Sep 22 / Todd

Dukes Fall to Nova

JMU fell to Villanova 49-31 on Saturday. Predictably, the Chicken Littles in our fanbase went nuts. While I tend to join those folks on #CAA4lyfe issues, I’m unquestionably going the other way this time and choosing to see some silver linings in this Dukes performance. Rob and I were both traveling different spots this weekend (tip of the cap to The BierGarden in Asheville for giving up a prime tv for two JMU fans amidst of see of Georgia and Georgia Tech partisans) and as you know we’re old, and there just isn’t enough time to go through this one with our usual “thoroughness.” Check out the DNR’s fantastic Matt Jones here for that. Yes there was bad (defensive meltdown, gashed for huge plays on the ground, penalties, a forced INT late, and one of the worst missed Pass Interference calls you’ll ever see that proved to be the turning point in the game), but we’re just covering the good today (I’m sure 04 and company will cover all the bad in the comments if you care to wait a few hours)

Bottom line on this one is that the Dukes played their asses off, made some great plays, but eventually ran out of gas, showed their inexperience, and ultimately lost going away to a better team, indeed the one team in the CAA that is likely in true contender status already. JMU was a 20.5 point underdog by kickoff and it just about turned out that way, but this was truly a game that was more competitive than the final score. You can freak out about the meltdown from the mid-3rd on, but we choose to take some enjoyment and hope out of the fact the Dukes even managed to get out to a 24-14 lead in the third quarter at all.

Progress. That’s what we want to see each week and we’re starting to see it. Honestly, if you penciled this in as a W before the season, then good for you, but this was JMU’s toughest remaining game (as further evidenced by Towson struggling with NC Central and Charlotte and Elon engaging each other in an offensively challenged rockfight) and the Dukes absolutely competed. They gave up two long, long running plays to Villanova, but for the most part actually looked more stout at the line of scrimmage against the run and did a decent job of limiting Nova’s biggest weapon, QB John Robertson (oh yeah, in case you didn’t notice, he’s pretty darned good).

The offense IS ready and DOES have potential. 31 points is 31 points. Against a top five team. Yes, the defense set them up a bit in the first half, but three passing TD’s in the second quarter alone was exactly the type of explosiveness we’ve all dreamed of for years. And about those three Villanova turnovers that some fans called “lucky” for JMU in the first half. The muffed punt was lucky. The Dukes took those other two including that fabulous play by Stallings. Once the Dukes lost him and were without a healthy Steele, you could really see the dropoff in our defense, but hopefully those guys are both on their way back soon (glad to see no hesitation from the Dukes trainers about Stallings status after he so clearly suffered a head injury; and man was he ballin’ before that!).

But we’re betting if you gave Nova coach Andy Talley some truth serum, he’d tell you he was awful nervous about the Dukes potential after seeing Lee, Hyman, and company play like no Dukes team we’ve seen in a while in that first half. The way JMU had the ability to really trade punches for a while was something we take only encouragement from about moving forward with the season. Finally, one quick note about the season and next week. If you remember from our season preview, we said getting out of the first five weeks at 3-2 was both a challenge (with MD and Nova on the schedule as likely L’s and close games likely with Lehigh and UD) and crucial to the season. Well, the Dukes have one to go in that stretch as old rival the Blue Chickens come to BFS this weekend and there’s every reason to think they can still do it. Huge game this week and we all need to put this one behind us and focus on the rootin’ at hand!

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6 Comments

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  1. Cory / Sep 22 2014

    Defense still needs a TON of work. Offense did look better but Vad still has a tendency to be reckless with the ball.

  2. Shady_P / Sep 22 2014

    I see the offense getting better each week and after 4 weeks right where I thought JMU would be at 2-2 with the schedule setup nicely over the next few weeks.

  3. 2004 Duke / Sep 22 2014

    I thought our guys tried really hard and make a great effort. As long as everyone had fun, that’s what matters. You really have to give the defense credit for stepping up an holding Nova to a paltry 4.9 yards per carry.

    Seriously though….
    All this passing had us confused…we thought we were watching the wrong game. Game ball to Vad Lee for stepping up and validating the dual threat rumor against a top-tier team. Really excited to see the WR’s get some play. I wonder where Rockeed McCarter and Daniel Brown would stand in JMU lore has we attempted 46 passes in any of the prior 10 seasons.

    The team proved that they have the ability to hang with the cream of the crop. We aren’t going to go far or do anything while we’re giving up 4.9 YPC, or just playing 2.5 quarters of a 4 qtr game, but it will probably get us just over the playoff bubble and in the door. Hopefully they can tighten up the defense as the season goes on.

    Next question: Was this a one hit wonder or can Vad do it again next week? (hopefully the kool-aiders won’t bash me for asking that. It seems like an obvious question)

  4. Don E / Sep 22 2014

    Where can we find an injury report. It seems like JMU has a lot of players hurt. Especially the running backs. When are they expected back? What is the status of Gage Steele? Getting some key defensive players back and running the ball more (resting the defense) should help.

  5. Shady_P / Sep 22 2014

    EW gets his first JMU win over a top 25 team in UD this weekend. UD ranked #25, really???

  6. Todd / Sep 22 2014

    04 – Hope you don’t mind me giving you a good-natured ribbing there. Also – great question about McCarter and Brown. It’s funny to think that there are probably less talented guys from the Alex Wood chuck n’ duck days that have better stats than a few of the studs we’ve underutilized. No Kool Aid, and the defense has miles to go for sure, but glad to see a lot of us sober up and realize what happened here and who is was against.

    This weekend is huge for Lee and the whole team.

    Don E. – I was wondering the same thing today. Matt Jones has been filing “practice reports” for offense and defense on Wednesdays and Thursdays I think so without deep research or visiting the boards and sorting through realignment nonsense, that’s probably our best bet.

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