It was a good win. The Defense did just enough to get the win. Timely turnovers and the goal line stand was huge! I agree with everyone that says we seem to lose focus up front in the fourth quarter. That's going to comeback to haunt us if we don't get it corrected.

BDK, You know I dislike the Holes just as much as the next guy and always love to see those cheaters lose, but game conditions in both Raleigh and Chapel Hill were awful. Notre Dame probably has the first QB taken in the draft next year and NC State held him to like 60 yards in the air on Saturday. They played in slop and the score showed--10-3, State. I'm sure the same conditions were hitting Chapel Hill, it's only 25 miles west of Raleigh.

I'm re-watching this game on TV now and I am realizing that Taylor Reynolds had two MASSIVE defensive moments that helped us win the game and kept WM to a combined 3 points scored.

1) He blew around the WM o-line untouched and not picked up to immediately hit Anderson as they tried to run in a TD from the half yard line. It forced them to kick a field goal when it looked like they were going to take control of the game.
2) He had the game clinching interception in the end zone in the 4th quarter. So unbelievably clutch.

(10-11-2016 10:59 AM)Potomac Wrote:  I'm re-watching this game on TV now and I am realizing that Taylor Reynolds had two MASSIVE defensive moments that helped us win the game and kept WM to a combined 3 points scored.

1) He blew around the WM o-line untouched and not picked up to immediately hit Anderson as they tried to run in a TD from the half yard line. It forced them to kick a field goal when it looked like they were going to take control of the game.
2) He had the game clinching interception in the end zone in the 4th quarter. So unbelievably clutch.

The one bolded reminded me so much of the hit he had in the SMU game last year in a similar situation

(10-11-2016 10:59 AM)Potomac Wrote:  I'm re-watching this game on TV now and I am realizing that Taylor Reynolds had two MASSIVE defensive moments that helped us win the game and kept WM to a combined 3 points scored.

1) He blew around the WM o-line untouched and not picked up to immediately hit Anderson as they tried to run in a TD from the half yard line. It forced them to kick a field goal when it looked like they were going to take control of the game.
2) He had the game clinching interception in the end zone in the 4th quarter. So unbelievably clutch.

In the 3rd qtr of the UD game UD, down 33-7 at the time, went for it on 4th and 7 from the JMU 8 yard line. UD TE was in the process of hauling in a pass in the endzone when Reynolds got his hand in there to break it up. Definitely prevented a TD...

Of all games so far this season, this one screams for Houston to commit another defender to the run especially on 1st and 2nd down. He talked it some in the press conference about how New Hampshire is a true read option team. The numbers show the RB getting it 60% of the time and the QB keeping it 40% of the time. The deception makes it tougher to defend, but The upside is JMU gets to put some hits on a smallish QB. We'll see if he can survive the whole game.

We should see the hybrid position fill more of a LB role if JMU is going to stop the run. You can't just rely on a D end to make the right decision every time and then make a solo tackle in space every time against the QB keeper. While that leaves some exposure to New Hampshire's slants, short crossing patterns, and picks, they have not been a good passing team this year. Make them try to beat you with their weakness.

I suspect we will see a similar strategy from New Hampshire's defense, but they may have to commit to stopping the run even more as JMU has a dominant run game. If they commit 7 or even 8 men to the box I will take the odds with the fleet of WR play makers JMU has. Get them the ball on short passes and they will do tremendous damage against a UNH team sucked in to stop the run.

The weather looks beautiful so no worries of a plodding, grind it out game which can happen later in the year for Northeast games.

JMU got 3 sacks against W&M but barely moved up the rankings. I mentioned last week that the hole was too deep for JMU to move up over the last half of the season. But again, JMU is doing better recently against teams compared to others. Maine has only given up 9 sacks on the year and JMU had 4 against them. Delaware has given up only 3 on the year and 1 to JMU. W&M has given up 10 on the year and JMU had 3 of those.

I added Tackles For Loss this week to the defensive rankings. JMU is abysmal.

(10-12-2016 09:22 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  JMU got 3 sacks against W&M but barely moved up the rankings. I mentioned last week that the hole was too deep for JMU to move up over the last half of the season. But again, JMU is doing better recently against teams compared to others. Maine has only given up 9 sacks on the year and JMU had 4 against them. Delaware has given up only 3 on the year and 1 to JMU. W&M has given up 10 on the year and JMU had 3 of those.

I added Tackles For Loss this week to the defensive rankings. JMU is abysmal.

Not if you go to CAA Games Only stats in a couple of weeks. Thats the best comparison to other CAA teams- just need to wait till everyone has played 4-5 CAA games.

Huge improvement so far in 3rd down defense. An important stat in my mind. If we can stay in the top quartile over the course of the season rather than the bottom quartile, that will translate to better overall numbers almost everywhere else.

(10-12-2016 09:28 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(10-12-2016 09:22 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  JMU got 3 sacks against W&M but barely moved up the rankings. I mentioned last week that the hole was too deep for JMU to move up over the last half of the season. But again, JMU is doing better recently against teams compared to others. Maine has only given up 9 sacks on the year and JMU had 4 against them. Delaware has given up only 3 on the year and 1 to JMU. W&M has given up 10 on the year and JMU had 3 of those.

I added Tackles For Loss this week to the defensive rankings. JMU is abysmal.

Not if you go to CAA Games Only stats in a couple of weeks. Thats the best comparison to other CAA teams- just need to wait till everyone has played 4-5 CAA games.

(10-11-2016 07:20 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(10-11-2016 10:59 AM)Potomac Wrote:  I'm re-watching this game on TV now and I am realizing that Taylor Reynolds had two MASSIVE defensive moments that helped us win the game and kept WM to a combined 3 points scored.

1) He blew around the WM o-line untouched and not picked up to immediately hit Anderson as they tried to run in a TD from the half yard line. It forced them to kick a field goal when it looked like they were going to take control of the game.
2) He had the game clinching interception in the end zone in the 4th quarter. So unbelievably clutch.

In the 3rd qtr of the UD game UD, down 33-7 at the time, went for it on 4th and 7 from the JMU 8 yard line. UD TE was in the process of hauling in a pass in the endzone when Reynolds got his hand in there to break it up. Definitely prevented a TD...

I remember that play. I was shocked and relieved he wasn't flagged for PI. There was contact throughout and thank goodness the ref was able to give us a break for a change. The UD players were pissed and complaining to the refs.

#119 of 122 for TFL. #90 for Sacks.

Interesting to note that the lack of presence in the opponent's backfield has not impacted interceptions as we have been in the top 15 the majority of the season.

(10-05-2016 03:15 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  Here's the bottom line so far:

Yielded & CAA rank all games:
2015 28.67 ppg (11th)/403.5 ypg (10th)
2016 24.8 ppg (7th)/363.8 ypg (5th) (through 5 games)

These #s might get a little better. Not twice as good as last year, but definitely better with a currently improving trajectory.

CAA rank (all games):
2015 28.67 ppg (11th)/403.5 ypg (10th)
2016 24.2 (7th)/357.4ypg (7th) (through 10/31/16)

Since every team has played 5 CAA games, looking at just CAA games (aka common opponents):
2015 28.9 (12th)/406.8 ypg (11th)
2016 22.0 (6th)/363.6 ypg (7th)

(10-31-2016 12:11 PM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  #119 of 122 for TFL. #90 for Sacks.

Interesting to note that the lack of presence in the opponent's backfield has not impacted interceptions as we have been in the top 15 the majority of the season.

We're in the opponent's backfield and forcing the turnovers from that pressure. We're just not getting home with the Sacks and TFL. It's been frustrating to watch a defender almost bring down the QB but somehow they barely run away.