(01-13-2020 10:20 AM)PurpleStreamers Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 09:27 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  The outcome to the game was disappointing for sure....NDSU was just a tad better than we were on Saturday. I think we were prepared for the run heavy offense, but not quite so QB run heavy where Lance ran the ball 30 times (I think he was running @10 times per game all season). And to be honest the big runs from Lance came off of passing situations when the play broke down. I think this was the first time all season the DL dealt with a QB this big/strong/fast where they did not effectively corral him. We did a poor job keeping him corralled by maintaining rush lanes. Lance was able to escape up the middle.

The fake FG was a great job by their coaching staff to find something on film and take advantage of it.

This was a team loss.......not sure why anyone would want to single out Ben as he played a solid game. The last play call was not the play call I would have made but Polk was open. I am sure Ben would like that one back.....saw him open and tried to lob a dart vs just zipping it over there or leading him. Still the NDSU guy made a nice play and int coming off his man.

I think the team will be just fine next year with the talent on the roster. I find it odd those saying the HS recruiting does not look as good as prior years.....why.....not enough stars for ya......I remind y'all that Latrelle Palmer was a late commit with zero stars and was probably the most impactful freshman on the team. Have a little faith.

Doesn't happen all the time ha, but I'm completely with Shady here.
WHAT in the world makes anyone think recruiting isn't there? Latrelle and Jalen Green alone were huge finds and we basically redshirted everyone else. No doubt we're graduating a lot of talent, but it's also that it finally feels like aside from Amos and maybe Fornadel it just feels bigger because it's the last of the big names from this incredible four-year run.

But there are some really core pieces coming back and the Dukes will be super strong up the middle on both sides. Not saying it'll be easy, but I'd much rather be replacing skill players with JMU's track record in that regard than up the middle.

For example, a healthy Ukwu (who looked like a star in the making before the injury) and Jalen Green getting bigger are going to look pretty darn good making up for sacks and TFL's we're losing from Carter/Daka with Mike Greene and Adeeb clogging everything up again. Plus word is there's a P5 transfer on the way on DL even if I don't pencil those in till I see them in uniform and in class. Maybe Colclough can give us something here too?

Azanama had already supplanted Word as LB2 this year but finding his running mate will be the most important thing on the roster for next year imo. Amos and MJ Hampton will be a big help to whoever is playing CB next year even if I worry a little about McCormick and Carroll. Even worrying about them though, those two are experienced players at this point. Wonder if there's any chance Austin Douglas actually plays DB next year too?

The running game brings back the entire backfield plus the best player on the team in front of them in Fornadel along with Truvell Wilson and hopefully some combination of Bethea, Gillespie (not sure if we've heard if he's really coming back), Fishpaw, Timming (who's played a bit), and Kidwell plus maybe something from the UConn transfer. Painter at TE is also a very strong blocker and hopefully continues to develop as a receiver.

WR will be another big need, but Dean and Brown have certainly played a lot of football for the Dukes. Hopefully we see 2018 Dean again. Adu played well when he had opportunities this year and we know we have the UMass transfer there too.

Oh yeah, and all the specialists (Harry, Ratke, Amos, Davis, and Miller are all back) so we don't have to worry about unknowns there. (No accounting for the way we coach specials though ha).

Finally, I grew to love DiNucci, and he played great enough to get us to Frisco this year. I'll defend him forever at this point. But I also can't say I really believe that CoJo, Gage, or QB-TBD is going to be the difference that sinks us. If anything, it will be not having weapons at WR and everyone just stacking the box that hurts the next starter till they prove otherwise more than some talent difference.

Anyhow, proud to be a Duke and it'll be fun next year. If we beat Delaware Week 1, only the UNC game is an L and only the Villanova game scares me on the schedule at this point.

Oh yeah, I also just really hope we can keep Hetherman around.