Solid Start for the Dukes!

First and foremost, let’s all remember there’s nothing to get carried away with about a win over St. Francis, a team that worked hard and appeared decently coached and prepared, but in all reality probably couldn’t keep it within two touchdowns of JMU’s full backup squad.   Nonetheless, there is VERY little to complain about in JMU’s 55-7 win over the Red Flash this weekend and really they looked crisp and efficient which is exactly what we all hoped for.  Full game story here, but our Good, Bad, and Ugly as usual below.

The Good

As opposed to last year’s NEC opener, there was a whole lot of Good in this one.

– Special teams!  JMU kicked off a ton in this game given the points, and the coverage when the game was in doubt was nothing short of spectacular.  With the new rule in college that touchbacks on kickoffs come out to the 25, the premium on touchbacks is diminished if you can cover and JMU was outstanding when the game was in doubt (i.e. the first half).  The first three kicks of the game the ball was kicked to the goalline and the Dukes pinned St. Francis around the 15.  Even if that’s the 20 against faster returners, that’s a win.  Also exactly the kind of little thing that’s been hurting the team the last couple seasons.  If that’s a sign of attention to detail, we love it.  Also, Cam Stark absolutely drilled a 47 yard FG at the first half gun.  He probably would’ve been good from 55 and that’s the type of game-situation practice coaches can only dream of in the offseason.  Bodes well for him and let’s hope it’s just a sign of things to come after kicking a gamewinner against EKU in last year’s playoffs.

Part of Saturday's pass-heavy gameplan!

– Thorpe, Durden, Mickey! – The Dukes threw 34 times.  Let’s repeat that once more for the full magnitude of that to sink in.  The Dukes threw 34 times.  If you look out your window and see dogs and cats living together in harmony, it would surprise me less than that statement’s veracity.  First, credit to the coaching staff, particularly frequent fan (and JMUSB) punching bag Jeff Durden and Mickey, for a gameplan that has to put some serious fear into JMU’s future opponents when they see this film.  Everyone knows JMU can win “most” of the time hardly throwing at all (including zero completions in the win over then top five W&M two years ago), but watching Justin Thorpe throw down an extremely crisp 15-27, 177 yard, 1 TD, performance, has to freak people out.  Not to mention those totals might have been a good bit higher if Brian Barlow (not knockin’ him, just sayin’) doesn’t cold drop a wide open huge play.  Seriously, after years of up and down play, not to mention off-field “issues,” JT looked a hell of a lot like some of the Dukes legends that preceded him at QB1. Still not willing to say their names in a sentence, but we’re hopeful.

– Birdsong looked an awful lot like that crazy giant cracker QB for Kansas St.!  Seriously, the kid is a damn monster and he did way more than gain experience in this game.  He looked fully capable of contributing if needed in spots this year.  And as the least heralded of the THREE stud freshman QB’s the Dukes brought in this year, not to mention Vanderbilt transfer Lafonte Thourogood, we’re encouraged about the play, and potential, under center.

– Titus Till is huge for an FCS safety.  Given that St. Francis could do basically nothing in the passing game, it’s hard to evaluate his play, but the Maryland transfer sure does look like a potential difference-maker at this level.

– Injury-free game.  Other than an unknown nick to RB2 Jordan Anderson, the Dukes appeared to make it through the opener in decent shape.  This team is full of promise and getting through the next two games in good shape is really the key to a potentially monster season.

– New uni’s for the team and the MRD’s.  Both looked solid – fresh but traditional.

The Bad

Obviously we’re just picking nits here, but the fourth down call in the second quarter was odd.  At 4th and 11 on the St. Francis 37 up 21, we LOVE going for it, so it’s not the decision, but rather the call and the execution.  Thorpe threw for what appeared to be his first option, a receiver only 7 yards downfield.  Pass was incomplete, but either the call should’ve been for something with a chance at more yardage or JT should’ve kept the play alive till he had a chance for something beyond the sticks (he had plenty of time).  Again, we love going for it, just seemed like a wrinkle in need of steam.

We were not entirely convinced along the defensive line.  Stats looked good because the game got out of hand, but St. Francis seemed to be able to pick up positive yardage at will in the running game early and their QB was hardly ever under serious pressure.  JMU’s ridiculously strong back seven will gloss over these items in a blowout like Saturday, but come WVU, Towson, and UNH, improvement will be needed.

Maybe we missed it during an admittedly less-than-attentive fourth quarter, but we didn’t hear the MRD’s throw out their version of Start Wearing Purple.  Still hopeful.

The Ugly

Unnecessary personal fouls.  We don’t like to call out individual players and we’ll leave it at that here, but they need to be aware of the situation (huge lead against an inferior, and understandbly disappointed, team).  To be fair, it appeared both players were baited and possibly unfairly penalized, but check your head.