“Excellent day for the offense,” quarterback Justin Thorpe, named the starter earlier this week, said. “I knew we were going to get rolling.”
Thorpe had a solid day throwing the football, hitting Brian Barlow for a 15-yard touchdown pass that saw the burly tight end shuck himself free from safety Ryan Smith to reach the end zone. Thorpe also hooked up for a 3-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Brown near the end of the scrimmage (see Catch of the day, below.)
“I thought we were much improved,” JMU coach Mickey Matthews said after Wednesday’s practice. “It didn’t surprise me. I thought Justin’s play was improved.”
Matthews also noted that the Dukes have stayed away from Thorpe’s strong suit for most of the preseason, something that will likely change as the team begins game-week preparations for North Carolina on Monday.
“We know Justin can run the option very well,” Matthews said. “We’re trying to work on some other things that will help us offensively. We try to remain patient to work on those other parts of our offensive scheme.”
Matthews said he was most pleased with the elevated play of JMU’s backup running backs – Jordan Anderson and Jauan Latney. For the third straight scrimmage, Matthews held starting running back Dae’Quan Scott out of action to avoid the risk of an injury. The previous two scrimmages left the coach unsatisfied with the play of Scott’s top backups. But Wednesday, both Anderson and Latney broke long runs that started with them busting through potential tacklers.
“We really challenged those guys because we’ve really been upset with the play of our running backs except for Dae’Quan,” Matthews said. “And I thought those guys were much improved.”
Matthews named Scott the starter earlier in camp, but Anderson said that hasn’t taken away from the drive of the other backs.
“Dae’Quan’s No. 1 but we’re all just working,” Anderson said.
Matthews also noted both place kickers – Cameron Starke and Graham Sharples – had good practices Wednesday. Matthews said the competition to start at that spot is still too close to call.
Catch of the day: Daniel Brown made an impressive leaping, over-the-shoulder catch for a 3-yard touchdown from Justin Thorpe near the end of Wednesday’s scrimmage. Brown out-jumped cornerback Corey Davis in the corner of the end zone for the score.
“That’s what we expect from him,” Thorpe said. “He’s a big receiver and his hands are like fruit roll-ups. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him drop a pass.”
Hit of the day: Minutes before making the catch of the day, Daniel Brown was the victim of the hit of the day. Thorpe hooked up with Brown for a long gain up the middle of the field, but after running about 10 yards after the catch, Brown got smacked by safety Ryan Smith.
Did all the starters from both the offensive and defensive lines play in today's scrimmage? I know players from both positions have been held out of recent practices so I was just trying to get some context on this sudden offensive success.
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