Dukes vs. Delaware Open Thread
JMU and Delaware kick-off CAA play tonight. Here’s your open thread for all pre-game, in-game, and post-game chatter. And remember, the game will be televised in HD on Comcast SportsNet Washington and streamed on CAASports.com. Enjoy the game everyone and root fer Dukes!
What a beauty that CAA Sports is free! Its been great this season being able to see the Dukes play down in Atlanta. If JMU keeps plays turnover free, I feel good about it. But that’s a big IF.
MadiZone for free would be clutch if it worked reliably. I am happy that this game is on CSN so i don’t have to deal with buffering.
Wow! What a play to score right before the half!
FYI- Madizone has a link to the game, and you can watch on the internet via the Deleware network. Just go to madizone like normal and click the watch live link.
Rob-
We kicked the opening kickoff out-of-bounds, missed a PAT, and gave up two huge kickoff returns. That’s what I was talking about when I gave UDee a special teams edge.
Pretty happy whith our first half. The offense has shown a few flashes of brillance. The defense is playing really well.
I think the biggest reason we are winning right now is because Delaware’s QB is playing a horrible game, though. His two picks have been at the worst possible times from a momentum standpoint. Both of them were not because we made some amazing play, but because he made incredibly stupid decisions.
That *passing* TD right before the half was huge. Bigtime KO punch.
Unfortunately, your assessment of JMU’s special teams has been deadly accurate. Fortunately, my prediction that Birdsong would be able to throw for big yards if given time has also been true. I was getting worried before JMU picked off Hurley in the endzone. That late TD was huge though.
Let’s keep the momentum going Dukes!
Is there a worst commentator than Brad Jackson? I can’t think of one.
Starke now with a missed FG to go along with the missed XP? This is the last week we discuss special teams play in the comments of the game preview.
What is going on with Starke tonight! He has been the person you could most count on the past couple of years. Don’t take that away from me!
Totally lost momentum with these horrible special teams. Embarrassing
Just punt the dang ball and not run around like a freakin idiot before punting it! Penalties and kicking game killing JMU. And now the TE is killing us. Been there before.
Davis just restored my faith in football. Now the Dukes need to punch it in the end zone.
No touchdown, thanks to some really weird play calling, but at least Starke hit the FG.
Birdsong needs to learn how to improvise. As soon as his first read is covered or the D gets a liytle pressure, he looks like a deer in headlights. #bringbackRascati
This total meltdown and lack of discipline is coaching. Or lack of it.
The d played so well in the first half that u almost forgot i was watching JMU. Dont worry, they reminded me.
Matthews had a good run, but I’m honestly ready for a coaching change
That might have been the most epic JMU meltdown I have ever seen.
What happens in the locker room during JMU half-time? Does everyone just sit around and eat oranges while the other team makes adjustments. Out-coached again.
This one isn’t on the coaches so much as the players. Poorly timed penalties, turnovers and just all around looking like they didn’t know the game was still being played.
We lost because:
1. Undisciplined
2. Horrible play calling as exactly the wrong times
3. Special teams. Poor kickoff coverage, Kickoff out-of-bounds, missed PAT, missed FG, had a punt blocked.
It’s almost like we have had this conversation before….
Not on board with the fire Mickey bandwagon but then again I endured four years of Alex Woods.
Special teams tonight were, uhm, special. third quarter penalty spree just killed us.
This team is undisciplined. And the coaches can’t make adjustments. That’s not a recipe for success.
How in the heck to do go from a great opening drive to start the second half, eating up 7 minutes and get beat like this, oh wait I know:
– Missed XP
– Missed short FG
– blocked punt (on the stupid rugby punt, just stand there and kick it)
– penalties (one led directly to blocked punt, and punt from endzone – where both drives started at our 15).
Defense actually played OK, until they forgot to cover the TE in the second half, yet again.
And please no more talk about Josh Wells, being an NFL prospect, he may be our worst offensive lineman based on performance (penalties and getting beat every game). We could not have ran the ball with Barry Sanders tonight, the OLINE did not block anybody all night.
If you defend Mickey after this game you are part of the problem.
Report Card:
OL: D
QB: B
RB: C
WR: B
DL: A
LB: A
DB: C
S/T: F
Coaching: D
Same ole JMU just a different day. This is the worst 2nd half meltdown I’ve seen in a long time. Mickey has to go or this program will be run completely into the ground. Very similar to the Richmond game and old dominion game last year. Just mediocracy will continue until a new head man is in Harrisonburg.
I know I’m probably being a little too emotional after watching that meltdown due to penalties and poor special teams but I honestly believe it’s time….FIRE MICKEY. I’ll start it. I might even get some shirts made too.
They are obviously a poor coached football team. I had a sick feeling in my stomach right after Starke missed the PAT before half time and it got a lot worst after he pushed the FG wide after the first drive of the second half. You could just feel it coming and then we gave them a perfect road map to do it.
I hate being so passionate about JMU football. The last couple years have been rough, especially living in Hampton Roads and seeing what ODU is doing.
It’s time. We basically have to win out to make the play-offs which is not going to happen. FIRE MICKEY.
Typical fan base. One loss = time to fire everyone. There is a jmusportsblog.com/new stadium/national championship today because Mickey and his coaching staff alone did it. I love the campus as much as anyone but those boys aren’t coming to play at JMU because of the Quad. They are coming because they believe in Mickey and what the teams can, have and may again accomplish.
“I hate being so passionate about JMU football. ”
THis. I feel like an abused spouse.
I see it like Brady last year, this is post-season or bust for Mickey. It seems like the game has just passed him by when you get out-coached this much. Go after jack cosgrove, that dude works magic with the talent at Maine — Imagine what he could do with JMU talent.
Cory- You are on crack. The year we won, Mickey was practically absent because he was dealing with family issues. Ironically, it was the best year we ever had.
But I guess it was just the coaches. My teammates didn’t have anything to do with it.
dude that was 2004, it has been a while since that national championship.
I have followed the team from 1995 to current. Pretty sure I’m well versed on Mickey’s short comings and talents. Unlike you I played in the lean years and know what a difference a coach makes to a team. And yeah I watched that season, you go 4-7 without Rascati…maybe. So maybe you can get him to come coach?
KC Keeler was a UD Alum AND took them to a National Championship…including another N/C appearance that they didn’t win. He’s already been fired.
Oh, and they just beat us.
@Cory Mickey is definitely on the hot seat. And it’s not because of tonight’s loss. It’s because of the many losses exactly like tonight’s in the past few years. He very well may be the reason so many talented guys come to JMU, but he’s also accountable for getting the to play up to their potential once they’re in the program.
I pulled for Brady to turn it around during hoops season and I’ll pull just as hard for Mickey. But in my opinion, he’s simply got to do better. JMU has far too many advantages over most of the CAA and FCS to sit home come playoff time again.
Certainly not blaming this L on DQS, but did we burn Abdullah’s redshirt last week to give him two touches this week?
If birdsong would check down to DQS or Abdullah or anybody else in the flat we might have a prayer of moving the chains a little more.
Cory-
The thing is, it isn’t just one loss. It’s two losses this season that should have been wins. It’s the 2010 Richmond, 2010 Delaware, 2011 ODU, 2012 Richmond, 2012 ODU, 2013 Akron, and now 2013 Delaware games. Each of those games featured a Mickey Matthews led team getting completely out-coached, especially in the 2nd half. How many more games must we endure like tonight’s?
In the interest of the athletic department, I hope Cory is a major donor…. b/c nobody else will be giving very much support for those 85 FBS scholarships while MM is still around. It’s not personal, but he’s just not getting it done.
Seems like the same old shit. The talent is there, arguably the most talent in the conference year in and year old. Sometimes physical mistakes happen, thats part of the game. The mental mistakes and penalties (often times one in the same) kill us EVERY YEAR.
Also, when a team repeatedly does not make the adjustments necessary to improve as a football team and win against good (in this case mediocre) competition, it falls on the coaching staff. The man who hides behind the visor has to start answering for the dumb shit that happens in this program!
2004 Duke. We’re still trying to find out who you are? Someone asked last week and it went unanswered? Any chance you have connections from that Nat’l Champ team that you can use to get us some superstar coach?
@Rob Mickey is definitely on the hot seat but if (and to be clear I’m against the idea) JMU wants to go to the FBS they should keep around a guy that can still bring in the big name players.
Chris brought up something that was bothering me too. I’m not blaming DQ at all, as he played hard all night. Why were the coaches so stubborn about trying to establish the running game behind him though, even after it was apparent that UD had his number? I would’ve loved to have seen Abdullah or Simmons thrown into the mix. Or just a more pass-first attack, since UD couldn’t contain Birdsong in the first half. Curious coaching and play-calling tonight.
@Rob good point. I wanted to see Birdsong swing it out to DQ on some of those throw away plays.
True, play calling was weird but something JMU does a lot. Instead of sticking with what was working in the 1st quarter when JMU gets a lead rather than trying to put the nail in the coffin and blow a team out……we would rather go back into out shell and play not too lose on offense and thereby losing all offensive momentum. Momentum is not a freaking light switch that you can turn on/off. If you have a team on the ropes throw the knock-out punch NOT jabs.
I don’t know what the answer is (although I do have my pitchfork and torches ready to riot if a game like this happens one more time), but I’m really tired of watching the same plot play out again and again. Something has to change.
It does seems like if runs are not working, we could get the same thing out of:
– Screens
– Draws
– Bubble Screens
– Quick tosses to the inside WRs.
We ran 25 WR screens last weeks and I did not recall seeing one tonight.
I see the same problem sort of on offense as last year – What is our identity on offense? If we are going to be a pass heavy team lets fully embrace it.
@Angry 04 Alum- I’d buy one of those shirts. Mickey’s time is up.
i think 2004Duke should win the guest blog, because he hit the nail on the head for why JMU would lose.
Special teams are a joke. We seem to kick 1 ball at least out of bounds every game on kickoffs. Scott dances all over the place and Abdullah runs people over and picks up yards but can’t get in the game. Birdsong can’t run but we keep trying. Same stupid plays just new person calling them. Ignorant penalties every week. Constant turnovers. There needs to be a backup qb that can get the Job done. We can go on all night! Same year as always. I have been a big Mickey supporter but there needs to be a change.
I don’t even know what to say about the game other than to mention the very distinct possibility that when I go get my physical on Wednesday I will most likely have very high blood pressure due to extreme exasperation that this team has caused recently.
Shady-
“What is our identity on offense? ” You are exactly right. That has been our problem since 2008.
This team has had the same issues for some time (going well beyond 2013). Each game is a new collection of blown assignments, harmful penalties, and a general lack of discipline. When a team has the same mental and discipline issues week after the week we can address the symptoms or the source. At the source of a team with poor discipline and poor execution is always coaching. This team is, and has been, stocked with talented players. Robertson is a big-time talent but he came to JMU with an out of control temper and a lack of discipline. In his senior year these problems remain. He likely leads the CAA is personal foul penalties. It’s time for Mickey to be shown the door.
I’m with the Dukes! Go for the win!