Athlon Preseason Poll

[BDKJMU]

ODU is playing GSU? In Norfolk or Statesboro? Didn't know that. Yeah, if ODU beat a top 3 GSU + 2 cupcakes and were 3-0, yeah they would be ranked, if not top 10, definitely top 15.

Georgia State

Georgia State= GST

[JmuSkinsfan]

BDK ---

I, too, was confused by that stat in the media guide, but it is what it is! I think they must have counted players who started more than 2-3 games last year in place of injured players as returning "starters" ...

Actually, I just checked, and they list 10 starters returning on defense and 8 on offense, so I stand corrected. I believe it was 20 total starters (of the 24 including PK and Punter).

The caveat here, though, is that the likely starter at QB (Thorpe) has started multiple games in his career. Also, the RBs are deep, and JMU has always been able to fall back on a plethora of RBs on offense and have never really over-relied on one guy ... the only "true" starter I think we lose is OT Theo Sherman, which granted, is a pretty big loss. But as I see it, we basically return 8, but only lose 1 true "starter"

Offense: 8
OL - Roane Babington
TE - Brian Barlow
OL - Scott Jones
OL - Matt Krout
WR - Kerby Long
WR - Dae’Quan Scott
TE - Jonathan Sharp
OL - Earl Watford

Defense: 10
DB - Mike Allen
DL - D.J. Bryant
DB - Taveion Cuffee
DL - Aaron Harper
DB - Jakarie Jackson
DL - Lamar Middleton
DB - Vidal Nelson
LB - Stephon Robertson
DL - Tyler Snow
LB - Pat Williams

[EWURanger]

Meh - I'm fine with this. I don't even think we were ranked in the top ten in any poll going into last season. Of course we weren't the defending champs, either - but it seems like the #1 ranked teams always choke anyway.....so number 3 is fine with me.

[∞∞∞]

No. You haven't done a damn thing in-conference yet.

Yeah, I was going to say, if you go 3-0 against those three scrubs and then come up to Newark and beat Delaware, you should be ranked.

I think we'll beat UD, but I have no idea how we're gonna keep up with GSU. If we beat GSU, we should be #1.

[BDKJMU]

BDK ---

I, too, was confused by that stat in the media guide, but it is what it is! I think they must have counted players who started more than 2-3 games last year in place of injured players as returning "starters" ...

Actually, I just checked, and they list 10 starters returning on defense and 8 on offense, so I stand corrected. I believe it was 20 total starters (of the 24 including PK and Punter).

The caveat here, though, is that the likely starter at QB (Thorpe) has started multiple games in his career. Also, the RBs are deep, and JMU has always been able to fall back on a plethora of RBs on offense and have never really over-relied on one guy ... the only "true" starter I think we lose is OT Theo Sherman, which granted, is a pretty big loss. But as I see it, we basically return 8, but only lose 1 true "starter"

Offense: 8
OL - Roane Babington
TE - Brian Barlow
OL - Scott Jones
OL - Matt Krout
WR - Kerby Long
WR - Dae’Quan Scott
TE - Jonathan Sharp
OL - Earl Watford

Defense: 10
DB - Mike Allen
DL - D.J. Bryant
DB - Taveion Cuffee
DL - Aaron Harper
DB - Jakarie Jackson
DL - Lamar Middleton
DB - Vidal Nelson
LB - Stephon Robertson
DL - Tyler Snow
LB - Pat Williams

Skins, I would disagree that RB is deep. Only 2 who have any experience are:
-rSo Jordan Anderson
-rJr Lee Reynolds, and thats pretty limited. I don't think Reynolds is the answer for a top 2 back.
-rFr Dejor Simmons is probably one of the 3 most highly touted recruits JMU ever landed out of HS (the other 2 being Tony Lezotte and Kerby Long (4 time AA Lezotte exceeded expectations, often injured Long hasn't quite lived up to them with one more season left)), but we still have to wait till Simmons proves he's as good as everyone thinks he'll be.
-PSU transfer Hykeem Brodie: looked real good in film of PSU's spring game, but that was mostly against the Nittany Lions 3rd team defense, so again, we'll have to wait and see.

RB is the 2nd most question marked position outside of who will start at QB in the Thorpe/Cosh/Edwards battle.

[BDKJMU]

Yeah, I was going to say, if you go 3-0 against those three scrubs and then come up to Newark and beat Delaware, you should be ranked.

I think we'll beat UD, but I have no idea how we're gonna keep up with GSU. If we beat GSU, we should be #1.

Ok, I just looked up ODU's schedule. ODU isn't playing GSU (Ga Southern) ODU is playing GST (GA State).

[∞∞∞]

I think we'll beat UD, but I have no idea how we're gonna keep up with GSU. If we beat GSU, we should be #1.

Ok, I just looked up ODU's schedule. ODU isn't playing GSU (Ga Southern) ODU is playing GST (GA State).

They're both GSU. Multiple schools can have the same initials; this isn't a big deal.

[JmuSkinsfan]

Skins, I would disagree that RB is deep. Only 2 who have any experience are:
-rSo Jordan Anderson
-rJr Lee Reynolds, and thats pretty limited. I don't think Reynolds is the answer for a top 2 back.
-rFr Dejor Simmons is probably one of the 3 most highly touted recruits JMU ever landed out of HS (the other 2 being Tony Lezotte and Kerby Long (4 time AA Lezotte exceeded expectations, often injured Long hasn't quite lived up to them with one more season left)), but we still have to wait till Simmons proves he's as good as everyone thinks he'll be.
-PSU transfer Hykeem Brodie: looked real good in film of PSU's spring game, but that was mostly against the Nittany Lions 3rd team defense, so again, we'll have to wait and see.

RB is the 2nd most question marked position outside of who will start at QB in the Thorpe/Cosh/Edwards battle.

I agree that there isn't a "proven" RB ... but at the same time you just listed 4 players, all who are highly regarded. Chances are 1, 2, 3, or even all 4 live up to those expectations. Jordan Anderson is a stud, and he was a stud at Westfield HS. If I am correct he was a 3 year starter there after Evan Royster (4-star RB went to PSU and recent 6th round pick of Skins) departed. They didn't miss a beat in that offense and Anderson put up some huge numbers. Now that doesn't always translate to success at the next leve, but he was highly regarded coming in and has a few years under his belt learning the system and bulking up.

Lee Reynolds is a speedster, WR/RB hybird that has a lot of potential, maybe not as an every down back but at least as a change-of-pace guy. DeJor Simmons, like you said, is one of the highest regarded recruits we've ever landed, and should play an immediate role in the rotation. Brodie is the biggest question mark but I have also heard some good things from him as well.

I'm really not concerned at all about the RB position, or the QB position for that matter. I really think Thorpe will have an All-American type season for us ... he really is a stud, and probably should started most of last year had he not been injured in the first game! The only position on offense I'm concerned about is the tackle spot. I'm assuming MM has been able to fill some of the holes but that OL last year was bad ... hopefully it's improved a bit in returning 4 starters and some potential for guys behind them to push them for their spots.

[Baldy]

JMU isn't ranked #1 and we are returning 20/22 starters as well (per the CAA media guide). So that argument for GSU just isn't good enough for me.

If GSU finished 6-5 and returned 20 starters, we wouldn't be the #1 preseason either, but since the Eagles won 10 games and went to the semis I can understand it (though I don't really agree with it).

[BDKJMU]

JMU isn't ranked #1 and we are returning 20/22 starters as well (per the CAA media guide). So that argument for GSU just isn't good enough for me.

If GSU finished 6-5 and returned 20 starters, we wouldn't be the #1 preseason either, but since the Eagles won 10 games and went to the semis I can understand it (though I don't really agree with it).

Pre season polls are about as worthless as tits on a bull (take your top 5 every season and probably an avg 1-2 make the semis and at least 1/2 the top 10 doesn't make the playoffs.

Put it this way, if the question was asked of people if your team had to play one of the 2 OOC this season, EWU or GSU, which team would you least like to play? My answer right now would be GSU.

[SpiritCymbal]

JMU isn't ranked #1 and we are returning 20/22 starters as well (per the CAA media guide). So that argument for GSU just isn't good enough for me.

JMU didn't lose in the semi-finals and didn't finish in the top 5 in the nation from last year. Keep in mind a publication like this probably does about 2-3 hours of "research" for all of the 1-aa teams combined, so they basically look at the final poll from last year, find out how many starters are returning and just take a shot in the dark.

I totally agree with Baldy...I don't agree with GSU being #1...but I'll take it.

[TribeNomad]

If GSU finished 6-5 and returned 20 starters, we wouldn't be the #1 preseason either, but since the Eagles won 10 games and went to the semis I can understand it (though I don't really agree with it).

Pre season polls are about as worthless as tits on a bull (take your top 5 every season and probably an avg 1-2 make the semis and at least 1/2 the top 10 doesn't make the playoffs.

Put it this way, if the question was asked of people if your team had to play one of the 2 OOC this season, EWU or GSU, which team would you least like to play? My answer right now would be GSU.

Mine too!!

[LDopaPDX]

If GSU finished 6-5 and returned 20 starters, we wouldn't be the #1 preseason either, but since the Eagles won 10 games and went to the semis I can understand it (though I don't really agree with it).

Pre season polls are about as worthless as tits on a bull (take your top 5 every season and probably an avg 1-2 make the semis and at least 1/2 the top 10 doesn't make the playoffs.

Put it this way, if the question was asked of people if your team had to play one of the 2 OOC this season, EWU or GSU, which team would you least like to play? My answer right now would be GSU.

Interesting, and I'd agree on premise but probably not for the same reasons. Option teams tend to beat you up more with pulling cut blocks and forcing teams to tackle on every play. Eastern won't make you do that... at least not every play.

This is a lot of the reason I didn't like Eastern opening wiht Nevada last year... it isn't that they were completely unbeatable, it's because that style of team is really tough to match up against and win or lose, you're going to have some lumps afterwards.

That said, Eastenr fared quite well against option and pistol teams last year (I think most would agree that the pistol can be classified as an option-type offense). The Nevada score was not particularly indicative of the game as botched special teams play led to two short yardage TDs by the Pack. Eastern later destroyed Portland State and played one of their best games of the year against SEMO--- a team I thought was highly underrated.

[Tribe4SF]

Keep in mind a publication like this probably does about 2-3 hours of "research" for all of the 1-aa teams combined, so they basically look at the final poll from last year, find out how many starters are returning and just take a shot in the dark.

I have no idea how much time athlon put into this, but if it was as you describe, W&M wouldn't be in the top 5. If you don't have knowledge of who will be on the field that did not start last year, there's no way you'd see that kind of potential in them.

[TribeNomad]

Jake & Jake, and others.....

[blueballs]

JMU isn't ranked #1 and we are returning 20/22 starters as well (per the CAA media guide). So that argument for GSU just isn't good enough for me.

If GSU finished 6-5 and returned 20 starters, we wouldn't be the #1 preseason either, but since the Eagles won 10 games and went to the semis I can understand it (though I don't really agree with it).

And it isn't just that they won 10 games because they were 4-4 with an injured QB at one point... it is the fact that they grew and improved over the course of the season (which was the first year in the new system), went 5-1 down the stretch, beat 4 conference champions, and won a playoff game at Wofford.

Now one can raise the argument of whether they were a team on the verge of greatness or just got hot at the right time and that's a legitimate question...

But I think anybody who follows GSU will tell you this: They were YOUNG last year. There were freshmen all over the place playing BIG roles. They got better and the way Monken runs that program guarantees they will work hard and improve. They will as good as anybody in the country defensively and in the kicking game and they play hard and physical. They will be tough to beat.

[JmuSkinsfan]

Wow, I take back my snarcky, completely off-base comment about Georgia Southern v. JMU. I actually completely forgot that they made the semis last year ... I'm seriously stuck in 2009 mode to be honest ... that's what happens when your team has two mediocre seasons! I can see why GSU is ranked #1 ... though I still may not agree with it, they certainly deserve to be top 5! Ignore my previous remarks lol. (I do still think JMU has a very good, "sleeper" shot to compete for a top seed and win the CAA this year)

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Here's the entire top 25.

1. Georgia Southern
2. William & Mary
3. Eastern Washington
4. Montana State
5. Appalachian State
6. Delaware
7. Richmond
8. Wofford
9. Jacksonville State
10. Northern Iowa
11. North Dakota State
12. U Mass
13. New Hampshire
14. Lehigh
15. Sacramento State
16. Chattanooga
17. Villanova
18. Southern Illinois
19. Montana
20. Liberty
21. Northwestern State
22. Eastern Kentucky
23. Indiana State
24. Central Arkansas
25. Jacksonville

As I just mentioned on the Eagle forum, I'm surprised anyone outside of the BSC is giving Sac State that much credit coming off a 6-5 campaign. That has to be their highest ranking in quite a while. 4 BSC teams in the top 20... There's room for one more.

[93henfan]

Yeah, I was going to say, if you go 3-0 against those three scrubs and then come up to Newark and beat Delaware, you should be ranked.

I think we'll beat UD, but I have no idea how we're gonna keep up with GSU. If we beat GSU, we should be #1.

How would beating Georgia State do anything for you? They're expansion scrubs, just like you guys.

[BDKJMU]

Ok, I just looked up ODU's schedule. ODU isn't playing GSU (Ga Southern) ODU is playing GST (GA State).

They're both GSU. Multiple schools can have the same initials; this isn't a big deal.

The only example I can think of off hand of I-A teams with three same initials is USC : South Carolina and Southern Cal. But at least they are on opposite coasts. GSU and GST are the same state. I thought this had already been covered on here- its gonna cause confusion on here if people all of a sudden start referring to Ga State as GA Southern. Using GST and GSU keeps everyone straight.

It shouldn't be us debating this. GST and GSU fans chime in here. Isn't it GST and GSU?

[∞∞∞]

For god's sake, GSU is on their freakin' helmet.



If it's really a big deal to people 'round here, I'll abbreviate GSU as GST and GSU as GSU...

...but I mean, do GSU fans really care if we abbreviate GSU as "GSU," and do GSU fans really care if we abbreviate GSU as "GSU?" And are fans of non-GSU teams confused if I call GSU "GSU" and also call GSU "GSU?"

[Tribal]

The defense is going to be absolutely stacked ... improving on being very good last year

Have you heard anything more about the defensive players who were arrested (the frat incident). I saw someone wrote that only one guy was a starter. I guess the other guys could have started this season. Either way, JMU has a very good D.

[FCS Go!]

Northwestern St?
Indiana St?
Where is SFA?

Otherwise not too bad. At least its not filled with Ivies and SWACs.

[DJH]

Indiana St had a pretty decent season last year. VERY good, considering their usual standard, and where they had come from. And they have a very good QB returning this year.

[DJH]

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10. Northern Iowa
11. North Dakota State

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