JMUSB Game Preview #5: Delaware at JMU

Last shot to show-out for T. Reynolds!

How the heck is it Week 5 already?! Seriously, this train is well on its way to what we hope is a long-desired playoff victory. But first, the Dukes welcome those old pain-in-the-ass Blue Chickens to the ‘Burg in what feels a lot like the first true test of the season. Don’t get us wrong, Delaware sucks – as a state, a tax haven, a team with old-school uniforms that no one actually cares they may or may not have been the first to use, and most of all as an underachieving CAA all-sports “rival” that acts like they’re somehow an academic powerhouse even though no state flagship in the nation is more associated with the term safety school than UD. But they absolutely 100% do bring a legitimate physical challenge to Bridgeforth tomorrow. Make no mistake, the Dukes won that odd game after the Vad injury last year because the Chickens weren’t ready for primetime and possibly because their coaching staff and scheme are stuck in the 1980’s but not because JMU in any way “dominated” Delaware up front. This is going to be an old-fashioned bloodbath.

The Basics

Delaware Blue Chickens (2-1, 0-0 CAA and of course off another bye week #CAA4lyfe!) at James Madison Dukes (3-1, 1-0 CAA), 1:30 p.m. Kickoff, Zane Showker Field at Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, VA

Weather: Looking dicey, but should be improving by kickoff and a decent fall day as the game moves along. Also, always sunny in P-Lot (and the new D-Lot!)

Coverage: Haha, #CAA4lyfe! Despite the fact that this game should be one of CAA Football’s marquee matchups of the season, you won’t find this anywhere but our beloved MadiZone. But if you haven’t already, be prepared to be impressed by the color work of JMU Student Adam Coolbaugh (@CoolbawSports) along with the man the myth Curt Dudley.

How Delaware Can Win

By slowing the game down, winning the line of scrimmage, and preventing big plays mostly the same way they did last year. JMU HBC Mike Houston made clear this week that Tarholes aside, UD is the biggest, most physical team the Dukes will have seen so far, and they might be the toughest team at the line of scrimmage the Dukes will see the rest of the regular season. Honestly, the Dukes struggled at UD last year big-time, but UD’s youth, inexperience, and utter lack of a passing game kept them from distancing themselves and Schor/Ravenel found a way in the end. The Dukes cannot rely on that again this time around.

How JMU Can Win

By matching the Chickens’ physicality up front on both sides of the ball and finding ways to let their system, their athletes, and their vastly superior coaching and air attack take over in the second half. The Dukes need to avoid the mistakes they made at UNC and the lulls they allowed in their own intensity at Maine and put together a complete game. UD is strong, but the Dukes are more talented and they have a QB and a coaching staff with a modern definition of the forward pass on their side.

X-Factor

Dukes DB #14 Taylor Reynolds. Taylor is one of the Dukes’ best players and highest NFL potential players this year. He’s also one of the last great Mickey recruits and certainly the one that made the old teddy bear smile the most when he stole the all-everything QB from UD’s hometown of Newark, DE at the last minute. His freshman year up at the pisswall, er, we mean Tubby Raymond Stadium, he overcame a ton of JMU-fan criticism to make a huge interception and there’s no doubt after missing the game in Canada last week with the flu, he’ll be itching to prove one last time how smart his decision was to abandon that hellhole for all the glory of the Valley.

Beer of the Week

Bell’s Quinannan Falls Special Lager Beer – We can respect our guest poster’s wish for an everyman beer this week while still staying true to a sense of actual taste. Ha. Michigan’s Bell’s has been in the vanguard of the beer explosion in the U.S. for years and this is an exceptional offering from the upper midwest. It’s also one of the best “gateway” beers for the AB-InBev/Miller/Coors sheeple out there. If you like regular-ass beer, you’ll love this ‘un.

Official JMUSB Prediction

Dukes 31, Chickens 17 – Sorry UD, we respect your potential, but until we see a passing game, in Houston we trust!