#5 Delaware @ #3 JMU Game Thread

[93henfan]

UD should be #1.

Appreciate the sentiment, but the other media darlings will probably move to #1. I'm OK with #2 as long as we're #1 in the final poll..

[AZGrizFan]

Wow man, what a great drive to finish a game. Pretty damn good defenses on both sides and Sasek got the keys to the car and didn't wreck it. That's all you can ask of the guy. Great win Delaware and I have to now consider them pretty seriously for the top slot in my poll so thanks for more thinking ya bastards.

Let me help you save some brain cells there champ:

Delaware ... #1
Nova (w/win) ... #2
JMU ... #Eat Shit and Die

Guess Robby is gonna have to use a few more brain cells.

[AZGrizFan]

Great win Delaware and I have to now consider them pretty seriously for the top slot in my poll so thanks for more thinking ya bastards.

Hens have beaten #9, #5 and #3 at the time they played them. Not sure anyone else has a resume even close, especially with Nova going down.

Closed Circuit to Hen: Nova's resume BLOWS BIG RUBBER DONKEY DICKS. They've beaten exactly NOONE. Just like I so accurately pointed out prior to this weekend.

Apology accepted.

[BDKJMU]

But you're neglecting the fact that 8 wins for UD is only 7 Div I, and 8 wins for JMU is 8 Div I.


7 Div I wins out of the CAA better than 50/50 with 10 at large bids, but certainly not a lock. 8 Div I wins is a lock.

Dude, a UD team with 8 wins (7 DI wins) is an absolute, mortal, sell the kids lock to make the playoffs. Heck, it was a lock back when the playoffs were 16 teams, with them being 20 teams large now it's even more of a lock. BHBK is right, a win this weekend (5th for UD) with home games against Maine, URI, and Towson (considered all wins) gets the Hens to 8 and they are in the playoffs - guaranteed. Of course, I'm sure they and the fans would like to do more than 8 wins, especially if we win this weekend. But 8 wins (7 DI wins) for Delaware is a playoff lock - still a lot of $$$ in Newark for that not to happen.

If the Hens are a lock at 7-3 vs I-AA then anyone else from the CAA would be a lock at 7-3 vs I-AA.

[GannonFan]

Dude, a UD team with 8 wins (7 DI wins) is an absolute, mortal, sell the kids lock to make the playoffs. Heck, it was a lock back when the playoffs were 16 teams, with them being 20 teams large now it's even more of a lock. BHBK is right, a win this weekend (5th for UD) with home games against Maine, URI, and Towson (considered all wins) gets the Hens to 8 and they are in the playoffs - guaranteed. Of course, I'm sure they and the fans would like to do more than 8 wins, especially if we win this weekend. But 8 wins (7 DI wins) for Delaware is a playoff lock - still a lot of $$$ in Newark for that not to happen.

A little late to respond here- been off the board a couple of days. So you're saying 7 Div I wins out of the CAA is a lock? (not specifically talking UD but any CAA team). Because 7-3 I-AA + a I-A loss is really no different than 7-3 I-AA + a Div II win.

My reference is to an 8-3 UD team (7 DI wins). If you really think an 8-3 UD team gets left out of the playoffs, then you are on crack and haven't watched FCS football at all for the past 30 years. They ($$$$$) will ($$$$$) get ($$$$$) in ($$$$$).

[GannonFan]

Fantastic win for the Hens. To go into Harrisonburg, use your freshman back-up QB for the entire game, and pretty much dominate the play throughout the second half, including a gut-check drive to finish the 4th quarter, speaks volumes about this Blue Hens team. Appy St will get the #2 slot, but that doesn't matter - right now, the Hens can beat anyone in FCS. Just take 'em one at a time, get Devlin back next week, and all will be good. Looks like December football in Newark is getting to be a surer and surer option every week. Maine's up next week and can't look past them. Fantastic win.

As for the hit on Devlin, no doubt that it was cheap. You can take a shot at the QB on a play like that, that was cool, but what made it cheap was the grabbing, twisting, and slamming the QB into the turf. Toss in the extra comments by JMU before the game that the goal was to knock Devlin out of the game, and it just reeks of dirty. But hey, the freshman back-up QB still managed to win the game, so plenty of reason to be laughing the last laugh in this one.

[BDKJMU]

A little late to respond here- been off the board a couple of days. So you're saying 7 Div I wins out of the CAA is a lock? (not specifically talking UD but any CAA team). Because 7-3 I-AA + a I-A loss is really no different than 7-3 I-AA + a Div II win.

My reference is to an 8-3 UD team (7 DI wins). If you really think an 8-3 UD team gets left out of the playoffs, then you are on crack and haven't watched FCS football at all for the past 30 years. They ($$$$$) will ($$$$$) get ($$$$$) in ($$$$$).

Just speaking generically. Like I just edited, if one CAA team is a lock at 7-3 vs I-AA then I another CAA team at 7-3 vs I-AA would be a lock.

[GannonFan]

My reference is to an 8-3 UD team (7 DI wins). If you really think an 8-3 UD team gets left out of the playoffs, then you are on crack and haven't watched FCS football at all for the past 30 years. They ($$$$$) will ($$$$$) get ($$$$$) in ($$$$$).

Just speaking generically. Like I just edited, if one CAA team is a lock at 7-3 vs I-AA then I another CAA team at 7-3 vs I-AA would be a lock.

When it comes to the playoffs, not all CAA teams are created equal. You're severely underestimating, right or wrong, the impact of $$$ in the equation. What is true for one CAA team isn't necessarily true for another.

[BDKJMU]

Just speaking generically. Like I just edited, if one CAA team is a lock at 7-3 vs I-AA then I another CAA team at 7-3 vs I-AA would be a lock.

When it comes to the playoffs, not all CAA teams are created equal. You're severely underestimating, right or wrong, the impact of $$$ in the equation. What is true for one CAA team isn't necessarily true for another.

OK, now hear what you're saying. FWIW only once since JMU's 1st playoff appearance in 87' have they finished 8-3 with no I-A and a Div II- in 95', and that was one of the 9 times they got in- last at large as I recall, lost in 1st round @ ASU. There is a sort of precedent from the power conferences with Youngstown (20+k stadium, I think they used to sell out back when they were consistently playoffs). They were 8-3 in 05' with a Div II win and I-A loss and didn't get in.

I know its a moot point with UD- going to be at least 8 Div I wins. But there's likely going to be somebody else from the CAA with 7 Div I wins. Thats what I'm wondering about.

[BDKJMU]

Congrats to UD. Would have won by more if Devlin didn't get hurt and deserved to win. Thought that Sasek kid did pretty good.

Interesting stat. Total offense. Noticed a # of times in the past if from the game stats if I add up the yardage from the drive chart it usually doesn't = the total offensive yards given. Not sure why- don't think its my math. Maybe has something to do with penalties while on offense?
Total offense:
UD 206. Drive chart adds up to 59 1st half, 143 2nd half.
JMU 283. Drive chart adds up to 199 1st half, 49 2nd half.

Looks like polar opposite. JMU sort of dominated the 1st half and missed a 47 yard field goal. UD sort of dominated the 2nd half and made a 47 yard field goal. That was the biggest difference in the game.

http://www.jmusports.com/fls/14400/stat ... u-1002.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

Biggest problem with JMU wasn't the offense. JMU had 283 yds vs Liberty, and against a much better UD defense also 283 yards. Not very good, but not horrible. Biggest problem is the penalties. Mickey was saying on the radio show it was killing JMU every week (not blaming the refs). Said it was his most penalized team so far in 12 seasons at JMU and that they are harping on it every week. I never remember JMU being particularly undisciplined before, but they are reminding me of the UMass teams of 06'-07' which were good teams with agressive defenses but led the CAA in penalities. Every game JMU has had far more penalty yards than their opponents.
against Morehead: 9 for 75 yards (Morehead had 4 for 25)
against VT: 7 for 75 yards (VT had 4 for 48)
against LU: 7 for 73 yards (LU had 3 for 40)
against UD: 10 for 81 yards (UD had 3 for 20)
Before this weekend CAA stats showed JMU 3rd most penalized behind Maine & UNH. JMU likely moves up to 2nd most penlaized. There's ones that stick out every week- last week the boneheaded roughing the punter that led to Liberty's FG. Yesterday after stopping UD on 3rd down the boneheaded offsides that gave UD a 1st down and led to their 2nd FG. Just off the top of my head...

[BDKJMU]

OK, here's the Daily News Record (subscription) article from the game in regards to the questionable hit on Devlin. Ist half of article is game summary. Starting with the 2nd half

Delaware Edges Dukes, 13-10 Posted October 02, 2010 12:00 AM EDT
Field Goal With Three Seconds Left Is The Difference

".........After saying Friday that JMU was out to "intimidate" and "rattle" Devlin, Bryant and the Dukes backed it up. On the second play of the game, Devlin turned and handed off to Pierce. Bryant came around the left side of the Delaware line, unblocked, wrapped Devlin up and flung him to the ground.

"I thought it was [an] obvious cheap shot but I don't know, I'll have to see it on film," Devlin said after the game. "I just wasn't ready for it. I just handed off and I don't know if I ran at him or just stood there."

Bryant and JMU coach Mickey Matthews disagreed.

"It was basically like an option read," Bryant said. "My responsibility was the quarterback. I thought he had the ball. I just made the tackle thinking he had the ball and he went down."

Said Matthews: "If you don't want your quarterback getting hit, don't run the zone option. Your quarterback's going to get hit when you have unblocked players on the zone read."

But Delaware coach K.C. Keeler insisted the play wasn't an option, just a straight handoff, and that Devlin should not have been in jeopardy.

"All I know is that my quarterback is seven yards behind the line of scrimmage on an inside handoff and he's down," Keeler said. "It wasn't like we were faking option or anything like that. He stopped. I have to see the film. I'm not going to comment any further than that. But I was disappointed how he could get decked seven yards behind the line of scrimmage on a handoff."

I've watched the video numerous times. The commentator called it a read option. The de end said he thought it was a option (read). Mickey commented on it being a (zone) option. On video it sure looked like a zone/read option. It didn't look like a simple inside handoff as Keeler claimed. Maybe thats what he called, but it looked like the read option. Would it be reasonable for a de end to think it was a read/zone option and think the QB had the ball. Sure looks that way. And if a ball carrier (QB, RB, WR, whoever) has the ball of course you want to get him on the ground in the most violent but legal (no facemask or horse collar) way possible. And that looks like exactly what Bryant did.

He said he thought he had the ball. When they both hit the ground he probably thought he dropped the QB for a loss until a second or so later. I believe the kid when he said he thought Devlin had the ball.

I don't blame Keeler for sticking up for his QB or Mickey sticking up for his de end.

[jd of de]

Said Matthews: "If you don't want your quarterback getting hit, don't run the zone option. Your quarterback's going to get hit when you have unblocked players on the zone read."

Good strong hit is cool. Devlin what pick up off the ground and piled drived into the turf with the express intent to cause injury. To call it anything else is bush league.

[93henfan]

I'm going to post my Youtube vid one more time so you can follow along with what I'm about to say. I agree with the JMU folks only insofar as this play did have a read look to it, not a straight handoff as Keeler initially asserted. Even the initial hit would have been fine. QBs get knocked down all the time. The thing is, Bryant had a full step to see that Devlin had handed off the ball. No time to stop for sure, so just put a quick pop on Devlin and go about your business, but that's not what happens. He grasps Devlin's jersey, just under the armpit on each side, with Devlin facing away, lays out his hip as a block to take Devlin off of his feet, and then throws him to the turf head first. Just an easily avoidable and extremely dirty thing to do. Bryant should be punished in some form by the CAA.


[youtube][/youtube]


At any rate, we beat JMU with our freshman, so I'm less concerned about it now.

[AssKickinChicken]

You can debate the fact as to if the JMU player thought that Devlin had the ball, but I think it's pretty obvious that he did not, however there is no debate that there was an unnecessary violent slinging of Devlin to the turf. The hit was cheap, if not out right dirty and it was completely uncalled for. Based on pre game comments, JMU was hoping to take Devlin out of the game, as they obviously knew that they wouldn't be able to hang with the Hens otherwise. They were correct, if Devlin had played, UD wins by at least two TDs. Unfortunately for the dirty dogs, they weren't even good enough to whip the Hens with the inexperienced Fr QB running the show. In the long run the JMU mutts did UD a big favor, UD beating them with their best player out made the win that much SWEETER and now UD has a backup that has big game experience and complete confidence that he can do the job.

[BDKJMU]

I'm going to post my Youtube vid one more time so you can follow along with what I'm about to say. I agree with the JMU folks only insofar as this play did have a read look to it, not a straight handoff as Keeler initially asserted. Even the initial hit would have been fine. QBs get knocked down all the time. The thing is, Bryant had a full step to see that Devlin had handed off the ball. No time to stop for sure, so just put a quick pop on Devlin and go about your business, but that's not what happens. He grasps Devlin's jersey, just under the armpit on each side, with Devlin facing away, lays out his hip as a block to take Devlin off of his feet, and then throws him to the turf head first. Just an easily avoidable and extremely dirty thing to do. Bryant should be punished in some form by the CAA.


[youtube][/youtube]


At any rate, we beat JMU with our freshman, so I'm less concerned about it now.

He had a fraction of a second at game speed. The clip shows the play in slow motion. Break it down.
-6 second mark, you can see Devlin putting the ball into AP's hands.
-While that is occurring, #6 is coming around on a sweep from the slot, which is showing option.
-In addition to the slot receiver sweeping around for the fake, Devlin can be seen to take a step to the left immediately after handing off the ball, further indicating that this play was intended as an option read, or at least as a fake of an option read.
-That small movement to the left took him directly into the line of Bryant within less than one second of handing off the ball.
-Bryant can then be seen wrapping up Devlin, and the follow through of the wrap up led to the twisting motion that Bryant used to bring Devlin to the ground. Unfortunately, while making the tackle, Bryant also had Devlin's arm trapped against his body, preventing Devlin from using it to break his fall before his helmet impacted the ground, (although with Devlin's previous injury that may have actually prevented him from doing further damage to his hand/wrist).

Any UD fans that think Bryant should or is going to be punished in some form by the CAA are delusional.

[bandl]

I didn't get to watch the game, only got updates on my cell phone. Sounds like UD is the real deal, even with a backup QB. And it sounds like JMU is not quite the top team in the CAA, as I had feared after their less than impressive victory over Liberty. Not even sure if they are one of the top 3 or 4 (although we'll find that out shortly).

Congrats on the win, UD. Surely this leaves you a pretty clear cut path to the playoffs.

[93henfan]

I didn't get to watch the game, only got updates on my cell phone. Sounds like UD is the real deal, even with a backup QB. And it sounds like JMU is not quite the top team in the CAA, as I had feared after their less than impressive victory over Liberty. Not even sure if they are one of the top 3 or 4 (although we'll find that out shortly).

Congrats on the win, UD. Surely this leaves you a pretty clear cut path to the playoffs.

C'mon bandl. This post is far too classy. You must have got your Masters at another school?

[State Line Liquors]

The story of the game is that UD went down to Harrisonburg and got Keeler's first road win down there. We were able to put points on the board when it mattered and pulled out a tough, defensive battle.

It should not be about Devlin's injury, or the personal foul that should have been called by unobservant referees. Dwelling too much on the injury and it's intentions (though they're obvious) takes too much credit away from the other 30 or so UD players that set foot on the field and pulled out a difficult win.

[HensRock]

Biggest problem with JMU wasn't the offense. JMU had 283 yds vs Liberty, and against a much better UD defense also 283 yards.

You simply CANNOT isolate Offensive and Defensive stats like that. The two compliment each other. A weak offense on the same team as a stellar defense can make that defense look rather ordinary or downright bad and vice-versa.

If you think JMU's offense would still have had 283 yards if Devlin played, you are just over-simplifying things. If Devlin plays, UD's offense is able to put together longer drives, fumbles a heck of a lot less and generally controls the ball more for a longer T.O.P.
- Meaning JMU's offense would have the ball less. Less opportunity means less yards.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

The JMU guy made a cheap hit on Devlin. If he ran through him and gave him a good knock - not a cheap shot. The guy picked him up and pile drived him, though... major cheap shot and you JMU homers how say otherwise are just that - fucking homers. Whatever JMU thug that made that hit should be suspended and your coach is an asshole for defending him. Fuck JMU and I hope your whole team catches the fucking bubonic plague.

I didn't see the replay before this post. How can you defend that?

That said, fuck all of you, you still lost.

[89Hen]

Any UD fans that think Bryant should or is going to be punished in some form by the CAA are delusional.

The only thing I'll say on the subject is that the announcers said several times that MM told JMU players all week to hit Devlin any chance they got. IMO that's pre-meditated.

[Ivytalk]

Go Hens! Mickey Matthews sucks dead goats. And that SOB who sacked Devlin should park cars for the rest of his career.

[DBlue]

Go Hens! Mickey Matthews sucks dead goats. And that SOB who sacked Devlin should park cars for the rest of his career.

Parking cars can be fun. Surely you've seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

As for the play on Devlin, too close to call. This isn't the NFL where the QB's wear pink. Christ, McNabb got
touched today and I thought the ref was gonna rush him to Thomas Jefferson.

[00bluehen]

Finally got a chance to actually see the play. At first, the folks on GoHens made it sound like he was picked up and thrown to the ground. Having dealt with the hyperbole that floats there (and, in some cases, contributing to it ), I figured it was a statement by the JMU defense. I still kinda stand by my thoughts on that...though the ultimate outcome of the play was unfortunate. If Pat's able to get up and keep playing, I doubt UD fans would be as amped up as they were/are about it.

1. It sucks that Pat was hurt on the play (how much still remains to be determined), and that he had to miss the rest of the game. Silver linings, though--think of the confidence gained by the team as a whole and Trevor Sasek in particular.
2. It sucks that JMU players are being attributed (with no actual direct links to articles) the quote "We want to knock him out of the game." The actual quotes I've seen show their DE saying they wanted to "rattle" and "intimidate" PD. You do that by hitting a QB. I don't have a problem with that as an actual behind-closed-doors goal amongst the players. I do have a problem with them saying that to media folk. If anyone has a link to an article with the "knock him outta the game" comment, please provide it, and I'll be happy to change my stance on this.
3. It sucks that everyone's saying the play was "obviously" just a handoff. It wasn't obvious on replay. At game speed, it definitely wasn't. On every handoff of that ilk throughout this entire season, Pat has continued the play as if he still had the ball. In some cases, he's actually made a block on DE's (though Sasek is much more physical at this when he does it). If you're the DE on that play, you have to defend the QB. If he would've had a few more feet, I'm not sure he dumps Pat like that...though 20/20 hindsight applies here. To me, the play wasn't intentionally "dirty" (i.e. not done with sole intent to injure). It should have gotten an unnecessary roughness penalty, I think we all agree with that.
4. It sucks that The Mick badmouthed/backhand-complimented AP after the game ("He's a good back...Look who he got most of those yards against"). The threat of the pass would have drastically altered JMU's defensive game plan. It is true that AP hasn't had to run against 9 in-the-box athletes of JMU's calibur all year. Not a classy move by The Mick. Comes off sore-loserish.
5. Echoing that, it sucks that several JMU fans who crowed about how UD hasn't been tested yet came away from the game feeling "unimpressed" with Delaware. A team loses it's best offensive and defensive players (let's be honest, Walters wasn't the presence he typically is playing with the shoulder injury), finds a way to win with a RFr QB (who isn't a transfer, by the way...something else you can't argue about) in your stadium, and you're unimpressed?!? I know UD isn't VPI, but UD only turned the ball over 1 less time and still found a way to win in YOUR barn. I don't care who you are, that's impressive. Quit the sour grapes talk.
6. While we're at it, quit the "we beat ourselves" talk, too. Penalties are a part of the game of football. UD also had 4 of 'em, and if not for a holding penalty deep in JMU territory, might've had 1 less interception and 1 more offensive TD. That is a problem JMU needs to remedy yesterday, though. 300+ yards of yellow hankie in 4 games!?!? JFC!

Ah well. UD went into JMU and came away with a win. Devlin will come back and play. He'll still be a decent draft pick. Time to get over "the hit" and move on. Maine's coming to town, playing much better football than that team from Week 1.