Dukes Win Big, Keep Season Alive
Well, the single most important piece of news is the Dukes bounced back from the Delaware debacle and picked up a “W,” thus keeping all of our hopes that they’ll go and have themselves a season alive for at least another week and setting up a make or break game at home against the hated Poormond Ticks next week. Beyond that, let’s just say it could’ve, and should’ve been easier and this one didn’t do much to clear up the lingering concerns.
The Good
The Dukes won by 27, and threw up the points and yardage expected against a terrible Albany team (could be wrong, but certainly looked like Albany was even worse than STFU or CCSU – they simply didn’t have a single player that was athletically capable of scaring the Dukes).
Kid is unstoppable right now!
Both Mike’s, Birdsong and O’Cain, have unlocked the secret that is Daniel Brown. Right now there’s simply no covering him at the FCS level and it’s nice to be running an offense that seems capable of exploiting the matchup nightmare he creates.
Freshman RB Khalid Abdullah is turning out to be a hell of a compliment to Dae’Quan Scott in the backfield. Speaking of DQS, he broke former PK David Rabil’s all-time JMU career scoring record and with good health could extend it out to untouchable heights throughout the rest of the season. By the way, tough to break a PK’s scoring record.
RFreshman LB Gage Steele is all over the field and combined with Stephon Robertson, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better LB duo anywhere in FCS.
Jeff Bourne’s halftime interview on MadiZone. The entire thing was about the Carr Report and to us it sure sounded like all systems go a little kabuki with the naysaying constituencies and of course, awaiting a desired invitation to an FBS conference. Another highlight of the interview, and the report (full Carr brief from us coming Tuesday) is that JMU apparently is in really great shape already from a Title IX standpoint and may not necessarily have to add as many scholarships as originally thought.
The Bad
Special Teams (and special teamsish things – e.g. 2-pt. conversions). One missed Extra Point. One missed Field Goal. Beaten for a first down on an Albany fake punt. Missed another 2 point conversion on a first quarter score. Allowed another 2 point conversion. Two good returns negated by holding penalties. Wow.
MM admitted (or covered for) after the game that PK Cameron Stark has been dealing with an injury. He’s a senior with a great track record, but we were glad to see the backup Graham Sharples in there on the last two extra points. Better to be reliable from a known, but shorter distance than to wonder every time you attempt a place kick.
On JMU’s missed 2-pt conversion try early, count me as one who supports the idea, but the problem we’ve seen all season is that it runs smack into JMU’s identity problem we discussed at length last week. If you’re an up-tempo team that’s never going to let off the gas, why not go for it, set a tone, and pressure the other team early. But if you’re going to clam up and go ultra-conservative after the half, then you’ll be the one missing that point as the game moves on.
JMU didn’t do a whole lot to inspire confidence in this one. In fact, Albany seemed to run the right plays for the most part to attack the Dukes, but simply didn’t have the athletes to execute.
The Ugly
“Halftime adjustments” and the 3rd quarter. This is taken straight from the CSN BBS Message Boards and full credit to “JMUSteeler” but this explains the point about in-game adjustments, identity, and coaching questions better than more drivel from us. Now you can add last week’s two-score halftime lead and three-point second half to the list. Just keep this in mind when hear someone say another JMU fan is reaching when they say the Dukes have more talent and don’t maximize it. You can read into this what you want, but this list is REALLY hard to ignore:
2009
6-5, 4-4
vs. teams > .500
2-4
Wins vs Liberty & UD (6-5)
vs. top of CAA
0-3
Key Loss: UR – led 17-14 at half, lost 21-17
2010
6-5, 3-5
vs. teams > .500
3-5
Wins – VT, Liberty, W&M
vs. top of CAA
1-5
Key losses:
UD – led 10-7 at half, lost 13-10
UNH – led 14-10 at half, lost 28-14
UMass – led 14-3 at half, lost 21-14
UR – led 10-7 at half, lost 13-10
2011
8-5, 5-3
vs. teams > .500
2-4
Wins: Liberty, Eastern Kentucky
vs top of CAA
0-3
Key loss: ODU – led 20-14 at half, lost 23-20
2012
7-4, 5-3
vs. teams > .500
1-3
Win: Towson
vs top of CAA
1-3
Key Loss: ODU – led 21-10 at half, lost 38-28
So, over that time we are a cumulative 30-21 to this point. In the CAA, we are 17-16. Through 2012, we are 8-16 vs teams with winning records (not counting this year yet, we don’t know how it will turn out). Of those 8 wins, 3 are against Liberty and 1 against Eastern Kentucky. Also, I didn’t count the 3 FBS losses against us (as teams with a winning record) but did count the VT win. We are 2-14 vs the top of the CAA during that time, not including UD this year. We have 8 losses where we led at halftime, and either failed to score in the 2nd half or scored only once.
I have no idea where CCSU, ST. Francis, Morehead St., etc finished during that time. We aren’t seriously going to count those as quality wins, I hope.
You made exactly the point I was making to Cory this weekend. That’s really cute that MM is racking up wins over Albany, St. Francis, Delaware State, Rhode Island, et al., but we need him to be beating Delaware, Richmond, etc. You know…..teams that actually matter.
You gave a really good breakdown of what I was expressing: 2-14 vs top CAA teams since 2009. Unacceptable.
At a minimum JMU needs to be .500 vs the top of the CAA. The number of games that JMU has led and halftime and lost is very telling. JMU will play their butts off in the first half then our coaching staff (this falls on MM, b/c he is the decision maker) pulls the reigns back and plays scared in the second half on offense. We got the talent, get out of the way and let the players do their thing. Whether if be Durden (past) or O’Cain — MM needs to stay out of the offensive play calling and game planning period. I think that would solve about 75% of the issue right there.
….and Conner Arnone wins CAA Special Teams player of the week. Things couldn’t have been all that terrible, I guess.
I liked these stats on the jmusports.com “Gameday” link. Just shows how everyone beats up on everyone in the CAA. Well…except for RI. Why do they have a team again?
CAA Records 2004-Pres.
Conf. Overall
New Hampshire 51-21 82-35
James Madison 50-23 79-36
Richmond 42-31 72-44
Villanova 42-31 68-45
Delaware 38-35 69-46
Maine 37-36 55-53
William & Mary 35-38 59-51
Towson 24-49 46-60
Rhode Island 16-59 29-56
Amazing how well Arnone can kick when we scrap the rugby kick. Also, he can boom it to the endzone if we just kick away. Stop trying to get ‘cute’ with special teams.
Very Interesting Sports Nework FCS Top 25
Towson 6-0 at #3
New Hampshire 1-3
Villanova at 3-2
Maine at 5-1
and Delaware at 4-2
Five CAA teams in the Top 25
last week Maine crushed UD 62-28, Towson beat UHN 44-28, Villanova just got past W & M (20-16). MU beat Albany 40 – 13…no mention. See what losing to U of D did to our National perception!
The WEST now thinks only their teams are worthy of top rankings!
Hammy, this week’s poll has yet to be released. They have a tendancy to upate the records, but not the poll. I have a feeling we’ll sneak back in and G-W should drop.
Yep, we’re back in at 21.
Thanks,
what’s up with UNH at #25 with a 1-3 record?
I gues we have to go see who they played and who they lost to…
This weekend will tell us a lot about the CAA Conf
Starke has had a great football career at JMU and it is tough to see him struggling this year. That being said, Sharples has been here for a while in a depth role and it is nice to see him get his opportunity to contribute.
The offensive play calling this year in general is light years ahead of where it has typically been. They are actually employing the downfield pass from time to time! Unfortunately, the lack of in-game adjustments and overall ultra-conservative and predictable MM game management is abysmal.
Those stats support Mickey Matthews being shown the door. How many times over the last several years have we seen comments on here about us being out-coached? Too many to count. Not every time we lose is that the case but those numbers speak to Mickey’s weaknesses; in-game decisions/adjustments, undisciplined players, poor clock management, lack of offensive identity, conservative play calling, etc. How many other schools would put up with this? I know, I know…for the Mickey d-riders out there…how many other schools would like to have what we have in terms of tradition, hardwear, facilities, etc? The problem with that is…that is an example of “weak minded, conservative thinking.” Strong programs don’t sit back with that kind of thought process, just ask Nick Saban’s wife. When are we going to win the next one?!
I still can’t believe Mickey has made it as long as he has given his results with “superior talent.”. Mickey has overstayed his welcome. I have yet to be convinced otherwise by anyone else and certainly not by what I’ve seen on the field…and only reinforced by the numbers above. We lose 2 or 3 more which unfortunately will most likely happen…the rumblings will begin. It will go a little something like this…FIRE MICKEY MATTHEWS!
I’ll be 100% honest… I do not want Coach Matthews fired.
I want him to find some humility and realize that he needs to make some changes. He needs to trust his coaches. He needs to learn the importance of sucking up to the fan base (i.e. financial donors). He needs to treat his players like he actually wants them there. I love Coach Matthews’ philosophy- Recruit the best athletes you can, win field position, play good defense, and try to grind out wins. If he would stop being so stubborn and admit that he needs to make some changes (i.e. halftime adjustments, acknowledging the forward pass as a legitimate part of modern football, etc.), I think he could easily win another national championship.
I would love to see him coach as JMU for the next 50 years, but he has got to take an honest look at himself and acknowledge that he has to make some *real* changes (i.e. not throwing jeff durden under the bus) to do better than 2-14 versus conference contenders.
Yes x100 to everything 2004 just said. I hear people’s frustrations and they’re easy to sympathize with. It’s hard to watch JMU get outcoached and it’s much easier to say get rid of the root of the problem. But scrapping Matthews isn’t a magic bullet that fixes everything, either.
Do you really think Mickey is going to find some humility or have a “come to Jesus” moment? He isn’t going to change. The guy has an ego the size of Texas. He throws his kids under the bus in his post-game news conferences. I can’t think of any other coach (minus The Old Ball Coach) doing such a thing. No disrespect because I enjoy reading your posts but you sound like a guy in a bad relationship…”I still love her but I’d wish she’d stop cheating on me and breaking my heart over and over.” You can’t turn a hoe into a housewife and you sure can’t turn Mickey Matthews into Joe Gibbs.
In order to fix a problem you have to start at the root of the problem? Can anyone prove that Mickey Matthews is not the root of JMU’s mediocracy?
Like I’ve said before, I have all due respect for Mickey and what …he isn’t getting it done.
It is very difficult for coaches, and others who occupy positions of authority, to change their methodologies or modify their personal character traits without a significant profession-related incident (and even then that’s not a sure thing — see: Bobby Petrino). This group of people got to their current professional level, by and large, by virtue of their Type A personalities and a self-assuredness bordering on arrogance; they generally won’t find humility in their professional life.
I submit that while Coach Matthews may have found some humility in his personal life, given the challenges associated with Clayton’s accidents, he won’t be able to do the professional self assessment necessary to affect character change.