James Madison Dukes Scouting Report

[MTbest]

ESPN2.....was hoping for ESPN+ (all I've got), any other alternatives to watch.....? Alternately looks like MSU v Sam Houston on ESPN+

 

[get'em_griz]

ESPN2.....was hoping for ESPN+ (all I've got), any other alternatives to watch.....? Alternately looks like MSU v Sam Houston on ESPN+

Free trial of FuboTV, or sign up for Sling TV.

 

[armonte]

Watching the JMU game suggests the middle of JMU's defensive line is very good and outside is vulnerable. Offense #7 is the favorite target but SELU had a ton of blown coverages for TDs. The guy covering
could not cover #7 and was left alone.

While Brint is right that this will be the best team we’ve faced all year, this will also be the best team JMU has faced all year. I think this will be a rock fight that could go either way. This will be a really good game. I’m not gonna guarantee a win like some of you, but I do think we have a good chance of winning this game.

Great point

 

[hm.grwn.grizfan]

ESPN2.....was hoping for ESPN+ (all I've got), any other alternatives to watch.....? Alternately looks like MSU v Sam Houston on ESPN+

Free trial of FuboTV, or sign up for Sling TV.

Also free trial of YouTube tv

 

[GrizGuy]

Another great writeup, Brint.
Like, you, I'm not donning Maroon-colored glasses for this one. I don't see the Griz putting up 30+ points unless it's all ST points, if I'm honest. I don't think this is the best team the Griz will face all year, but I do think it's the team that matches up against our team the closest. Like two jigsaw puzzle pieces. Seems like a really tough draw for both teams. I see this as a low-scoring affair where the last team with the ball wins, possibly off a kicker's foot. If our offense can avoid those 3-and-outs, I'll actually enjoy this game. If they go out there and lay an egg, I'm not looking forward to my Friday evening.
Here's to great offense! Go Griz!

 

[kemajic]

Another great writeup, Brint.
Like, you, I'm not donning Maroon-colored glasses for this one. I don't see the Griz putting up 30+ points unless it's all ST points, if I'm honest. I don't think this is the best team the Griz will face all year, but I do think it's the team that matches up against our team the closest. Like two jigsaw puzzle pieces. Seems like a really tough draw for both teams. I see this as a low-scoring affair where the last team with the ball wins, possibly off a kicker's foot. If our offense can avoid those 3-and-outs, I'll actually enjoy this game. If they go out there and lay an egg, I'm not looking forward to my Friday evening.
Here's to great offense! Go Griz!

They're not laying eggs these days. They'll play hard and bring back some memories for JMU fans.

 

[JMUHarpoo]

Neither team will be able to run so the edge goes to whoever can pass well. What makes it more interesting is that both teams have a lot of sacks. Should be a good one.

 

[IntuitiveGriz]

One more thing. Our safeties are over aggressive and forget their number one job is pass defense. Play action passes should get your speedy receivers behind the Griz safeties (that think they are LB'ers) like usual.

From what I've read, it's not entirely true that pass protection is always the top priority for a Safety. Depending upon the D scheme, their assignment(s) may be more run oriented or even part of the blitz packages. But I assume there's supposed to be some rotation to cover the "vacated" space. Somebody more knowledgeable about X's and O's please help.

Well no shit, Sherlock, that on the occasional safety blitz his job isn't coverage.

I was talking about the vast and huge majority of time that they are in man and zone coverage responsibility.

I didn't read that either, I played strong safety.

 

[Grizzly Oredigger]

While we won’t get caught looking ahead, I feel like there is a slight chance JMU may be looking ahead to next week. I’ll take any advantage we can get, and hope we can keep the momentum going to a W. Name of this game is the turnover battle.

 

[get'em_griz]

So something I have been thinking about is that comparing stats at this point between teams who have no common opponent is a bit deceptive. I think a better view is to compare against the strength of schedule these teams have faced.

For example, passing defense and yards allowed. Looking at JMU's passing defense, they have allowed 192 yards per game while Montana allowed 242.25. This seems like a huge difference. However when you look deeper into it statistically, JMU this season has faced worse passing offenses overall compared to what Montana has faced. The average ranking for passing offenses (according to the NCAA) is Montana - 42, James Madison - 56. Add to the fact that Montana has now faced EWU twice, which will skew the pass defense stats. Last weekend they threw the ball 80 freaking times to rack up 530 yards. Southeastern Louisiana last weekend passed 50 times for 397 yards. Had they passed 80 times, they would have gained around a total of 635 yards in comparison.

And for rushing defense, Montana has faced slightly better ranked rushing O's than JMU has. Montana has faced the average of 71 vs JMU's average of 76.

Overall, Montana's SOS (Massey) is 25 and JMU's SOS is 52. Both these teams look very similar overall, but with Montana facing the tougher competition this season, I think that will have us prepared to compete well and have a good chance of winning this one.

 

[tgreseth]

So something I have been thinking about is that comparing stats at this point between teams who have no common opponent is a bit deceptive. I think a better view is to compare against the strength of schedule these teams have faced.

For example, passing defense and yards allowed. Looking at JMU's passing defense, they have allowed 192 yards per game while Montana allowed 242.25. This seems like a huge difference. However when you look deeper into it statistically, JMU this season has faced worse passing offenses overall compared to what Montana has faced. The average ranking for passing offenses (according to the NCAA) is Montana - 42, James Madison - 56. Add to the fact that Montana has now faced EWU twice, which will skew the pass defense stats. Last weekend they threw the ball 80 freaking times to rack up 530 yards. Southeastern Louisiana last weekend passed 50 times for 397 yards. Had they passed 80 times, they would have gained around a total of 635 yards in comparison.

And for rushing defense, Montana has faced slightly better ranked rushing O's than JMU has. Montana has faced the average of 71 vs JMU's average of 76.

Overall, Montana's SOS (Massey) is 25 and JMU's SOS is 52. Both these teams look very similar overall, but with Montana facing the tougher competition this season, I think that will have us prepared to compete well and have a good chance of winning this one.

Good analysis, thanks get'em!

 

[Ursa Major]

So something I have been thinking about is that comparing stats at this point between teams who have no common opponent is a bit deceptive. I think a better view is to compare against the strength of schedule these teams have faced.

For example, passing defense and yards allowed. Looking at JMU's passing defense, they have allowed 192 yards per game while Montana allowed 242.25. This seems like a huge difference. However when you look deeper into it statistically, JMU this season has faced worse passing offenses overall compared to what Montana has faced. The average ranking for passing offenses (according to the NCAA) is Montana - 42, James Madison - 56. Add to the fact that Montana has now faced EWU twice, which will skew the pass defense stats. Last weekend they threw the ball 80 freaking times to rack up 530 yards. Southeastern Louisiana last weekend passed 50 times for 397 yards. Had they passed 80 times, they would have gained around a total of 635 yards in comparison.

And for rushing defense, Montana has faced slightly better ranked rushing O's than JMU has. Montana has faced the average of 71 vs JMU's average of 76.

Overall, Montana's SOS (Massey) is 25 and JMU's SOS is 52. Both these teams look very similar overall, but with Montana facing the tougher competition this season, I think that will have us prepared to compete well and have a good chance of winning this one.

Good analysis, thanks get'em!

+1

 

[Butte Griz]

While we won’t get caught looking ahead, I feel like there is a slight chance JMU may be looking ahead to next week. I’ll take any advantage we can get, and hope we can keep the momentum going to a W. Name of this game is the turnover battle.

Go take a peek at their forum, their fans are very much looking past us, they already have a topic posted warning NDST that they are coming for them.

 

[MissoulaDuke]

While we won’t get caught looking ahead, I feel like there is a slight chance JMU may be looking ahead to next week. I’ll take any advantage we can get, and hope we can keep the momentum going to a W. Name of this game is the turnover battle.

Go take a peek at their forum, their fans are very much looking past us, they already have a topic posted warning NDST that they are coming for them.

That topic was actually started by an NDSU fan. I don’t think any serious JMU fan is looking past Montana.

 

[Hawkeyebowhunter]

Hopefully the old adage of “defense travels” holds true in this one.

We shut down the best running team we’ve played this year (scats) however I do wonder how much that game was decided by how insanely intense the defense was.

Hopefully I’ve been wrong about the 3-3-5 and this team is capable of riding this defense and ST to another hard fought victory on Friday

 

[JMUHarpoo]

I was surprised that your D-line was so soft after seeing great rushing defense stats. JMU hasn’t been able to run on anyone this year, except Montana. Did you guys have injuries on the D-line? The Dukes have 3 Freshmen on the o-line and have struggled all year at the line of scrimmage.

Sucks that your QB went down to injury. It should have been a closer game than that.

 

[kurtismichael]

I was surprised that your D-line was so soft after seeing great rushing defense stats. JMU hasn’t been able to run on anyone this year, except Montana. Did you guys have injuries on the D-line? The Dukes have 3 Freshmen on the o-line and have struggled all year at the line of scrimmage.

Sucks that your QB went down to injury. It should have been a closer game than that.

Babros, starting senior DE, didn’t make the trip.
Not an excuse. Congrats on the win, good luck in Fargo.

 

[uofmman1122]

I was surprised that your D-line was so soft after seeing great rushing defense stats. JMU hasn’t been able to run on anyone this year, except Montana. Did you guys have injuries on the D-line? The Dukes have 3 Freshmen on the o-line and have struggled all year at the line of scrimmage.

Sucks that your QB went down to injury. It should have been a closer game than that.

Our guys inexplicably forgot how to tackle, lost their usually sound gap responsibility, and spent more time trying to shoulder check your players down than wrap up.

It hasn't happened all year, so a hell of a time to start doing it.