JMU (3-1) @ UD (3-1) Game Thread: CAA game of the week

[BDKJMU]

I agree that JMU @ UD should be a close one. No blowout. I predicted on GoHens that the opening line on 5dimes will be UD -2. I think UD wins by 3-7 points.

You going BDK? If you swill brewskies feel free to stop by the Gold Champion lot before the game. Look for the State of DE flag over the blue flag with Youdee over "Delaware".

Thanks for the offer. I'll see if can make it over. Depends on who I'm with and where we park.

My main tailgating compadre (lives sort of Northern VA) isn't coming- he's out of country.

Got to talk to some other people, including a couple of co-workers (one a UD grad and one just roots for UD since he lives in DE) to see if they're coming. I will definitely hear sh*t from them if UD wins.
Girlfriend is a maybe- she's not really into football, and she's not going to want to tailgate as long as I will + the game.
Only confirmed coming with me is a frat brother from JMU who lives in/near Bel Aire, MD. Surfer type from San Diego.

Not sure where we'll be parking at. UD poster over on the JMU board, Delaware Tailgating Thread, posted:
"There's ample parking in the single game lot out by the baseball field. The lot in front of the ice arena off South College Avenue is also available, but that fills up quicker." and posted the map:
http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/29100/p ... M_ID=29100" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If we're in the the single game lot by baseball stadium by the looks of the map will be way out of the way to go to the Gold Champion Lot. On the other hand, if come early enough to get in the lot near the ice arena would likely stop by. Don't want to be the only JMU fans in the lot, though, as I imagine majority will be in lot near baseball stadium.

[BDKJMU]

7 PM, Televised CSN MA, TCN, SNY.

JMU so far:
W CCSU 38-10
L @ Akron 35-33
W StFU 24-20
W UNCC 34-7

Delaware so far:
W Jacksonville 51-35
W Del State 42-21
L @ Navy 51-7
W Wagner 49-9

Team stat comparison at this point is pretty worthless because both have played such differing OOC schedules, but FWIW:
http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/8500/St ... nfldrs.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

The QBS:

JMU: Michael Birdsong: 6'4"/230, Soph
UD: Trent Hurley: 6'4"/210, Jr

PASSING AVG/GAME Team Cl G Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds TD Avg/G
------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Michael Strauss..... RICH JR 4 158 100 1 63.3 1080 7 270.0
2. Lyle Negron......... SBU SR 3 100 60 3 60.0 765 4 255.0
3. Marcus Wasilewski... MAIN SR 4 128 83 4 64.8 976 7 244.0
4. Trent Hurley........ DELA JR 4 97 70 3 72.2 944 10 236.0
5. Peter Athens........ TOWS SR 4 100 66 2 66.0 885 5 221.2
6. Will Fiacchi........ ALBA JR 4 126 69 3 54.8 847 3 211.8
7. Michael Birdsong.... JMU SO 4 111 69 6 62.2 771 6 192.8
8. Andy Vailas......... UNH JR 2 53 34 1 64.2 364 3 182.0
9. Bob Bentsen......... URI SR 4 122 75 2 61.5 635 1 158.8
10.John Robertson...... VU SO 3 58 37 2 63.8 462 2 154.0

Hurley has the better #s, 72% to 62%, TD to INT ratio of 10/3 versus Birdsong's 6/6.
http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/8500/St ... m#conf.wi2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Easttennhen]

I agree, should be a close game, each has played three cupcakes, the hens got clobbered by a pretty good fbs team while jmu lost a close game to a middling to bad fbs team. Pretty similar schedules and results so far. It always seems to come down to a 3-7 point game between these schools in football and I see zero reason to expect any different on saturday. The last delaware- jmu game I got to see live was the 42-35 OT loss in the first round of the playoffs years ago now, that game was as dissapointing as any hen loss in my memory. Still stings to this day i'm afraid. Well, i'll say delaware 27 jmu 24. Hopefully not that close, but it always is evenly matched.

[BDKJMU]

The RBs:

JMU: Dae'Quan Scott: 5'9"/215, rSr

UD: Andrew Pierce: 5'11"/200, Sr
---- Julian Lang: 6'0"/200

RUSHING Team Cl G Att Yds Avg TD Long Yds/G
----------------------------------------------------------------
1. Dae'Quan Scott...... JMU SR 4 109 593 5.4 5 42 148.2
2. Omar Osbourne....... ALBA JR 4 110 550 5.0 6 36 137.5
3. Terrance West....... TOWS JR 4 100 498 5.0 11 44 124.5
4. M. Abdul-Saboor..... W&M SO 3 58 322 5.6 3 15 107.3
5. Jacobi Green........ RICH SO 4 50 331 6.6 1 53 82.8
6. John Robertson...... VU SO 3 43 241 5.6 3 37 80.3
7. Andrew Pierce....... DELA SR 4 59 302 5.1 2 41 75.5
8. Nico Steriti........ UNH JR 2 27 144 5.3 3 56 72.0
9. Julian Laing........ DELA SR 3 25 186 7.4 3 25 62.0
10.Marcus Wasilewski... MAIN SR 4 43 213 5.0 2 39 53.2

JMU's #2 back was an rFr. Torn ligament in thumb in Aug, wearing cast. Impressive back, but couldn't go 10 carries without fumbling. 4 fumbles in 1st 3 games. Has been shelved at least until the cast comes off, which should be around the end of the month.

#3 back dislocated kneecap in 3rd game vs StFU, apparantly should be back sometime in Oct

New #2 RB: True FR who had his redshirt pulled vs UNCC, #32 Khalid Abdullah, 5'10/195. Looked very impressive. Had 13 carries for 62 yds vs UNCC.

Have another back who plays both slot and RB and is also a return specialist, #5, a 5'8"/190 rJr. Might see him get some carries.

[mainejeff]

Personally, I think that Maine @ Richmond is the CAA Game of the Week.

[AZGrizFan]

Personally, I think that Maine @ Richmond is the CAA Game of the Week.

Personally, I'm just glad to see Maine relevant again.

[bluehenbillk]

UD-JMU should be a pretty good game I'd think. Both teams have lost to 1-A teams & handled less than challenging FCS non conference opponents.

I'd give UD a decent edge at the QB position, I'd give JMU the edge for the defensive front seven. Everything else, well we'll see on Saturday night.

[bluehenbillk]

93 were you there on Saturday for the deluge? I didn't see you, we made it till halftime, of course it was 42-3 at that point...

I'll be in the Gold Champion lot as well on Saturday.

[YoUDeeMan]

UD by 14...and it won't be that close.

JMU's Newark local QB turned DB will be beaten badly in front of his family several times by Johnson and will wish he never left home.

Mickey rips off his pants and pees on the field.

[Ivytalk]

I'll say UD 28, JMU 21.

I don't think Matthews will pee on the field, but he'll do something stupid like draw a 15-yard bench penalty at a critical time in the game.

[CAA Flagship]

Who's winning? How much time is left?

[grizzaholic]

Who's winning? How much time is left?

UD just went ahead.

[BDKJMU]

I'll say UD 28, JMU 21.

I don't think Matthews will pee on the field, but he'll do something stupid like draw a 15-yard bench penalty at a critical time in the game.

No he won't. I can't remember when I've seen Mickey get a 15 yarder, although I'm sure he has a long time ago or some game I wasn't at/didn't see. No tirades at all during CCSU or StFU. Apparently had one @ Akron. Had a couple this past weekend, but didn't throw his headseat & hat (he's now wearing a hat, not a visor) during either. He only does that when he's REALLY pissed. He always stops or is pulled away right before he would get hit with a 15 yarder.

[BDKJMU]

UD by 14...and it won't be that close.

JMU's Newark local QB turned DB will be beaten badly in front of his family several times by Johnson and will wish he never left home.

Mickey rips off his pants and pees on the field.

[BDKJMU]

Personally, I think that Maine @ Richmond is the CAA Game of the Week.

3-1 @ 2-2 vs 3-1 @ 3-1.

If UR hadn't lost to G-Webb you might have an arguement.

[BDKJMU]

The Big Boys:

Going off of UD's game notes for Wagner I see the UD OL avg is listed at about 6'5"/301.

JMU with their new up tempo offense has been playing 7 OL: 3 OTs, 3 OGs, and a center. The go 6'6"/310, a pair of 6'6"/300, a pair of 6'5"/295, and a pair of 6'3"/290. Avg about 6'5"/297. All but one have multiple games to multiple seasons starting experience.

So both teams have similar sizes for the fat boys. Not JMU's heaviest OL, as they've avg around/over 300 before, but they have never had this much height.

Even though lost 4th round draft pick All American OG Earl Watford, and a 6'5"/300 potential starter in the Spring for the season due to injury, this is probably the best JMU OL since the 12-2 08' semifinal team. No coincidence that JMU's new OL coach was the OL coach on the 04' NC team. He went to VA Tech for 7 seasons 06'-12'. Now back at JMU.
http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.db ... EASON=2013" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

UD-JMU should be a pretty good game I'd think. Both teams have lost to 1-A teams & handled less than challenging FCS non conference opponents.

I'd give UD a decent edge at the QB position, I'd give JMU the edge for the defensive front seven. Everything else, well we'll see on Saturday night.

Yep.

Key to the game when UD has the ball will be pressure on Hurley. JMU is pretty stout against the run. Unless UD busts a long run (Akron did and StFU did on a trick play) JMU will likely hold Pierce & UD's running game in check. Where UD can and likely will do damage is through the air. JMU has compiled 14 sacks in the last 3 games. New DL coach is from UVA. JMU doesn't get pressure on Hurley then he could throw for 300+. JMU's achilles heel on defense is the corners. Both starters are rFr. That includes Taylor Reynolds from Newark.

One thing that hurts JMU and helps UD is 2nd quarter on Sat vs UNCC JMU lost Sage Harold, starting DE a probably best pass rusher to high ankle sprain. Reportedly out for 2-6 weeks. I wouldn't be surprised if was longer. JMU will now be 6 deep on the DL: 3 DTs and 3 DEs.

[BDKJMU]

Key to the game when JMU has the ball will simply be not turning it over. 13 turnovers in 4 games. Horrible. I already mentioned the 4 by the rFr TB who won't be playing. Birdsong has thrown 6 picks. Now 2 of those picks came last week in that downpour vs UNCC. Dae'Quan Scott also had 2 fumbles, but one was when he was in the wildcat and was a bad snap. Last weeks 5 turnovers were bad, but playing with wet balls was clearly an issue.

JMU has installed a new up tempo offense, as I see UD has. And this isn't your typical Mickey offense. JMU avg about 29 passes a game. Actually, the up tempo offense combined with the turnovers has actually hurt JMU's defensive #s some, as I suspect is the case with UD.

[Ibanez]

Key to the game when JMU has the ball will simply be not turning it over. 13 turnovers in 4 games. Horrible. I already mentioned the 4 by the rFr TB who won't be playing. Birdsong has thrown 6 picks. Now 2 of those picks came last week in that downpour vs UNCC. Dae'Quan Scott also had 2 fumbles, but one was when he was in the wildcat and was a bad snap. Last weeks 5 turnovers were bad, but playing with wet balls was clearly an issue.

JMU has installed a new up tempo offense, as I see UD has. And this isn't your typical Mickey offense. JMU avg about 29 passes a game. Actually, the up tempo offense combined with the turnovers has actually hurt JMU's defensive #s some, as I suspect is the case with UD.

Mr. Madden, isn't a key to any game not turning over the ball?


The only way JMU will beat Delaware is by scoring more. That's a fact you can bank on.

[89Hen]

The only way JMU will beat Delaware is by scoring more. That's a fact you can bank on.

They could also hold them to less.

[bluehenbillk]

UD-JMU should be a pretty good game I'd think. Both teams have lost to 1-A teams & handled less than challenging FCS non conference opponents.

I'd give UD a decent edge at the QB position, I'd give JMU the edge for the defensive front seven. Everything else, well we'll see on Saturday night.

Yep.

Key to the game when UD has the ball will be pressure on Hurley. JMU is pretty stout against the run. Unless UD busts a long run (Akron did and StFU did on a trick play) JMU will likely hold Pierce & UD's running game in check. Where UD can and likely will do damage is through the air. JMU has compiled 14 sacks in the last 3 games. New DL coach is from UVA. JMU doesn't get pressure on Hurley then he could throw for 300+. JMU's achilles heel on defense is the corners. Both starters are rFr. That includes Taylor Reynolds from Newark.

One thing that hurts JMU and helps UD is 2nd quarter on Sat vs UNCC JMU lost Sage Harold, starting DE a probably best pass rusher to high ankle sprain. Reportedly out for 2-6 weeks. I wouldn't be surprised if was longer. JMU will now be 6 deep on the DL: 3 DTs and 3 DEs.

UD had a big problem last season in CAA games of protecting the QB. It has seemed to be much better so far this season so we'll see come Saturday night how they fare. UD's line is experienced, they had 4 returning starters this year. But when pressure gets to Hurley his chances of making a poor decision increase big time. If JMU gets no pressure it could be a long night for JMU. Opponents have done what you've outlined - stack the box & try to stop run 1st & UD has successfully passed to open the run. Michael Johnson may be the best WR in the CAA - he should be & would be in the SEC if he doesn't hurt his knee in HS, he's been dominant so far. Nick Boyle (TE) and Rob Jones (WR) have been very effective as well.

UD also runs an Oregon style offensive attack now - Keeler used to preach it, but Brock actually runs one. The play clock will rarely get under 20 seconds. They no huddle & snap quickly - if JMU's thin on the DL I'd expect to see a lot of that offensive style then.

UD has a big & deep DL that does OK against the run but generates not a ton of pass rush. Kerr & Wallschleger are the best DL we have. LB's we're thin but the group is OK. DB is our most suspect position - I'm not sure I'd be worried about JMU throwing in obvious passing situations but I could see them hurting us on play action on 1st & 2nd downs - Navy made us look bad on those kind of plays.

Special teams sound like a draw - both Kickers sound very similar.

[Dukie95]

I'll be there! Looking forward to my first trip to Newark for a game.

Given the coaching change at UD and the fact we haven't faced each other in so long, I'm afraid I know very little about UD. But, given JMU's performance so far, and their tendency to turn the ball over and give up big plays (particularly in the air), I'm not feeling confident about this one for the Dukes.

We played poorly against our cupcakes, but still won. Any CAA team would have punched us in the neck with those performances.

[Dukie95]

So, I see that the lots open 4 hours before kickoff, but I don't see many other tailgating rules expressed or implied beyond staying in your space and keeping the drive ways clear.

Is it sort of a typical drink in a solo cup, don't be an ass and you'll be fine kind of place?

[bluehenbillk]

Is it sort of a typical drink in a solo cup, don't be an ass and you'll be fine kind of place?

Yes, but if you're of age you don't have to put it in a solo cup - you can drink freely. UD is a wet campus.