The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly From JMU vs. Delaware
The Dukes dropped a heartbreaker to the Delaware Blue Hens yesterday, falling 30-23 in overtime. It’s been over 24 hours and I’m still at a loss for words. Or at least I’m at a loss for words or thoughts that make any sense at all. Maybe I’m still in shock. The fact is that JMU lost to what appears to be a middle of the CAA pack Delaware team at home. Vad Lee and the Dukes showed some real toughness to rally twice to tie late in the fourth quarter to force overtime. They had to rally because they basically sleepwalked through the first three and half quarters. And then they had to rally again, because after they tied it at 16-16, the defense surrendered an 86 yard TD pass three plays later. This 86 yard TD pass is not be confused with the 75 yard TD pass Delaware had on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Did I mention that I might still be in shock?
On paper, this was a game that JMU should have clearly won. Save a couple boneheaded penalties, dumb mistakes, missed extra points, dropped TD passes, completely blown defensive assignments and missed tackles on long TDs, backward punts, and questionable playcalling, they probably would have won. Or maybe I just typed a list of things losing teams do over the course of a football game. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly from JMU’s loss.
The Good
Vad Lee is not the problem folks. Like any JMU quarterback since 2008, he’s not living up to (unfair) comparisons to Rodney Landers, but he’s playing well. Yesterday, he certainly played well enough to win. He was composed and effective during the Dukes’ two late drives to tie. He’s improved each week and has command of the offense. If not for a dropped TD pass from the usually sure handed Daniel Brown and a litany of mistakes by the defense and special teams, we’d probably be talking about how Lee rallied the team to a win on a day they didn’t have their A-game.
Gage Steele’s interception was an absolutely spectacular play when JMU needed one urgently. If JMU would have somehow rallied to win, that would have gone done with Cortez Thompson’s return as one of the standout plays of the JMU and UD rivalry.
Sage Harold’s QB pressure was a welcome development. The Dukes have struggled to get to the quarterback while adjusting to the new defensive scheme. Harold came off the edge to get 2 sacks yesterday though. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.
Honorable mention: Finally seeing Dean Marlowe play deep safety instead of spending the majority of his time in nickel coverage, and the 43 yard field goal that looked ugly as hell, but went through the uprights to tie it at 16 all.
The Bad
Daniel “Touchdown” Brown dropping an easy one. Look, it happens. And Brown has given way more than he’s gotten over the years. But the Dukes needed that one yesterday and he dropped it. Aside from the drop, he had a solid game and continues to improve his chemistry with Vad Lee. He’ll bounce back. He’s too good not too.
The coaching wasn’t too hot either. We’re only 5 games into the new era, but the entire coaching staff needs to improve for JMU to compete. Keep in mind, we’re not questioning the Withers hire or calling for anyone to be fired. The coaching staff is inexperienced and it’s showed this season. It was particularly evident yesterday. The team lacks discipline and the defense continues to have major breakdowns. Part of that is obviously on the players on the field, but it’s the coaches job to prepare them and teach the fundamentals. Withers and the staff have got to do both better. Also, there is nothing that screams “hack blogger” more than some loser keyboard jockey questioning the play calling. Which reminds me, the play calling in OT was suspect. Finally, would it be so bad to line up under center on 4th and short?
The Ugly
The Not Very Special Teams were particularly not very special yesterday. Credit to Arnonne for putting a rough game behind him and nailing a pressure filled 43 yard kick in the clutch. He also had a blocked field goal and a mixed extra point though. That all adds up to ugly. Perhaps worse was the punt game, with the obvious example being a -14 yard punt. A -14 yard punt. And then there was the kick-off game that was crippled by not one, but two offsides penalties. Nowhere to go but up.
The 75 yard TD and the 86 yard TD were both epic failures. The cover guys got beat, but then everyone just sort of flailed away while chasing the receiver down the field. Ugly. Really ugly. Like “makes me want to smash my television in a million pieces” ugly.
Inches. While it’s not really any particular players fault, it was just ugly to lose a game literally by inches on the final play. Freshman Taylor Woods looked like he was going to get in around the edge, but Delaware stopped him inches short of the end zone. Maybe that deserves its own category of painful. And the fact that the CAA has replay, but doesn’t have a camera positioned at the goal line sort of negates the purpose of replay reviews. So the CAA replay system gets thrown in the ugly category as well.
Moving On
It was a brutal loss, but JMU can get back on track next week at Albany. Vad Lee is playing well and one of these days the offense will come out of the gates firing. The defense opened with an awful play, actually played pretty well for a stretch, and then appeared to run out of gas or fall asleep at the wheel when needed most. Despite all that, they probably took a step forward yesterday. Plenty to improve upon sure and the Dukes have dug themselves quite a hole. But all hope is not lost. The toughest part of the schedule is behind them. Eliminate the dumb mistakes, and they can win out. The inverse is also true of course, but let’s focus on the positive. There’s a whole lot of football left to play.
I’m also still at a loss for words but this sums it up fairly well. JMU is young at both players and coaches, and it shows very obviously at times. I really thought we were done with ‘4th-and-less-than-one-from-the-shotgun’ when we fired Mickey Matthews. I’d also love to know what the thought process was for calling timeout with under 30 seconds in the half down a touchdown on 4th and 1 on the UD side of the field, and then punting the ball (let alone a -14 yard punt). Never mind… I’m getting upset again. The toughest part about being a fan is we want results now. Hopefully we grow up fast.
As one who just speaks the truth and calls it like I see it, I have to actually come to EW’s aid here. The play calling wasn’t that bad. The last play of OT was actually an outstanding play call in that situation, but Delaware’s OLB/DE (can’t remember which) made an even more outstanding defensive play to force the pitch WAY early, which pretty much blew the play up. The defensive player did exactly what you are supposed to do to stop the option- he attached and forced the pitch rather than hesitate and see where the ball was going. Kudos to him.
Also, the Shotgun crap on 4th and inches is one of those annoying fads in college football right now. I hate it, but everyone seems to be doing it (except for teams like NDSU who are actually winning championships). Thanks Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow for ruining short yardage football.
What WAS bad was:
-The crowd. That was embarrassing.
-A certain defensive back that shall not be named who still doesn’t understand coverages.
-Tackling
-Effort.
The defense just looks soft and like they don’t really care about winning, but they get to play dress-up on Saturdays and wear gigantic special issue football sweats that all the JMU ladies try to get from them. Seriously, if I were EW I would removed the “JMU” from all of their helmets and make them earn it back.
Indeed, Gage Steele’s catch was the most Endy Chavez thing ever.
4th and 1inch? Come on for c sake shotgun? Seemed familiar??? If you watch the last play 84 son you missed your block what part of “put your butt between you and the RB” did you not learn in Peewee league plus the RB should have run to the ball wider he would have beaten every one to the pylon because the best block was the outside WRers…tough loss…Special teams would be running Monday until they couldn’t. Its tough to watch JMU and feel good afterwards a lot of questions???
I think the young coaches have to do a better job of coaching. The defense is terrible outside of a play or two. they definitely need a lesson on how to tackle. I was hopeful at the start of the season but in reality we are probably a 4-8 or 5-7 team this year. I just hope the players and coaches can get their act together and we can look respectful.
Gutsy play by Vad in the fourth quarter of that football game.
JMU gave away at least 14 points in this game that made it appear the offense did not have a good day. I stick by my statement that the offense is NOT the problem on this team.
Daniel Brown drop – 7 points
Missed XP – 1 point
Blocked FG – 3 points
Failed 4th and goal – 3 points (I do get EW going for it there b/c I am sure he had lost all faith in special teams on the day at this point)
Tackling MUST get better. On both long TDs by UD JMU tried to shoulder tackle instead of wrapping up. On the last long TD the the QB should have been sacked before the pass.
I thought #22 – Woodyard played a very good game at CB, considering he just moved to defense.
Glad to see Deandre Smith more involved.
Sage Harold really showed up and was in the UD backfield a bunch in this game.
I also thought the 4th and goal play call was a solid choice there. UD just made a better play.
How in the name of all things holy do you punt backwards for -14 yards?! I was there. I saw it. But I still can’t believe it!
The punt was awful and embarassing but at the end of the day did not cost JMU a point. I get the logic of what EW did there…..it’s 4th down and I don’t want to risk not getting it and give UD the ball at midfield….so rundown the clock, call timeout, and punt it away. Makes perfect sense……I don’t think anyone could anticipate even in your darkest thoughts a punt that bad.
Players gotta make plays.
Can we add an apathetic an JMU student body to the Bad or Ugly? The JMU student body provides little to no support to any JMU athletic program.
Left in droves at halftime of a 7 point game in our home CAA opener, great job students!!!
– Close, competitive game – check
– Rival game – check
– Home conference opener – check
– Important game – check
– Beautiful Day – check
– Good game time – check (can sleep late & not interefere with evening drunkeness and debauchery which is not an item to be discounted)
– Improvement by staff getting students thru the gates – check
Other than a promise of the Dukettes doing a topless number post-game not sure whatelse JMU could do.
IMO … all we need is a winning team!
Everyone loves a winner.
@Shady_P winning tends to cure a lot of things and bring the crowds back. I share your frustration about the crowd situation, but there are a few things working against JMU here. First of all, the team hasn’t been good since prior to when virtually all of the current students entered school. Second, it’s the first time UD has played in the ‘burg in years, so the rivalry might not click w/students the way it does with alums.
Like I said, I share your frustration. Live it and let live though. I try to just ignore it and enjoy the games. Life is too short for me to waste time complaining that people much younger than me don’t like all the same things that I do. And when you think about, that’s all we’re doing if we bitch about student attendance.
The team has been good in recent years but not good enough for the spoiled children of Jmu. Honestly the fans were up until 2004 and only stayed good through 2008 or so. I’ve been part of or going to games since 1995 and these students as fans really are getting worse.
Vad is good but he’s not carry the team good. He needs help around him and clearly he’s only getting help sporadically. The coaches are who we thought they were. We can only hope that what they lack in experience they make up for in enthusiasm.
@shady- I third your frustration. Rob’s answer was pretty well-thought out, too.
I really don’t think winning would fix it. The students are just apathetic about everything I think.
And with regard to the current students not recognizing UD as a rival —- we play them in every other sport — they are at JMU each and every year.
Seriously that’s the excuses we are going with…….Excuse me if I am confused here but UD is the shining example of a ‘peer institution’ in the CAA that the JMU Admin holds up as a reason why the CAA is the ‘right’ place for JMU. So if that does not hold for UD, I would hate to see how the student body would react to Rhody/Elon/Albany/Stony Brook/Towson/UNH/Villanova or any CAA team outside of Richmond and W&M.
So the rivalry aspect and mid-atlantic opponents is NO LONGER a valid reason for rebuking the SB —- I was just waiting for someone to lob it out there that nobody cares (especially students) about playing UD.
JMU folks are always quick to make fun of other schools/programs but in essence the JMU student support is no better than Georgia State — look for JMU to attempt a raffle at the end of the game to keep students there.
I really don’t care to get into the whole FBS vs. FCS debate, so I’ll probably regret even asking this, but is your argument really that the students are apathetic and therefore JMU should go FBS?
Not debating it, but it sure as heck would not hurt.
I don’t buy student’s not knowing UD is rival, but that they simply don’t care about CAA/FCS opponents. Even if I did give that some credence the CAA is a hogde-podge of Full members/football only members/ everything but football members that can be confusing to keep track of for non die-hards. And UD is a full member and they are not recognized as a rival so how do you think Villanova/Maine/Richmond/Rhody/Elon/UNH/Stony/Albany/NE/Hofstra are preceived. The only full members of the CAA are JMU/W&M/UD/Towson I think.
After FBS everything else is small-time. Even if the quality of play is not that big a difference between CAA & MAC/CUSA/BELT (by the way it is getting to be a bigger difference every year) it is about perception. The average Joe knows FBS is the top level but have no clue the difference between FCS- DII – DIII – NAIA. Heck even on the ESPN standings page it lists Division IIA(FCS).
The playoffs might mean something to die-hard FCS fans but to most folks they don’t get it and know the bowl structure/system. Even in 2nd tier conferences FBS, perform well, win 7+ games and chances are very good you get rewarded with a game in December which will most likely be better attended and promoted than any FCS playoff game.
The team played undisciplined (talking to you defense), and those basic concepts can be coached and clearly hasn’t been emphasized after losses this season, growing pains hurt with a new coach and system but winnable games that are lost because of simple football fundamentals like over pursuing and poor tackling is a bitter pill to watch every week.
I highly doubt that students will care about teams such as Arkansas State, Idaho, Middle Tennessee, UAB, Michigan, Buffalo, etc. any more than current CAA teams. In fact, I’d be willing to bet they care more about Richmond, W&M, UD, Towson just due to geographic proximity. Most FBS conferences make zero sense geographically and contain teams that even I have to do a double take with (and I watch a ton of football).
There is a problem with fan apathy, but I don’t think it’s an FBS/FCS problem. Elevating our play to something higher than mediocre would be a good start to fixing the apathy. (we have been boring, predictable, and middle of the road ever since 2008) Don’t underestimate how much not having a home playoff game since 2008 has hurt too. Home playoff games would be huge ways of keeping fan interest and momentum going.
My experience was that the students were more interested in getting drunk in the parking lot than cheering for JMU. It used to really piss me off to realize that they were all Hokies/Buckeyes/Irish fans who were just enrolled at JMU.
It’s an identity problem. I talk to students all the time, and JMU isn’t a “football” school to them. It’s a “party” school. I’m not saying those two can’t overlap — Miami, WVU, LSU all fit into both categories — but that’s the crux of the problem.
Since JMU started getting national recognition as a party school over the last 10 years, the diehards have slowly ebbed out of Bridgeforth due to other distractions. Then you mix in the mediocrity of the team, and how many close games have been lost since 2009 (UR ’09, Maine ’11, ODU ’12, Delware ’14 all immediately come to mind) and it’s starting to become a narrative. The rise of Greek Life is the biggest problem right now — football games are no longer athletic events, but social ones. I used to live with sorority girls, and they would get dressed up for football games like it was the Kentucky Derby, or even worse, a UVA game. They’d tailgate, go to daydrinks, and “make an appearance” at Bridgeforth, as if it was some sort of social obligation.
That’s the problem these days. People aren’t going to games with the primary objective to watch football.
I would understand more, students just not coming like they do with basketball, than I do with what I see as the issue —- leaving at Halftime. Seriously, if you are going to leave at halftime — why even come into the game? Just stay at your tailgate/dorm/apartment or do whatever else you do on 5/6 saturday afternoons for 3 hours each year.
I even get the showing up late thing b/c 18-22 year olds are almost always late for everything…..it’s the leaving early from a competitive/close game in chamber of commerce weather that is a mystery to me.
@Sunchase- “The rise of Greek Life is the biggest problem right now” Seriously? JMU is only like 30% greek. It doesn’t seem to be a problem at ANY of the SEC and ACC schools where the campuses are like 80% greek. If anything, that makes it a BETTER environment because large mobs of people go to the game together….at least at other schools.