Guest Blogger: Tough Love for JMU Football From A Former Player
Disclaimers:
1. Prepare for some cutting torpedoes of truth. If you can’t handle it, stop reading now.
2. I feel as a former player, I have the right to criticize any student athlete that deserves it because they don’t do anything I didn’t have to do.
3. Reading JMUSB followers’ comments on all-things JMU is one of the highlights of my day.
4.I’m actually glad I have to come here to get my JMU news rather than ESPN because the quality of the information and the dialogue is awesome– good job guys.As we pick up the pieces from last weekend’s unmitigated disaster, there are three items that really stand out:
1. “I’m glad to see everyone get all “rah-rah” about the game, but we need to remember that Maine sucked. Bad.”, “Our offense (will run) east/west, lays an egg, and we throw beer cans at the radio.”, “and it will be interesting to see if MM/JD do anything at all to throw them off…..I’m going to go with NOPE.”. Told you, told you and told you. Just have to blow my own horn for a second. It was the gambling lock-of-the-week.
2. Just to take one last parting shot at the dead horse before I/we (hopefully) leave it behind forever- Justin Thorpe is not a good Quarterback. He would be one of the best at Norfolk State or Wofford or Bridgewater or Northwestern State, but NOT at James Madison. Nothing personal against the kid– The coaches put him in a position to fail. He does not appear to have the aptitude to play QB in the modern era of the forward pass and complex defensive coverages, nor has he (apparently) convinced the coaches that he has enough of an understanding of the offense to call audibles (which really sucks since all you have to remember at JMU is zone read right and zone read left). I am a huge champion of “sticking with your guy”, and after establishing a tradition of throwing various players under the bus, it is frustrating that the one time they stick with a guy, it is a QB who can’t hit the side of my house and will have a PhD in rec management when he finally uses up his decade of NCAA eligibility. I also think DQS is not anywhere near as good as the coaches seem to think he is.
3. That leads us to coaching. First, let me say that I will not hang this on Jeff Durden. If you look at his playbook (the one that existed when he first came to JMU), it looks nothing like the trash on the field right now. Additionally, his offense at VMI included a wide-open balanced attack with a vertical passing game (Vertical passing game- noun. A strategy in American Football involving utilizing the forward pass to stretch the defense out across a large area and create space for the offense to exploit). This run, run, run and then change it up with another run is 100% pure Mickeyball. No matter who the OC is, it isn’t going to change. Two other post-2008 coaching changes of note: George Barlow left as the Defensive Coordinator, and Jim Durning left as the Strength and Conditioning Coach. While I think we all agree that MM’s hardheadedness is the most obvious problem, I think the most overlooked hole in our coaching is actually the loss of Jim Durning. In the course of a year, players spend about 12 hours a week with the S&C coach. My opinion is that the S&C coach is where the team’s attitude is developed, specifically at 0600 hours on a Monday morning in the summer, or at 0500 in the snow in February. I wrote a post last year about the team being soft, and I stand by it. JD wouldn’t put up with that crap. They appear as a bunch of hollywood premadonnas who want to be on TV in their big nice stadium, get interviewed by the press, and walk around campus with their official JMU football team sweatpants, but they don’t seem to appreciate that the only reason they have any of that stuff is because the guys who came before them DIDN’T have any of that stuff and worked their asses off to build it. The first day of full-pad practice used to end in a bench-clearing brawl between the offense and the defense every single year. That’s the attitude that built that house.
Looking ahead to ODU
Here is my free game plan for the coaches since they seem to need help:
1. Why this game is important: In addition to limiting the earnings potential and wrecking the careers of many young men in the Hampton Roads area who until recently would have played for JMU and attained a first-rate education, ODU is getting ready to send the CAA on the walk of shame back to her dorm room. They show up, out of nowhere, somehow join the best conference in the country, BEAT everyone, and then take their ball and move on. Beating ODU is not good enough. We need to beat them senseless in every aspect of the game. Anything less than the most epic, dominant beat down the world has ever witnessed will be totally unacceptable. They have us in checkmate: if we follow them to the FBS, we are just the little brother tagging along. If we stay in FCS, we are the red-headed stepchild that never amounted to anything. The only way out is to close the book with an absolutely legendary ass-kicking that will be talked about around the Commonwealth for the next 25 years.
2. How to Win on Offense: Put some Duct Tape on the Ginger Giant’s leg and send him out there. Tell the OL that if anyone lays a hand on him, they are all losing their scholarships. If you are forced to go with Thorpe, you have less than 4 days to teach him how to pass, or call Georgia Tech and borrow their OC for a week. Play all 4 running backs, go with whichever one gets hot during the game. Spread the ball around… do NOT make it the Thorpe/DQS show. Spread out the formations to spread out the defense. If they don’t respect the spread, throw the damn ball. Do not run any reverses, period. Do not run more than 1 running play outside the tackles on a drive. Do not run the option more than once each set of downs. If JT cannot line up under center, go find someone who knows how to hand a ball off and send them in on anything-and-1 yard. Spend this week of practice instigating fights between the offensive line and the defense…they need to toughen up. If we can throw for at least 150 yards and rush for 200, we will win. Keep the ODU offense on the sideline, and keep the ODU defense on the field. NO TURNOVERS.
3. How to win on Defense: Sack the QB. We need to get to him early and often. A couple good shots early on and a forced INT will rattle him. Blitz on every single play. Send guys from everywhere… safeties, corners, LB’s…. get a rush out of the DL, too. Mix up coverages, but stop playing man coverage when they might be looking deep. Our DB’s give up the big pass in one-on-one every single time. I would also spend time in practice this week working on stripping the ball. Be aggressive and play to dominate, not just to win. I would rather give up 3 TD and get 4 turnovers than only give up 13 pts and no turnovers. Play fast, play nasty, and frustrate them. Again… it is critical to start the game with a bang and set the tone. Rock someone on the opening kickoff, get one bell-ringer on the QB on the first possession and make them start with a 3 and out.
4. How to win on special teams: Nothing to see here. We don’t have any Scotty McGee’s this year. Just don’t do anything stupid, and don’t mess up. Eyes are on the kicker/punter.
5. How ODU can win: Run no-huddle and throw the ball all over the field. Put your best WR on our worst corner and whenever you see man-to-man, go deep. He will catch it 80% of the time. On Defense, run lots of Cover-1 and put 8 or even 9 guys in the box. Even if you run cover-0, you can safely assume that JMU’s offense will run the “go straight to the sideline and step out of bounds” play before they would even consider throwing a pass. I would also tell my defense to talk a lot of trash to Thorpe, especially after he makes a bad play. Getting him frustrated and making him totally shut down would seal the deal.
Strategic Planning
Just did a little SWOT analysis here looking to the future of the program…
Strengths- Facilities, Reputation, Funding, Conference Affiliation, Visibility
Weaknesses- Offense, Lack of direction for the program, Students leave tied games against in-state rivals early, refuse to recruit good quarterbacks.
Opportunities- FCS= chance to compete for another national championship, Complete the stadium expansion, start running a serious offense and become national powerhouse, bringing back the black jerseys.
Threats- A FBS playoff system, ODU becoming the 3rd “big” school in VA, Any of the remaining “good” teams leaving the CAA, Bringing in a new coach who sucks worse (see: JMU Basketball).
Conclusion
At the end of the day, I love my Dukes. I have a full-court press going to brainwash both my daughters between now and when they move in to the Village. I want JMU to grow, prosper and be mentioned alongside VT and UVA (After ODU leaves C-USA for the Sunbelt). I want to walk into any wal-mart in BFE Virginia and see purple and gold crap plastered all over everything to balance out that horrible, fugly maroon and orange. I want to have people begging to mooch my season tickets because they can’t get in to the stadium. I want 8-3 to be a “horrible season”. That being said, what I see right now is a 7-4 team (including wins over Ga. State, St. Francis, Alcorn and Rhode Island) who is just not competitive with ODU, Delaware, Nova and the other top teams, but pats themselves on the back for 7-4 and maybe a first round playoff win AT some average team from a hack conference (Eastern Kentucky). I see a team that brings in top recruiting classes every year, and spits out teams that are one game above .500 (in a good year), have a totally dysfunctional offense that is (frankly) not even fun to watch, and just kind of flounders around in mediocrity. Get your sh*t together, JMU.
Well written post…crossing my fingers that this past weekend’s humiliation lit a fire under the butt of anyone wearing purple and gold.
I want him on. Every week.
Also, JMU closed practice to media this week. I’m guessing the players are getting a well-deserved ass kicking.
Great post. The only thing I’ll say is do not let JT play QB under any circumstances. He has yet to win a big game and I doubt he will start this Sat. So shoot up Birdsong or Thourogood with whatever pain killer we can find. Burn Reynolds or Fischer red shirts. I don’t care. Just as long as JT is not playing QB. Otherwise we have no chance of winning.
Nice post 2004Duke! Great read and I feel a very accurate assessment from where I sit every week!
Awesome job and way to bring it 2004Duke. This should be read to the team before/during every break/after practice this week.
Yes, great post!
Can you please have this guy post every week during football season? What a great read, thank you!
Great post 2004Duke! I’d expect nothing less from a JMU Grad.
As I sit in my office just off of 264 in Va. Beach at a company owned by ODU Luxury Box owners and with a boss who is an ODU grad that also has season tickets; let me say that anything less than a beat down of ODU this weekend will be a disappointment. Although, I will accept a last second win that destroys their confidence and sends them losing in the first round of the playoffs.
The only thing that would disappoint me more than a loss would be a poor showing by JMU’s fan base at game time. If we do not have an overflowing stadium of Purple and Gold at kick-off we will have failed as a fan base. No waiting until the last second drinking down that last beer at the tailgate…GET YOUR ASS IN THE STADIUM!!! If you are not in your seat by the time the National Anthem is being played you do not understand the importance of this game. And once you get there BE LOUD!!! No holding back!!
Come on DUKES….Students, Alumni, Harrisonburg locals…EVERYONE show up!!!
Couldn’t agree more…
Especially with the “prima donna” quote – I had the unfortunate experience of randomly watching one of the player press conferences after a game. JT, DQS and others were sitting there in their “doo rags” telling everyone how great they thought they were. The whole thing just stunk and left a terrible taste in my mouth. That isn’t the JMU Football I cheer for and even if you want your team to have some “swagger”, certainly the doo doo we see on the field doesn’t justify that.
Seems like the “reality check” part of the process has been missing on different levels – I’ve heard the loss of Durning mentioned before as a bigger issue than it seems on the surface.
He tapped into my biggest fear, someone makes Virginia’s “Big 3” and it isn’t us. Far from happening, but still possible
Thanks 04 for this perfect post! So glad to hear someone lay out the problems while still being supportive long-term and optimistic short-term.
Great post! Now I’m just curious to see what team will show up on Saturday. Hopefully the meaning of this game doesn’t get to their heads. Go Dukes!
Can we please hire this guy as a coach? He seems to know more of what needs to be done than the ACTUAL coaches.
Two things:
1. Awesome post, 2004Duke. It was SPOT ON!
2. Thank you again JMUSB! I love this blog because it is nearly impossible to find quality JMU football information any where else.
I graduated the week we won the National Championship. I personally witnessed the rise of our program. I’m a huge college football fan and went to only one JMU football game until my last semester where I was up at 8am every Saturday, hit Festival for some quality pre-boozing grub (parked in the no parking loop), then back to my Fox Hill townhome and pounded beers until it was time to get on the bus headed for Bridgeforth (we usually brought a couple for the ride too). Besides a good education, beautiful girlies, and free beer….the ’04 football single handly ignited the passion that still have for JMU to this day. Without going into all the reasons because we all know already…the last couple years have been tough and have certainly tested my passion. Luckily I’m also Redskins and Orioles fan…so I understand how to manage my Saturdays and Sundays after losses….barely.
Like Lively98 said…I also sit in office that is located off 264 in Va Beach and work with a bunch of ODU grads. It also doesn’t help that I happened to spend my freshman year at ODU and was a founding father of a fraternity there. I may have to punch someone in the mouth with all the shit talking I’m going to hear if we don’t find some way to win in Harrisonburg.
We have to find a way. Gut check time. Hopefully…every kid on that team took a look in the mirror…and more importantly I hope every coach took a look in the mirror this week.
As bad as it has been….I’m behind you guys 110%. I’m bleeding purple like a mofo writing this (when I should be doing work).
I’m going to be tailgating like a BOSS and cheering my ass off during the game! It’s GO TIME!
LET’S GO!!!!!
will be there, tailgating, right at 8am
Well done, 2004Duke! Applause!
Like a couple others, I too live in VA Beach and am subjected to all of the ODU propaganda. I had JMU season tickets this year still attend an occasional ODU game with my ODU alum friends. I HATE that we lost in Norfolk last year.
ODU’s Heineke is like Tom Brady in that the most effective way to limit him is with good pressure. Villanova did it and shut them down. UNH couldn’t do it and lost in a track meet.
We obviously cannot win a track meet, so 2004Duke’s game plan is right on the money. That being said, we have a tough task ahead of us. As fans, all we can do is show up early and bring it strong. Anyone with influence with students, please continue to lobby them hard to stay for the game and show up for the whole game!
2004, just wondering…does MM keep much of a lifeline with the former players? Maybe Mickey needs to bring back some alumni like you for pregame pep talks/interventions!
Go Dukes!
I nominate 2004Duke as the new HC of James Madison University! Dude, you said everything I’ve been thinking for the past 4 years.
Right on 2004 Duke. At the end of the day MM is the problem.
The only thing that would make that post better is it 2004Duke came out saying he was Justin Rascati.
Or Matt Lezotte.
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