most fans expected JMU to be back in September.
A lot can change over the next 3 weeks. The point of this post isn’t to try to force you to drink the kool aid and believe that everything is fine. Nor is it an attempt to persuade you that the program has entered into a some downward spiral. I’m just curious to see how confident you are in the state of the program. Please vote in the poll above and feel free to make your case in the comments.
Look…. the Mickey Matthews historically successful football formula is not very difficult to figure out. Here are the three steps:
1. Recruit the best athletes you can find. It doesn’t matter what position they play because you can/will move them when they arrive on campus. Make sure your run the #1 stregnth and conditioning program in FCS.
2. Play solid defense. Play the field position game. Stuff the run.
3. Put your leftovers on offense and tell them to hold the ball for 40 minutes and try to score some points.
Summary: Be physical in every phase of the game. Final score should be about 17-10. Under Matthews JMU would look like the FCS version of Ohio State.
Now, let’s take a look at this year’s team. I have to question the conditioning because they consistently have packed it up in the 4th qtr. The defense is addressed by @2005 Duke above. The offense CANNOT hold the ball and sustain a drive, let alone score points.
I hate to say it, but we just don’t look very tough.
To make it worse, I have to work with a bunch of Bill & Mary Griffons fans. SNAP OUT OF IT DUKES.
I hate saying this, but I honestly would trade in the win against VT for wins against Delaware, Villanova, and UMass. The fact is in FCS, while its great to get a win over a FBS team, the conference record is a large driving force in rankings each week, as well as the quality of the conference. The CAA is the toughest and so even a loss or two is fine. However when you lose 4 even the 1 win against VT is really not that important. Yeah, we are still #23 (and ironically its probably because of the VT win) but are we deserving? Not really. Its not a great team this year, but we did have 1 great win against a great team in VT. I say enjoy that win, it will go down as probably the best ever in JMU history (unless we move up to FBS) and just accept the team this year as it is – average. Hopefully we can build on this for next year and retain a core of experienced players and who knows, maybe we beat another ACC team in UNC next year.
No passing game. While its great to have an QB that can run off 5 or 10 yards i would rather have one who could throw it DOWN field not side to side. DOWN FIELD I repeat. No other team in the CAAs has less passing touchdowns.. NON. Only Richmond has less passing yards. I am pretty sure that is because for a while they were playing a punter as starting QB. When they know you can’t throw it the crowd the box. OFFENESE DEAD.
Looks like we will have a good crowd vs the spiders this weekend at Robinson stadium. Oh wait rob
Love the OSU comparison ’04, hadn’t thought about it that way and it’s right on. Of course, I hate OSU, the Big Ten, and every bit of boring-assed, cornfed, overrated football they stand for.
If nothing else, sure would be nice to squash the Ticks in a “home” game for the Dukes this weekend. Make it happen RIC Dukes!