JMU Goes One and Done in the Playoffs…Again
Another winning season, another playoff bid, and another year of going home after one game for JMU. The Dukes went 9-2 in the regular season and earned both a seed and an opening round bye for the playoffs. For the second year in a row however, they were upset at home. The playoffs were over practically before they even started. Last year it was to Liberty. Yesterday it was to the Colgate Raiders from the Patriot League. Colgate played well and earned the win. Make no doubt about it though, the Raiders 44-38 win was an upset.
We gave ourselves a much needed cooling off period after the game. The hope was that we’d gain some sort of perspective that could better sum up the disappointing end to the season. We didn’t. We’re still as frustrated and confused about what happened yesterday as we were when the final seconds ticked off the clock. But there’s no sense putting it off any longer. In no particular order here are some thoughts on the loss and the program in general.
Upset? Epic Choke? Just an Ugly Loss?
The Dukes were a 20 point favorite over Colgate. Anyone who has watched JMU play the past month or so, knew that was a bit much. The Dukes were supposed to win though. Without taking anything away from Colgate, a team that came to play and earned the win, JMU was the better team on paper. But the Dukes lost. They made mistakes from the opening kick (literally) and let Colgate storm out to an early 17-0 lead. Despite gifting Colgate points, JMU was still poised to take control of the game. Multiple times. Yet they never did. The D would shut down Colgate one series. Then let them rumble for a big scoring play the next. Then with first and goal late in the game, the FCS’s top offense failed to march in for the likely game winning touchdown. Ball game.
It was definitely an upset. It might have been an epic choke job. It was without a doubt, an ugly loss.
The Defense
It ain’t good. It hasn’t been good all year. We knew this. But we still let ourselves get sucked into the foolish belief that things would turn around. They didn’t. Sure, the defense had a couple good series in the second half. But once again, they let a couple guys on the other team have career days rushing the ball. Colgate’s QB, Jake Melville, rambled for 163 yards (with only 14 carries) on the ground. Nobody was mistaking this guy for Mike Vick. Most his yards came via his deadly “continue to run in a relatively straight line while the defenders stand around flat footed before taking awful pursuit angles” technique.
The Raiders’ running back, James Holland, broke through arm tackles all day on his way to 162 yards rushing. Holland is a nice player. A nice player who only went over 100 yards in one other game prior to facing JMU. And with the season on the line, in a home playoff game, JMU let him run away with the game. Melville is a good player as well. He’s not an 11 yards a carry sort of rushing threat though.
We could debate the scheme all day. The simple fact is that the defense just fails to make plays. Week in and week out we see opponents go for career bests against the Dukes. Defensive Coordinator Steve Sisa is getting heat from fans, but at a certain point (and that point was probably back in October), the head coach needs to fix it. Firing Sisa and replacing him with another $70K coordinator isn’t going to do it. The same struggles we saw on defense in September, were still visible yesterday. To wake up this morning and pretend like we didn’t see this coming, is foolish. We saw it all year and yet we never heard anyone on the coaching staff step up and admit the truth. Coaches can hold others accountable, without calling them out personally. Instead we got a bunch of “haven’t watched the tape yet” non-quotes that never really seemed to accept the reality of the situation.
Vad Lee Was Really, Really Good
Obviously Lee was a special player. He was so special in fact that when he was playing, we were all able to ignore the glaring issues elsewhere.
He Wasn’t the Only Good Guy on the Roster
Yes, Lee was an all-time great. The Dukes’ offense was an absolute machine with him at the helm. Bryan Schor played very well once Lee went down though. Johnson and Abdullah continued to run the ball well. Brandon Ravenel went full on beast mode. The offense looked off and struggled to stay in rhythm yesterday. Yet, JMU still put up 38 points. That should have been enough to beat most teams. It certainly should have been enough to beat Colgate. However, after watching the offense click under Lee, we started to view any non-scoring JMU drive as a failure. We were spoiled. The offense wasn’t amazing yesterday, but it was good enough.
Except When it Wasn’t
Colgate opened a door when its kicker missed an extra point late. Trailing by only six points instead of seven, the Dukes marched down the field and had first and goal with a chance to take the lead. They didn’t punch it in though. They ran three times. Then they failed to complete a fade route. Turnover on downs. Season over.
Obviously, it’s a completely hack blogger move to question playcalling. But, what was up with that playcalling?
Losing Is Better Than Watching
There is a glass half full perspective. We’re sitting here complaining about JMU coming up short in the playoffs. Read that last part again. It says “in the playoffs.” Everett Withers has been JMU’s coach for two years and JMU has gone to the playoffs two times. It definitely stings to lose in the postseason, but getting there two years in a row is great. In fact, no JMU coach has ever made the postseason in his first two years. The losses sting, but after failing to qualify for the playoffs consistently in the end of the Mickey Matthews’ era, the Dukes are approaching regulars status.
Integrity Matters
The defense was missing a trio of talented players all season. KJ Ford, Raheem Stallings, and Jimmy Moreland were all kicked off the team prior to this season for violating team rules. Coach Withers made the call. He set a standard for the program and he committed to holding everyone accountable. Some coaches would have looked the other way and made exceptions for players as talented as Ford, Stallings, and Moreland. Withers didn’t, even if he knew their absence would hurt. They did. It was the right move for the long term though.
More Good Memories Than Bad
Clearly, the loss stings and it’s gonna leave a bad taste in our mouths for a while. This was a really fun season though. We got to watch Vad Lee play. Go back and check the highlights. It was a pleasure and a treat. We witnessed one of the most talented and exciting receiving corps the ‘burg has seen in a while. We had College Gameday on campus. That’s not a typo. We really had College Gameday broadcast from the Quad. And despite what you might have read in our rambling, overemotional, and frankly senseless in-game Tweets, the new uniforms were amazing. They added additional excitement to a program that was craving it. The season ended on a sour note, but it was still a heck of a lot of fun overall.
Future is Still Bright
We’re all frustrated about the loss. If you’ve read this far, you understand that. Getting upset two years in a row in the playoffs stinks. But there is a lot to be happy about regarding the JMU football program. Like all of us, Withers has areas for improvement. He’s completely changed the culture of the program for the better though. The folks calling for his head either see something we don’t, or they’re just a bit nuts. Two years. Two playoff appearances. Two playoff losses that sting. The program is pointed in the right direction though.
Withers is not great, but he is making JMU better. I can’t say the same for the D coordinator. To quote a fellow coach: “If the offense scores 21 points the defense should be good enough to win the game.”
Keeping that in mind JMU should have been undefeated and still playing. Sorry but Steve Sisa needs to go sooner rather than later.
Thanks for your informative Blog and always being on point.The one thing I find after watching football for 50 years now. (My Dad being a Head Football Coach when I was born) Having a defense that can’t stop its opponent is so hard to watch. I’m a Giant fan since I grew up right outside Giants Stadium so after this weekend. I’m physically & mentally destroyed from watching these two teams basically let two playoff games slip out of our hands from pour tackling? But JMU please…please do something about that defense. I know those guys gave it everything they had but something is missing? They played with intensity and looked like they gave everything they had but something is missing? I can’t put my finger on it because guys make plays but its like one play out of every 4 someone looks out of place? The Offense played well I just wish they took a little more time during that crucial last 4 plays on the Goal line? It looked like, if Schor had taken the ball on 2nd down on the read option, he looked like he could have walked in like he did earlier? Tough…tough to watch? I don’t think I’ve ever followed these two teams and seen such inept on the defensive side of the ball. Coach Withers come on now, you have everything going in the right direction but the defense and that was your specialty right? I do love all the positives, the players are giving you 100% and “GAME DAY” was especially cool for JMU!!! Thanks for all the excitement all year. I could have used a little less on the “D” 38-0 would have been more my liking…I like Schor he will do fine next two years lets rally around him…If Jimmy Moreland has straighten up his act get him back!
I got a lot of things to say. I’ll keep it positive. Brandon Ravenel kept us in the game with his returns. He deserves a lot of credit.
@Cory You’re right and Sisa probably does need to go. I did a very poor job of making my point, but I was trying to say that EW shoulders some of the responsibility for the D as well. This wasn’t a surprise or a case of the D fading late. The issues were there all season and the entire coaching staff failed to fix them. I’d hope that as a former DC, Withers could have stepped in and done something to make it at least a little bit better during the season.
@SP80 I’m a diehard Giants fan as well, so I feel your pain.
Our cornerbacks need to have some practices with Matt Brady and learn how to jump for the ball. And let’s be optimistic, I think that Will Muschamp is still on the market; let’s hope he takes the $2mil paycut and comes to JMU
At least we cleaned up the penalties. That’s usually what kills us.
BUT THEY GOT CUTE NEW HELMETS….
It was a very disappointing end to a really fun season.
It was a pleasure to be able to watch Vad Lee play. Whenever he was on the field, you KNEW JMU had a chance. He was always the one player we all knew the Dukes could not afford to lose. He made everyone else on the field better. The defense had to key on him since he was a threat to take it the distance any time he ran the ball. That made the other running backs more dangerous because it made the defense hesitate on a quarterback/running back exchange. Our running backs are good and took great advantage of that step it gave them. On pass plays, Vad was still a threat to take it the distance which helped our receivers get open and he spread the ball around. The defense could not key on any one player. Brian did a really good job, but he is not Vad and the offence was not a machine that you could just plug in a replacement part.
I had the same feeling in the Richmond game that I had in 2008 freezing my butt off in the end zone during the Montana game…looking and hoping that Landers was going to emerge from the locker room in the 2nd half…and not seeing him. Dudzik did a great job, but he was not Landers. We still hoped, and we were still close, but deep down we knew it was the one person we couldn’t replace and have a realistic shot at a championship. I really believe that if Lee does not get hurt, JMU beats Richmond and the season is very different just as I believe that JMU moves on to the championship if Landers does not go down.
I do think the program is moving in the right direction. We have some very talented, young players and many more coming into the program. I like that the conversation is how far we go in the playoffs and not if we make the playoffs. Withers is far from perfect, but I like a lot of what he has done and hope to see him on the JMU sidelines for years to come.
Go Dukes!!! On to hoops!
I agree with a lot of what has been said. I will say this offense wins games and Defense wins championships. Sisa should be gone this morning along with some of the other defensive coaches. Our defense just isn’t bad they a terrible. They have no technique or angle of pursuit what so ever. They are a hard to watch. In the DNR this morning one fo the defensive players said the coaches had 2 different defense called on the QB long run. That just shows lack of knowledge and miscommunications. We have had plenty of that this year. I think EW has improved JMU football and want to see him stay but he has to fix the defense. In college football you coaching you don’t have friends you have to do your job and defensive coaches have been lacking that the last two years. Now is the time to make the change.
All of our coordinators were rookies this season and it showed. Withers said in the preseason that they were great teachers, but It didn’t look like their lessons took hold.
Too many times during the year, at the Monday press luncheon, Withers said “we have to get better”. That was the answer to most questions. Never mentioned adjustments on defense, etc. Fans and supporters deserve to hear more. His comments after the game about ” they made more plays” just doesn’t get it for me. We have talent, but to see players play their guts out without the benefit of good coaching (OC & DC) is frustrating. We went 7-0 beating the tar out of weak teams with a star quarterback. But when it came to beating REAL teams, we couldn’t do it. Our backup QB did the best he could, but he doesn’t play defense. We were lucky to beat NOVA thanks to their turnovers. We score 49 against Richmond and lose……help me here!! Withers has to make some tough decisions before next year if we want to be as good as we APPEARED to be this year.
Well done, guys. Really appreciate the in depth analysis throughout the season. You are my go to source for JMU Football.
Well that loss was a tough one to take. I know the players took it hard.
1 – I agree with your assessment of questioning the play-calling on the last JMU drive inside the 10 yard line. With 1st and goal from the 8, I get the first running play but once that only gets you to the five and knowing short yardage/goal line power runs were not exactly our specialty I did not get the 2nd and 3rd down calls at all. When you have Rashard Davis who you can sling a WR screen too, Domo Taylor for a jump ball, or Brandon Ravenal for a back shoulder throw…….why run the ball twice and limit your ‘real’ chances to score.
2 – There need to be major changes on D. I think EW needs to bring in a more seasoned guy to be DC who will also be willing to stand up to EW for changes to scheme that just are not working. Don’t know where you get that guy but JMU needs some wholesale changes scheme-wise to fix this D. 2 years if 3-4 and it has looked really bad.
After watching the Colgate game… I think talent on D is definitely lacking. We can yell all we want about scheme, but we are there, we are always ***ing there but don’t make the play.
Maybe they’re just too young and not physically mature..? who knows… we complain about the DL and LBs but after watching the game again,we have a big problem at safety.
It’s a will problem if you can’t tackle… and TOO MANY times on Saturday, our safeties were there to make a play and whiff. Same with dropped interceptions… it’s not good enough to be in the right place if you can’t make a play.
On to recruiting
some stats: Of JMU’s 9 wins there were six conference wins with teams that had a combined won lost of 34-41. Two of these were over teams with winning records, Nova @ 6-5, and Towson @ 7-4. The other three wins ( non conference ) were over: Morehead @ 7-4, Lehigh @ 6-5, and SMU @ 2-10. Total W- L 15-19. Teams that we lost to had records of 9-3 and 9-4, or combined 18-7. I am not inferring anything with this, but it seems like we play really well against the lower half and close but no cigar against winning teams. The wild card in all of this is the injury to Vad Lee. Had he been there for the whole season things could have easily been different.
I agree with Jay D in that the defensive players technique, and pursuit angle is extremely suspect. Case in point: When our corner came in and attacked the quarterback he took a terrible angle and the QB easily got the corner on him and went for the touchdown. I was taught that when you go across the line of scrimmage, make sure your inside shoulder is on the runner’s, or QB’s outside shoulder as you pursue, so that you can turn them inside where you have help. This is a very old technique, ( I am old ) and maybe there is a different technique taught today, but he doesn’t get around you if you use this. I think we were young at the first of the year on defense, but when you have played 11 games you are not a rookie anymore. I think the program is sound, and the culture has changed, but it must be tweaked. I wonder if Mickey would agree to be the defensive coordinator?
Oh, by the way, I think we can stop all of the talk about FBS. When you get beat by the Patriot League, at home, in a playoff game, you are not ready for FBS.
Agree. The coaches can put you in the right position to make a play, but you have to make the play.
It seems to me we need to have players along both lines that have more of a nasty streak. I am not saying dirty players but I think our lines need to have more of a mean streak……and maybe they do, I just don’t get the impression they do.
I agree with Tidewater Duke, yes VAD did wonders on offense but when Richmond pounded us for 700 yards total offense, Vad couldn’t help with that. With just a reasonably decent defense, we could have gone undefeated. I mistakenly thought that with Wither’s background at OSU, a defensive coordinator, he would be able to tweak our defense during the year. NOT!! If we want to be REAL champions, Withers has to step up to the plate and make some hard decisions and replace our OC and DC. I want to be excited about the future, but I just don’t know.
One of the problems the fan base in general had with Coach Matthews was his sideline demeanor, most notably with the referees, and how he was often dismissive of the media.
Watching Coach Withers’ post-game pressers this year, especially after the loss Saturday, it doesn’t appear he has much respect for the press and he comes off often as condescending; to wit (with paraphrasing):
I could go through it, but you wouldn’t understand it (about Colgate interior blocking)
there were a lot of mistakes today, but I can’t tell you what they were — I haven’t watched the tape yet
I think they made more plays than we did (on back-to-back questions)
They dropped ’em (talking about the dropped kicks)
Re: haven’t watched the tape yet — considering most of the first 11 games, I don’t know why he wouldn’t have known what the mistakes might have been.
Combined with his facial expressions, he appears to be there because he has to, not because he wants to be there. At this rate, he’s got about 1-2 seasons (1 if they flame out again next year) before the media stops helping.
Next year’s early schedule is junk, but at least we’ll know how good we might be by the end of Week 6 (UNC, UDel, & W&M) as opposed getting exposed in Weeks 8-9 and crushing the confidence and hope of the fan base.
Coach Withers didn’t think there was any difference between the Liberty and Colgate losses (we had momentum this year, too). I found 1 silver lining — we didn’t lose $175K in the bidding process.
All that said, thanks for the blog, guys. Connection from 500 miles away is welcome and you do an admirable job letting us vent.