(10-08-2019 11:27 AM)jmutoml757 Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 08:39 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 11:09 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 11:02 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 10:38 AM)olddawg Wrote:  Makes me wonder why Donnie shackled him so much last year.

I don't think Donnie shackled him as much as every time Ben threw down field his passes were way off target. It's the same thing I noticed in watching Ben at Pitt. The new coaches deserve credit for getting his downfield passing game turned around. I'm guessing it might have been something with his mechanics? While I still miss the uptempo, and think it would benefit us this year, I do see a pretty substantial improvement in Ben's play. Ben is surrounding by the best surrounding 10 players a JMU QB has ever had at JMU, and he's making the most of it.

i think this coaching staff fits Ben better.

ben is playing very well. But just like HCCC said before the season he would, he has gotten Ben in situations he can thrive. and what i mean by that is the running game has helped Ben immensely. Kudos to HCCC and his staff for finding the right scheme to get the most out of the QB, RB's and OL. Whatever they changed, it's worked.

LY, we couldn't get 1 yard on first down. That put us behind the 8 ball. and Ben does not thrive in those situations when put into them often in a game.

this year, we RARELY lose yardage on first down. the run game is a machine. it's put Ben in 2nd and 6, 3rd and 2....and he does MUCH better in those situations as the defense knows of his ability to scramble so they have a heck of a lot more to worry about with those down and distances than putting Ben in 2nd and 10 or 3rd and 10.
And we know Ben is accurate on short passes. So putting him in short down and distances allows him to throw those quick short passes on target and move the sticks.

Bryan fit better with HCMH.
Ben clearly fits better with HCCC.

neither is right or wrong. Just different.

Coaching is part of it but what about the work Ben put in during the off season, another season at JMU and the talent around him. More options and he’s a redshirt Senior. He’s gotten better. Sometimes it’s coaching and system but sometimes the kid just gets better.

I did notice our QB1 fall back into his old habit of throwing off his back foot this past game. He was being pressured and did not have time/room to step into the throw and it sailed high. That said, he has not done that very much this season- couldn’t hardly step into a throw it seemed last season.

Throws off the back foot may have happened once or twice, but Ben's footwork was on point on Saturday. Under pressure there will always be time when you throw without setting your feet, but last year he did it when no one was even pressuring him as you noted. If you watch this year even as he rolls out he is stopping, setting his feet and then making the throw.