JMUSB Game Preview #1 JMU vs. Morehead State

It’s about to get real. The 2016 JMU Football Season starts this weekend. This is not a drill. It’s the real thing. Let’s dive right in with our first JMUSB Game Preview of the year.

The Basics

Match-up: #12 JMU Dukes (0-0, 0-0 CAA) vs. Morehead State Eagles (0-0, 0-0 Pioneer)
Kick-off: 6:00 PM on Saturday, September 3 in Bridgeforth Stadium
Weather: 74 degrees and partly cloudy
Broadcast: Streaming via Madizone

Let’s Learn About Morehead

Other than the fact that Phil Simms went there, we know nothing about Morehead State. Rather than do any legitimate research for this preview, we decided to just cherry pick online reviews of  Morehead State written by seemingly disgruntled students (who may or not be real). Presented without comment.

The people:

“The only great thing I can say you will get out of the university are the friends you will make and who will agree on how disappointing the courses and the campus life are.”

The value of the degree:

“My advice to future students is to not come to Morehead. I would rather not get a college degree than to come here any longer.”

Housing:

“Housing is kind of luck of the draw. Most buildings suck and are pretty gross and you’ll get one and be happy with it because at least it’s not Cooper (or as most students call it Pooper because its so awful).”

The reputation and prestige:

“Morehead ranks on the top colleges not to go. Basically not being known for any departments that are outstanding. My advice to you is never open any mail from this college.”

The overall experience:

“Hated every minute there. I have to start all over at a new school just to redo the damage they did in helping me with my future.”

Well now that we know a little bit about Morehead the school, let’s move on to the football program. Despite what you might think based on JMU’s blowout win over the Eagles last year, things are looking up for Morehead. The team rallied to win 5 of its last 6 games in 2015 and comes into this season with its eyes on winning the Pioneer Conference and earning a bid to the FCS Playoffs. And you can be they’ll be looking to avenge last year’s embarrassing 56-7 loss to JMU.

Fly Eagles Fly

Morehead State likes to air it out on offense. The Eagles are led by a talented senior QB, Austin Gahafer, who threw for 3,244 yards and 24 TDs last season. He’s the FCS’s active leader in career passing yards and was named one of the 25 finalists for STATS National Player of the Year. Morehead relied heavily on him to carry the offense, with the Eagles throwing 48 times a game for an average of 315 passing yards. That could be dangerous because one of the JMU defense’s primary weaknesses last year was stopping the pass. As you know, the other primary weakness was stopping the run.

There’s Always a But

So they like to toss the ball around and managed to rack up a lot of yards in the process. But those yards came mostly against fellow Pioneer League teams. Teams that were so insignificant that even Mickey Matthews wouldn’t schedule them.
The JMU defense struggled last year. The Dukes had no problem with Morehead though, holding them in check to the tune of only 252 yards and 7 points. The Eagles improved a lot throughout the year and should be more of a threat this weekend. This doesn’t look to be too tough of a test for JMU’s defense. It is however, a great chance to see how the revamped secondary can do against a pass first attack.

What We’ll Be Watching

We can argue about the merits of playing a soft out of conference schedule, but it might be wiser to just treat this like the tune-up game it is. It’s a bit of warm-up before conference play. Nothing more, nothing less.
Of course we will still be rootin though.

We’re excited for the season to start and on the edge of our seats waiting to see the team under Mike Houston’s leadership. The offense is full of playmakers. The RB duo is primed for a dominating year and there are a slew of receivers who could take it to the house on any given play. And with plenty of talent on defense and a new set of coaches, we’re expecting big improvements on that side of the ball.
So we’ll be watching obviously. While we do, we’ll be looking for a few things. Primarily, we’re curious to see the following things in no particular order:

1. Who plays QB and how he plays
2. How comfortable the players look in the new (old) defensive scheme
3. The pace of the offense
4. The D’s ability to pressure the QB & create turnovers

JMU Will Win If

The game is played.

Look, Morehead looks like an improved team. But we’re still talking about a non-scholarship program from the Pioneer League. The Eagles are over-matched by JMU. Let’s not overthink things. The Dukes are going to win this ballgame. And if they don’t, I’ll be in such a panic that I won’t care about sounding like an arrogant jackass right here.

Morehead Will Win If

The sky falls and the physical laws of the universe are suspended. (see above)

JMUSB Beer of the Week

According to the forecast, we’re in for some cooler temps and a break from the brutal heat. But it’s still going to warm and it’s still summer, so let’s go with a refreshing summer beer. Personally, nothing has been as refreshing to me lately as a nice cold gose.

If you’re unfamiliar with the style, gose is a type of German ale that’s slightly sour with a hint of salt added. My particular favorite example is the Briney Melon Gose by Anderson Valley Brewing Company, so that’s the BOTW this week. This is super thirst quenching with just a hint of watermelon. And it’s a reasonable 4.2% ABV, so you can have a few and still keep your wits about you for the game. Plus, it’s available in cans, the most tailgate friendly of beverage packages. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Official JMUSB Prediction

JMU starting QB TBD benefits from the awesome Johnson-Abdullah duo, the defense takes a step forward, and the good guys roll. Dukes 41 – Eagles 14 and the season gets started on a good note.